Expedition to Roman ruins, Berber mountain oases, troglodyte villages and in the traces of Star Wars
TUNISIA
January 8 — 13, 2025
Tour to Tunisia
Tour to Libya, medieval Ghadames, Sahara, Tadrart Akakus, Tripolitania
Impressive Roman ruins, Muslim shrines, troglodyte cave dwellings, Berber ksars and desert oases, alien salt lake landscapes and natural Star Wars sets.
Prepare to be surprised! We are going on a short but intensive expedition to Tunisia!
Prepare to be surprised! We are going on a short but intensive expedition to Tunisia!
Tour to Libya, medieval Ghadames, Sahara, Tadrart Akakus, Tripolitania
SCHEDULE & COST:
Dates: January 8 — 13, 2025
It connects with the program to Libya from January 2 to 8, 2025.
Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Number of participants: 6 – 12
Cost per person:
– 1 440 USD, subject to 11 – 12 participants or
– 1 540 USD, subject to 10 participants or
– 1 590 USD, subject to 8 – 9 participants or
– 1 690 USD, subject to 6 – 7 participants
Everything is included (also full board), except for:
- international flight to Tunis roundtrip,
- international medical insurance,
- Tunisia visa.
Estimated cost of international flight Moscow – Tunis – Moscow: from 600 – 700 USD (to be purchased on your own. We consult).
Single supplement: 240 USD per person (it is provided along the whole itinerary).
TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour to Tunisia
Day 1. January 8, 2025 (Wednesday). TUNIS
Arrival in Tunis and transfer to the hotel.
Free time in Tunis.
Overnight at Hotel Majestic 4* in a historic Art Nouveau building in the heart of the capital, 15 minutes walk from the Medina.
Meals included: dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel Majestic 4*
Recommended flights:
- Turkish Airlines, flight TK-663. Departure from Istanbul at 16-20, arrival in Tunisia at 17-20, or
- Libian Wings, flight YL-0820. Departure from Tripoli at 17-00, arrival in Tunisia at 17-10, or
- any other flight from any city arriving in Tunisia at any time on January 8.
Day 2. January 9, 2025 (Thursday). TUNIS - DOUGGA - KAIRUANE (255 km, 4.5–5 hours)
After breakfast we leave Tunis and head out to explore the Roman heritage. First we visit Dougga, where we see the beautifully preserved ruins of a Roman city surrounded by green fields and rolling hills. The surrounding landscape is more reminiscent of Tuscany in Italy than northern Africa.
Towards evening we arrive in Kairouan, one of the holy cities of Islam. We walk through the narrow streets of the old city.
Overnight at the atmospheric stylish Hôtel La Kasbah Kairouan.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Hôtel La Kasbah Kairouan or similar
Day 3. January 10, 2025 (Friday). KAIROUAN – GAFSA – METLAOUI – MOUNTAIN OASIS – TOZEUR (385 km, about 6 hours)
After an early breakfast, we will set off to explore the magnificent monuments of Kairouan. We will visit the Aghlabite pools, The Great Mosque of Kairouan (Mosque of Uqba), the Barber's Mosque (the Mausoleum of Sidi Sahbi).
Then we head to Gafsa for lunch and continue to the Metlaoui area to transfer to our 4x4 vehicles for the mountain oases. Depending on the time, we will visit some of the oases of Mides, Tamerza and Chebika.
We get to Tozeur for the night.
Overnight at a hotel with a swimming pool Ras El Ain 4* or El Mouradi Tozeur 4*.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Ras El Ain 4*, or El Mouradi Tozeur 4*, or similar
Day 4. January 11, 2025 (Saturday). TOZEUR - CHOTT EL DJERID - MATMATA - KSAR HADADA - TATOOINE (345 km, 5.5–6 hours)
After breakfast we explore the old town of Tozeur, and then through the Martian landscapes of the drying lake Chott el Djerid, we go to Matmata.
