Visit North Africa’s magnificent Roman sites on this North Africa tour. Don’t miss experiencing Roman North Africa as you travel through three countries and enjoy the incredible history of these lands.
Here are some highlights of what you will see and experience on the Roman North Africa Tour
Upon arrival at Casablanca International airport, you will be met and transferred by private transportation to Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco. There you will check-in to your hotel and explore some of the city.
If time allows, a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, the third largest mosque in the world, is highly recommended. Dinner will be at your hotel.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Hotel/Riad Options
After breakfast, you will depart to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. You will take a city tour including visits to the Palace Walls, the Hassan II Tower and the Mausoleum of King Mohamed V. The Romans sites you will encounter are the Museum of Antiquities, and the Chellah, or Sala Colonia. The town of Sala Colonia is said to be the last Roman outpost to the West in North Africa.
In the afternoon, you will explore the often-unvisited site of Lixus, located next to the coastal city of Larache. Much of the site is still under the earth, but you see the remains of an amphitheater, public buildings, and a Christian church that became a mosque. From there, you will head to the coastal city of Tangier for night. Dinner will be at your hotel.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Hotel/Riad Options
In the morning, depart for Tetouan where you will wander through the UNESCO World Heritage medina and then visit the archaeological museum. You will find items from the Roman cities of Tamuda and Lixus.
Travel south to Chefchaouen for lunch and stop to enjoy the gorgeous blue and white painted walls throughout this medina. Enjoy the day exploring the town. Dinner will be at the hotel.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Hotel/Riad Options
After breakfast, continue winding through the Rif mountains until you reach Morocco’s best-preserved Roman site of Volubilis. You will take a guided tour of these 2000-year-old ruins. Some of the sites you will see are the trumphial Arch of Caracalla, mosaics, and Capitoline Temple.
When you are done continue to Meknes and to explore the medina, Bab Mansour gate with huge arches and mosaic tiling, and the Mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail. Finish the day in Fes. Dinner will be at the hotel
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Hotel/Riad Options
Take a rest today from Roman sites and enjoy a day full of culture and history awaiting your discovery in the Fes medina. After breakfast, your group will take a full day guided tour of the famous ancient medina of Fes. In this 1200-year-old city, you will visit sites where very little has changed since the city was first established. You will be stepping back in time as you wander through this labyrinth of streets and alleys, visiting the tanneries, bronze workers, mosques, and more.
Lunch will be taken at a restaurant in a traditional house in the heart of the medina close to the world famous Kairaouine mosque. After your tour, you will continue on 2.5 hours to Rabat for the night.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Hotel/Riad Options
Today will you have an early morning transfer to the airport in Casablanca and depart for Algeria. Arrive in Algiers and transfer to your hotel for two nights.
Depending on your arrival time, you can take an afternoon tour of the Notre Dame d’Afrique, Grand Poste, Monument to the Martyrs, and the Kasbah, Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Art. Dinner will be taken at local restaurant.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Hotel Options
After breakfast, you will travel to Tipaza to explore this beautiful Roman site beside the Mediterranean Sea. You will not want to miss the historic basilica, which is said to be the largest in North Africa. If you enjoy seafood you may want to try out a local restaurant for a fresh fish lunch in Tipaza. Don’t miss the museum before continuing on to Cherchell. Here you will visit two archaeology museums that hosts a number of Roman antiquities. On your way back to Algiers, stop at the pyramid-like structure of the Tomb de le Christian.
Dinner will be in a hotel or at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Hotel Options
Today you will have an early morning departure and drive to Setif in the morning. Visit the National Museum of Archaeology which hosts the remarkable and intact mosaic Procession of Bacchus.
Continue to the the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Djemila, this name in Arabic means ‘Beautiful.’ The site lives up to its name as it is uniquely situated amongst rolling hills. You will have a guided visit of both the museum and the historic site. Explore the forum, basilicas, baptisteries, arch of Caracalla, Temple des Septimes, well-preserved Roman market, and theatre. Travel to Constantine for dinner and night.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Hotel Options
Today you will want to depart early to have sufficient time at all the sites. Begin with a stop at Medracen (Ancient Numidian Tomb), which is 58 meters in diameter and 19 meters tall. Then travel to the unforgettable UNESCO World Heritage Site of Timgad, begun by Emperor Trajan in AD100. Here you will discover the library, temples, amphitheater, arch of Trajan, forum, houses, and basilicas.
