Make babouches in the medina: Learn from a master craftsman

Sew leather by hand and walk out with a babouche you made yourself

Learn to make babouches, traditional Tunisian leather slippers, in a master craftsman's workshop in the medina of Hammamet. You'll cut leather, practice hand-stitching and assembly under direct instruction, and leave with a finished pair you've worked yourself. The maâlem shares the secrets of natural dyes and the gestures passed down for generations. Hotel pickup and return are included. The guide speaks English or French.

The experience

The workshop sits in the ochre-walled medina, and the maâlem, the master craftsman, teaches you the steps that have survived for centuries. You'll hold the arena (a curved needle), thread hemp yarn through leather, and perform the stitching and mounting that turn cut pieces into a wearable babouche. This is not a demonstration you watch. You put your hands on goat or cow leather, feel the resistance of the material, and learn the precise gestures the artisan has refined over a lifetime. The work takes about an hour, and you leave with the babouche you've assembled.

Mint tea arrives as you finish, and the maâlem answers your questions about the natural indigo and henna dyes, the leather sources, and why this ancestral craft is disappearing. A driver picks you up at your inn beforehand and returns you there afterward, so the only thing you arrange is the time.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• one hour of hands-on instruction from the master craftsman.
• materials and tools for making your babouche.
• mint tea in the workshop.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 16:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tekiki Tours

Is this one for you?The hour is hands-on and unhurried (no express demonstration, just real work with leather and needle), so it suits anyone who wants to learn a craft rather than watch one. You'll need to be comfortable sitting and using your hands for fine work, but no prior skill is required.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do I make during the hour in the workshop?

You make a babouche: a traditional Tunisian leather slipper. The maâlem shows you how to cut the leather, then you practice hand-stitching and assembly under his guidance, and you leave with a finished pair you've worked yourself.

Do I need any experience with leatherwork or sewing to do this?

No. The master craftsman teaches you the key steps from the beginning. You'll learn to hold the arena and perform simple stitching and mounting. The instruction is built for first-timers.

What's included in the price besides the workshop time?

Hotel pickup and return transport are included, along with mint tea in the workshop. The babouche you make is yours to take home.