Here we see the underground houses of troglodytes and installations used for the filming of the cult Star Wars. We visit a troglodyte family, where we are certainly treated to a cup of aromatic tea.
Troglodytes, literally – living underground. On the territory of Tunisia in its southern, mountainous part, a fairly common practice in ancient times was living in houses dug into the ground, the reasons for it were the hot climate and the lack of trees.
Troglodytes are Berbers who lead a settled life and live in cave houses.
The underground houses were built in the following way: a hill was selected, and a rectangular or square pit, 5-6 meters deep, was dug in its center. A tunnel was dug in one direction to the foot of the hill, thus creating the entrance to the dwelling. In the central room, tunnels were dug into the walls, which at the end expanded into rooms, sometimes on several levels.
After lunch, we continue our journey to Tatooine, along the way visiting the picturesque Ksar Hadada, where Star Wars filming also took place.
Overnight in Tatooine at Hotel Dakyanus 3*.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel Dakyanus 3* or similar
Day 5. January 12, 2025 (Sunday). TATOUINE - CHENINI - KSAR OULED SOLTANE - SOUSSES (510 km, about 6–6.5 hours)
Today we will be exploring the Berber heritage in the Tatooine area. In addition to the ancient center of Tatooine, we visit the stunning Berber villages of Chenini and Ksar Ouled Soltane.
Ksar Ouled Soltane is spread over two courtyards, each of which has a perimeter of multi-story vaulted granaries. Like other Berber ksars, it is located on top of a hill to help protect it from enemy raids.
In 1998, Ksar Ouled Soltane became the location of the film “Star Wars. Episode I: The Phantom Menace." Ksar was used as a setting for a scene on the planet Tatooine, in the city of Mos Espa, in the slave quarter where Anakin Skywalker, one of the main characters of the film, spent his childhood.
After that we have a long drive to Sousse.
Overnight at the El Mouradi Palace 5* resort, where you can use the SPA services or taste lobster in one of the local restaurants.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Accommodation included: El Mouradi Palace 5* or similar
Day 6. January 13, 2025 (Monday). SOUSSES - TUNIS (155 km, about 2 hours)
After breakfast, transfer to Tunis airport to catch the return international flight.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: no
Recommended flights:
- Turkish Airlines, flight TK-664. Departure from Tunisia at 18-15, arrival in Istanbul at 23-10, or
- any other flight from any city with departure from Tunisia on January 13 no earlier than 15-00.
* The order of visits and excursions can be modified according to local conditions (i.e. state of roads, security conditions etc.). If some visits and/or tours could not be done due to external conditions, they will be replaced when possible.
** The participant of expedition to Tunisia must be motivated to be respectful to the culture of local people, be aware of the objectives of the trip and possible program changes depending on weather or road conditions, security conditions and any other reasons, be able to adapt to the new environment and culture.
Dates: January 8 — 13, 2025
It connects with the program to Libya from January 2 to 8, 2025.
Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Number of participants: 6 – 12
Cost per person:
– 1 440 USD, subject to 11 – 12 participants or
– 1 540 USD, subject to 10 participants or
– 1 590 USD, subject to 8 – 9 participants or
– 1 690 USD, subject to 6 – 7 participants
Everything is included (also full board), except for:
- international flight to Tunis roundtrip,
- international medical insurance,
- Tunisia visa.
Estimated cost of international flight Moscow – Tunis – Moscow: from 600 – 700 USD (to be purchased on your own. We consult).
Single supplement: 240 USD per person (it is provided along the whole itinerary).
TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour to Tunisia
Day 1. January 8, 2025 (Wednesday). TUNIS
Arrival in Tunis and transfer to the hotel.
Free time in Tunis.
Overnight at Hotel Majestic 4* in a historic Art Nouveau building in the heart of the capital, 15 minutes walk from the Medina.
Meals included: dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel Majestic 4*
Recommended flights:
- Turkish Airlines, flight TK-663. Departure from Istanbul at 16-20, arrival in Tunisia at 17-20, or
- Libian Wings, flight YL-0820. Departure from Tripoli at 17-00, arrival in Tunisia at 17-10, or
- any other flight from any city arriving in Tunisia at any time on January 8.
