Tunisia Discovery: 8-Day Ancient Carthage, Sahara & Sidi Bou Said

Tour Overview

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrive Tunis — Sidi Bou Said

Welcome to Tunisia, the Mediterranean’s most underrated gem! Airport pickup and transfer to the enchanting blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Said. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean, this artists’ haven has inspired painters since Paul Klee. Walk the cobblestone streets, drink mint tea at the legendary Cafe des Delices, and watch the sunset over the Gulf of Tunis. Welcome dinner with couscous and Tunisian wine. Overnight near Tunis.

Day 2: Carthage & Tunis Medina

Morning at Carthage (UNESCO), the legendary Phoenician city that once rivaled Rome. Visit the Antonine Baths — the largest Roman baths outside Rome — the Tophet sacrificial grounds, and the Byrsa Hill with panoramic views. Afternoon in the Tunis Medina (UNESCO): a labyrinth of 700 alleys with souks selling perfumes, carpets, and copperware. Visit the Zitouna Mosque. Dinner at a traditional Dar (converted merchant’s house). Overnight near Tunis.

Day 3: Dougga — Africa’s Best-Preserved Roman City

Day trip to Dougga (UNESCO), arguably the best-preserved Roman small town in North Africa. Perched on a hilltop overlooking olive groves, its theater, Capitol temple, and intricate mosaic floors are breathtaking. The 3,500-seat theater still hosts performances. Visit the Mausoleum of Ateban, a Numidian royal tomb from the 2nd century BC. Return via the fertile Medjerda Valley. Overnight near Tunis.

Day 4: Kairouan — Islamic Holy City

Drive south to Kairouan (UNESCO), the fourth holiest city in Islam. Visit the magnificent Great Mosque, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture with its forest of 414 ancient columns. Explore the Aghlabid Basins, 9th-century water reservoirs. Walk through the Medina and see traditional carpet weavers at work. Visit the Barber’s Mosque (Mausoleum of Sidi Sahab). Overnight in Kairouan.

Day 5: El Jem Colosseum & Sousse

Visit El Jem (UNESCO), home to the most impressive Roman monument in Africa: a massive colosseum that held 35,000 spectators — the third largest in the Roman world after Rome and Capua. It’s astonishingly well-preserved, with intact underground passages. Continue to Sousse, a vibrant coastal city. Explore the Ribat (fortress-monastery) and the Medina (UNESCO) with its imposing walls. Overnight in Sousse.

Day 6: Matmata — Underground Troglodyte Houses

Drive deep into southern Tunisia. Visit the troglodyte village of Matmata, where Berber families have lived in underground houses for centuries — giant craters dug into the earth with rooms radiating from a central courtyard. These were famously used as Luke Skywalker’s home in Star Wars. Have lunch in an underground home. Overnight in a troglodyte hotel.

Day 7: Sahara Desert & Chott el Djerid

Journey into the Sahara. Cross the Chott el Djerid, a vast salt lake shimmering with mirages — the otherworldly landscape used for Tatooine in Star Wars. Reach Douz, the “Gateway to the Sahara.” Camel ride through the golden dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental at sunset. Traditional Bedouin dinner in a desert camp. Overnight in Sahara camp.

Day 8: Sunrise Camel & Depart Tunis

Rise early for the Sahara sunrise — the dunes glow gold and orange. Camel ride back. Drive to Tozeur, an oasis town with a million palm trees. Visit the old quarter (Ouled el-Hadef) with its unique brick patterns. Fly or drive back to Tunis for departure.

Inclusions

• 7 nights (boutique riads, troglodyte hotel, Sahara camp)
• Daily breakfast + 4 dinners
• Private vehicle & English-speaking guide
• All UNESCO site entries
• Camel trek in the Sahara
• All transfers

Why Visit Tunisia

• El Jem: the third largest Roman colosseum in the world, in a tiny Tunisian town
• Carthage: Hannibal’s city, the empire that nearly destroyed Rome
• Underground homes: sleep in a Star Wars filming location
• Sahara camel trek: the most accessible Sahara experience from Europe
• Blue-and-white Sidi Bou Said: the Santorini of North Africa