Sousse: Tunisian Sahara Tour with Star Wars Sets & Roman Ruins

Underground Star Wars homes, a salt lake mirage, and the El Jem Colosseum in two days

A 2-day tour from Sousse into southern Tunisia's Sahara, visiting the El Jem Colosseum, the troglodyte cave homes of Matmata (featured in Star Wars films), the desert film set at Onk Jemal, and the salt expanse of Chott El Jerid, with a local guide, meals, overnight hotel stay in Douz and 4x4 transport throughout. Hotel pickup is included. Drinks during meals are not. A single room supplement and local hotel tax are payable in cash at the hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Roman Ruins and Desert Town

• Pick up from hotel in Sousse
• Visit El Jem Colosseum
• Lunch and tour troglodyte houses in Matmata
• Travel to Douz oasis town
• Dinner and overnight stay in Douz
• Optional camel or carriage ride

Day 2: Desert Film Set and Cultural Sites

• Buffet breakfast in Douz
• Cross Chott el Djerid salt lake
• 4x4 ride to Onk Jemal Star Wars film set
• Lunch in Gafsa
• Photo stop in Kairouan

The experience

You get picked up from your hotel and travel by 4x4 to El Jem, where the Colosseum stands as one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. From there the route heads to Matmata, where you explore the underground cave homes still inhabited today (the same dwellings that appeared in two Star Wars films), and eat a traditional Tunisian lunch. The afternoon brings you to Douz, the gateway to the Sahara, where dinner and an overnight stay in a 4-star hotel (or high-quality 3-star if unavailable) wait. An optional camel or carriage ride into the desert is available here at extra cost.

Day two starts with a buffet breakfast before you cross Chott El Jerid, the vast salt lake that shimmers with mirages, then ride the 4x4 deeper into the desert to Onk Jemal: the film set city built for Star Wars. After a three-course lunch in Gafsa, the tour ends with a photo stop in Kairouan, the holy city whose grand mosques and medina hold centuries of Islamic tradition. Your guide speaks English or German and travels with the group throughout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from your Sousse hotel.
• transport throughout in a Land Cruiser 4x4.
• a local guide in English or German.
• a traditional Tunisian lunch on day one and a three-course lunch on day two.
• dinner and buffet breakfast in Douz.
• one night in a 4-star (or high-quality 3-star) hotel.
• guided tour of an underground troglodyte dwelling in Matmata.
• access to all sites including El Jem Colosseum, Chott El Jerid, Onk Jemal film set and Kairouan.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Thursday and SaturdayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish and German

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by TUI Tunisia S.A.

Is this one for you?Book this two-day version if you're mid-trip and need to return to Sousse by evening on day two. Choose the one-day option if you have only a single day free, or the extended itinerary if you want to stay longer in the Sahara.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What are the troglodyte houses in Matmata that I'll see on this tour?

The troglodyte houses of Matmata are centuries-old underground homes carved into the earth and still inhabited today. You'll get a guided tour inside one of these unique dwellings and have free time to explore the village.

Is the camel ride in Douz included in the tour price?

The camel or carriage ride in Douz is optional and costs extra (approximately 15 euros per person). It's available in the afternoon after you arrive at your hotel.

What meals are provided over the two days?

You get a traditional Tunisian lunch on day one in Matmata, dinner and a buffet breakfast on day two in Douz, and a three-course lunch in Gafsa on day two. Vegetarian and Halal meat options are available on request. Drinks during meals are not included.

Where do I stay overnight, and what's the hotel standard?

You stay one night in Douz at a 4-star hotel, or a high-quality 3-star if the 4-star is unavailable. A single room supplement of approximately 10 euros per guest is payable in cash at the hotel, as is a local hotel tax of about 3.50 euros per person.

What is Onk Jemal, and why is it on the itinerary?

Onk Jemal is a desert film set city built for Star Wars, located deep in the Sahara. You'll ride the 4x4 there on day two to explore the set and see the landscape where the films were shot.