Day 2. January 9, 2025 (Thursday). TUNIS - DOUGGA - KAIRUANE (255 km, 4.5–5 hours)
After breakfast we leave Tunis and head out to explore the Roman heritage. First we visit Dougga, where we see the beautifully preserved ruins of a Roman city surrounded by green fields and rolling hills. The surrounding landscape is more reminiscent of Tuscany in Italy than northern Africa.
Towards evening we arrive in Kairouan, one of the holy cities of Islam. We walk through the narrow streets of the old city.
Overnight at the atmospheric stylish Hôtel La Kasbah Kairouan.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Hôtel La Kasbah Kairouan or similar
Day 3. January 10, 2025 (Friday). KAIROUAN – GAFSA – METLAOUI – MOUNTAIN OASIS – TOZEUR (385 km, about 6 hours)
After an early breakfast, we will set off to explore the magnificent monuments of Kairouan. We will visit the Aghlabite pools, The Great Mosque of Kairouan (Mosque of Uqba), the Barber's Mosque (the Mausoleum of Sidi Sahbi).
Then we head to Gafsa for lunch and continue to the Metlaoui area to transfer to our 4x4 vehicles for the mountain oases. Depending on the time, we will visit some of the oases of Mides, Tamerza and Chebika.
We get to Tozeur for the night.
Overnight at a hotel with a swimming pool Ras El Ain 4* or El Mouradi Tozeur 4*.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Ras El Ain 4*, or El Mouradi Tozeur 4*, or similar
Day 4. January 11, 2025 (Saturday). TOZEUR - CHOTT EL DJERID - MATMATA - KSAR HADADA - TATOOINE (345 km, 5.5–6 hours)
After breakfast we explore the old town of Tozeur, and then through the Martian landscapes of the drying lake Chott el Djerid, we go to Matmata.
Here we see the underground houses of troglodytes and installations used for the filming of the cult Star Wars. We visit a troglodyte family, where we are certainly treated to a cup of aromatic tea.
Troglodytes, literally – living underground. On the territory of Tunisia in its southern, mountainous part, a fairly common practice in ancient times was living in houses dug into the ground, the reasons for it were the hot climate and the lack of trees.
Troglodytes are Berbers who lead a settled life and live in cave houses.
The underground houses were built in the following way: a hill was selected, and a rectangular or square pit, 5-6 meters deep, was dug in its center. A tunnel was dug in one direction to the foot of the hill, thus creating the entrance to the dwelling. In the central room, tunnels were dug into the walls, which at the end expanded into rooms, sometimes on several levels.
After lunch, we continue our journey to Tatooine, along the way visiting the picturesque Ksar Hadada, where Star Wars filming also took place.
Overnight in Tatooine at Hotel Dakyanus 3*.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel Dakyanus 3* or similar
Day 5. January 12, 2025 (Sunday). TATOUINE - CHENINI - KSAR OULED SOLTANE - SOUSSES (510 km, about 6–6.5 hours)
Today we will be exploring the Berber heritage in the Tatooine area. In addition to the ancient center of Tatooine, we visit the stunning Berber villages of Chenini and Ksar Ouled Soltane.
Ksar Ouled Soltane is spread over two courtyards, each of which has a perimeter of multi-story vaulted granaries. Like other Berber ksars, it is located on top of a hill to help protect it from enemy raids.
In 1998, Ksar Ouled Soltane became the location of the film “Star Wars. Episode I: The Phantom Menace." Ksar was used as a setting for a scene on the planet Tatooine, in the city of Mos Espa, in the slave quarter where Anakin Skywalker, one of the main characters of the film, spent his childhood.
After that we have a long drive to Sousse.
