Djerba to Ksar Ghilane & Matmata: Full-day desert tour

Ten hours crossing stone desert, hot springs, and underground homes

A full-day tour from Djerba crosses the Roman road inland to Ksar Ghilane oasis in the Grand Erg Oriental, where you bathe in the hot spring, then continues to Matmata to visit Berber troglodyte houses and the Sidi Driss Hotel. The tour includes lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a live guide in English or French, with hotel pickup and return.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert tour and village visits

• Depart to Medenine via Roman road
• Stop for photos and visit
• Coffee break and program explanation
• Cross villages of Beni kheddach
• Enter desert of stones for photos
• Continue to Ksar Ghilane oasis
• Free time at hot spring oasis
• Lunch break
• Depart to Matmata via Berber villages
• Visit troglodyte house and Sidi Driss Hotel
• Return to Djerba hotel

The experience

The day starts at 6am heading south on the Roman road that links Djerba to the mainland, a route that doubles as a photo stop and a working connection between the island and the interior. By 8:15, the paved road ends and the landscape shifts to the reg. A flat expanse of loose stone and rock. The trail continues into fine sand dunes where Ksar Ghilane sits at the edge of the Grand Erg Oriental, an oasis built around a natural hot spring. You have free time to walk the oasis and swim in the warm water before lunch at 1pm.

After lunch, the route turns north toward Matmata. The stop includes visits to the Berber villages of Tamazret and Toujane before arriving at Matmata itself, where you enter a troglodyte house (a dwelling built partially underground into the rock), and see the Sidi Driss Hotel, which was used as a set for Star Wars filming. The return to Djerba takes the same inland route, arriving back at your hotel by 6pm.

What’s included

• Lunch.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and return.
• live guide in English or French.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

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

GroupUp to 6

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 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Vacances Promo Tunisie

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling with a group or prefer a shared departure, since the guide and vehicle are arranged for you and the fixed schedule fits the full route inside one day. The ten-hour commitment means an early start and a late return, so it works best if your hotel schedule allows both.

Traveler reviews

4.00★★★★★★★★★★

50 verified traveler reviews

5 ★28

4 ★7

3 ★7

2 ★3

1 ★5

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

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 Ksar Ghilane and what can I do there?

Ksar Ghilane is an oasis in the Grand Erg Oriental where a natural hot spring rises from the ground. You have free time to walk around the oasis and swim in the warm water before lunch.

How long is the drive from Djerba to Ksar Ghilane?

The journey takes roughly four hours from Djerba, crossing the Roman road and the stone desert before reaching the oasis at 11am.

What are troglodyte houses and why are they in Matmata?

Troglodyte houses are dwellings built partially underground into the rock, a traditional Berber construction that keeps interiors cool in the desert heat. Matmata's houses are built this way, and you visit one as part of the tour.

Is the Sidi Driss Hotel in Matmata worth seeing?

The Sidi Driss Hotel was used as a filming location for Star Wars and retains Star Wars decoration and references from that production, making it a recognizable stop for fans of the films.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle for the full day, hotel pickup and return, and a live guide who speaks English or French.

How much time do I spend driving versus at the stops?

The day includes roughly four hours of driving to Ksar Ghilane, two hours at the oasis and for lunch, two hours visiting Matmata's villages and troglodyte house, and two hours returning to Djerba.