TUNISIA 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS TOUR PACKAGE
DAY 1: TUNIS AIRPORT – TUNIS
Arrival to Tunis airport, welcome and assistance.
Transfer to the hotel in Tunis capital. Check in at hotel El Mouradi Gammarth 5*. Dinner and overnight
DAY 2: TUNIS – BARDO – MEDINA – CARTHAGE – SIDI BOU SAID – HAMMAMET
After breakfast, visit of the world-famous Bardo Museum in Tunis, which has the finest collections of Roman mosaics in the world. There are also some interesting Early Christian mosaics which introduces the manner in which Christian art developed.
Next, we go for a short orientation tour by foot of the old Medina. Tunis is made up of two enclaves, the old town or Medina and the new town, built by the French as their administrative headquarters, a role it continues to fulfill today for modern Tunisia. The Medina was founded by the first Arab conquerors and it is full of monuments from both the Arab and Turkish periods, not least the Great Mosque built by the Aghlabid dynasty in the eighth century AD.
Free time for lunch and continuation to the site of ancient Carthage. Founded by Phoenician traders from the Levant as a trading depot en route to south-west Europe, it eventually became an independent and powerful entity in its own right.
This aroused Rome’s long-term enmity and there followed the famous Punic Wars which eventually saw Carthage’s total destruction. Subsequently re-founded by the Romans we will look over what remains of both cities. This will include the Byrsa Hill where Carthage was founded, c. 814 BC according to Roman sources; a site featuring the characteristic Tophet Graves of the Carthaginians; and the Archaeological Park centered on the Antonine Baths. We’ll visit as well the Second World War American cemetery in Carthage.
Nearby is the very handsome coastal town of Sidi Bou Said, much loved by painters, where we will have a short walking tour.
Departure to the coastal town of Hammamet. Check in at hotel El Mouradi Hammamet 4*. Dinner and overnight
DAY 3: HAMMAMET – KAIROUAN – GAFSA – TOZEUR
After breakfast departure to Kairouan, a purely Arab city filled with outstanding examples of the finest Islamic architecture in Tunisia: the Great Mosque of OKBA, the oldest place of worship in North Africa, and the mausoleum of Sidi Sahabi, a companion and a disciple of the Prophet Mohamed. We will see the impressive pools, built in the 9th century to collect and store winter rainwater. Then into the Medina (old town), the ancient market place encircled by 11th-century walls. Then a walking guided tour through workshops bakeries magnificent houses and religious monument Stop in Kairouan and panoramic visit to Islam Holy City. Continuation to Gafsa, Free time for lunch and departure to Tozeur.
On our arrival in Tozeur, it soon becomes quite clear that the main attraction of this desert city is its vast oasis. This oasis covers about ten square kilometers which has been planted with some 400,000 palms and is fed by 100 springs. We check in at the hotel in Tozeur.
We’ll have some time to relax then do some exploration of this very interesting and unique town. We will take a horse-drawn carriage into the oasis. We will learn about the date harvest and have the opportunity to sample some local dates or date wine “Legmi”, the medieval town with its distinctive desert architecture & decorative brickwork. Check in at hotel El Mouradi Tozeur 4*. Dinner and overnight
DAY 4: TOZEUR – CHEBIKA – TAMERZA – ONG JEMAL – TOZEUR
This morning, we will drive to the Mountain Oases of Chebika, Tamerza and Mides. Located amidst the rugged outcrop of the Atlas Mountains, not far from the Algerian frontier, these date back to Roman times, when they were military outposts to control the caravan trade. In Chebika, we take a walk to see the Berber village, waterfalls and the spring of the water, we continue to the picturesque village of Tamerza, with its spectacular sightseeing made famous in the film, The English Patient.
Return to Tozeur for lunch and depart for an adventure trip by 4X4 to visit the “Ong Jemal” among the sand dunes, and the desert site of one of the Star Wars films (episode 1 and 2 and Lars farm episode 2, 3 and 4.) Back to the hotel in Tozeur. Dinner and overnight.
DAY5: TOZEUR – CHOTT EL JERID – DOUZ – KSAR GHILAINE
After breakfast, drive across the Chott el Jerid, the Great Salt Lake, the barrier between the Sahara and fertile North. If we are lucky, we may see some mirages on the horizon. Arrival to the town of Douz called also the “Gateway of the Sahara”. Visit of the local market and free time to explore the Desert of Douz. Here you have the opportunity (optional) to have a camel ride passing through deserted landscape and picturesque sand dunes, Ultra- light airplane or motor glider, Car cross or buggy trip in the Sahara.
drive by 4X4 to Ksar Ghilaine and overnight in the camp Yadis Ksar Ghilaine with breakfast and dinner.
DAY6: KSAR GHILAINE - MATMATA – GABES – MAHRES – El JEM - SOUSSE
After breakfast, drive to Matmata and visit of a Berber family in Matmata and then depart to the maritime oasis of Gabes, the spices capital in Tunisia. Visit of the spices market and continues toward El Djem to visit the largest and most spectacular Roman amphitheater in North Africa, the remains of the Roman villas in the town and the archaeological museum.
Free time for lunch and continue to the coastal town Sousse. Where we’ll visit it’s old Medina and the Marina of Port El Kantaoui. Check in at hotel Riadh Palms 4*. Dinner and overnight
DAY7: SOUSSE – TUNIS AIRPORT
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free time in the town of Sousse for shopping when time permetted.
Departure transfer to Tunis airport.