Desert excursion to Ksar Ghilane from Djerba: Sahara sunset

A full day crossing the Sahara from oasis to ancient Berber villages and back

A guided day tour from Djerba into southern Tunisia's Sahara Desert, traveling the ancient Roman road through Berber villages to Ksar Hadada (the Star Wars filming location), then onward to the oasis at Ksar Ghilane where you bathe in a natural hot spring and dine under the stars. The tour runs 11 hours with a live guide in English, Italian, French or German, hotel pickup included, and suits all fitness levels. Children from age 2 are welcome. Camel rides and quad bike excursions through the dunes are available as paid extras.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert excursion and oasis relaxation

• Travel from Djerba via Roman road
• Pass through Berber villages
• Visit Ksar Hadada Star Wars site
• Explore Ksar Ghilane oasis
• Relax in natural hot spring
• Optional camel or quad bike ride
• Enjoy traditional dinner under stars
• Return to Djerba via Beni Khedache

The experience

How do you spend a full day in the Sahara without renting a car or joining a crowd? This tour handles the drive from Djerba, the route planning and the logistics. You show up at your hotel and the guide collects you. The journey itself is half the point: you travel the ancient Roman road that cuts through the desert, passing through authentic Berber villages and the rocky landscape around Beni Khedache before reaching Ksar Hadada, a centuries-old stone settlement carved into the hillside. The narrow corridors and vaulted chambers are the real thing, not a reconstruction, and the site gained wider recognition as a Star Wars filming location, but the architecture speaks for itself.

From Ksar Hadada the route continues deeper into the Sahara toward Ksar Ghilane, a working oasis ringed by palm trees and golden dunes. Here you stop to bathe in the natural hot spring (warm water fed from underground, not a pool built for tourists), and the afternoon opens up for rest or movement as you choose. The quad bike and camel rides are optional extras you arrange at checkout, so you can add them if the mood strikes or skip them and simply walk the dunes. As the light drops, the sand shifts color and the temperature falls. Dinner is traditional Tunisian food served under the stars, a meal that tastes different when you eat it in the open desert than it does anywhere else.

The return journey to Djerba takes the evening and night, arriving back around midnight. A guide travels with the group throughout (English, Italian, French or German depending on which language you select), and the vehicle is comfortable for the long drive. Transport, the guide, and dinner are all included. Drinks and tips are separate.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Djerba.
• transport in a comfort vehicle.
• a live guide in English, Italian, French or German.
• a traditional Tunisian dinner under the stars.
• access to the natural hot spring at Ksar Ghilane.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 13:00

Book up to13h before

AgesAdult (17 to 64 years) · Youth (13 to 16 years) · Child (2 to 12 years)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 13 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Walymel Travel– Aventures en Tunisie

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Djerba without a car: hotel pickup means you can commit to a full day exploring Ksar Hadada, the oasis, and sunset without managing your own transport logistics.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 16 years); Child (2 to 12 years).

What exactly is Ksar Hadada and why is it worth the stop?

Ksar Hadada is an ancient Berber settlement built into a hillside, with stone vaults and narrow corridors that show how people lived in the Sahara centuries ago. It was used as a filming location for Star Wars, but the architecture and the preserved layout are the real draw. You walk through rooms carved into the stone and get a sense of traditional Saharan life that no museum can replicate.

Can I swim or bathe in the hot spring at Ksar Ghilane?

Yes. The natural hot spring at Ksar Ghilane is warm year-round and fed from underground. You can bathe in it during the afternoon stop. Bring a swimsuit and a towel if you want to go in, though neither is required.

Are the camel and quad bike rides included, or do I pay extra?

Both camel rides and quad bike excursions are optional and cost extra. You choose at checkout whether to add them, so you can decide after you see the dunes and know what appeals to you.

What time does the tour leave Djerba and when do I get back?

The guide picks you up at your hotel in Djerba in the early morning and the full day runs 11 hours, with the return to Djerba around midnight. The exact pickup time depends on where you're staying, confirmed when you book.

What's included in the price and what do I need to pay for separately?

Transport in a comfort vehicle, guide service, and a traditional dinner are included. Drinks during the day and tips are not included. Camel rides and quad bikes are optional extras you add at checkout.