The Highlights of Tunisia tour will take you to see many of Tunisia’s best historical and cultural attractions. Your Tunisia tour will be an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Tunis-Carthage International Airport
Here are some highlights of what you will see and experience on the Highlights of Tunisia Tour
Upon arrival in the Tunis capital, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel.
If you have an early arrival, you will explore the historic Tunis Medina, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Make your way through narrow lanes and alleyways stumbling upon local artisans of copper, leather, and wool. Also, the famous Zitouna Mosque, the spice market, and the gold market are sites you don’t want to miss. Dinner will be at the hotel.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ options
After breakfast, you will visit the ancient archaeological site of Carthage, once the largest ancient city in northern Africa. This site holds ruins from many eras of history: the Punics, Romans, Vandals, and Byzantines all made claim to this area at some point.
Continue to the quaint village of Sidi Bou Said which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. We will explore its beautifully paved lanes and spectacular sea views.
Return to Tunis and visit the Bardo Museum. This world-class museum features the largest collection of mosaics in the world. The museum also has numerous rooms featuring artifacts from the Punic to Islamic periods. Dinner will be at the hotel.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ options
After breakfast, you will travel to Dougga, considered one of Tunisia’s best-preserved Roman ruins. This enormous Roman archaeological site was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. Overlooking the vast surrounding regions, it is not uncommon to see locals herding their sheep through the Roman ruins.
Continue north to Bulla Regia where you will find some of the best-preserved Roman villas that were built underground. You will also visit a basicila and an amphitheater with a large mosaic of a bear inside. St. Augustine of Hippo once visited Bulla Regia in 399 and stood in this amphitheater to reproach the citizens for their lack of faith.
When you are ready, travel to El Kef for the night.
Accommodation: 3★ or 4★ Half-Board options
After breakfast, you will visit the archaeological site of Makthar. There are several notable archaeological wonders to keep an eye out for including a Trajan forum, large baths, schola juvenum (Roman minor militia club), and other pre-Roman structures.
Next, depart for the famous and important Islamic city of Kairouan. You will visit the mausoleum of the Berber companion of Mohammed and the Aghlabid pool.
If time permits, you may want to explore the ancient medina with winding streets. You can also visit a carpet-making workshop where you can observe, admire, and learn about this incredible artisan work. Dinner will be at the hotel.
Accommodation: Kasbah Kairouan 5★ (Half-Board)
This morning, you will visit the grand mosque Okba Ibn Nafaa, established in 670 AD.
Your next visit will be to the archaeological site of Sbeitla. As you explore this site, you will see an ancient basilica with intricately designed baptisteries, temples, baths, and the Arch of Diocletian. There is also a small museum that contains a variety of mosaics and other artifacts found at the site.
Travel to Tozeur which is famous for its palm trees and unique architecture using traditional yellow kilns brick. Tozeur is also well known for growing some of the best dates in all of Tunisia, which are exported around the world. Dinner will be at the hotel.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★ or 5★ options
This morning, travel to the beautiful mountainside oasis village of Chebika. This was once a Roman outpost, but later became a mountain refuge for the Berber people. You can hike through the Chebika canyon to the source of the mountain oasis.
Next, travel to Tamerza which is the largest mountain oasis in Tunisia. Then, travel to Mides where you will have a nice panoramic view of the canyon below. The canyon was used for the filming of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The English Patient.
In the afternoon, you can choose to relax in your hotel or to further explore Tozeur. Whether it is a tour through the oasis where some of the most succulent dates in the world are grown, or just exploring the historic medina with its unique architecture, Tozeur will surely captivate you with its Saharan charm.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ options
After breakfast, you will hop into a 4 X 4 Land Cruiser and head out into the desert region for a morning tour. You will visit the Ong Jemel ‘neck of the camel’ rock formation. This was the film location where Darth Maul arrives on Tatooine and releases the Sith Probes in Star Wars Episode I: A Phantom Menace.
Afterward, travel across the Sahara dunes to the Mos Espa Star Wars film site. Then make your way to the location of the igloo of Lars Family Homestead exterior which was Luke Skywalker’s home in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. This film location was also used in Attack of the Clones and the final shot of Revenge of the Sith.
You can either enjoy a free afternoon or visit the Eden Palms museum where you will step into a date palm grove and learn all about Tozeur’s date production.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ options
This morning, travel across the Chott el Jerid, the largest salt flat in Tunisia until you reach the small Berber village of Matmata. You can visit one of the traditional underground “troglodyte” structures where the locals live. Any Star Wars fans can visit Hotel Sidi Idriss, which was used as Luke Skywalker’s home.
Finally, travel to the beautiful oasis of Ksar Ghilane situated next to the Sahara dunes. Enjoy a swim in the natural hot spring, or ride a camel in the desert, or rent a 4×4 quad and drive out to an abandoned Roman fort.
Accommodation: 3★ hotel, campsite with amenities, or authentic Sahara camping
Today, you will depart the Sahara Desert and make your way to Chenini. Wander through this historic Berber mountainside village. The mountaintop view is well worth the climb to the top.
When you are ready, travel to the island of Djerba for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ options
After breakfast, you will begin your island tour of Djerba. Explore the wonders of Djerba Island with stops at El Ghriba Synagogue (the oldest synagogue in North Africa), Djerbahood, and Guellala (pottery town).
You may want to visit Houmet Souk to explore its markets and to have a fresh fish lunch.
Once you have finished the island tour, return to your hotel for an afternoon of rest or extra time at the Mediterranean beach.
Accommodations: 3★, 4★, or 5★ options
Today, you will have a morning departure for El Djem. The Roman Coliseum in this city is one of the best-preserved in the world. It was constructed between 230 and 238 AD and is believed to at one time have hosted between 30,000 to 45,000 spectators. Take time exploring this enormous structure and do not forget to go down to the rooms where gladiators awaited their upcoming battle. There is a museum in the town that hosts a plethora of mosaics.
Travel to Sousse and if time remains in the day, perhaps you would like to see the archeological museum, kasbah, and medina. Dinner will be at the hotel.
Accommodations: 3★, 4★, or 5★ options
After breakfast, you will visit the historic sites of Sousse. During the trip, you will wander through the ancient medina, explore the Ribat and tower, and the archaeological museum of Sousse.
After lunch, you will depart for Thuburbo Majus, a Roman site that has a small coliseum, baths, and various Roman houses allowing onlookers to imagine life in a quintessential Roman African city.
Next, continue to the mountainside Roman site of Zaghouan, where you will find a temple of the ‘water god’. When you are ready, finish the day in the coastal city of Hammamet.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ options
After breakfast, visit the coastal town of Nabeul, which is known for its sandy white beaches, crystal clear blue seawater, and beautiful gardens.
Afterward, explore the picturesque peninsula of Cap Bon. Your first stop here will be at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kerkouane, an ancient Punic city of importance.
Then, you will also see the Roman Grottoes of “Ghar el Kébir” in El Haouaria (the tip of Cap Bon). Here you will see ancient quarries that were once used by prisoners and slaves to supply red and yellow sandstone for the construction of Carthage and ancient tombs. Huge blocks of stones were extracted from the lower rocks, hauled out of the shafts, and shipped to Carthage as building material.
You will visit the site of Korbous, a town built on a mountainside in Cap Bon. This town is known for its natural hot spring which has temperatures reaching over 50°C (over 122°F).
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ options
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Tunis-Carthage International Airport for departure, bringing an unforgettable Highlights of Tunisia tour to a close.
