Tunisia Active Tour

Arrival at Tunis Airport

Welcome to our overland expedition to Tunisia. Upon your arrival at Tunis Airport, you will meet our representative, who will greet you and transfer you to your hotel in the historic center of Tunis. Your historic walking tour of the city is scheduled for tomorrow. The remainder of today is at leisure to relax and acclimate. Dinner and accommodation will be at your hotel.

Tunis Historic Tour

After breakfast, you will meet your local guide, who will take you on a historical tour of Tunis and the surrounding area. Start your guided tour by visiting the seaside town of Sidi Bou Said. In this Mediterranean blue town, the coastal village's white walls and blue shutters make for incredible photo opportunities. Continue to the ninth-century World Heritage-listed Carthage to see monuments like the vast Antonine baths, the Roman amphitheater, and the Punic ports. We will take a break for lunch in Sidi Bou Said. They visit the Famous National Bardo Museum, second only to the Egyptian Museum of Cairo in terms of the breadth and depth of its collections. Later, we will walk to Tunis Medina, one of the fascinating old North African cities. Discover the twisting alleyways with your local guide and explore Tunis' medieval monuments and landmarks. Visit shops overflowing with goods and the Grand Souq des Chechias, where Tunisia's iconic blood-red hats are made. In the evening, return to your hotel for dinner and accommodation.

Travel to Kairouan

After breakfast, we will travel overland to Kairouan, visiting Testour. Dougga and Le Kef. Make tracks for Dougga, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in Africa. Stop on the way in Testour, where Moorish architecture tells the story of the Muslim and Jewish refugees who arrived in the 16th–17th centuries, having been expelled from Spain. Explore Dougga with your tour leader. Once the capital of both the Phoenician and Roman states, Dougga boasts many imposing monuments, including a second-century AD theatre, the Capitoline Temple, and the 2200-year-old Nubian Temple of Ateban. Enjoy your overland trekking day as you explore the best of Tunisia's historical sights. Continue your trek heading to Kairouan, where you will spend the night. Dinner and accommodation will be at your hotel.

Overland trip to Tozeur

Today, your overland expedition will progress southwards to the Oasis of Tozeur. You will explore the oasis town of Tozeur, which is lined by extensive palm groves and was historically an important trade center of trans-Saharan Caravans. Check out Eden Palm, a museum situated in a beautiful building that chronicles the history of dates and the various uses of the palm tree. Later, stroll through the 14th-century medina and admire the striking adobe architecture and restored sundried natural brickwork. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the oasis at your leisure and mingle with locals. We also recommend visiting the Dar Charait Museum, an ethnographic museum that showcases scenes of traditional Tunisian life. Dinner and accommodation are in a boutique hotel.

Douz Sahara Experience

After breakfast, we will hop on our overland 4x4 vehicles and head towards Douz Oasis, crossing the mountains and passing through the surrounding oases. Enjoy these picturesque landscapes, which you may recognize as the setting for scenes from 'The English Patient.' Visit the Saharan oasis of Tamerza, along with Mides and Chebika. You'll also see set remnants left over from the filming of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, etc.

We will proceed to Douz (approximately 2.5 hours), traveling across Chott El Jerid, the largest Salt Lake in the Sahara Desert. Arrive in Douz and meet your camel drivers. Get a brief lesson in desert etiquette, then begin your trek into the Sahara (approximately 3 hours). While the journey to the camp is on foot, the camels will carry your luggage and assist anyone who is tired. Arrive at the center just before sunset. Enjoy dinner and spend the night under the starry African skies.

Return to Douz Oasis

Do not miss a dawn walk over the dunes to witness the dramatic Sahara sunrise. Enjoy the natural setting, then return to Camp for a sumptuous breakfast gazing at the voluptuous Sahara dunes. Later, we will prepare for our walking trek back to Tozeur. Assisted by Berber Guides and a camel Caravan transporting our luggage and food, we will trek back to Douz (approximately 3 hours). You can ride a camel or walk the six miles of our Saharan trail to the oasis of Douz. We will reach Douz in the afternoon for a comfortable night at our boutique hotel.

Hiking to Matmata

Wake up relatively early for breakfast, then hit the road overland to Matmata. We will make a few stops for natural sightseeing and photo opportunities, as well as cultural landmarks like an old Olive oil mill. We will reach Matmata, known for its troglodyte dwellings. Our afternoon will be devoted to exploring the cave neighbourhoods and hiking through the rocky landscapes of Matmata. Your accommodation tonight is in a traditional cave dwelling.

Travel to El Jem and Mahdia

Enough of the Sahara Desert, let’s head to the Mediterranean shore to freshen up a little. We will travel to Mahdia, stopping en route at the spectacular Roman amphitheater of El Jem. This third-century structure resembles Rome’s Colosseum and impressively rises above the surrounding city. Arrive in the afternoon at the seaside of Mahdia, a relaxed port town. Perhaps head out to the 16th-century Ottoman fort or the waterfront cemetery. Have your camera charged and ready for action—dinner and accommodation at your hotel

Guided tour of Mahdia

After breakfast, you will meet your local guide, who will take you on a walking tour of historic Mahdia's whitewashed local medina. Then, you will head out to explore the artisan village of Moknine. Visit the folk museum to see some of the fine ceramics and jewelry produced in this region. Decide as a group whether to stay for lunch before continuing to Monastir. In Monastir, explore the seafront ribat (fortress), which was initially a defensive fort built to withstand Christian invasions and an important center of Islamic learning. Climb 90 steep steps to the sanctuary watchtower for panoramic city views. Return to Mahdia in the afternoon and enjoy free time. Maybe treat yourself to some good old-fashioned Mediterranean fun and relax on the beach. The farewell dinner will be at your hotel.

Mahdia - Tunis Airport

Check out in the morning and drive to Tunis Airport for those with flights departing today. We hope you had a great time exploring Tunisia on this overland expedition. Come back and see us again on another overland tour to Tunisia in the future.