Overnight at the El Mouradi Palace 5* resort, where you can use the SPA services or taste lobster in one of the local restaurants.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Accommodation included: El Mouradi Palace 5* or similar
Day 6. January 13, 2025 (Monday). SOUSSES - TUNIS (155 km, about 2 hours)
After breakfast, transfer to Tunis airport to catch the return international flight.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: no
Recommended flights:
- Turkish Airlines, flight TK-664. Departure from Tunisia at 18-15, arrival in Istanbul at 23-10, or
- any other flight from any city with departure from Tunisia on January 13 no earlier than 15-00.
* The order of visits and excursions can be modified according to local conditions (i.e. state of roads, security conditions etc.). If some visits and/or tours could not be done due to external conditions, they will be replaced when possible.
** The participant of expedition to Tunisia must be motivated to be respectful to the culture of local people, be aware of the objectives of the trip and possible program changes depending on weather or road conditions, security conditions and any other reasons, be able to adapt to the new environment and culture.
Cost includes:
• accommodation in 5*, 4*, 3* hotels on a TWIN/DBL basis
• three meals a day throughout the route
• drinking water along the entire route
• private air-conditioned transport: 4x4 vehicles when visiting the oases, and a Toyota Hiace minibus or Citroen Jumper bus, depending on group size, for the rest of the route, all with working air conditioning and experienced drivers
• all transfers to/from the airport
• all entrance fees and activities along the route
• experienced English-speaking local guide throughout the entire route
• English and Russian speaking team leader
Cost excludes (additionally paid):
• international flight to Tunis and back
• international health insurance
• Tunisia visa (not required for Russian citizens)
• alcohol, soft drinks, souvenirs
• tips
• single accommodation
To take with:
• clothing sets for different weather conditions,
• at least one warm set of clothes
• a set of clothes with long sleeves,
• comfortable closed shoes and open shoes,
• head torch,
• large backpack for luggage / travel bag / suitcase
• a small backpack for personal belongings and a camera,
• sun protection kit: cream, sunglasses, cap
• personal hygiene items,
• personal first aid kit (analgesics, sanitizers, rehydration, antiviral, antibiotics, your personal medications),
• photo and video camera, tripod
• accommodation in 5*, 4*, 3* hotels on a TWIN/DBL basis
• three meals a day throughout the route
• drinking water along the entire route
• private air-conditioned transport: 4x4 vehicles when visiting the oases, and a Toyota Hiace minibus or Citroen Jumper bus, depending on group size, for the rest of the route, all with working air conditioning and experienced drivers
• all transfers to/from the airport
• all entrance fees and activities along the route
• experienced English-speaking local guide throughout the entire route
• English and Russian speaking team leader
Cost excludes (additionally paid):
• international flight to Tunis and back
• international health insurance
• Tunisia visa (not required for Russian citizens)
• alcohol, soft drinks, souvenirs
• tips
• single accommodation
To take with:
• clothing sets for different weather conditions,
• at least one warm set of clothes
• a set of clothes with long sleeves,
• comfortable closed shoes and open shoes,
• head torch,
• large backpack for luggage / travel bag / suitcase
• a small backpack for personal belongings and a camera,
• sun protection kit: cream, sunglasses, cap
• personal hygiene items,
• personal first aid kit (analgesics, sanitizers, rehydration, antiviral, antibiotics, your personal medications),
• photo and video camera, tripod
Why with MZUNGU EXPEDITIONS?
- 1UNIQUENESS
We find the most astonishing places on Earth and speed up to reach them. Our motto is to go ahead of road roller, touch the unique and unknown, before it disappears. - 2ADVENTURISM
Wherever we go, we look for challenging activities and adventures, filling the journey with absolutely different spirit and emotions. That is why people join us over and over again. - 3SAFETY
In our trips we pay special attention to safety. All our travels are based on personal experience, equipped with the best gear, involving proved providers and experienced local guides who perfectly know local features. - 4EXPERIENCE
We have a unique experience of the most offbeat expeditions and ascents, deep knowledge of countries and peoples, and are ready to share it with you.
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