8-day Tunisia tour: UNESCO sites and Sahara desert camp

Eight days crossing Tunisia from Mediterranean ruins to Sahara dunes

An 8-day private tour of Tunisia starting and ending in Tunis, moving south through UNESCO World Heritage sites (Dougga, Kairouan, El Jem, Carthage), mountain oases, and the Sahara Desert with a night under the stars at a desert camp. The itinerary includes all meals, private transportation with a live guide, and airport pickup. You visit Berber villages, cross the salt lake of Chott el Jerid, and have the option to ride camels and quad bikes on the dunes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to hotel

• Arrive at airport
• Transfer to hotel in Tunis

Day 2: Visit archaeological and UNESCO sites

• Discover Thuburbo Majus archaeological site
• Visit Andalusian city of Testour
• Lunch at Dougga UNESCO site
• Explore Dougga ruins
• Return to Tunis for overnight

Day 3: Explore Kairouan and travel to Tozeur

• Visit Aghlabid Basins in Kairouan
• Visit Sidi Saheb Mausoleum
• Visit Great Mosque of Kairouan
• Lunch
• Travel to Tozeur
• Discover Tozeur medina

Day 4: 4x4 adventure and oasis visits

• Explore Chebika mountain oasis
• Explore Tamerza mountain oasis
• Visit Ong Jemel Star Wars location
• Lunch
• Visit Nefta
• Visit brick factory
• Optional carriage ride in Tozeur oasis
• Overnight in Tozeur

Day 5: Salt lake, market and desert activities

• Cross Chott el Jerid salt lake
• Visit Douz market
• Lunch
• Visit Sahara Museum
• Camel ride in Sahara dunes
• Pilot quad bike on dunes
• Overnight in desert camp under stars

Day 6: Berber village and UNESCO amphitheatre

• Visit underground house in Matmata
• Lunch
• Explore El Jem Amphitheatre
• Overnight in Hammamet 4-star hotel

Day 7: Museums and UNESCO sites tour

• Visit Bardo Museum
• Explore Medina of Tunis
• Lunch in La Goulette
• Visit Carthage UNESCO site
• Visit Sidi Bousaid
• Overnight in Tunis hotel

Day 8: Departure and transfer

• Transfer to airport
• Depart for return flight

The experience

Tunis is your starting point. A driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel, then the tour moves methodically south and back, hitting the major archaeological zones in sequence. Day two goes to Thuburbo Majus and Testour before lunch at Dougga, a UNESCO site with Roman ruins spread across a hillside. Day three reaches Kairouan, another UNESCO city, where you see the Aghlabid Basins and the Great Mosque, then continues to Tozeur on the edge of the desert.

The desert portion spans days four and five. A 4x4 takes you into the mountain oases of Chebika and Tamerza, then to Ong Jemel, the Star Wars filming location. You cross the Chott el Jerid, a vast salt lake, and reach Douz, where the market runs daily. Here you can ride a camel or pilot a quad bike on the dunes, and you sleep at a desert camp that night: the one night under the stars the operator names as a centerpiece of the tour. Day five continues from Douz to Matmata, where you descend into an underground Berber house, a layout carved into the earth that has housed families for centuries. El Jem Amphitheatre, a UNESCO site and one of the largest Roman theaters still standing, comes after lunch, then you drive to Hammamet on the coast.

The final two days loop back north. You return to Tunis to visit the Bardo Museum and the medina, have lunch in La Goulette, then visit Carthage (UNESCO) and end the evening in Sidi Bousaid, a clifftop village of blue and white buildings. A transfer to the airport closes the tour. All meals are included throughout. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language depending on your booking.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the 8 days.
• all lunch and dinner.
• airport pickup and transfer to your hotel.
• accommodation in 4-star hotels (Hotel Lookout Fourati in Tunis, Hotel Rass el Ain in Tozeur, and a 4-star hotel in Hammamet).
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• parking fees and airport departure tax.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by VirSem Fun & Travel

Is this one for you?This tour suits travelers who want to see Tunisia's major archaeological sites and the Sahara in one journey without arranging transport or meals separately. The fixed 8-day itinerary covers the full north-to-south route. If you have less time, a 6-day version focuses on the north, and a 10-day option adds more time in the desert and southern regions.

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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: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Dougga and why does the tour spend time there?

Dougga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with well-preserved Roman ruins spread across a hillside in northern Tunisia. The tour visits it on day two for lunch and exploration of the archaeological remains.

Do I ride a camel on this tour?

A camel ride is offered as an option on day five in Douz, along with quad biking on the dunes. You can choose to do one, both, or neither. They are not mandatory.

What is the desert camp like and how long do I stay there?

The desert camp is in Douz on the edge of the Sahara, and you spend one night there on day five. The operator describes it as a unique experience under the stars. The camp is included in the tour price.

Are all meals included in the 8-day price?

Yes, all lunch and dinner are included throughout the 8 days. Breakfast is also covered at your hotels. Drinks and gratuities are not included.

What is an underground house in Matmata?

Matmata is a Berber village in southern Tunisia where traditional homes are built into the earth, with rooms arranged around a central courtyard below ground level. The tour includes a visit to one of these houses on day six.

Does the tour include the airport transfer?

Yes, pickup from Tunis airport is included. A driver meets you on arrival and takes you to your hotel to begin the tour.