Djerba to Ksar Ghilan 2-day tour: Berber villages & bivouac

A couple of nights in the Sahara, one camp built just for your group

A 2-day private tour from Djerba that takes you through Berber villages and into the Grand Erg Oriental desert, where the operator sets up a wood-fired camp 20 kilometers from the nearest settlement. You visit Tataouin's market, walk through the ancient ksar at Chenini with a local guide, swim in the hot springs at Ksar Ghilan, and spend the night in a tent under open sky. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Children from age 7 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Berber Country: Chenini - Tataouin

• Stop at salt lake edge
• Discover Tataouin souk market
• Guided tour of Berber village
• Lunch in troglodyte restaurant
• Arrive at Ksar Ghilan oasis
• Swim in hot springs
• Ride dromedary and quad bikes
• Camp 20 km from oasis
• Wood-fired dinner at bivouac

Day 2: The 3 Berber Villages

• Stop at Tamazrat Berber village
• Visit Berber family home
• Star Wars site in Matmata
• Lunch at Sidi Driss hotel
• Admire semi-troglodyte village
• Take ferry to Djerba island
• Head to hotel

The experience

The route moves south from Djerba into the high desert plateau where Berber settlements cling to the edges of mountains. Your first stop is Tataouin, where the souk fills with villagers trading spices, fruits and local pastries. The gazelle horns are worth tasting. From there you climb into Chenini, a village built into the hillside where a Berber guide walks you through the ksar, the underground storage chambers that kept grain and oil cool for centuries, and explains how the families living there have held onto their traditions. The afternoon brings you to Ksar Ghilan, a desert oasis where the landscape shifts to rust-colored sand and the air goes quiet. You swim in the hot springs there, and if you want, you can ride a camel or quad bike across the dunes before the light starts to fade.

Two hours before sunset, you drive 20 kilometers deeper into the desert to the camp the operator has set up for your group alone. There is no settlement nearby, no other tourists, no noise except the wind. A wood-fired dinner happens around the campfire, and the evening unfolds with music and conversation under a sky so full of stars it changes how the night feels. You sleep in a tent the operator has already pitched, and wake to breakfast before the drive back toward Djerba. On the second day you stop at Tamazrat, another Berber village perched above the mountains where you can taste rosemary tea, then visit a family's home to see how they have carved their living space into the earth. The route passes through Matmata, where Star Wars was filmed, and includes lunch in a troglodyte restaurant at the Sidi Driss hotel. A ferry crossing brings you back to Djerba and your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Djerba.
• lunch and dinner on day one.
• breakfast and lunch on day two.
• a private camp set up in the desert with a tent for your group.
• a local Berber guide through Chenini village.
• a visit to a Berber family home.
• entry to the troglodyte restaurant in Matmata.
• and the ferry crossing back to Djerba.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (15 to 80 years) · Child (7 to 14 years) · Under 7: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Italian

Audio guideSpanish, German and Italian

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 due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Caravane du sahara

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, Italian, French or German, so language is not a barrier for any group. The tour is private: the operator sets up the camp and arranges the meals for you alone, which means families, couples and friend groups can move at their own pace and choose whether to add camel or quad bike rides without affecting anyone else's day.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

3 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 14 years). Under 7: they can't be included in the booking.

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 there to do at Ksar Ghilan besides swimming?

Ksar Ghilan is a desert oasis where you can ride dromedaries or quad bikes across the dunes in the afternoon before heading to camp. Both activities cost extra and can be arranged when you book.

Do I need experience riding a camel or quad bike to join this tour?

No experience is needed. The tour suits all fitness levels, and both activities are optional. You can swim in the hot springs and rest instead if you prefer.

Is the camp really in the middle of the desert with no other people around?

Yes. The operator drives you 20 kilometers from Ksar Ghilan oasis into the Grand Erg Oriental and sets up a private camp for your group alone. You sleep in a tent, eat dinner cooked over a wood fire, and wake to the desert landscape.

What meals are included over the two days?

Lunch on day one at Ksar Ghilan, dinner at the desert camp, breakfast on day two, and lunch on day two at the troglodyte restaurant in Matmata are all included in the price.