Things to do in Gabes Governorate

Get off the beaten track and discover the oasis of Ksar Ghilane. Enjoy scenic views as you travel along the Roman road, and keep an eye out for flocks of sheep and even camels. Visit local villages and savor a freshly made tea at a local's home. After pickup at your hotel, leave the island of Djerba and travel to Ksar Ghilane. Upon arrival, take a swim in the thermal spring nestled amid a grove of date palms. Relax completely in water that's warm enough to be utterly soothing yet still offers respite from the desert heat. Next, enjoy some free time to take a walk on the dunes, go for a camel ride, or explore the dunes on a quad tour before sitting down to a local meal around the hot spring. After lunch, return to the jeep and head to the Berber village of Matmata. Stop in the village of Tamazret, a village flooded in 1969 where only a few families still live. Continue to discover a troglodyte home where your Berber host will welcome you with a warming tea of rosemary, olive oil, and honey that he has prepared himself. After this meeting, make your way to Djerba with a final stop at Toujane, a Berber village of ocher color hidden discreetly between two mountains.

Day 01 : Pick up from your place of residence and departure to El Jem, visit of its coliseum , measuring 148 meters long, 122 wide and 36 meters high, served during two centuries. Its capacity estimated at 35,000 spectators and its imposing size class unquestionably among the largest amphitheatres in the world. This building dating from the third century, shows the greatness of the Roman Empire. Continuation to Matmata located at 40 km west of Gabes, on a mountainside, it is a Berber village of 1800 inhabitants, at an altitude of 600 meters. The name Matmata came from a Berber tribe originating from Morocco, descendant of the Temzit. Matmata is very well known for its troglodyts houses. Troglodyte homes are homes built into the ground as a way to escape the heat of the summer sun, creating their own natural air conditioning. As you walk around on the surface of the ground, you can peer down into these craters, which are the courtyards of these homes. Some of the courtyards have sheer drops of up to 30 feet deep. These courtyards have rooms cut into the ground where residents live. Typical Tunisian lunch in Matmata Departure after the lunch towards Douz also called the desert gate, discovery of the city, check in at your hotel, dinner and accommodation Day 02 : Early breakfast and departure for Chott El Djerid to experience the sunrise on this beautiful salt lake, located between the Gulf of Gabes and the Algerian border, for nearly 300 km, the desert is covered with Chotts, desert areas covered with salt deposits that rest on a mass of mud. When it rains, the chott is covered with water and becomes a kind of inland sea. The mirages are frequent on this salted plain, of a brilliant whiteness. Departure for chebika via Dgueche, picturesque small village of the Tunisian south. Arrival in Chebika, discovery of this mountain oasis, formerly a Berber village that was washed away. Visit of Ong Jmal, known as the setting for the famous 'Star Wars' saga. But Ong Jmal is above all a magnificent place, completely disconnected from time and space. Visit of "Mos Espa" Proceed to Gafsa where you will have lunch On the way back to Tunis, panoramic visit of Kairouan a fascinating city still anchored in a distant past. One of Islam’s holy cities, it was the first capital of the Maghreb. Designated a Unesco World Heritage site, it conceals several marvels and it is also Known as Capital of traditional hand made Carpets Back to your place of Residence.

Day 1 : In the morning, our driver and guide will pick you up from your hotel and the adventure will begin. Leave the island via the ferry and head to Matmata the cave village. Take the time to visit a troglodyte house dug underground and meet a Berber family. Enjoy a nice rosemary tea served with olive oil and honey. Continue to the Berber village of Tamazret and enjoy a coffee break. Head, then, to Douz, the door of the desert where you will enjoy a good lunch in a local restaurant. Possibility to book a quad ride on the dunes (paying on site with local providers) Continue to meet Bedouins and camels and leave the vehicle to begin an authentic experience. The camel ride will begin and you will go to the heart of the dunes with the camel drivers. After 2 hours, stop and help set up the tent between the dunes. The camel drivers will look for wood to light the fire and you will take the time to stroll in the dunes and admire the unique sunset. At the beginning of the evening, around the fire, watch the preparation of the sand bread (bread baked under the sand and the embers). Enjoy a good dinner prepared over a wood fire and spend the evening dancing to the rhythm of Bedouin music. Night in a tent under the stars Day 2: When you wake up, try not to miss the moment of the sunrise. Then, enjoy a good breakfast on the dunes and go back to your 4wd. Thank the camel drivers and continue your return adventure. Visit Sidi Idriss the filming location of Star Wars. Continue to the Berber village of Toujane and visit one of the best Ksours of the Tunisia south. Enjoy a local Tunisian lunch and return to the island of Djerba via the Roman causeway

