4-Day Kerkennah Islands & Lagoons Tour: Fishermen & Wild Beaches

Ferry to the islands, then out on boats with fishermen and across lagoons to white-sand beaches

A 4-day tour of the Kerkennah archipelago and El Biben lagoon in Tunisia, traveling by private transport and boat. You board a ferry from Sfax to reach Kerkennah, spend two nights on the island fishing with locals and exploring salt pans, then move south to El Biben for a night in a nature reserve before a final boat trip to Hassi Jerbi's wild beach and snorkeling stop. All transport, accommodation and meals are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and island exploration

• Arrival at Sfax port
• Ferry to Kerkennah
• Transfer to accommodation
• Lunch with island seafood specialties
• Visit Museum of Insular Heritage
• Explore salt pans and palm groves
• Free time or swimming
• Dinner and overnight stay

Day 2: Fishing and local culture immersion

• Breakfast
• Sea outing with fishermen
• Discover local fishing technique
• Lunch at local home with seafood
• Visit small villages and crafts
• Dinner and overnight stay

Day 3: Travel to El Biben and nature discovery

• Breakfast and check-out
• Boat to Sfax
• Road transfer to El Biben
• Check-in at eco-lodge
• Typical southern lunch
• Discover El Biben lagoon and nature reserve
• Bird watching and beach exploration
• Dinner and overnight stay

Day 4: Beach cruise and return journey

• Breakfast
• Cruise to Hassi Jerbi beach
• Swimming and snorkeling
• Relax on boat
• Lunch in Zarzis
• Return transfer to Monastir, Sousse, Hammamet, Tunis

The experience

The journey starts early from your pickup point (Tunis, Hammamet, Sousse or Monastir), and arrives at Sfax port by mid-morning for the ferry crossing to Kerkennah. Once on the island, you settle into an ecolodge or comfort camp and spend the afternoon visiting the Museum of Insular Heritage, walking past salt pans and palm groves, then swimming or resting before dinner of local seafood.

Day two centers on the charfiya, a traditional fishing technique you can watch or join from a boat with working fishermen. The rest of the afternoon is free to wander small villages and see local crafts. On day three, you return to the port, travel south by road to El Biben (a four-hour drive), and check into another ecolodge. The lagoon here is a nature reserve with its own ecosystem. You take a boat across it to spot birds, walk dunes and reach pristine beaches. The final day is a four-hour boat cruise to Hassi Jerbi, a wild beach with white sand where you swim and snorkel, then return transport carries you back to your starting point by evening.

Your guide speaks English or French throughout. Meals are full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) built around island and southern specialities, mostly seafood. Private transportation and all boat outings are included. You travel with your group only, not mixed with others.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your pickup city to Sfax and back.
• ferry crossing to Kerkennah.
• three nights' accommodation (two on Kerkennah, one at El Biben) in ecolodges, comfort camps or guesthouses.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) featuring local seafood and regional dishes.
• boat outings with fishermen to learn the charfiya technique.
• lagoon exploration at El Biben with bird watching and beach access.
• four-hour boat cruise to Hassi Jerbi with swimming and snorkeling.
• English or French-speaking guide throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by TRAVEL EST TUNISIA

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or French, so you follow the commentary and interact with fishermen and locals without a language barrier. Choose this tour if you want to move slowly through islands and lagoons, spend time with working fishermen and sleep in simple, locally run places rather than rushing between sites or staying in resort hotels.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

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 is the charfiya and can I try it if I've never fished before?

The charfiya is a traditional Kerkennah fishing technique using boats and nets. On day two, you go out on the water with working fishermen and can participate or simply observe, depending on what you're comfortable with. No experience is needed.

How many nights do I spend on Kerkennah itself?

You stay two nights on Kerkennah: the first in an ecolodge or comfort camp after arriving by ferry, and the second in a charming guesthouse or inn. On day three you travel south to El Biben for one night, then return to the mainland on day four.

Is there time to swim in the sea during the tour?

Yes. On day one you have free time or swimming after the island visit. Day four includes a swimming and snorkeling break at Hassi Jerbi beach during the boat cruise, which lasts about four hours total.

What kind of accommodation should I expect?

Kerkennah offers an ecolodge or comfort camp for the first night and a charming guesthouse or inn for the second. El Biben has an ecolodge or gîte with comfort amenities. All are simple, locally run places built around the quiet rhythm of the islands and lagoon.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the starting point?

No. Private transportation is included from your choice of pickup (Tunis, Hammamet, Sousse or Monastir) to Sfax port at the start, and return transport from Zarzis to the same point at the end.

What meals are provided and are there options for dietary needs?

Full board means breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, featuring local island and southern specialities with an emphasis on seafood. Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are not included, but water and local tea are part of meals.