Itinerary
- Day 1
Tunis
Your adventure begins as you arrive in Tunis for a 6 pm welcome meeting. If you get in earlier, the medina is right there to explore, or you could grab some lablabi (chickpea soup) or bambalouni (fried doughnuts) and get a taste of what's to come.
Optional Activities
- Sample local Tunisian specialties like lablabi (chickpea soup), tajine, or bambalouni (deep-fried doughnut)
- Day 2
Carthage
Start by walking through the Tunis Medina, North Africa's largest old quarter, where you'll wander narrow alleyways and check out specialty souqs like the perfume makers' area and the Grand Souq des Chechias for traditional felt hats. After lunch in the medina, you'll head to Carthage to see the UNESCO World Heritage site including the Antonine Baths, Roman Amphitheatre, and Punic Ports.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in the medina), Dinner
Included Activities
- Stroll through Tunis Medina (Old Quarter)
- Explore specialty souqs including perfume makers' souq and Grand Souq des Chechias
- Visit Carthage archaeological site including Antonine Baths, Roman Amphitheatre, and Punic Ports
Landmarks/POIs Tunis Medina Grand Souq des Chechias Carthage Archaeological Site Antonine Baths Roman Amphitheatre Punic Ports - Day 3
La Marsa - Kairouan
This morning take in Sidi Bou Said village perched above the Mediterranean with its white walls and blue shutters, then walk through the Baron d'Erlanger Palace and cobbled streets. Later, stop at a glass-blowing workshop run by a local master, and head to Gammarth stables for a cooking demonstration of Tabouna bread and three Tunisian dishes with a local family. You'll have free time in La Marsa to explore before traveling to Kairouan, the fourth holiest site in Islam.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Home-cooked meal with local family including Tabouna bread (clay oven), brick a l'oeuf, grilled salad, Tunisian salad, and glass of local Tunisian wine), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sidi Bou Said village
- Visit Baron d'Erlanger Palace
- Glass-blowing workshop visit
- Home-cooked meal and cooking demonstration at Gammarth including traditional Tabouna bread (clay oven), brick a l'oeuf, grilled salad, and Tunisian salad with local Tunisian wine
Optional Activities
- Explore La Marsa - try Arabic coffee with kaak warka (traditional ring-shaped pastry) or shop in local Tunisian boutiques
Landmarks/POIs Sidi Bou Said Baron d'Erlanger Palace Gammarth Stables - Day 4
Kairouan
Check out Kairouan's Islamic architecture including the 9th-century Great Mosque of Oqba Ibn Nafi with columns from ancient Carthage. Wander the medina's winding streets, try makroudh (traditional date pastry), and visit the carpet museum to learn about traditional rug-making from a local women's cooperative. Lunch is on your own - ask your leader for the best local street food spots.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Great Mosque of Oqba Ibn Nafi
- Walk through Kairouan medina
- Pastry workshop - sample makroudh
- Visit Traditional Carpet Museum and learn about rug-making from local women's cooperative
Landmarks/POIs Great Mosque of Oqba Ibn Nafi Kairouan Medina Kairouan Carpet Museum - Day 5
Tozeur
Explore Tozeur, a palm-lined oasis town that was a historic stop on the Bedouin caravan route. Take a walking tour inside the oasis and meet a sharecropper to see how dates are grown and harvested. Stroll through the 14th-century medina to admire the restored brickwork and architecture. The rest of the day is free. You can opt for a 4WD tour of surrounding oases (locations from The English Patient) including Tamerza, Mides, and Chebika, or visit the Dar Charait Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Tozeur
- Walking tour inside the oasis
- Meet a sharecropper and learn about dates growing and harvesting
- Visit Dar Charait Museum - ethnographic museum depicting traditional Tunisian life
Optional Activities
- 4WD tour of surrounding oases including Tamerza, Mides, and Chebika (locations from 'The English Patient' and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace)
Landmarks/POIs Tozeur Oasis Tozeur Medina Dar Charait Museum Tamerza Mides Chebika - Day 6
Sahara
