Tunisia Uncovered
Group Tour
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Overview
Lying at the heart of Africa’s once infamous Barbary Coast, sandwiched between the palm fringed shores of the Mediterranean and the sands of the Sahara Desert, Tunisia is a land of quite startling contrasts. Blessed with a mix of cultural traditions that can trace their origins back to the Berbers, the Phoenicians and the armies of Rome, it is home to an incredible natural diversity and a historical pedigree for its diminutive size.
Beginning in Tunis, the country’s bustling capital, ...
Lying at the heart of Africa’s once infamous Barbary Coast, sandwiched between the palm fringed shores of the Mediterranean and the sands of the Sahara Desert, Tunisia is a land of quite startling contrasts. Blessed with a mix of cultural traditions that can trace their origins back to the Berbers, the Phoenicians and the armies of Rome, it is home to an incredible natural diversity and a historical pedigree for its diminutive size.
Beginning in Tunis, the country’s bustling capital, we’ll have some time to enjoy the UNESCO grandeur of its medina and the impressive contents of the Bardo Museum, before paying a visit to the ancient ruins of once great Carthage. The World Heritage Sites of Dougga and Kairouan and the oasis town of Tozeur then provide Roman and Umayyad treasures in abundance, before we head into the deserts of the Sahara.
Camping (or rather glamping Tunisian-style) amongst the dunes around Douz then provides a chance to experience something of nomadic life amongst the sands of the Sahara, before we head back through the Berber settlements that lie amongst the hills around Tataouine. The magnificent amphitheatre of El Jem, the captivating medina at Sousse and inviting Mediterranean coast then provides a stunning climax to this quite superlative journey.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use minibuses and desert 4WDs.
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip.
On this particular trip we will be in comfortable hotels throughout with one night spent in a fixed desert camp, replete with beds and some private facilities. It is comfortable but not luxurious.
Please note, in Le Kef and in Tozeur, depending on availability and group size, the group may be split between two hotels.
Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Tour start in Tunis
Day 1 Tour start in Tunis
The tour starts today in the Tunisian capital with accommodation in the nearby town of Sidi Bou Said, overlooking the Gulf of Tunis, available from mid-afternoon. Those on the suggested group flights will arrive to the hotel in the evening. **Please refer to the GETTING THERE section for details of these.
Day 2 Tunis
Day 2 Tunis
The largest city in the country, Tunis has a long and distinguished historical pedigree. Originally a Berber settlement, it came under the influences of the Carthaginians, the Romans and the conquering armies of the Muslim Arabs. Today its historic medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and we pay a visit to it and the equally impressive Bardo Museum this morning (please note that currently the Bardo Museum is closed, should it remain closed we will visit the Palais Ksar Said as an alternative). Later we’ll then drive out to the nearby ruins of ancient Carthage, before returning to the Mediterranean charms and idyllic bay views of Sidi Bou Said.
Day 3 Tunis - Testour - Dougga - Bulla Regia - Le Kef
Day 3 Tunis - Testour - Dougga - Bulla Regia - Le Kef
Departing the capital this morning we head west, towards the old Andalusian town of Testour and the well-preserved ruins of Dougga. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, described as the “best preserved Roman small town in North Africa”, Dougga can trace its history back to the Berber and Punic times, pre-dating the Romans. Moving on to Bulla Regia we then have a chance to explore the mosaics and underground ruins of this ancient archaeological site before ending our journey in Le Kef, where we will overnight.
*Please note tonight may involve splitting the group between two hotels, depending on availability and group size.
Day 4 Le Kef - Elles - Makthar - Kesra - Kairouan
Day 4 Le Kef - Elles - Makthar - Kesra - Kairouan
The provisional capital of Tunisia during WWII, Le Kef’s historic old town nestles along the cliff face of Jebel Dyr, some 40 kilometres east of the Algerian border. After a chance to explore a little of its heritage this morning we then depart for Kairouan, stopping en route to visit the ancient ruins and museum in Makthar and the prehistoric tombs at Elles. Breaking the journey in the Berber mountain village of Kesra, one of Tunisia’s small villages, before completing the day’s journey to Kairouan.
Day 5 Kairouan - Raqqada - Tozeur
Day 5 Kairouan - Raqqada - Tozeur
Another World Heritage recipient, Kairouan was founded by the Umayyads in the 7th century and went on to become an important centre for Sunni and Quranic learning. We’ll pay visits to its Great Mosque, Barber Mausoleum and the old town this morning, where we’ll find several carpet shops for which the town is famed, where carpets are made exclusively by women. Departing after lunch we then visit the National Museum of Islamic Art in nearby Raqqada, before ending our day on the edge of the Sahara Desert in the oasis town of Tozeur.
*Please note tonight may involve splitting the group between two hotels, depending on availability and group size.
Day 6 Tozeur
Day 6 Tozeur
Surrounded by oases and date palms, Tozeur was the site of the ancient city and former bishopric of Tusuros, before the arrival of Islam in the 7th century. With a full day to explore the town and its environs, we plan to take a 4WD jeep safari out to the oasis villages of Chebika, Tamerza and Mides this morning. Returning to the city this afternoon, we then explore something of the old town, taking in the narrow streets and geometric brickwork so common to this region.
*Please note tonight may involve splitting the group between two hotels, depending on availability and group size.
