3-Day Private Tour to El Djem, Douz & Kairouan

Experience the wonders of southern Tunisia on a 3-day custom tour through El Djem, Douz, and Kairouan, featuring breathtaking deserts and stunning landscapes. This journey promises to be unforgettable!

Tour Overview 

Day 1: Sousse – Kairouan – Gafsa – Tozeur

On the designated day, we will meet you at your accommodation in Sousse. Our adventure begins as we delve into the picturesque vistas of the Tunisian Sahel. After approximately 1 hour of travel, we will arrive in Kairouan, a city revered as one of Islam’s most sacred sites since the 7th century.

During our 1 to 1.5-hour visit, we'll tour the Great Mosque of Kairouan, recognized as one of the oldest mosques within the Western Islamic realm, celebrated for its forest of columns stemming from Roman and Byzantine eras. Additionally, we will view the Aghlabid Basins, an exceptional feat of medieval water management.

Next, we will journey southwest to Gafsa, a city with Roman roots nestled in a lush valley surrounded by mountains. There, we will savor lunch at the Gafsa Palace Hotel, featuring a menu of salad, soup, brik, and a choice of cutlet or chicken.

Post-lunch, our route continues towards Tozeur, traversing increasingly arid scenery until we reach this Saharan retreat in roughly 4 hours. Tozeur is acclaimed for its traditional brick architecture and extensive palm groves.

Upon arrival, we’ll check in to our hotel, where we will enjoy a buffet dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 2: Tozeur – Chebika – Tamerza – Mides – Ong Jemel – Douz

Following a hearty breakfast, we’ll embark on an exploration of southwestern Tunisia, focusing on various mountain oases. The day is set to inspire!

Within about 1 hour, we will arrive at Chebika, a site dating back to Roman times, elegantly set amidst the Saharan Atlas's rock formations. As we arrive, we will take a 1-hour hike, encountering springs, palmlands, and waterfalls that create a striking contrast with the surrounding desert.

Our next stop is Tamerza, once a significant border outpost and one of the largest oases in the area, noted for its rock formations and waterfalls. We will then make our way to the Mides Canyons, a dramatic gorge sculpted by river activity, revealing unique geological features.

After another hour’s drive, we will reach Ong Jemel, famed as a filming location for several Star Wars movies. It's an ideal spot for photographs!

We will make our way back to Tozeur for a traditional lunch including soup, salad, brik, couscous, and fresh fruit, accompanied by mint tea. In the afternoon, we will journey towards Douz, often hailed as the entrance to the Sahara. This leg of our trip will last approximately 2.5 hours, passing by Chott el Djerid, the largest salt flat in North Africa.

Upon our arrival in Douz, we’ll settle at our campsite, where a traditional dinner of gargoulette (meat cooked in a clay pot), along with sand-baked bread and fruit, awaits us. The evening unfolds with a gathering around the fire, accompanied by the melodic sounds of Berber drums under a star-studded sky.

Day 3: Douz – Matmata – El Djem – Sousse

Good morning! We will kick off the day with breakfast featuring sand-baked bread, dates, olive oil, honey, and assorted local delicacies. Revitalized, we will set out on a 1.5-hour journey to Matmata.

This village is renowned for its troglodyte dwellings, intricately carved into the limestone to shield against the harsh desert climate. We will visit one such home to gain insight into Berber culture and daily life.

Next, we’ll proceed to the Sidi Idriss Hotel, another Star Wars filming location. In this extraordinary setting, we will enjoy lunch comprising couscous, soup, salad, seasonal fruits, and mint tea.

Our final stop will bring us to the El Djem Amphitheater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Constructed in the 3rd century, this site stands as the third-largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire and one of the most well-preserved.

We will then commence our journey back to Sousse, taking about 1 hour. You can expect to arrive at your accommodation between 2 pm and 4 pm.

Accommodation Details 

During this tour, you will be accommodated for 2 nights as follows:

• The first night will be spent at the Hotel Ksar Rouge in Tozeur (4*). Prices are listed per person for double or triple occupancy.
• The second night will be in a desert camp in Douz. The tents offer electricity for device charging and include shared facilities with toilets and showers.

Rest assured, you will not share the tents with strangers. Available options include single, double, triple, and family tents. A single supplement applies to those reserving a single tent, as well as for cases where a group member prefers a haima over a single room.

Children aged 2 to 12 must stay with their parents or guardians and will have an extra bed provided.

Benefits of Choosing a Private Tour

Opting for a private tour means you will benefit from an exclusive guide fluent in English, allowing you to enjoy a tailored experience with your family, partner, or friends.