3-day desert tour from Tunis: Kairouan, oases & Star Wars sets

One night under the stars in the Sahara, surrounded by the sets where Tatooine was built.

A 3-day tour from Tunis descending through Tunisia's north and south, visiting Kairouan's Great Mosque and the Aghlabides basins, mountain oases at Chebika and Tamerza, the Mos Espa sets from Star Wars Episodes I and II, and El Jem's amphitheater and museum. The itinerary includes one night in a desert camp, a visit to a Berber family in their cave house, local meals, and a guide and driver approved by the Tunisian Tourist Office.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Kairouan and Tozeur

• Visit Great Mosque of Kairouan
• See basins of Aghlabides
• Visit Abu Zamaâ al-Balawi shrine
• Stroll Kairouan medina streets
• Walk alleys of Tozeur medina
• Visit Tozeur museum

Day 2: Discover mountain oases and desert camp

• Visit Chebika oasis
• See Tamerza waterfall and canyons
• Explore Mos Espa Star Wars set
• View camel-shaped rock
• Photo stop at Chott Djerid salt lake
• Arrive desert camp and free time
• Dinner and sand bread preparation
• Overnight in desert tent

Day 3: Return trip via El Jem

• Visit troglodyte house and meet family
• Visit El Jem museum
• Tour El Jem amphitheater

The experience

The tour starts in Kairouan, where you walk through the medina to the Great Mosque: considered the first in Africa and one of the three gates of Paradise alongside Mecca and Al Aqsa. You'll see the Aghlabides basins, the 9th-century hydraulic works that shaped the Muslim world, and the shrine of Abu Zamaâ al-Balawi, a Companion of the Prophet buried with three hairs from the Prophet's beard. Free time in the narrow streets of the UNESCO-listed medina lets you move at your own pace before heading south.

Day two takes you into the oases and desert film locations. Chebika is a waterfall oasis where palm trees meet ochre cliffs. Tamerza sits in a canyon nearby. Then comes Mos Espa, the full Star Wars settlement built by Lucasfilm in 1997 for Episodes I and II: streets, market stalls and all, left standing for visitors. A photo stop at the Chott Djerid salt lake precedes arrival at the desert camp, where you watch the sunset, eat dinner, watch bread being made in the sand, and sleep in a tent.

The return route on day three passes through a troglodyte house where a Berber family welcomes you with rosemary tea, olive oil and honey. El Jem's museum holds one of the world's finest collections of Roman mosaics, and the amphitheater itself, where gladiators once fought, still stands nearly intact from the 3rd century. You travel in a privatized 4x4 with an approved guide and driver throughout, eating local food during the day.

What’s included

• A guide and driver both approved by the Tunisian Tourist Office.
• entry to the Great Mosque and Aghlabides basins in Kairouan, the oases at Chebika and Tamerza, the Mos Espa Star Wars sets, the El Jem museum and amphitheater.
• accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Tozeur for two nights and a desert camp tent for one night.
• local meals throughout the day.
• a visit to a Berber family's cave house with tea and traditional foods.
• pickup and 24-hour assistance.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Thursday and SundayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

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$ 34

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Depart Travel Services

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, Italian, French, German or one additional language, so you can follow the commentary in whichever language works for you. The 3-day structure fits the full circuit from Kairouan south through the oases and film sets, then back via El Jem: a route that compresses into two days only by cutting stops, and stretches to five days only by adding time in each location.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

What is the Great Mosque of Kairouan and why is it considered one of the three gates of Paradise?

The Great Mosque of Kairouan is the oldest mosque in Africa and holds that status alongside Mecca and Al Aqsa Mosque in Palestine. It is revered as a spiritual gateway in Islamic tradition and sits at the heart of Kairouan's medina, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Do I sleep in a hotel or a tent on this tour?

You spend two nights in a 4-star hotel in Tozeur and one night in a tent at a desert camp in the Sahara, where you can watch the sunset and see how local bread is prepared in the sand.

Are the Star Wars film sets still standing and can I walk through them?

Yes, the Mos Espa sets built by Lucasfilm for Star Wars Episodes I and II in 1997 remain in place. You visit the full recreation of the district, including streets and market stalls, and can also see the famous camel-shaped rock that appeared in the pod race sequence.

What does a visit to a Berber family's cave house involve?

You visit a troglodyte house where a Berber family greets you with rosemary tea, olive oil and honey, giving you a direct encounter with local hospitality and traditional cave dwelling life.

What's included in the price and what isn't?

The tour includes a guide and driver approved by the Tunisian Tourist Office, all site and museum entries, pickup, 24-hour assistance, and local meals during the day. Drinks, personal expenses, tips, flights, insurance and optional activities like quad or camel rides booked on site are separate.