2-day south Tunisia tour: Sahara, Roman ruins, desert camp

Berber hospitality and a night under the dunes change what you thought a desert tour was.

A 2-day guided tour through southern Tunisia from the Roman amphitheater at El Jem to the Sahara, with overnight camp accommodation and breakfast included. The route moves south through Berber troglodyte villages and desert dunes, then north through Tozeur's canyons, Shebika oasis, and Kairouan's medieval Islamic city. A licensed guide leads the full circuit. Camel ride and sunset are part of day one, and a salt lake sunrise opens day two.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: From North to South: towards the Sahara

• Visit El Jem amphitheater
• Explore troglodyte dwellings and taste local products
• Camel ride in the desert at sunset

Day 2: From south to north:

• Admire sunrise at the salt lake
• Visit canyons and oasis of Shebika in Tozeur
• Tour Kairouan city and visit house of carpets

The experience

The tour starts in the north at El Jem, where you'll see the best-preserved Roman amphitheater in the world: a building from the era when these lands held real power. From there the route moves toward the Berber troglodyte dwellings, where the people who built them still live and will share local products and explain a way of life that has stayed different from the modern one outside. By late afternoon you're on a camel in the middle of the desert, watching 360 degrees of dunes shift color as the sun drops, then you settle into the camp for the night.

Day two starts at the salt lake, where the sunrise draws colors across the water and the Atlas range rises beyond it. The route then moves through Tozeur's canyons and the Shebika oasis, a sharp change in landscape, before reaching Kairouan, the fourth holy city in Islam. There you'll walk the medieval Islamic architecture and visit a carpet house to see Tunisian craftsmanship up close. Breakfast is included both mornings. Your licensed guide speaks English, Italian, French, German and two other languages, and hotel pickup is part of the booking.

What’s included

• Licensed guide in English, Italian, French, German and two additional languages.
• hotel pickup.
• dinner on day one.
• breakfast on both mornings.
• overnight accommodation in a desert camp.
• camel ride at sunset on day one.
• salt lake sunrise viewing on day two.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and SaturdayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Russian

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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 67

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Tekiki Tours

Is this one for you?Two days is the right length to move from Roman ruins through Berber villages to a night in the desert and back north through oases and Islamic architecture: anything shorter cuts the camp night or the northern stops, and anything longer repeats the same ground. Book this one if you have the time and want the full south-to-north arc without backtracking.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).

What is the El Jem amphitheater, and why does it matter?

El Jem is a Roman amphitheater from the era when the region held major power and wealth. It's the best-preserved one in the world, and the tour visits it on day one as the entry point into the south.

Do I sleep in the desert, and what is the camp like?

Yes, you spend night one in a camp in the desert itself. Breakfast is included the next morning before you leave.

What happens on the camel ride, and when?

The camel ride takes place at the end of day one in the middle of the dunes. You'll ride for the sunset, watching 360 degrees of desert and the light change across the sand.

What is Kairouan, and what will I see there?

Kairouan is the fourth holy city in Islam and the capital of Tunisian tapestry and carpet-making. You'll walk the medieval Islamic architecture and visit a carpet house to see the craftsmanship behind the work.

Is a quad ride in the Sahara part of this tour?

A quad ride in the Sahara is optional and can be added at checkout if you want it.