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

Tour Details 

Day 1: Sousse – Kairouan – Gafsa – Tozeur

At the scheduled time, we'll pick you up from your hotel in Sousse. From there, we'll begin a journey that takes us deep into the landscapes of the Tunisian Sahel. After 1 hour’s drive, we'll reach Kairouan, one of Islam’s holiest cities and the spiritual heart of the Maghreb since the 7th century.

During the visit, which will last between 1 and 1.5 hours, we'll explore the Great Mosque of Kairouan, one of the oldest in the Western Islamic world, famous for its forest of columns reused from the Roman and Byzantine times. We'll also see the Aghlabid Basins, a masterpiece of medieval hydraulic engineering.

We'll continue southwest to Gafsa, a city of Roman origin located in a fertile valley between mountains. Here we'll enjoy lunch at the Gafsa Palace Hotel, with a menu featuring salad, soup, brik, and either a cutlet or chicken.

In the afternoon, we'll continue to Tozeur, crossing increasingly arid landscapes until we reach this Saharan oasis after about a 4-hour drive. Tozeur is known for its traditional geometric brick architecture and its extensive palm grove.

There, we'll check into the hotel where we'll enjoy a buffet dinner and spend the night.

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

After a full breakfast, we’ll head into southwestern Tunisia to explore a series of mountain oases. Let’s get the day started!

In about 1 hour, we’ll reach Chebika, a Roman-era site nestled among the rock formations of the Saharan Atlas. As soon as we arrive, we’ll set out on a 1-hour hike through springs, palm groves, and waterfalls that create an almost surreal contrast with the desert landscape.

Next stop? Tamerza, a former border post and one of the region’s largest oases, marked by rock formations and waterfalls. We’ll continue to the Mides Canyons, a spectacular gorge carved by river erosion, where geological strata are exposed, offering us a unique natural spectacle.

After 1 hour’s drive, we’ll head deep into the desert until we reach Ong Jemel, a place world-famous for having served as the setting for several Star Wars films. Photo op!

We’ll return to Tozeur for a traditional lunch featuring soup, salad, brik, couscous, and fresh fruit, accompanied by mint tea. In the afternoon, we’ll head to Douz, known as the gateway to the Sahara. The journey, lasting about 2.5 hours, will take us across Chott el Djerid, North Africa’s largest salt lake.

Upon arriving in Douz, we’ll reach the campsite where we’ll enjoy a traditional dinner featuring gargoulette (meat cooked in a clay pot) along with sand- baked bread and fruit. The evening will continue with a gathering around the fire, accompanied by the rhythms of Berber drums under a sky filled with stars.

Day 3: Douz – Matmata – El Djem – Sousse

Good morning! We’ll start the day with a breakfast of sand-baked bread, dates, olive oil, honey, and other local products. With our stomachs full, we’ll set out on a 1.5-hour drive to Matmata.

This village is famous for its troglodyte homes, carved into the limestone rock to protect against the extreme desert heat. We’ll visit one of these homes to experience Berber life firsthand.

Next, we’ll head to one of the Star Wars filming locations at the Sidi Idriss Hotel. In this unique setting, we’ll enjoy lunch, which includes couscous, soup, salad, seasonal fruit, and mint tea.

We’ll wrap up the day by visiting the El Djem Amphitheater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 3rd century, it is the third-largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire and one of the best-preserved.

Finally, we’ll begin the return trip to Sousse, a journey of approximately 1 hour. We’ll arrive at your accommodation between 2 pm and 4 pm.

Accommodation Info 

This tour includes 2 nights at the following accommodations:

• First night at the Hotel Ksar Rouge in Tozeur (4*). The prices listed are per person in a double or triple room.
• Second night at a camp in the Douz Desert. The haimas have electricity for charging devices and feature a shared bathroom facility with toilets and showers.

Under no circumstances will you have to share the haimas with strangers. We offer single, double, triple, and family tents. If a single-person reservation is made, a single supplement will apply, as will a supplement if someone in the group wishes to sleep in a haima and in a single room.

Children aged 2 to 12 must share a room with their parents or guardians and will sleep on an extra bed.

Why Book a Private Tour?

By booking a private tour, you’ll have an exclusive English-speaking guide. You’ll therefore enjoy a very special tour just with your partner, family, or friends.