2-Day Sahara Tour from Djerba: Matmata & Ksar Ghilane

Matmata's underground homes and a night under desert stars

A 2-day Sahara tour from Djerba exploring Southern Tunisia's hidden Berber villages, Star Wars filming sites, and a desert camp at Ksar Ghilane with hot springs. The tour departs daily at 7 AM and includes private transportation, all meals, and a live guide in five languages. You sleep one night in the desert and return to Djerba on day two.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Berber villages and desert landscapes

• Visit cliffside Berber village Tataouine
• Meet local artisans and learn crafts
• Relax in natural hot springs in Sahara
• Enjoy sunset views over golden dunes
• Optional camel ride or 4x4 dune bashing

Day 2: Discover troglodyte homes and Berber culture

• Visit underground troglodyte rooms in Matmata
• Explore Luke Skywalker's childhood home
• Enjoy traditional Berber tea in courtyard
• Stopover at authentic Berber village Toujane

The experience

Matmata is the centerpiece: the real-life Lars Homestead from A New Hope sits here, and you'll walk through the underground troglodyte rooms where Luke's childhood scenes were filmed. The village itself is carved into the earth, with locals still living in these cave houses today. You'll have time to explore the traditional architecture and sit for Berber tea in the hotel's courtyard, where the film crew once worked.

The route also takes you to Tataouin's cliffside Berber village, where Attack of the Clones used the landscape as a Tusken Raider hideout, and to the smaller, less-visited settlements of Chenini and Toujane perched on the Dahar mountains. These stops are the kind most tourists skip. You'll meet local artisans and see how the villages sit against the desert without the crowds of the main sites.

Night one lands at Ksar Ghilane, a desert camp surrounded by the Grand Erg Oriental's golden dunes. The camp has natural hot springs for a swim, and the evening brings drumbeats and firelight: the kind of Sahara experience that justifies the drive. You can add a camel ride or 4x4 dune run if you want it, or watch the sunset and let the scale of the place do the work. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included throughout, and the air-conditioned vehicle means the heat doesn't wear you down between stops.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transportation from Djerba.
• breakfast, lunch, and dinner on both days.
• a live guide in multiple languages.
• pickup from your hotel or meeting point in Djerba.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to1d before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Benneji Travel

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want hotel pickup from Djerba and a fixed two-day itinerary that combines Matmata's film sites, cliff villages, and a desert night at Ksar Ghilane without deciding logistics yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 12).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Lars Homestead in Matmata, and can you go inside?

The Lars Homestead is the real film set from Star Wars: A New Hope where Luke Skywalker's childhood scenes were shot. You'll explore the underground troglodyte rooms where those scenes took place and see how the set was built into the natural cave dwellings. Locals still live in similar homes in the village today.

Do I get to ride a camel or do any dune activities at Ksar Ghilane?

A camel ride and 4x4 dune bashing are optional at Ksar Ghilane. You can choose to do them or spend the evening at the camp's natural hot springs and watching the sunset instead.

What time does the tour leave Djerba, and when do I get back?

The tour departs daily from Djerba at 7 AM on day one and returns to Djerba on day two after visiting the morning sites. The exact return time depends on the day's stops, but you'll have the full second day to explore before heading back.

Is the desert camp at Ksar Ghilane comfortable, and what's included for the night?

Ksar Ghilane is a desert camp with basic accommodations built for the Sahara experience: drumbeats, firelight, and the dunes around you. Dinner and breakfast are included. The camp has natural hot springs on-site for swimming.