On your return trip to Constantine, stop at Lambaesis, which hosts the large structure of the Roman legionary base. Travel to Constantine for dinner and night.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Hotel Options
You will begin the day with a trip to the incredible hillside Roman town of Tiddis. Situated amongst beautiful rolling hills you will see the ruins of an arch, sanctuary of Mithras, and Christian chapel are among the few. Return back to Constantine and take a guided tour of the city including the historic medina, suspension bridges and the museum of cirta.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Hotel Options
After breakfast travel to Annaba and explore the archaeological site of Hippo Reguis, the museum, and the Cathedral of St. Augustine. You may want to enjoy a seaside lunch. In the afternoon, time permitting, take in the beautiful scenery at Cap De Garde and finish the day with a city tour in Annaba.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Hotel Options
After breakfast, you will continue on to the Tunisia Border. After finishing the formalities at the border, meet your Tunisian English speaking guide and driver and wind through the hills until you arrive to Bulla Regia where you will find a basilica, theater, and explore unique underground villas. Continue to El Kef for the night.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Full-Board
After breakfast, explore historic sites in El Kef. Afterwards, travel to the enormous Roman Archaeological site in Dougga. Dougga has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997 and is considered as “the best preserved Roman small town in North Africa”. As one of the best preserved Roman ruins in Tunisia, these ancient ruins stand as a testimony to over 17 centuries of history and a unique integration of Numidian, Punic, Hellenistic, and Roman cultural influences. The site overlooks its vast surrounding regions. It’s not uncommon to see locals herding their sheep through the Roman ruins. You may want to take lunch here.
Continue to the Roman site of Makthar. Here you will see a Roman Forum, Trajan’s arch, a Vandal Church, and much more. Finish the day at Kairouan.
Accommodation: La Kasbah 5★ Half-Board
This morning, you will visit the grand mosque Okba Ibn Nafaa which was established in 670 AD. You will also visit the mausoleum of the Berber companion of Mohammed, and the Aghlabid pool.
Afterwards, you may be interested in a visit to a carpet-making workshop where you can observe, admire, and learn about this incredible artisan work. There is an ancient medina with winding streets and is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
When you have completed your visits, travel to Sbeitla archaeological sites. Here you will find the unique Roman mosaic baptistries and early basilicas, forum, and arches. Return to Kairouan for dinner and night.
Accommodation: La Kasbah 5★ Half-Board
After breakfast explore head off to El Jem. El Jem hosts a Roman Coliseum which 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 the gladiators waited their upcoming battle. There is a museum in the town that hosts a plethora of mosaics.
Travel to Sousse and visit the Sousse archeological museum, and Sousse market in the ancient medina. Enjoy the variety of colors and traditional wares found in its many streets. There is also a walkway along the coast.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Half-Board
After breakfast, you will depart for Thuburbo Majus, a Roman site that has a small baths, and various Roman houses allowing one to imagine life in a quintessential Roman African city.
Your next destination will be Zaghouan to see the ‘water god’ that the Romans built. This is the source of water for the ancient city of Carthage.
After exploring these ruins, stop at the Oudhna archaeological site, where you will find a small Roman amphitheatre. You will return to Tunis for the dinner and night.
Accommodation: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Half-Board
After breakfast, your driver will transfer you to the Bardo Museum for a visit. This museum contains a vast collection of important Mosaics from the Roman period. There are numerous rooms in this world-class institution offering artifacts from the Punic to Islamic period. This is one museum that you will not want to miss!
After lunch, you visit the ancient archaeological site of Carthage, once the largest ancient cities 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. You then continue to the quaint village of Sidi Bou Said, built on and around several hills overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. You will explore its beautifully paved lanes and spectacular sea views.
Accommodations: 3★, 4★, or 5★ Half-Board
Your driver will take you to the Tunis/Carthage International airport, thus ending your Roman North Africa Tour.
