TUNISIAN TOURS: KASBAH TO SAHARA
Schedules and pricing

From the Kasbah to the Sahara

A seven night package that explores the coastal region of Tunisia, along with the regions of the south from Jerba to the oases.

7 nights!

Friday -Tunis
Arrival, welcome and assistance at the airport. Transfer to hotel in central Tunis. Orientation, dinner and overnight in Tunis. (D)

Saturday -Tunis/Carthage/Sidi Bou Said
Visit the medina of Tunis, which is the oldest part of Tunis and within the walls of the original city of Tunis. The visit includes the opportunity to learn about Tunisia's urban architecture, as well as an opportunity to explore the souks, or marketplace. Continue to the Bardo Museum, housed in a former palace of the Bey, the Bardo Museum holds the largest collection of Carthaginian tiles and mosaics, as well as many artifacts that reflect the ancient civilization. Lunch in Tunis area. Continue to Carthage to learn about the history of this most noted of Roman and Carthaginian in North Africa. Continue to the picturesque village of Sidi Bou Said, which is noted for its Andalusian style architecture. Overnight in Tunis. (B)

Viewing the extensive mosaic collection at the Bardo Museum

Sunday - Tunis/Sousse/El Jem/Sfax
Departure south of Tunis to Sousse. Sousse is Tunisia's third largest city and Tunisia's primary beach resort town. Your visit to Sousse will concentrate on the central, historic district, where you will have a walking tour of the ribat and the old town of Sousse. From Sousse, you drive southwest to El Jem. Known in Punic and Roman times as Thysdrus, the approach to El Jem offers a scene of contrasts, due to the setting of the site amidst the barren and simple surroundings of the present day town. The coliseum appears better preserved than the one in Rome and certainly, has seen far less numbers of tourists over the years. You will have plenty of time to walk through the site and learn about its past. There is also a small, but good museum within a short drive. From El Jem, you continue southeast to Sfax, arriving late afternoon/early evening. At your leisure with dinner and overnight at hotel in Sfax. (B)

Monday - Sfax/Gabes/Jerba
A woman grinding wheat to make bread in Matmata, southern Tunisia
Your morning begins with a walk through the medina of Sousse, if you did not have the opportunity to do this upon arrival to Sfax. Sfax has Tunisia's largest walled town and a medina that has very interesting architecture, having also been the film site for the Egyptian market scenes in the film, "The English Patient". From Sfax, you head south along the coast to Gabes, an oasis town that today is more of an industrial city for the natural gas and refinery industry. Your stop in Gabes will be brief, as you continue on via the coast to the island of Jerba. Explore the island, including stops in the pottery village of Guellala and a visit 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. Dinner and overnight in Jerba. (B, D)

Tuesday - Matmata/Douz/Tozeur
After breakfast, you will take the ferry off the island and drive to the village of Matmata, known for its unusual troglodyte dwellings. After seeing some of this unusual architecture, continue westward to the desert oasis town of Douz, the gateway to the Sahara. You can have in Douz and if you wish, you can take an optional camel trek into the dunes for approximately forty-five minutes. Continue traveling westward, crossing the Chott El Jerid, Tunisia's "salt lake". Late afternoon/early evening arrival to Tozeur, an oasis town in the western portion of Tunisia. Before dinner, you will have an opportunity to visit the privately owned, Dar Cherait Museum. The museum's emphasis is on urban life in Tunisia prior to independence. Dinner and overnight in Tozeur. (B, D)

Wednesday -Tozeur/Gafsa
After breakfast, you depart to the mountain oases villages of Chebika, Tamerza and Mides. Early afternoon return to Tozuer, where you will have an opportunity to walk through the oasis of Tozeur, as well as the old town, providing an opportunity to learn about the architectural style that is unique to the southwest of Tunisia. The remainder of your afternoon and evening is free to enjoy Tozeur. Overnight in Tozeur. (B)

Thursday - Sbeitla/Kairouan/Tunis
After breakfast, depart Tozeur heading northeast, with your first primary stop being Sbeitla, an ancient city of Roman and Byzantine ruins, known in Roman times as Sufetula. After touring the site of Sbeitla, you continue northeast to Kairouan, Tunisia's holy city, where you will have the opportunity to tour this city that became home to a flourishing crafts industry during the 14th and 15th centuries. You will have time to wander and have lunch independently in Kairouan. From Kairouan, you return to Tunis, arriving late afternoon or early evening. Overnight in Tunis. (B)

Examining the architectural diversity within Kairouan's Great Mosque

Friday -Tunis
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for return flight. (B)