Tunisia

Upon arrival in Tunis, transfer to our hotel. Gather with fellow travelers this evening for a welcome reception and dinner of local specialties.

Set out for a walking tour of the Old Town with its mosques, palaces, and lively bazaars, stopping for a lunch featuring local specialties. This evening, we meet a local journalist who shares firsthand experiences of the Jasmine Revolution and discusses the revolution’s origins and its effect on today’s Tunisian society. Later, enjoy dinner in a converted palace in the medina.

This morning tour the extensive archaeological digs around legendary Carthage. After lunch, visit the lovely, whitewashed village of Sidi Bou Said, overlooking the Gulf of Tunis and a source of inspiration to generations of artists. Also stop at the former palace of Baron d’Erlanger, a showcase of Moorish architecture with an acclaimed collection of North African musical instruments.

Archaeology dominates the day as we head west to the hillside town of Dougga, site of impressive Roman ruins, complete with temples, theaters, baths, residential quarters, warehouses and cisterns. After lunch, continue to Kairouan, formerly the Arab capital of all Northern Africa and still one of Islam’s most sacred sites.

Spend the morning exploring the monuments of Kairouan, including the 7th-century Grand Mosque, one of the oldest places of worship in the Islamic world, and the 17th-century Sidi Sahbi Mausoleum. Spend some time wandering around the town’s medina, then drive to El Jem for lunch and a tour of Roman amphitheater, one of the best-preserved ancient amphitheaters in the world. Stop at the El Jem Museum to take in a fascinating collection of mosaics depicting the life and times of Roman North Africa before returning to Kairouan.

Today we depart for our journey to Tozeur, located deep in Tunisia’s interior, on the edge of the Sahara. Along the way, stop in Sbeitla to visit the ruins of Sufetula, a well-preserved ancient Roman city. Explore the temples, arches and bath complexes and marvel at the Byzantine mosaics that still adorn multiple basilicas in the complex. After lunch, continue our drive to Tozeur.

Spend the morning exploring the unique mountain oases of Chebika, Tamerza and Mides in the Djebel el Negueb hills along the Algerian border. Return to Tozeur for lunch, with free time to relax at our resort. Later this afternoon, transfer to the filming site of the first Star Wars movie to witness sunset over the Sahara and enjoy a private dinner under the stars.

Depart early this morning to cross the great salt lake Chott el Djerid, an immense flat stretch of white that gives rise to desert mirages. Stop for lunch in the hilly region of Matmata with its dozens of giant wells used as dwellings by local Berbers, who dug them ages ago to escape the desert’s heat. The giant pits were later featured in the original Star Wars. Continue east to the southern coast and travel by ferry to the idyllic island of Djerba with its mix of Muslim, Berber and Jewish communities.

Venture outside the city to the region of Tataouine to see the Berber settlements built atop outcrops of rock and fortified with stacked ghorfa, the vaulted rooms used for grain storage. Highlights include Chenini, the south’s most picturesque ruins and the nearby Cave of the Seven Sleepers; Ksar Ouled Soltane, the restored ruins of a 15th-century ksar (fortress) once featured in Star Wars; and the 11th-century Ksar Kedim, with its mysterious geometrical bas-reliefs.

This morning, visit the Hara Seghira Synagogue, one of the oldest, holiest Jewish monuments in North Africa and today a site of a major annual pilgrimage. Continue to Guellala, the cradle of pottery on the island, and see the fashioning of terra cotta vessels at a local workshop. Then drive to the island’s main town of Houmt Souk in time for its weekly outdoor market. After lunch, transfer to the Djerba airport for our flight back to Tunis and enjoy dinner on our own.

Spend the morning exploring the immense National Bardo Museum, situated in a former palace of the Bey of Tunis in the suburb of Le Bardo. The museum is world-renowned for its archaeological and Islamic collections, including exceptional Roman mosaics. Enjoy lunch and the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. This evening, return to the medina for a festive farewell reception and dinner.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights returning home.