2-day 4x4 safari from Sousse: Night in Ksar Ghilane oasis

A night under stars at a remote desert oasis, surrounded by dunes 100km from any town.

A 2-day 4x4 safari from Sousse, Hammamet or Tunis that takes you 100km into the Sahara to spend a night in a tent at Ksar Ghilane oasis. Day one includes the El Djem Roman amphitheater, underground cave dwellings, a Star Wars film location, a Berber village and dinner in the desert. Day two visits more Ksars and Berber settlements before returning to your hotel. Hotel pickup and drop-off, tent accommodation, breakfast and dinner are included. Drinks at meals and optional camel or ATV riding are extra.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore desert and Star Wars sites

• Visit Roman amphitheater
• Visit underground cave houses
• Enjoy moon landscape viewpoint
• Visit Sidi Driss Star Wars location
• Have traditional Tunisian lunch
• Visit deserted Berber village
• Relax at Ksar Ghilane oasis
• Optional quad riding to Roman ruins
• Overnight in desert tent

Day 2: Discover Berber villages and ruins

• Visit Berber fortified granary
• Walk ancient Berber village
• Relax with coffee on mountain
• See ruins of ancient granary
• Viewpoint and coffee break
• Lunch in underground hotel Sidi Driss
• Return to hotel

The experience

The El Djem amphitheater opens the first day: a UNESCO site and the best-preserved Roman theater in Africa, where your guide walks you through its history. From there you move into the landscape that drew Star Wars filmmakers: underground cave houses carved into soft rock, a moon-like viewpoint, and the Sidi Driss location where scenes were shot. Lunch is traditional Tunisian (brick pastries and couscous) eaten before you push deeper into the desert toward Ksar Ghilane.

The oasis itself sits 100km inside the Sahara, famous for reddish sand and a pond where you can cool off after the drive. You spend the night in a tent here, with dinner and breakfast included. If you want to explore further, quad riding across the dunes to ancient Roman fortress ruins is available for an extra fee.

Day two takes you through more Berber settlements: fortified granaries called Ksars, half-deserted villages, and an ancient site with an easy walk to see old houses. You'll stop for coffee at a mountain viewpoint overlooking the village, then eat lunch at the underground Sidi Driss hotel (another Star Wars location) before heading back to your hotel. The tour runs with a live guide who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and several other languages, and you can book it as a private departure from Tunis or Sousse/Hammamet, or join a shared group from either city.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Sousse, Hammamet or Tunis.
• one night accommodation in a tent at Ksar Ghilane oasis.
• breakfast and dinner.
• a live guide in multiple languages.
• visits to the El Djem Roman amphitheater, Star Wars film locations, Berber villages and Ksars.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private from Sousse/HammametGuide in 7 languages · 07:00Pickup is included

Private from TunisGuide in 7 languages · 05:00Includes pickup and a 2-hour round-trip transfer from Tunis

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 05:00 and 07:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Polish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Paid on siteUS$ 5.68

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Agence Sahel Voyages

Is this one for you?Book the private option if you want the flexibility to set your own pace and stops. The shared departure works if you're comfortable with a group and want to split costs. The 2-day format is what makes the 100km desert depth and an overnight stay possible: day tours from the coast only reach the edge.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Polish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What is the El Djem amphitheater and why is it on this tour?

El Djem is a UNESCO-listed Roman amphitheater and the best-preserved one in Africa. It opens day one of the safari, and your guide explains its history and significance before you move into the desert regions.

Can I ride a camel or ATV on this tour?

Camel riding is available as an optional add-on for €10. Quad (ATV) riding across the desert to visit ancient Roman fortress ruins is also optional and starts from €20. It's offered on the evening of day one at Ksar Ghilane.

What are the Star Wars locations on this tour?

Two Star Wars film sites are included: Sidi Driss, an underground hotel where scenes were shot, visited on both days; and cave dwellings and viewpoints near it on day one. Day two includes lunch at the underground Sidi Driss hotel itself.

Is this tour private or shared, and where does pickup happen?

You can book a private departure or join a shared group. Pickup is included from your hotel in Sousse, Hammamet or Tunis, depending on which option you choose at checkout.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, one night in a tent, breakfast and dinner are included. Entrance fees (around €5) and optional activities like camel riding (€10) and ATV riding (from €20) are extra. Drinks at lunch and dinner are also optional.