Tunisia: From Antiquities To Exotica
Dec. 19 -29, 2010

Sunday, Dec. 19-Tunis
Upon your arrival in Tunis, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Gammarth, a seaside suburban area approximately 20-30 minutes from central Tunis. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure to rest and/or recover from your flight. This evening, you rendezvous with your guide and fellow tour participants at 7PM. The driver who picks you up at the airport will provide you with these details, as well as suggestions on how you can spend your afternoon, independently. Dinner and overnight in Tunis-Gammarth. (D)

Monday, Dec. 20-Tunis
Morning orientation of the capital, beginning with a drive to the suburbs of Tunis where you will tour Carthage, the most famous of Tunisia's ruins, though as you will see in the days to come, hardly the most impressive. From Carthage you proceed to the nearby village of Sidi Bou Said, where you will have time to walk through some of this picturesque village, whose architecture was largely influenced by Andalusian settlers of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Lunch will be out along the seacoast. Following lunch, you drive into the historic heart of Tunis, the medina. You will have the opportunity to walk through the labyrinth of streets, providing an opportunity to learn about the urban architecture, some of which dates to the 7th century. Overnight in Tunis-Gammarth. (B, L, D)

Carthage overlooking the Mediterranean

Tuesday, Dec. 21 - Bulla Regia and northwest Tunisia
This morning you check out of your hotel and start your day's touring with a visit to the Bardo Museum. Housed in a former palace of the Bey, the Bardo Museum holds the world's largest collection of Carthaginian tiles and mosaics, as well as many artifacts that reflect the ancient civilization. From the Bardo, you depart the Tunis region and drive approximately two hours to the northwest corner of Tunisia, through scenic country roads and cork forests, eventually arriving to Bulla Regia, one of the largest Roman sites in Tunisia. Dating from the fourth century, BC, Bulla Regia has beautifully preserved underground villas, built to provide an escape from the hot summers. From Bulla Regia, you drive into the mountains and cork forests, with an overnight in a hotel that is reminiscent of a hunting lodge. Overnight in Ain Draham. (B, L, D)

Mosaic tile floors in the homes of Bulla Regia

Wednesday, Dec. 22 - Dougga/El Kef
This morning, you depart your hotel for more of your exploration of this more remote region of Tunisia. Your first primary stop will be Dougga. Known in Roman times as Thugga, Dougga is Tunisia's largest Roman site, covering some sixty acres. Dougga was known as the city of temples, with its existence thought to date back to the 4th century B.C. From Dougga, you drive into hilltop town of El Kef. A rather unprentious town whose hotels have the simplicity found throughout the region. Dinner and overnight in El Kef. (B,L,D)

Thursday, Dec. 23 - Makthar/Haidra/Sbeitla
This morning you depart El Kef southeast to Makthar. Known in Roman times as Mactaris, the town became a place of refuge for many Punic refugees following the fall of Carthage in 146 BC. The site has a small, but impressive museum housing a collection of neo-Punic stelae. Your touring continues through the country roads, heading south through the countryside, with late morning/mid-day arrival to Sbeitla. Known by its early Punic name, Sufetula, this impressive site seems to be in the middle of nowhere. During Roman times, olive trees were cultivated in this region and provided a flourishing olive oil export trade to Italy. After exploring the site, you continue in a southwest direction, eventually arriving to Tozeur, an exotic oasis town. Dinner and overnight in Tozeur. (B,L,D)

Friday, Dec. 24 -Tozeur and oases region
After breakfast, you will have the opportunity to explore the oasis of Tozeur and learn a bit about oasis life. Following this, you depart for an excursion via 4x4 vehicles, which take you to the mountain oasis villages of Chebika and Tamerza. Upon your return to Tozeur, the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure to explore the town and its souk, or to enjoy the amenities of your hotel and sunset in the desert. Prior to dinner, you will have a visit to the "Dar Cherait" museum in Tozeur, which provides a look at Tunisia's culture and its people. Dinner tonight is independent. TunisUSA will provide recommendations. Overnight in Tozeur. (B,L)

The mountain oasis village of Chebika

Saturday, Dec. 25 - Douz/Matmata/Jerba
You depart early today. After breakfast, you drive east, crossing the Chott El Jerid, Tunisia's "salt lake" and arrive to the desert village of Douz. Douz is a small oasis town that is in the midst of the desert. Should you wish to go on a camel ride, this would be the place for a brief excursion. From Douz, you continue on with a stop in the village of Matmata, known for its unusual troglodyte dwellings. After seeing some of this unusual architecture, continue towards the coast and then the ferry crossing to the island of Jerba. Dinner and overnight in Jerba. (B,L,D)

Sunday, Dec. 26- Jerba
Today, you will start the day by exploring the island, including stops in the pottery village of Guellala where you will have time to tour the privately owned ethnographic museum. From Guellela, you drive to the "Ghriba" synagogue in Hara Saghira, which is one of the synagogues that belongs to the ancient Jewish community of Jerba...a community that dates back some 2500 years. Continue to Houmt-Souk, the main market town on the island of Jerba. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to enjoy Jerba. Overnight in Jerba. (B, D)

Inside the Ghriba Synagogue in Jerba

Monday, Dec. 27 - Jerba/Sfax/El Jem/Sousse
This morning your drive takes you back to the mainland and then north along the coast. You will have the opportunity to stop in Sfax, Tunisia's second largest city and the largest walled city in Tunisia. While Sfax is primarily an industrial town and not on the tourists' route, you will have the opportunity to walk through the souk in Sfax, as it is very much one serving the local population. Following your rather brief stop in Sfax, you continue en route to El Jem, one of the largest roman coliseums in existence. After exploring the coliseum and the nearby museum of El Jem, you drive north to Sousse. Upon arrival in Sousse, the remainder of your day will be at your leisure, with your base being at a seaside hotel. Dinner is independent. TunisUSA will provide dining suggestions. Overnight in Sousse. (B,L)

Tuesday, Dec. 28-Kairouan/Hammamet/Tunis
This morning you will have the opportunity to visit the small, but impressive Sousse Museum, followed by a walk through the old town of Sousse, within the walls of the ribat. You then leave Sousse and drive approximately one hour west to Kairouan, Tunisia's holy city and said to be the site of the first mosque in Africa. During medieval times, Kairouan rose to become an important center for trade and crafts, due to its presence on the route of pilgrims going from Andalusia and other North African points, en route to Mecca. Following your visit to Kairouan, you return to Tunis via an inland route, with a stop on the way at Thuburbo Majus, a scenic Roman town. Late afternoon arrival in Tunis. Farewell dinner and overnight in Tunis. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, Dec. 29 - Tunis departure A driver will arrange to meet you in the lobby of your hotel two hours prior to your international flight to transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. (B)