TUNISIA: From Phoenicians to Berbers

October 8-19, 2010

Schedules and pricing

"From Phoenicians to Berbers" provides an in-depth and diverse discovery of Tunisia. Joining portions of this tour will be TunisUSA founder, Jerry Sorkin, a specialist in Middle East and North African affairs.

Leading this tour will be Hatem Bourial, one of Tunisia's leading personalities in the realm of Tunisian culture and literature, whose deep knowledge of history and affable nature, makes an exploration of Tunisia a very special treat!

During this in-depth tour, participants will not only see Tunisia, but will experience the country and its people in a manner that few tours can offer, including home visits and guest lecturers by Tunisians on topics relating to foreign policy, empowering women entrepreneurs and more!

This all-inclusive land package offers an in-depth exploration of Tunisia. From the extensive Roman ruins of central and northern Tunisia to the exotic landscapes of the south, from the island of Jerba to the oases of the southeast, From Phoenicians to Berbers offers a diverse Tunisian experience.

Due to the nature of this tour and some of the venues visited, space is limited!

Friday, October 8 - Tunis

Upon your arrival in Tunis, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel near the seaside area of Tunis. You have the remainder of the afternoon to relax and recover from your flight, with an early evening rendezvous with your fellow tour participants. The evening will include an orientation and a wonderful dinner, providing an introduction to Tunisian cuisine. Overnight in Tunis. (D)

Saturday, October 9 - Tunis environs

Morning orientation of the capital, beginning with a visit to Carthage, the most famous of Tunisia's ruins, but as you will see in the days to come, hardly the most impressive.

From Carthage you proceed to the Bardo Museum. Housed in a former palace of the Ottoman Bey, the Bardo has a world-class collection of mosaics.

From the Bardo, you drive to the medina, the historic heart of Tunis, where you will have a walking tour to get a sense of the architecture, some of which dates to the 7th century, followed by an opportunity to browse within the alleyways of the souk. This evening you will have an opportunity to visit 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. Dinner and overnight in Tunis. (B,L,D)

Sunday, October 10 - Thuburbo Majus/Bulla Regia/Ain Draham

This morning you drive south of Tunis to Thurburbo Majus, a town that grew under the Romans, but was actually a city of earlier origins, with Berber and Carthaginian remains.

After exploring Thurbubo Majus, you head northwest, with lunch in a very nice setting in the Medjez river valley. Following lunch, you continue north, with eventual arrival to the Roman city of Bulla Regia. Bulla Regia is quite expansive with interesting examples of underground architecture, as well as preserved mosaics in situ.

Following your tour of Bulla Regia, you drive into the mountainous area of the Khroumerie, amidst the cork forests. Your base is a hotel that is very much in the feeling of a hunting lodge in this rural, scenic area. Overnight in Ain Draham. (B, L, D)

Monday, October 11 - Dougga/Zaghouan/Hammamet

Your day begins with a scenic driver to Dougga, Tunisia most expansive site. Your visit to Dougga will be extensive, as the site has a Roman theater, the well preserved Capital, roads, home construction and much more. The hilltop setting is beautiful.

From Dougga, you continue east with a lunch visit to a rural farm in the central region of Tunisia, before continuing on to Zaghouan, the mountain source for water, which was sent to Carthage by a Roman aqueduct. Following Zaghouan, you drive to Hammamet, a seaside town that will serve as your base for the evening. Dinner and overnight in Hammamet. (B, L, D)

Tuesday, October 12 - Kerkouane

Morning departure south of Tunis, circling the coast of the Cape Bon peninsula, with a primary stop along this verdant region of Tunisia being Kerkouane. A Punic town, Kerkouane was a Punic port. Its pre-Roman architecture can be admired in the rather well preserved state of this town. From Kerkouane, you continue your touring, stopping in Kelibia for lunch and then continuing along the coast. Late afternoon return to Hammamet, via Nabeul, where you will have a tour of the city and then returning to your hotel, where you can enjoy the amenities of your hotel, or if you prefer, explore Hammamet on your own. Overnight in Hammamet. (B, L, D)

