3-Day Southern Tunisia Tour: Roman Ruins & Salt Flats

Three days crossing the Sahara's edge: from underground homes to the largest salt flat in Tunisia

A 3-day private tour of southern Tunisia departing from Tunis, with a licensed guide and hotel pickup, covering El Djem's UNESCO-listed Roman amphitheater, the troglodyte dwellings of Matmata, the surreal white expanse of Chott el Jerid, the mountain oasis of Chebika, the Roman temples of Sbeitla, and the Islamic heritage sites of Kairouan before ending in Sousse. The route moves through desert landscapes, ancient ruins, and traditional settlements across three full days.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tunis el Djem-Matmata-Douz

• Visit El Djem Coliseum
• Explore Matmata troglodyte village
• Discover Douz desert town

Day 2: Douz-Chott el Jerid-Chebika-Tozeur

• Visit Chott el Jerid salt flat
• Explore Chebika oasis
• Tour Tozeur town

Day 3: Tozeur-Sbeitla-Kairouan-Sousse

• Visit Sbeitla Roman ruins
• Explore Kairouan city and Great Mosque
• Discover Sousse coastal city

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Tunis hotel and heads south to El Djem, home to one of the world's best-preserved Roman amphitheaters. Built in the 3rd century AD, the structure rises in three tiers of arches and once held 35,000 spectators. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. From there, the route moves into Matmata, a small village carved into the earth itself. The homes are dug down into the ground, a design that keeps interiors cool in the desert heat. The landscape around Matmata is marked by red and orange hills. The village also gained fame as a filming location for Star Wars.

Day two takes you deeper into the desert toward Douz, known as the Gateway to the Sahara, then across Chott el Jerid: a salt flat stretching over 7,000 square kilometers. The white salt crusts shimmer in the sun and create mirages, especially in the heat of midday. From there, the tour moves to Chebika, an oasis set in the Atlas Mountains with palm groves, spring water, and dramatic rock formations, before reaching Tozeur, a historic town famous for its date palms and intricate brick architecture.

The final day heads north through Sbeitla, an ancient Roman city with temples dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, a forum, and an amphitheater, all UNESCO-protected. Then comes Kairouan, one of the oldest cities in the Muslim world and a center of Islamic learning, where the Great Mosque stands as one of North Africa's oldest. The tour ends in Sousse, a coastal city on the Mediterranean with a UNESCO-listed medina, the Ribat fortress, and markets selling traditional crafts and spices. Your licensed guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and two additional languages throughout.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the three days.
• a licensed tour guide.
• hotel pickup from your Tunis accommodation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

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

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tunez-Monumental

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Tunis or nearby without a rental car: the private pickup and transportation settle the logistics of reaching the desert sites and moving between them over three days. The fixed itinerary keeps all four regions (the Roman south, the Sahara edge, the oases, and the Islamic north) inside a single journey.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

What is the El Djem Coliseum and why is it on this tour?

El Djem is a Roman amphitheater built in the 3rd century AD in central Tunisia, one of the best-preserved in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the tour's first major stop, showing the scale and engineering of Roman civilization in North Africa.

Can I actually go inside the troglodyte homes in Matmata?

Matmata's homes are carved into the earth as underground dwellings designed to stay cool in the desert. The tour includes time in the village to see these unique structures and the surrounding red and orange landscape.

What is Chott el Jerid and what will I see there?

Chott el Jerid is the largest salt flat in Tunisia, stretching over 7,000 square kilometers near Tozeur. The landscape is characterized by shimmering white salt crusts and mirages, especially during hot daylight hours, making it a striking natural feature.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. It involves travel across desert terrain and walking at archaeological sites and oases over three days, so stamina for daily activity is needed.

Does the tour include meals?

Meals are not included in the tour price. You will have opportunities to eat in towns like Douz, Tozeur, Kairouan, and Sousse, where local restaurants and markets offer regional cuisine.