2-Day Djerba Desert Tour: Night in a Berber Tent

Sleep under stars at a desert oasis, then wake to Berber villages and troglodyte homes

A 2-day tour from Djerba into the Tunisian desert, with one night in a Berber tent at Ksar Ghilane oasis. You visit the Chahbania salt lake, explore the Tataouine market and Berber villages of Chenini and Tamezret, see the underground dwellings of Matmata (famous from Star Wars), and end at Toujane for panoramic views before returning to the island. Pickup from Djerba is included, and a French or Arabic-speaking guide leads both days.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Djerba to Ksar Ghilaine Oasis

• Depart from Djerba
• Visit Chahbania salt lake
• Explore Tataouine market
• Discover Berber village of Chenini
• Enjoy lunch at local restaurant
• Travel to Ksar Ghilaine oasis
• Relax in hot water spring
• Experience Bedouin songs and dances
• Overnight in Berber tent

Day 2: Berber Villages and Return to Djerba

• Explore Berber village of Tamezret
• Visit troglodyte dwellings of Matmata
• Enjoy lunch at homestay
• View panoramic village of Toujane
• Return to Djerba

The experience

The tour departs Djerba heading south into the desert, starting at the Chahbania salt lake where the landscape shifts from island palms to golden dunes. From there you move through the Tataouine market (a working souk with narrow streets, spice stalls and local artisans selling Berber rugs and pottery) before climbing to the white-walled village of Chenini, perched on a rocky ridge with views across the valley. Lunch comes at a local restaurant, then the route drops down to Ksar Ghilane oasis, where you settle into a Berber tent for the night. After relaxing in the natural hot spring, the evening includes Bedouin songs and dances (depending on the season).

Day two explores the Berber mountains starting in Tamezret, a quiet village of whitewashed houses where locals still practice traditional crafts. The route then reaches Matmata, known for its troglodyte dwellings: homes carved into the ground that stay cool in summer heat and appear in the Star Wars films. You walk through these underground spaces to understand how families lived and still live in them. A warm lunch at a local home in Toujane follows, paired with panoramic views of the surrounding hills before the drive back to Djerba.

What’s included

• Night in a Berber tent at Ksar Ghilane.
• dinner on day one.
• lunch at a local restaurant on day one and a warm homestay lunch on day two.
• all visits to the salt lake, markets, villages and oasis.
• pickup from Djerba and return transport.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupUp to 6

Live guideFrench 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 refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Otentic

Is this one for you?Pickup from Djerba means you don't need a car or arrange transport to the desert. The tour collects you from the island and handles the full route. The fixed 2-day schedule fits the main sites (salt lake, markets, Berber villages, Matmata's troglodyte homes and the oasis night) into a single trip without rushing between them.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

What is the Chahbania salt lake like when you arrive there?

The Chahbania salt lake sits in the heart of the Tunisian desert surrounded by golden dunes. It offers a serene break in the middle of the desert landscape, with striking light at sunrise and sunset.

Do I need my own transport to get picked up for this tour?

Pickup from Djerba is included in the tour, so you don't need to arrange your own transport to the starting point.

What happens on the night in the Berber tent?

You stay overnight in a Berber tent at the Ksar Ghilane oasis. After settling in, you can relax in the natural hot spring, then the evening includes Bedouin songs and dances (depending on the season), with dinner provided.

Are the Star Wars locations in Matmata something you walk through?

Yes, Matmata's troglodyte dwellings (the underground homes carved into the ground) are the locations used in Star Wars filming. You explore these spaces to see how they were built and how people live in them.