Wednesday, Oct 13 - Sousse/El Jem/Kairouan

This morning you depart south for Sousse, Tunisia's third largest city and a major destination for Tunisia's "sun and sea" tourists. Your visit will concentrate on the historic heart of Sousse, with a visit to the ribat of Sousse, a walk through the old town and its market and a visit to the Great Mosque of Sousse. Prior to lunch, you will have a guest speaker from the University of Sousse, followed by lunch in the scenic yacht basin of Port Kantoui. Following lunch, you depart south for El Jem, taking a coastal route, providing an opportunity to stop briefly at an archaeological site between Monastir and Mahdia where ongoing archaeological work is being done. Following this, you turn southwest to El Jem, known in Roman times as Thysdrus and noted for its amphitheater, which is similar to the coliseum of Rome. Following your exploration of El Jem and the nearby El Jem Museum, you drive approximately one hour northwest to Kairouan, your base for the night. Dinner and overnight in Kairouan. (B, L, D)

Thursday, October 14 - Kairouan/Sbeitla/Tozeur

This morning you tour Kairouan. Kairouan is today, a rather provincial town. The city was founded and subsequently developed during early Islamic times, with Kairouan's Great Mosque, dating from the 7th century, reputed to be the oldest mosque in Africa. Kairouan's location along the caravan routes also provided a base for a flourishing crafts industry. The region still provides the base for much of Tunisia's craft industry, particularly rugs and textiles. After touring Kairouan, you depart southwest, with your next primary stop being Sbeitla. Sbeitla is an impressive antiquity site, known in Roman times as Sufetula. Among the ruins are Tunisia's most expansive collection of early Christian remains. From Sbeitla, you continue southwest with a late day arrival to Tozeur. Evening tour of the Dar Cheraiat Museum. Dinner and overnight in Tozeur. (B, D)

Friday, October 15 - Tozeur/Oasis region

Morning visit via 4-wheel drive vehicles to the mountain oases of Tamerza and Chebika, with the exotic contrasts of barren hills juxtaposed with waterfalls and palm groves. Return to Tozeur, where you will visit the oasis of Tozeur and learn about life in the oasis, as well as an architectural walking tour through the historic old town of Tozeur. The remainder of the afternoon will be independent to enjoy Tozeur at your leisure. Overnight in Tozeur. (B, D)

Saturday, October 16 - Douz/ksour region/Jerba

This morning you drive east across the Chott-el-Jerid, Tunisia's 'salt lake'. Your drive takes you to Douz, a small oasis town that is often a jumping off point for desert treks. If you would like to take a camel ride into the dunes, your guide will be happy to make such arrangements with camel owners. From Douz, you continue east with your next stop being the region of Matmata, a region of troglodyte (underground dwellings) homes. You will have an opportunity to visit one of these homes, as well as have a rather simple lunch in the town of Matmata. You then drive south through rugged scenery with a stop in both Ksar Haddada, now, an abandoned ksour village, as well as Chenini, a remote hilltop village that is home to the largest Berber speaking community in Tunisia. From the ksour region, you drive northeast to the coast and take the ferry to the ferry to the island of Jerba, arriving early evening. Dinner and overnight in Jerba. (B, L, D)

Sunday, October 17 - Jerba

Jerba (sometimes spelled: Djerba) was a port of call to the Phoenicians and a port where Ulysses and his men were detained on their return from Troy. Jerba's island location has always provided its people a simple and peaceful lifestyle, which continues today. Jerba is also the home of one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. You will have an opportunity to meet members of this ancient Jewish community and learn about their life today, a community that remains youthful and vibrant.

You will visit the Ghriba synagogue and get a glimpse of this historic synagogue, as well as the picturesque village of Guellela, known for its pottery production. You proceed to Houmt Souk, the main market town on the island of Jerba, where you will have an orientation of the town and ample time to enjoy lunch and explore the souk Houmt Souk at a leisurely pace. Overnight in Jerba. (B, D)

Monday, October 18 - Jerba/Tunis

This morning you have a flight back to Tunis. Upon your arrival in Tunis, you will transfer to the center of the city, which will also be your base for the evening. You will have a opportunity to explore more of the medina with your guide, with the remainder of the afternoon independent.

TunisUSA will provide suggestions for lunch, shopping and will provide any assistance in orienting you to how you might one to spend the remainder of the day. This evening you will rendezvous for a farewell dinner in a wonderful setting. Overnight in Tunis. (B, D)

Tuesday, October 19 - Tunis/USA

Morning transfers to the airport for your respective departures to the US via European gateways, arriving late the same day. (B)