Day 1: Kairouan to Tozeur.  Be collected from your accommodation in any city in Tunisia to visit Kairouan and the 9th century Aghlabid basins. Next, visit the grand mosque, which is the oldest in North Africa. Continue to the nearby Sidi Sahbi, a companion of prophet Mohamed, with an introduction to some Tunisian traditions. Have lunch in Kairouan Medina. Continue to Tozeur and check-in to your accommodation in Tozeur where you will have dinner.  Day 2: Tozeur to Douz.  Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then head out to visit Chebika Waterfalls and Tamerza Waterfalls. Then, explore the Mides canyons. Continue to Tozeur for lunch then take a horse-drawn carriage tour in the Palm Groves. Visit the Ong Jemel Star Wars desert set. Depart Tozeur and head to Douz in a 4WD vehicle. Make a stop at the Salt Lake of Chott el Djerid. Your adventure begins with an amazing view of lands of green palms and dunes of golden sand. Continue through the huge charming dunes then arrive at the camp site. Have a delicious dinner and enjoy the night drumming around the campfire. Stay at the Saharnsky luxury desert camp in Douz. Day 3: Douz to Matmata to Tataouine. Have breakfast at the campsite then head to Matmata. Visit the Underground Troglodyte. Then, have lunch in a berber underground house. Continue to Ksar Hadada to visit the old castle on top of a hill. Head to Chenini to visit the 7th asleep mosque and museum. Check-in for the night at your accommodation in Tataouine and enjoy dinner at the hotel.  Day 4: Tataouine to Gabes to El Jem to Tunis.  Have breakfast at the hotel then depart Tataouine for Gabes. Visit Jara Souk, where you can purchase souvenirs and explore the city. Have lunch in Gabes. Continue to El Jem (Thysdrus) to visit the Roman amphitheater, which is the third biggest and the best-preserved one in the Roman world. Take your transfer to your drop-off location to complete your tour. 

Discover the highlights of Tunisia in this comprehensive private 5-day tour. Relax, as your meals and accommodation throughout the tour are catered for including delicious traditional breakfasts and lunches and dinners in various stunning locations.  On the first day, you will be picked up from your hotel in Tunisia and will visit 'El Jem', a well-preserved Roman amphitheater. You will then head to Kairouan to visit the 9th century Aghlabid basins and then head on to marvel at the spectacular Grand Mosque, the oldest in North Africa. Your expert guide will provide an overview of the history and Tunisian traditions and you will spend the night in Tozeur.  On the second day, you will visit the breathtakingly beautiful Chebika and Tamerza waterfalls before heading to see the natural spectacle of the Mides Canyons. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a horse-drawn carriage tour in the Palm Groves before heading to the desert, where you can see the movie set where they filmed star wars - perfect for any film fans! Afterward, you will head to Douz with a stop to view the salt lake on the way. At Douz, you can see the famous winding lanes of the souk markets and enjoy either a camel or quad bike tour through the desert sands.  The third day is for heading into the Sahara desert, an incredible arid landscape full of tall dunes. Enjoy lunch looking out over the plains before checking in to the luxury desert campsite. The evening here will be spent enjoying delicious traditional food and listening to drumming as you warm yourself around the campfire.  On the fourth day of the trip, you will head to Matmata to visit the 'Troglodyte' Berber town. Here you can see the famous underground structures where many people still reside today. Continue onwards to  Ksar Hadada to visit the ancient castle there before stopping by Chenini to visit the '7th Asleep' mosque and museum. You will then spend a restful evening in Tataouine.  The last day will involve you indulging in some shopping at the winding Jara Souk where you can purchase some souvenirs from this amazing trip. You will be dropped back at your hotel, satisfied in the knowledge that you have truly discovered the real Tunisia. 

