Itinerary Details
Upon your arrival at the Tunis-Carthage International Airport, you will be welcomed by a Rahhalah representative who will first guide you to Sidi Bou Said. There, you will explore this beloved city of artists, strolling through alleys painted in the familiar Mediterranean hues of blue and white, before driving to Bizerte (60km away), to visit the Old Port and the Medina.
Dinner and overnight at the Bizerte Guest House Cap Blanc or similar.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to theIchkeul National Park (30 km driving distance), which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and boasts being one of the most important ornithological reserves in North Africa.
There, you will attend a presentation by the park’s curator, you will visit a local family to learn the details of the community’s daily life, and you will go on a short hike to explore the landscapes of the park (total duration of the visit: approx.3 hrs.).
You will return to the host family for a delicious local lunch, and after relaxing with a cup of tea, you will head back to the Bizerte Guest House Cap Blanc for a cooking workshop (duration of workshop: approx. 2 hrs.)
Dinner and overnight at the Guest House Cap Blanc or similar.
After breakfast, you will head to the Boulehia Park (approx. a 1.5-hour drive) for a kayaking adventure (approx. 2 hrs.) and a delicious lunch surrounded by a landscape of stunning beauty.
In the afternoon, you will head towards Dougga, the most prestigious archaeological site of Tunisia, also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and considered to be the best-preserved small Roman town in North Africa.
Before the Roman annexation of Numidia, the town of Dougga, built on an elevated location that overlooked a fertile plain, was the capital of an important Libyco-Punic state. It flourished under the Roman and Byzantine rule but declined during the Islamic period. The impressive ruins that are visible today give some idea of the resources of a small Roman town on the fringes of the empire.
Late in the afternoon, you will head to "Dar Zaghouan", the first eco-friendly cottage in Tunisia, to attend a Malouf concert (the famous local musical tradition of Andalusian origin).
Dinner and Overnight in Dar Zaghouan.
After breakfast, you will travel to Jebel Zaghouan (approx. a 30-min drive) to participate in a cave exploration (approx. 4 hours). Besides its rich Roman and Andalusian history, Zaghouan also boasts beautiful landscapes and a mountain famous for its caves. More than 25 caves are dispersed through Jebel Zaghouan, offering the visitors a unique experience of gorgeous marble and limestone formations.
Later, you will explore the Berber village of Zriba (driving distance: approx. 18 km, a 2-hours visit) where you will also have lunch.
In the afternoon, allow yourself to indulge in a traditional Hammam in Dar Zaghouan, before heading to a local workshop of Kaak Warka (an approx. 30-min drive). Kaak Warka are yummy, circular marzipans prepared with rose water and white dough, based on a traditional recipe that has been passing from mothers to daughters for several generations.
Dinner and overnight in Dar Zaghouan.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Tunis-Carthage International Airport for your departure flight back home (approx. a 1-hour drive).
Optional Extension: Kairouan / Oasis Mountain / Chott EL Jerid / Sousse (4 days)
After breakfast, you will drive to the city of Kairouan (driving distance: 116 km), which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and boasts one of the largest and most impressive Islamic monuments in North Africa: the grand mosque of Okba Ibn Nafaa, established in 670AD.
You will also visit the Barber's Mausoleum and the Aghlabid pool. It is also worth visiting a carpet-making workshop where you can observe, admire, and learn the details behind this incredible craft.
The ancient medina of Kairouan with its winding alleys and colorful displays is an excellent place for exploration, shopping, and a lunch break. Late in the afternoon, you will leave Kairouan behind, heading to the Sahara region of Tozeur (driving distance: 294 km): the second-largest date palm oasis in Tunisia.
Overnight in Dar Tozeur or similar.
You will leave very early in the morning to drive to the oasis village of Chebika (driving distance: 100 km) Chebika was once a Roman outpost that later became a mountain refuge for the Berbers. Today, you will explore its canyon, hiking to the source of the oasis, before heading to Tamerza: the largest mountain oasis in Tunisia. You will round up the morning with a stop at Mides from where you will have excellent panoramic views of the canyon below. The location will most probably feel familiar as it was used for the filming of The Raiders of the Lost Ark and The English Patient.
You will return to Tozeur for lunch or relaxation, and in the afternoon, you will explore Ong Jemel (‘the neck of the camel’,) traveling over barren land towards Mos Espa: an abandoned film set for the Star Wars movies.
Overnight in Dar Tozeur or similar.
After a very early breakfast, you will cross Chott el Jerid, the largest salt flat in Tunisia, to watch the sunrise. From there, you will head to the Amphitheatre of El Jem: the impressive ruins of the largest colosseum in North Africa, which could hold up to 35,000 spectators. This 3rd-century monument illustrates the grandeur of Imperial Rome.
Later you will reach the city of Sousse on the Mediterranean, and you will enjoy the rest of the day exploring it at your own pace.
Overnight in Iberostar Diar el Andalous or similar.
After breakfast, you will drive to the Tunis-Carthage International Airport (driving distance: 134 km) for your flight back home.