Day 7 Tozeur - Chott El Jerid - Douz - Desert Camp
Day 7 Tozeur - Chott El Jerid - Douz - Desert Camp
Leaving early this morning we pass through the surreal salt lake landscapes of Chott El Jerid, en route to the desert town of Douz. Covering over 7,000 square kilometres, these enormous salt flats are the largest in the Sahara and daytime temperatures here can reach over 48°C! Douz provides our gateway into the vast desert landscapes of the Sahara and here we will switch to 4WD vehicles to set out into the sands heading for our fixed desert camp set amongst in the vast untamed dunes. We'll have the afternoon to relax and enjoy our desert retreat or to take some easy walks nearby. The desert camp offers a comfortable Tunisan-style glamping experience with beds and some private facilities
Day 8 Desert Camp – Douz - Tataouine
Day 8 Desert Camp – Douz - Tataouine
Awakening to a desert dawn we'll leave our camp this morning in our 4WDs and return to Douz, where our bus will be waiting. Driving through a barren landscape of bare mountains and craggy hills, we’ll pass through a region scattered with Berber villages and ancient granaries (ksours), some of which featured in the Star Wars movies. After a stop at the troglodyte dwellings of Matmata we continue to Toujane, where we can enjoy the views and see the local handmade carpets for sale before completing the journey to Tataouine.
Day 9 Tataouine
Day 9 Tataouine
A town that can truly claim to have inspired a legacy, Tataouine was used by George Lucas as his iconic desert setting for the original Star Wars film. With a full day here to explore we’ll make the most of its evocative backdrop and head out to explore the surrounding hilltop villages. An 8 km walk (approx 2-3 hrs) between the villages of Douiret and Chenini provides some stunning views across the stark landscapes, along with an opportunity to visit the huge fortified granary of Ksar Ouled Debbab.
Day 10 Tataouine - El Jem
Day 10 Tataouine - El Jem
Heading north this morning our journey takes us next on to the stunning Roman amphitheatre of El Jem, another World Heritage Site that can lay claim to being one of the finest collections of Roman ruins anywhere in the world. Unique in Africa, its colosseum is rivalled only by the one in Rome itself.
Day 11 El Jem - Monastir & Sousse
Day 11 El Jem - Monastir & Sousse
Travel from El Jem, heading along the Mediterranean cost to the coastal town of Monastir. Founded on the ruins of a Punic-Roman city, Monastir is home to a well-preserved ribat (fort) and the imposing mausoleum of Habib Bourguiba, Tunisia’s first president. With a day to explore the area we’ll begin with a visit to the city, before taking lunch at a local restaurant. We’ll then move on to nearby Sousse, which is home to a large walled medina that has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list and represents one of the earliest examples of Islamic construction in the Maghreb region.
Day 12 Monastir - Tunis
Day 12 Monastir - Tunis
This morning we will travel north along the coast heading back to Tunis. The tour ends at Carthage Airport, Tunis in time for the suggested group flight. **Please refer to the GETTING THERE section for details of these. If you are arranging flights outside of these suggested flights or are looking to extend your time in Tunisia, please contact us for further information.
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
Hotel Dakyanus, Tataouine
Hotel Dakyanus is located on the outskirts of Tataouine and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and neighbouring oases. Its 100 rooms, offer beautiful panoramic views over either the oasis or the pool. All the rooms are well equipped with en suite bathrooms, air conditioning,and modern conveniences. The hotel has a restaurant, as well as a swimming pool, to cool off after a long day exploring the region.
Hotel Julius, El Jem
Located in the heart of historic El Jem, Hotel Julius offers simplistic accommodation, with a wonderful location, situated opposite the roman amphitheatre. The 37 double rooms offer comfortable accommodations. All the rooms are equipped with modern facilities including plasma screen televisions, hair dryers, and individual air-conditioning. In addition, the hotel has a small garden, shared lounge and a sun terrace with swimming pool.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Reducing Single Use Plastic
We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
Please note the below flights depart from London Heathrow (LHR) and arrive into London Gatwick (LGW).
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| TU 791 |
London Heathrow (LHR) 17:50
23rd April 2024 |
Carthage Airport (TUN) 20:45
23rd April 2024 |
| TU 792 |
Carthage Airport (TUN) 14:25
4th May 2024 |
London Gatwick (LGW) 17:10
4th May 2024 |
Visas & Vaccinations
VISAS
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for Tunisia.
Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to Tunisia.
For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider.
For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.
If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.
*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
The best times to travel to Tunisia is during spring (March to June) and autumn (September to October), due to the very hot summers (July to August). Temperatures can range between 15-25C in spring and autumn on the coast, whereas in the desert it can range between 25-35C. The country’s location on the Mediterranean allows for sunny weather most of year. The southern part of Tunisia falls under the Sahara Desert, where temperatures are higher, and night-time temperatures are significantly cooler.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, however, please note:
On day 7 we will be staying in a remote desert camp with some private facilities but no air conditioning. It is comfortable but not luxurious.
Vegetarians can be catered for but the selection and variety can be very limited in places, especially in the Sahara region. People with specific dietary requirements should consider such limitations carefully and we would suggest you discuss your needs with us before booking this tour.
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour except at Le Kef and Monastir.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room/tent. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 2268 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.