Discovering Tunisia

Welcome to Tunisia! We land at Tunis airport where we are greeted by our guide/driver who takes us to our hotel in the capital. Check-in and free time available for the rest of the day. Overnight in Tunis.

We meet our guide at 8 in the morning and head towards the picturesque village of Sidi Bou Said. Known for its white walls, blue painted windows and doors, and a dazzling view of the Mediterranean Sea from an altitude of over 100 meters. Our next stop will be Carthage, located on a magnificent coastline. Although the ancient city was destroyed by the Romans, it still features excavations of houses, baths, and sewer systems. Another significant site in the area is the Carthage Amphitheatre, built around the 1st century and later rebuilt by the Romans. Today, the theater hosts about 30,000 visitors during the annual Carthage International Music Festival. After lunch, we head to the center of Tunis to visit the Bardo National Museum, renowned for its rich collection of mosaics and for its location in an ancient Beylical castle in the center of the old city of Tunis. The day will end with a visit to the ancient medina of Tunis, including some free time. Overnight stay in Hammamet.

Our tour of Tunisia continues and around 8 in the morning we meet our guide. The third day of our trip includes another of the rich archaeological sites of Tunisia, the site of Dougga, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, thanks to one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the area. The site contains an architectural historical heritage belonging to various civilizations including Roman, Punic, and Byzantine. Its most significant monuments are the Capitol and the Theatre. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will continue towards Bulla Regia, a Berber, Punic, and Roman city, known for the remains of the semi-subterranean dwellings from the Hadrian era, built this way to protect from the intense heat and effects of the sun. Many of the mosaic floors have been left in place; others can be seen at the Bardo Museum in Tunis. After the visit, we return to Tunis around 6:00 PM. Overnight stay in Hammamet.

Our journey to discover Tunisia continues towards Outhna, one of the oldest cities of the Roman Empire in Africa. Not much is known, but the city had one of the largest Roman amphitheaters in North Africa, cherished by its cosmopolitan inhabitants during the city's heyday in the 2nd century, and it remains the most significant attraction for today's travelers. Let's enjoy lunch in the eco-village of Dar Zaghouan before continuing our journey to Thuburbo Majus. Its Roman name was derived from a Punic city, later founded as a Roman veteran colony by Augustus in 27 BC. Military veterans were sent to Thuburbo, among other sites, by Augustus to allow them to start their post-army life with their own land. Its strategic location and access to trade routes made it an important site. The ruins of the city are amidst the countryside with no nearby cities. We will arrive at Kairouan for check-in at 18:00. Overnight stay in Kairouan.

Sbeitla or Sufetula will be the first stop on the 5th day of the journey. The Roman ruins of Sufetula are home to the best-preserved Roman forum temples in Tunisia. Sufetula was the entry point for the Muslim conquest of North Africa. After lunch, we head towards Makthar, a strategic fortress built by the Numidians in the 3rd century BC, chosen to control the trade routes at that time between Sbeitla, Kairouan and El Kef. Return to the hotel around 18:00. Overnight stay in Kairouan.

At the beginning of the day, our guide will accompany us on a tour of the old medina of Kairouan up to the Great Mosque of Kairouan, located in the middle of the medina and built by the Arab general Uqba Ibn Nafi in 670 AD. The site attracts thousands of local and international visitors for its magnificent architectural and spiritual value. The next visit is to the Aghlabid pool site, where two large basins and some cisterns have survived over the centuries after being used for decades, in times of scarce drinking water resources. After lunch, we will continue towards El Djem, home of the second-largest Roman amphitheater, built about 18 centuries ago, and still exceptionally well-preserved today. The site was mainly used for events like gladiator battles. The day will end with a short walk in the marina of Port El Kantaoui, where we will have the opportunity to buy some souvenirs or simply enjoy a Tunisian coffee or fresh fruit juice. We arrive at the hotel around 6:00 PM for check-in. Overnight stay in Hammamet.

This day will be dedicated to the peninsula of "Cap bon" as it is called, known for its large production of oranges and lemons, but also for its beautiful cities overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The first stop will be Kelibia known in Roman times as Clypia or Clupea, the city was founded by the Carthaginians as the fortified city of Aspis in the 5th century BC. The siege of Aspis in 255 BC represents the first African battle of the First Punic War. The next stop will be Kerkouane, one of the most important Punic cities. After lunch, the day ends at Haouaria before returning to Tunis around 6:00 PM for the last overnight stay. Overnight in Tunis.

After breakfast, and depending on the flight schedule, we will be transferred to the airport with departure assistance. Our journey in Tunisia ends here, until the next tour!