Day 1: Arrive Tunis
Land at Tunis International Airport under your own arrangements (We recommend the flights offered by British Airways from London Gatwick). On arrival you will be met by a Corinthian Travel representative and transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation: Stay for 4 nights at the Dar Said Hotel (Standard Room) / The Residence Hotel (Sea View Room).
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Day 2: Carthage and Sidi Bou Said
Begin the day with a guided tour of the ruins of ancient Carthage. The fame of this ancient city and capital of an empire once resounded across the ancient world. Here Dido wept for Aeneas, Hannibal set forth to conquer Rome, and St Perpetua was tossed by bulls. Visits will include Byrsa Hill, the Tophet, the Punic Ports and Antonine Baths. Following lunch visit Sidi Bou Said, perched high on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the most picturesque villages in Tunisia
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Day 3: Tunis and The Bardo Museum
An immersion in medieval North Africa awaits you this morning when you visit the thronging souqs and grand monuments inside Tunis’s walled medina. Discover the beautiful Zitouna mosque; the covered glittering gold souq; and the lavishly sculpted 18th century royal mausoleum, the Tourbet el Bey . After lunch in an beautiful old house, continue to Tunis’ famed Bardo Museum where a world class collection of brilliantly executed Roman mosaics and sculpture is on display.
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Day 4: Bulla Regia and Dougga
Some of the greatest treasures of the Roman world lie inland from Tunis in what was the ancient province (and former kingdom) of Numidia. First visit Bulla Regia, once capital of the 2nd century Numidian king Micipsa, and see the well preserved Roman underground villas; then this afternoon continue to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dougga, and explore what are arguably the finest Roman ruins in Tunisia.
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Day 5: Thuburbo Majus, Zaghouan, Arrive Sousse
Today visit the Roman ruins of Thuburbo Majus, a fine example of a provincial African city, and the Temple of the Waters at Zaghouan, then drive to the coastal city of Sousse stopping for lunch (payable locally) at Port El Kantaoui marina en route. Sousse is noted for its white sandy beaches and impressive walled UNESCO World Heritage listed medina. This afternoon explore Sousse’s old city and Ribat fortress.
Accommodation: Stay for 1 night at the Movenpick Resort & Marine Spa (Sea View Room) / Movenpick Resort & Marine Spa (Sea View Room).
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Day 6: El Djem, Arrive Kairouan
Drive to El Djem this morning to see the magnificent Roman amphitheatre. The structure is in a better state of preservation that the Coliseum in Rome and has huge outer walls rising to a height of three stories. El Djem’s museum, home to a magnificent collection of mosaics, is another highlight. Next, continue to Kairouan; a city that was founded in 670 AD and is venerated as the fourth holiest city in the Muslim world. This afternoon there will be a walking tour of historic souqs and monuments of Kairouan’s medina, and a visit to the Mosque of the Barber and Aghlabid pools lying outside the walls.
Accommodation: Stay for 1 night at the La Kasbah Hotel (Standard Room) / La Kasbah Hotel (Standard Room).
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Day 7: Kairouan, Sbeitla, Arrive Tamerza
Continue your Kairouan sightseeing this morning with a visit to the fortress-like Great Mosque of Obka with its distinctive square minaret, then drive into the pre-desert to Sbeitla. On arrival explore the extensive honey-coloured ruins of Roman Sufetula which include one of the most instantly recognisable views in the country: that of three well preserved Capitoline temples facing a Triumphal Arch of Marcus Aurelius. This afternoon drive south to the mountain oasis of Tamerza.
Accommodation: Stay for 2 nights at the Tamerza Palace Hotel (Traditional Room) / Tamerza Palace Hotel (Contemporary Room).
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Day 8: Lezard Rouge Train, Mountain Oases of Mides, Tamerza, Chebika
Drive to Metlaoui and board the 19th century former Beylical train, the ‘Lézard Rouge’, for a dramatic journey through narrow gorges to Seldja. On arrival, disembark and continue by car into the mountains to visit the oasis of Mides where the abandoned and crumbing old town clings to a clifftop overlooking a deep chasm. Next, continue the short distance to Tamerza to see its lovely waterfall, then following a picnic lunch in the oasis, visit Chebika – arguably the most scenic of the mountain oases.
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Day 9: Tozeur, Chott el Djerid, Arrive Ksar Ghilane
Following an early start arrive at Tozeur, once one of the great gateways to the Sahara. Walk through the lanes of Tozeur’s old Ouled Hadef quarter with its distinctive patterned brickwork, then drive across the immense expanse of the Chott el Djerid salt pans and through the rocky hammada desert to the remote oasis of Ksar Ghilane on the edge of the Saharan sand sea. Late this afternoon journey across the dunes on camelback and enjoy a sunset drink overlooking the seemingly endless rippling sands.
Accommodation: Stay for 1 night at the Yadis Desert Camp (Tent) / Yadis Desert Camp (Tent).
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Day 10: Matmata, Medenine, Arrive Djerba
This morning drive to Matmata to see the sunken troglodytic houses, or haouch hafera, which were developed to combat the extremes of the local climate, then continue to Medenine and explore the curious fortified honeycomb-like granaries built by the Berbers and known as Ksour. Both Matmata and the Ksour of southern Tunisia were famously used by George Lucas as locations in his Star Wars films. Late this afternoon cross over to the island of Djerba.
Accommodation: Stay for 2 nights at the Radisson Blu Resort & Thalasso (Deluxe Sea View Room) / Radisson Blu Resort & Thalasso (Deluxe Sea View Room).
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Day 11: Djerba
At leisure on Djerba.
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Day 12: Farewell to Tunisia
Transfer to Djerba Airport and fly to Tunis International Airport.
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