Day 1:  Get picked up from your accommodation and head to Kairouan, the holy city. Visit the famous mosque of Okbaa Ibn Nafaa, the mausoleum of Sidi Sahbi, and Aghlabide's Basins before continuing on to the Roman ruins of Sufetula. After touring the archeological site and having lunch, head to Tozeur, known as the oasis paradise. Stroll through the alleys of the old medina before checking in to a 4-star hotel for the night. Day 2 :  Head out in the morning to discover the incredible mountain oases of the area. Make a first stop at the village of Chebika, famous for its water source that springs from the side of the mountain. Afterwards, visit the gorgeous Tamerza Waterfall and the Mides Canyons before enjoying a local lunch at a homestay. In the afternoon, journey over the sand dunes, through the old rally track, and cross the salt lake of Chott El Gharsa to reach the famous village of Mos Espa where much of the Star Wars movies were shot. Take in the intense colors of the sunset and enjoy a walk in the Mos Espa village before getting back to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 3 :  Leave Tozeur early in the morning and head to the salt lake of Chott Djerid, the largest salt lake in Northern Africa. Stop to admire the sunrise and see the first rays of sunshine land on a layer of salt stretching as far as the eye can see. Continue to Douz, the gateway to the desert where you will have time to take a camel-ride or go on a quad tour in the dunes. Stroll through the Douz souk before heading to Matmata, an ancient troglodyte village. Visit a local host and enjoy a cup of rosemary tea served with olive oil and honey to tide you over until lunch. Stop for lunch on your way to the amphitheater of El Jem, an impressive Roman monument that rivals the Roman Colosseum. After touring the amphitheater, get returned to your hotel.

Day 01 : Pick up from your place of residence and departure to El Jem, visit of its coliseum , measuring 148 meters long, 122 wide and 36 meters high, served during two centuries. Its capacity estimated at 35,000 spectators and its imposing size class unquestionably among the largest amphitheatres in the world. This building dating from the third century, shows the greatness of the Roman Empire. Continuation to Matmata located at 40 km west of Gabes, on a mountainside, it is a Berber village of 1800 inhabitants, at an altitude of 600 meters. The name Matmata came from a Berber tribe originating from Morocco, descendant of the Temzit. Matmata is very well known for its troglodyts houses. Troglodyte homes are homes built into the ground as a way to escape the heat of the summer sun, creating their own natural air conditioning. As you walk around on the surface of the ground, you can peer down into these craters, which are the courtyards of these homes. Some of the courtyards have sheer drops of up to 30 feet deep. These courtyards have rooms cut into the ground where residents live. Typical Tunisian lunch in Matmata Departure after the lunch towards Douz also called the desert gate, discovery of the city, check in at your hotel, dinner and accommodation Day 02 : Early breakfast and departure for Chott El Djerid to experience the sunrise on this beautiful salt lake, located between the Gulf of Gabes and the Algerian border, for nearly 300 km, the desert is covered with Chotts, desert areas covered with salt deposits that rest on a mass of mud. When it rains, the chott is covered with water and becomes a kind of inland sea. The mirages are frequent on this salted plain, of a brilliant whiteness. Departure for chebika via Dgueche, picturesque small village of the Tunisian south. Arrival in Chebika, discovery of this mountain oasis, formerly a Berber village that was washed away. Visit of Ong Jmal, known as the setting for the famous 'Star Wars' saga. But Ong Jmal is above all a magnificent place, completely disconnected from time and space. Visit of "Mos Espa" Proceed to Gafsa where you will have lunch On the way back to Tunis, panoramic visit of Kairouan a fascinating city still anchored in a distant past. One of Islam’s holy cities, it was the first capital of the Maghreb. Designated a Unesco World Heritage site, it conceals several marvels and it is also Known as Capital of traditional hand made Carpets Back to your place of Residence.

Day 1 Departure from your accommodation via the Roman road, direction Tataouine. Photo break at the famous salt lake of Chahbania and explanation of the program. Continuation towards the city of Tataouine, free time at the very colorful market then direction the mountainous village of Chenini. Passage by the Ksar Ouled Soltan or similar, collective granary used in the past for the storage of provisions Visit of the dwellings dug horizontally in the mountains in the village of Chenini; Berber village encrusted in the side of the mountain which goes back to the 11th century. Typical lunch at the local restaurant In the afternoon we fasten our belts in the 4x4 for a departure by the sandy tracks "the reg" to reach the oasis of Ksar Ghilane, an exotic oasis; magnificent with its camps and its water source. Possibility of a camel or quad ride (optional and payable on site) on the sand dunes "Erg" to watch the sunset and see the old Roman fort. On the way back, visit of the hot water spring with possibility of swimming (don't forget your bathing suit and towels) continuation in 4x4 to the camp located at the foot of the dunes . Arrival; to attend the sunset installation under tent, dinner and Saharan evening. Day 2 Wake up gently, breakfast, then departure for the mountainous Berber village of Tamezret. Small photo stop and continuation for the village of Matmata known for its houses dug under the ground. We admire its superb lunar landscape (Star Wars movie sets) and visit a family in a troglodytic house. Lunch In the afternoon we take the road back to the village of Toujane, from where we have a panoramic view. Return to the hotel