Travel across Chott El Jerid, the Sahara's largest salt lake, taking in the green and pink hues. Grab lunch at a restaurant in central Douz near the market and taste local specialties. Head to your campsite to meet camel drivers for a desert etiquette lesson, then take a 2-hour trek into the Sahara (you can ride or walk). Return before sunset for a cooking demonstration of couscous and desert bread, then settle in for the night under the stars.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Douz at restaurant close to central market, tasting local specialties), Dinner (Cooking demonstration of couscous and desert bread)
Included Activities
- Sahara trek - 2-hour camel ride or walk (choice available)
Landmarks/POIs Chott El Jerid Douz - Day 7
Douz
Have breakfast surrounded by the undulating Sahara dunes and spend the morning soaking in the landscape. In the afternoon, drive back to Douz and your evening is free. You can relax or visit the Sahara Desert Museum to learn more about this region's history.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast among the Sahara dunes)
Optional Activities
- Visit Sahara Desert Museum to learn about history of the region
Landmarks/POIs Sahara Desert Museum - Day 8
Dhaher
Travel to Matmata with a stop in Toujane to see ruins of an old kasbah and a centuries-old olive press. Hike in Matmata's surrounding hills and explore underground cave houses that protected locals from intense summer heat, the same dwellings used as Luke Skywalker's home in Star Wars. Have lunch at a troglodyte restaurant where Star Wars scenes were filmed, then hike through rocky, mountainous desert for photos. Spend the next two nights in a troglodyte gite (cave dwelling) in the Dhaher area, carved into mountain rock with panoramic views.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Troglodyte cave home-cooked lunch (Star Wars filming location)), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Toujane - 15th century olive oil press visit and old kasbah ruins
- Hike in Matmata's surrounding hills
- Explore underground troglodyte cave homes
- Lunch at troglodyte restaurant (Star Wars filming location)
- Hike through rocky, mountainous desert landscape
Landmarks/POIs Toujane Matmata Underground Houses - Day 9
Dahar Region
After a leisurely morning, head to the old village of Douiret with an optional 8 km hike in the Dahar Mountains. Visit the 12th-century mountain village of Chenini. This region is known for traditional olive oil production and ancient oil mills found in caves throughout the Matmata and Tataouine areas. The rest of the day is free to choose your own path - relax at your gite or visit a unique Amazigh Granary. Tonight you'll enjoy a home-cooked meal in Douiret.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Home-cooked meal in Douiret)
Included Activities
- Visit old village of Douiret
Optional Activities
- 8 km hike in Dahar Mountains
- Visit 12th-century mountain village of Chenini
- Visit unique Amazigh Granary
Landmarks/POIs Douiret Dahar Mountains Chenini Amazigh Granary - Day 10
Mahdia
Travel to Mahdia, stopping along the way to see the spectacular Roman amphitheatre of El Jem from the 3rd century, the second largest Roman arena ever built and resembling Rome's Colosseum. Arrive in the seaside port town of Mahdia in the afternoon. Explore the medina in the Old Town with its whitewashed houses and narrow lanes full of local life, then relax on the sandy beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit El Jem Amphitheatre
Optional Activities
- Explore picturesque medina in Old Town with whitewashed houses and narrow lanes
- Relax on sandy beach and enjoy Mediterranean views
Landmarks/POIs El Jem Amphitheatre Mahdia Mahdia Medina 
- Day 11
Tunis
Take a gentle walking tour around the peninsula (Cap Mahdia) this morning past the sea cemetery, local ruins, the old port, and the medina. Return to Tunis in the afternoon to visit the National Bardo Museum, second only to the Egyptian Museum of Cairo in its collections. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner with fellow travelers)
Included Activities
- Walking tour around Cap Mahdia peninsula including sea cemetery, local ruins, old port, and medina
- Visit Bardo National Museum
Landmarks/POIs Cap Mahdia Mahdia Old Port Bardo National Museum - Day 12
Tunis
Your trip ends in Tunis this morning after breakfast with no further activities planned. If you'd like to extend your stay, contact your booking agent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
