Summer Tunisian Encounters

Arrive at Tunis–Carthage Airport to meet our local representative and complete arrival formalities, then transfer into the capital, taking in first glimpses of lively streets and neighbourhoods en route to the hotel. You have free time to rest after the flight or take a short stroll near the hotel to start soaking up the local atmosphere at your own pace. Later, we meet our tour guide and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing – we run through the itinerary, answer questions and share practical information for the days ahead.

We delve into the medina of Tunis with a local guide, winding through narrow lanes, souks and traditional workshops before visiting the central market to admire colourful produce and fragrant spices. After shopping for ingredients, we join a hands‑on cooking class in a traditional home – learning time‑honoured techniques and sitting down to enjoy the lunch we helped prepare. We then drive to the coastal ruins of Carthage to explore evocative Punic and Roman remains – including the Antonine Baths – and walk among weathered columns, foundations and former harbour areas. Continuing along the coast, we reach the clifftop village of Sidi Bou Said to wander whitewashed streets with blue doors and window frames – you might pause at a small café or linger over sea views. We return to our hotel in Tunis after a full day of history, culture and coastal scenery.

We leave Tunis for Nabeul, a renowned craft centre where we roll up our sleeves for a harissa‑making workshop – grinding spices, working with dried peppers and discovering how this famous chilli paste flavours local cooking. A short drive brings us to Hammamet to explore its small medina, ramparts and sea views, with lanes scented by jasmine. Continuing south to Sousse, we arrive at this historic port city to explore its UNESCO‑listed medina – a classic fortified coastal town of early Islam – and visit the Archaeological Museum in the old kasbah to view superb Roman mosaics. We then drive inland through rural countryside towards El Jem to roam the vast Roman amphitheatre, among the best preserved anywhere, before continuing south to Sfax on the coast to check in for the night.

We depart Sfax for the Dahar Mountains and Matmata, watching the scenery grow increasingly arid and rocky as we climb. In Matmata we visit traditional troglodyte homes – cool underground courtyards and rooms carved into soft rock – and learn how Berber families adapted this architecture to the harsh climate. We continue to the terraced village of Toujane via mountain roads with sweeping views, pausing at a viewpoint to photograph stone houses cascading down the hillside. Travelling deeper into rural southern Tunisia, we reach El Ferch to meet the Women of GDA El Ferch – a cooperative focused on sustainable agriculture and traditional crafts – and take part in practical activities such as preparing sauces and snacks while hearing the women’s stories. We then continue to Ksar Hadada to explore its multi‑storey fortified granary – whose vaulted rooms and courtyards featured as slave quarters in Star Wars – before a short drive to Tataouine to check in, leaving you free to discover more of the town at your own pace.

We leave Tataouine on winding mountain roads towards Douirette to explore its peaceful hillside setting and traditional stone architecture, gaining a window onto local Berber life. The route continues through the Dahar to Guermassa, where we visit the striking hilltop village and pause for wide‑ranging views across desert and mountain ridges. Descending towards Douz – the Gateway to the Sahara – we pass dunes and palm groves before arriving in this desert town. We explore Douz’s souk, known for desert crafts, spices and the distinctive red wool used by Bedouins – you can browse the stalls and watch the cadence of daily life in this Saharan market.

We drive from Douz along the edge of Chott el Jerid, Tunisia’s largest salt lake, crossing a flat, shimmering expanse that seems to meet the sky. We stop for photos and watch for mirage effects over the salt flats – a vast, otherworldly scene shaped by sun and light. Continuing into the Atlas foothills, we reach Chebika to visit its oasis, where a clear spring‑fed stream runs beneath cliffs and palms, with short paths leading to viewpoints and welcome shade. The mountain road then brings us to Tamerza to see its waterfalls – the largest among Tunisia’s mountain oases – and savour the contrast between lush greenery and surrounding desert rock. We continue to Mides to walk along the rim or floor of its canyon, admiring dramatic rock strata, narrow passages and the small oasis settlement below. Leaving the mountains, we head into the desert towards Ong Jemel, exploring the striking rock outcrop and surrounding plains used as film locations. We finish the day in Tozeur amid vast palm groves and traditional brick architecture – you have free time to relax by the pool or wander the town, perhaps revisiting the medina or settling into a café before dinner.

We depart Tozeur and drive north towards Sbeitla, watching the landscape shift from desert to farmland. At one of Tunisia’s best preserved Roman sites we explore the ruins – the remarkable triple temple complex, forum, baths and arch – and trace how this provincial city functioned within the Roman Empire. We continue to Kairouan, an important religious centre, to visit the Great Mosque – one of North Africa’s oldest and most significant Islamic monuments – admiring its vast courtyard, stately minaret and many ancient columns reused in its construction. We wander the quiet lanes of the medina, lined with traditional homes and workshops, and note pastry shops and craft stalls that keep local traditions alive. From Kairouan we drive to the coastal resort of Gammarth near Tunis for the final nights of the tour. You have free time to settle into your seafront hotel – you may choose to relax by the pool or take an evening stroll nearby.

Enjoy a full day of free time in Gammarth to settle into your beachside hotel – you might unwind by the pool, wander the shoreline or take an evening stroll in the surrounding area.

You have free time to rest or take a gentle stroll near the hotel – a relaxed way to savour a final taste of the local atmosphere at your own pace. When it is time to depart, we transfer you from your hotel in the Gammarth area to Tunis–Carthage Airport, offering final glimpses of the coastline and city outskirts along the way, before you check in for your onward or homeward flight and bid farewell to Tunisia after a journey rich in history, desert scenery and cultural discovery.