Day 01 : Pick up from your place of residence and departure to El Jem, visit of its coliseum , measuring 148 meters long, 122 wide and 36 meters high, served during two centuries. Its capacity estimated at 35,000 spectators and its imposing size class unquestionably among the largest amphitheatres in the world. This building dating from the third century, shows the greatness of the Roman Empire. Continuation to Matmata located at 40 km west of Gabes, on a mountainside, it is a Berber village of 1800 inhabitants, at an altitude of 600 meters. The name Matmata came from a Berber tribe originating from Morocco, descendant of the Temzit. Matmata is very well known for its troglodyts houses. Troglodyte homes are homes built into the ground as a way to escape the heat of the summer sun, creating their own natural air conditioning. As you walk around on the surface of the ground, you can peer down into these craters, which are the courtyards of these homes. Some of the courtyards have sheer drops of up to 30 feet deep. These courtyards have rooms cut into the ground where residents live. Typical Tunisian lunch in Matmata Departure after the lunch towards Douz also called the desert gate, discovery of the city, check in at your hotel, dinner and accommodation Day 02 : Early breakfast and departure for Chott El Djerid to experience the sunrise on this beautiful salt lake, located between the Gulf of Gabes and the Algerian border, for nearly 300 km, the desert is covered with Chotts, desert areas covered with salt deposits that rest on a mass of mud. When it rains, the chott is covered with water and becomes a kind of inland sea. The mirages are frequent on this salted plain, of a brilliant whiteness. Departure for chebika via Dgueche, picturesque small village of the Tunisian south. Arrival in Chebika, discovery of this mountain oasis, formerly a Berber village that was washed away. Visit of Ong Jmal, known as the setting for the famous 'Star Wars' saga. But Ong Jmal is above all a magnificent place, completely disconnected from time and space. Visit of "Mos Espa" Proceed to Gafsa where you will have lunch On the way back to Tunis, panoramic visit of Kairouan a fascinating city still anchored in a distant past. One of Islam’s holy cities, it was the first capital of the Maghreb. Designated a Unesco World Heritage site, it conceals several marvels and it is also Known as Capital of traditional hand made Carpets Back to your place of Residence.

Day 1: Depart the island of Djerba via ferry and travel for about 20 minutes until you reach the mainland. Continue to Matmata and visit a Berber family who will open their doors for you to visit their house. Be welcomed with home-made bread, olive oil and honey, typical of Berber hospitality. Continue to Tozeur crossing the largest salt lake in northern Africa, the famous Chott Djerid. This salt lake covers an area of ​​more than 5000 square kilometers and is known for its phenomenon of mirages. Enjoy a photo stop to capture the vastness of the area. Stop at the mountain oasis of Chebika. A popular destination for many filmmakers, Chebika has a unique charm with its ancient village, palm groves, and its source of water that springs from the side of the mountain. Take a walk for about 40 minutes with a local guide who will help you discover the village and learn of its stories. Travel to Tamerza, enjoy a hearty meal, and visit the famous waterfalls.  In the afternoon, get ready for adventure and adrenaline, as your driver will take you through the old Dakar Rally track, crossing the sand dunes and salt lake of Chott El Gharsa. Visit some of a filming location of the Star Wars original trilogy, the village of Mos Espa on Tattoine. Enjoy a colorful sunset before travelling to the village of Tozeur, where you will spend your first evening. Enjoy tea and dinner, before settling in at the four-star hotel for the night. Day 2: After breakfast, head to the old medina of Tozeur. With your guide, stroll in its alleys and discover its architectural and historical characteristics with some free time to enjoy the palm groves. Depart from Tozeur and travel towards Douz. Enjoy free time to visit its local market and lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, head towards Ksar Ghilane, an oasis where green palm trees grow amongst the dry desert offering a unique setting. Bask in the hot spring and enjoy a 1-hour camel ride in the dunes, if option selected. Head to your overnight camp and enjoy another spectacular desert sunset. Enjoy a typical Berber dinner and a free evening to relax and sleep under the stars. Day 3: Enjoy breakfast at the camp and then travel to the city of Tataouine. Visit the famous Berber village of Chenini, which you will explore with your guide for about 40 minutes. Discover the various landmarks of the village including the mosque, oil mill, granaries, and houses dug in the walls of the mountains. Enjoy some couscous for lunch in a local restaurant. After the meal, visit Ksar Hadada, a shooting location for Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. After this, return to Djerba to complete your three-day excursion.