El Jem, Kairouan & Sousse day trip from Tunis: Private tour

Three UNESCO and ancient sites in one day, starting from Tunis at dawn.

A private day trip from Tunis to El Jem, Kairouan and Sousse combines a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre, an Islamic holy city, and a coastal medina in a single itinerary. The tour runs 6 to 8 hours with air-conditioned transport and pickup from your Tunis location. You explore each site independently, and a licensed guide can be added on request for €70, paid on arrival.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kairouan, El Jem, and Sousse

• Visit the Great Mosque of Kairouan
• Wander through the Medina of Kairouan
• Explore the Aghlabid Basins
• Tour the Amphitheater of El Jem
• Discover the Medina and Ribat of Sousse
• Relax at Boujaafar Beach in Sousse

The experience

The route moves through three distinct chapters of Tunisian history. El Jem's amphitheatre stands as one of the largest and best-preserved Roman structures outside Italy. You walk through the arena and towering arches at your own pace, imagining the scale of what once filled it. From there the driver takes you inland to Kairouan, where the Great Mosque opens onto a prayer hall and mihrab set inside gardens, and the medina's narrow souks branch into a maze of shops and courtyards that have held their shape for over a thousand years. The Aghlabid Basins, ancient reservoirs built by the dynasty that ruled here, sit in tranquil grounds on the city's edge.

Sousse closes the loop on the coast. The medina there is also UNESCO-listed, built on the same tight street plan, but it sits above Boujaafar Beach and the 9th-century Ribat fortress, which rises from the seafront and opens onto views across the water. You can walk the beach, photograph the sunset, or sit in one of the traditional cafes. The driver waits throughout and handles all transfers. Travel time counts toward the total duration. If you want historical context beyond what you read or research beforehand, the optional guide (€70, arranged on site) joins you at each stop.

Pickup happens from your choice of location in Tunis or from Hammamet, Sousse or Monastir if you're staying on the coast. The vehicle is air-conditioned and new. Baby seats are available on request. Entrance fees to the Great Mosque and the amphitheatre are paid separately at each site.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transport with pickup from your location.
• driver for the full itinerary.
• access to the Great Mosque of Kairouan, the Medina of Kairouan, the Aghlabid Basins, the Amphitheatre of El Jem, and Sousse's medina and Ribat fortress.
• baby seat on request.

Options for this experience

2 options

Hammamet/Sousse/Monastir08:00, 08:30 and 09:00We will organize pickup from Hammamet, Sousse or Monastir, wherever you are staying. Pickup is included.

Tunis Capital07:00, 07:30 and 08:00We will organize pickup from Tunis, wherever you are staying. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Hannibal Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to visit three major sites in one day at your own pace. The private vehicle handles all transfers while you explore each location independently, or add a guide for historical context at specific stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3).

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 Amphitheatre of El Jem like when you get there?

The Amphitheatre of El Jem is one of the largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. You walk through the arena and explore the impressive facade, towering arches and intricate stonework that showcase Roman engineering. The scale lets you picture the gladiatorial battles and performances that once filled the space.

Can I hire a guide to explain the history at each stop?

A licensed guide can be added as an optional extra for €70, paid on site when you arrive. The guide joins you at each location. Without one, you explore independently and at your own pace.

Does the tour include entrance fees to the sites?

Entrance fees to the Great Mosque of Kairouan and the Amphitheatre of El Jem are not included and are paid separately at each site when you arrive.

What is the Medina of Kairouan, and how much time do you spend there?

The Medina of Kairouan is an ancient walled city built around the Great Mosque, with labyrinthine streets, bustling souks and intricate architecture that reflects its role as a center of Islamic learning. You explore it on foot at your own pace as part of the overall 6 to 8 hour itinerary, which includes travel time between all three destinations.

Where does the tour pick me up, and what if I'm staying outside Tunis?

Pickup is included from your choice of location in Tunis, or from Hammamet, Sousse or Monastir if you're based on the coast. You choose your pickup point when you book.

Is the vehicle air-conditioned, and can I bring a baby?

The vehicle is brand-new and air-conditioned throughout. Baby seats are available on request, and infants can travel in a pram or stroller. Let the operator know when you book.