2-Day Morocco Sahara Tour: El Jem, Star Wars Sites & Desert Camps

Roman ruins, underground Berber homes, and nights under the Sahara sky

A 2-day private Sahara tour departing from Sousse, Monastir or Hammamet that moves through Tunisia's desert landscape with a live English, French or Arabic-speaking guide. Day one covers the El Jem Amphitheatre (the second-largest Roman colosseum in the world), a traditional troglodyte home in Matmata where you taste Berber tea and local bread, the Star Wars filming location, and a sunset at Douz. Day two begins with sunrise at Chott el Jerid salt lake, includes a jeep tour to Ong Jmal and a desert oasis, and ends at the Great Mosque of Okba with traditional sweets and Kairouan tea. Lunch, dinner and breakfast are included. The jeep canyon tour, quad rides and camel tours are optional add-ons you arrange at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: From Ancient Stones to Desert Dreams

• Visit El Jem Amphitheatre
• Lunch break in Matmata
• Tour Berber troglodyte home
• See Star Wars filming location
• Watch sunset at Sahara Desert Douz
• Optional quad tour or camel ride

Day 2: Mirages, Mountains & Sacred Streets

• Sunrise at Chott el Jerid salt lake
• 4x4 desert adventure to Ong Jmal
• Visit desert oasis with coffee break
• Scenic break at Tamaghza canyons
• View underground city of Tamaghza
• Final stop at Great Mosque of Okba

The experience

The El Jem Amphitheatre anchors the first morning: a UNESCO site and the second-largest Roman colosseum on Earth, where you walk the stone tiers with a guide who unpacks its scale and history. From there the route moves south into Matmata, where you step inside a Berber troglodyte home carved into the rock like a cave, sip authentic Berber tea, taste flatbread and local honey made by the family, and leave a tip for their hospitality. The same landscape holds the Star Wars filming location where Luke Skywalker's home was shot. You stand in the actual place the scenes were filmed. By evening you reach Douz, the "Gateway to the Sahara," where the sunset spreads across the dunes and you photograph the light before heading to your tent camp for dinner and the night.

Day two starts before dawn at Chott el Jerid, Tunisia's vast salt lake and second-largest salt desert, where you photograph the sunrise over the flat expanse during a 45-minute stop. The jeep canyon tour to Ong Jmal (another Star Wars set location) is optional and costs around €110 per vehicle for up to six people. The driver navigates rolling dunes and you explore the site and learn about local traditions. Afterward you move to a desert oasis tucked against towering cliffs, where you can swim in clear water and rest before coffee and light snacks. The Tamaghza canyons offer panoramic views and a chance to feed milk to camels if you wish. The journey ends at the Great Mosque of Okba, where you view the historic mosque from an elevated vantage and finish with complimentary traditional sweets and Kairouan tea: a local hospitality ritual that closes the tour.

You travel in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from Sousse, Monastir or Hammamet. The guide speaks English, French or Arabic. Lunch is included on day one. Dinner and breakfast are part of the tent camp stay. Quad tours (around €20–€25 per person) and camel rides (around €10–€15 per person) can be added if you want them. The operator handles WhatsApp support before, during and after the tour, and will recommend restaurants that match your tastes. Groups of four or more receive discounted rates, and you can ask to spend extra time at any stop that appeals to you.

What’s included

• Pickup from your choice of Sousse, Monastir or Hammamet in a modern air-conditioned vehicle.
• a live guide in English, French or Arabic.
• lunch on day one.
• dinner and breakfast at the tent camp.
• entry to El Jem Amphitheatre.
• a visit to a traditional Berber troglodyte home with Berber tea and local bread.
• access to the Star Wars filming locations at Matmata and Ong Jmal.
• sunrise at Chott el Jerid salt lake.
• a desert oasis with swimming and refreshments.
• views of the Tamaghza canyons and the Great Mosque of Okba.
• complimentary traditional sweets and Kairouan tea at the final stop.
• WhatsApp support before, during and after your tour.

Options for this experience

2 options

From Sousse/Monastir/HammametGuide in English, French or Arabic · 5 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 09:30Enjoy a fully private experience with only your group, with no sharing, personalized attention and flexible pacing. The tour lasts 2 days, a complete desert adventure in Tunisia with hotel pickup and return, where you explore the Sahara dunes and more. The multi-city cultural route covers a 2-day desert tour of Matmata, Douz, Chott El Jerid and the Tozeur oases. You travel comfortably in a private, air-conditioned car or van, and a luxury car upgrade is available on request. Bonus inclusions are WhatsApp support, group discounts, a flexible itinerary, lunch guidance and free drop-off if it is along the route. Pickup is included.

From TunisGuide in English, French or Arabic · 5 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 09:30Pickup is included 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 day5 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 09:30

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, French and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 204

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by tunisian voice of freedom

Is this one for you?Book the jeep canyon tour add-on if you want the full Star Wars experience and the thrill of a dune drive. Skip it if you prefer a slower pace focused on the Berber culture and the ancient sites. Groups of four or more receive discounted rates, so traveling with friends or family lowers the per-person cost.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Arabic.

What is the El Jem Amphitheatre and why is it on this tour?

El Jem is the second-largest Roman colosseum in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your guide walks you through its towering stone architecture and the history it holds, making it the historical anchor of day one before the route moves into the desert landscape.

Can I swim or bathe in the desert oasis on day two?

Yes, the oasis on day two has clear water and swimming is possible, though the stop is brief. You'll have time to refresh yourself before the group moves on to coffee and light snacks.

Are the quad tours and camel rides included, or do I pay extra?

Quad tours and camel rides are optional. Quad tours cost around €20–€25 per person, and camel rides run around €10–€15 per person. You can add them at checkout or arrange them with the guide during the tour.

What does the tent camp include, and where do I sleep?

The tent camp includes dinner on day one and breakfast on day two. You sleep in a tent in the Sahara. Pricing varies depending on group size, and the operator will confirm the exact rate when you book.

Where does pickup happen, and can I choose a different starting point?

Pickup is available from Sousse, Monastir or Hammamet. You select your departure city at checkout. The operator also offers flexible transfers, so contact them via WhatsApp if you need a different pickup location.