2-day desert tour Djerba: Tataouine, Chenini, Matmata

Tataouine's souk, a Berber tent under stars, troglodyte houses, and a camel market in two days

A 2-day desert tour from Djerba that moves through Tataouine, Chenini, Matmata and Douz by 4x4, with one night in a Berber tent in the sand dunes. You visit troglodyte villages, watch traditional bread-making, ride a camel at sunset, bathe in a natural spring, and share meals with local families. Hotel pickup is included, and the guide speaks English, French or Arabic.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Excursion Tataouine Chenini / Night in desert

• Visit Tataouine and its souk
• Explore Chenini troglodyte houses
• Eat traditional couscous and gazelle horns
• Bathe in natural water source
• Quad ride in dunes to ancient fort
• Sunset camel ride in white sand desert
• Taste tea and traditional cake
• Overnight in Berber tent under stars

Day 2: Discovery of Matmata, Douz and camel market

• Visit camel market and city specialties
• See desert gates
• Discover troglodyte houses and bread making
• Share local meal with family
• Visit Star Wars filming locations
• Stop for photos
• Return to hotel

The experience

The tour leaves from your Djerba hotel and heads south into the desert landscape that shifts every 35 minutes, from olive groves to salt lakes to pebble flats to mountains. The first day centers on Tataouine and Chenini, where you move through the souk, then climb to the troglodyte houses carved into the rock face. From there, a natural spring offers a chance to bathe in clear water, followed by a quad ride across the dunes to the ruins of an old fort. As the light drops, a camel carries you out to a camp in the white sand desert. You watch the sunset, drink tea with traditional cake, and sleep in a Berber tent under the open sky.

Day two starts at the camel market in Douz, where you see the animals and the city's specialties before moving to Matmata. There, a local family shows you how they make traditional bread in their troglodyte home, and you share a meal with them: a direct look at how life has worked in these houses for generations. If you're a Star Wars fan, the area holds filming locations from the saga. The tour ends with photo stops before returning to your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return.
• 4x4 transport for both days.
• one night in a Berber tent with breakfast.
• dinner on day one.
• guide in English, French or Arabic.
• camel ride and quad excursion.
• visits to troglodyte villages and the camel market.
• a natural spring swim.
• meals with local families.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (1 to 17 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for back problems

Operated by Guide_Hamrouni

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or a ride arranged separately, and the 4x4 handles the rough desert tracks that a standard vehicle can't cross. If you're staying in Djerba without transport, this tour brings the southern desert within reach as a complete overnight trip.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 17 years).

What's the drive like from Djerba to the desert sites?

The 4x4 moves through changing terrain (olive groves, salt lakes, pebble desert, and mountain slopes) with the sea only 35 minutes behind. The route is built to show the landscape shift as you travel deeper south.

Where do I sleep on the first night?

You sleep in a Berber tent in the middle of the white sand desert. It's a single night under the stars at a camp, with breakfast included before you leave the next morning.

Do I eat with the local families, or just watch them cook?

You share meals with them. On day one, you eat traditional couscous and gazelle horns while watching their preparation in Chenini. On day two, a Matmata family invites you to eat after showing you how they bake bread in their troglodyte home.

Is the camel ride included, or do I pay extra?

The camel ride at sunset on day one is part of the tour. The quad ride across the dunes is also included. Neither costs extra at checkout.