Two more days than the six, spent where Rome actually built: the underground villas of Bulla Regia, Thuburbo Majus in open farmland and the three golden temples of Sbeitla — plus the Sousse medina and a night at the Ksar Ghilane oasis.
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Departure
Tunis
Group
up to 5 people
Sites
15
The six-day circuit takes the famous Roman sites. This one takes the ones archaeologists prefer: Bulla Regia, where the villas were built underground to escape the heat and the mosaics are still on the floors; Thuburbo Majus, a full forum in a field with usually nobody else in it; and Sbeitla's three capitol temples standing side by side.
It also gains the sea at Sousse and a night at Ksar Ghilane, where the hot spring runs at the edge of the dunes. Eight days is where a Tunisia circuit stops feeling like a highlights reel. Hotels and the desert camp are confirmed with your dates when you book.
What you see
Carthage — the Punic capital Rome destroyed and rebuilt — baths, ports and villas above the sea
Sidi Bou Saïd — a clifftop village of blue doors and whitewashed walls above the Gulf of Tunis
Tunis Medina — a UNESCO-listed maze of souks, mosques and palaces, still trading as it has for centuries
Bulla Regia — a Roman town that built its villas underground, mosaics still on the floors
Dougga — the best-preserved Roman town in North Africa, standing almost alone in the hills
Thuburbo Majus — a capitol and forum standing in open farmland, usually with nobody else in them
Kairouan — Islam’s fourth holy city, built around the Great Mosque and its vast cisterns
Sbeitla — a Roman forum with three golden Capitoline temples standing side by side
El Jem Amphitheatre — one of the largest Roman amphitheatres ever built, and among the best preserved anywhere
Medina of Sousse — a walled Aghlabid port town whose ribat and great mosque still face the sea
Tozeur — a desert oasis of patterned brickwork, its palm grove fed by hundreds of springs
Chott el-Jerid — a salt lake so flat and bright it produces mirages across the whole crossing
Douz & the Dunes — the gateway to the Sahara, where the tarmac stops and the erg begins
Ksar Ghilane — a hot-spring oasis at the edge of the great dunes, reached where the tarmac gives out
Matmata — Berber pit dwellings carved into the earth, familiar from the Star Wars films
The circuit, day by day
Day 1Pick-upFrom your hotel or the airport, at a time that suits you
Day 1CarthageThe Punic capital Rome destroyed and rebuilt — baths, ports and villas above the sea
Day 1Sidi Bou SaïdA clifftop village of blue doors and whitewashed walls above the Gulf of Tunis
Day 2Tunis MedinaA UNESCO-listed maze of souks, mosques and palaces, still trading as it has for centuries
Day 2Bulla RegiaA Roman town that built its villas underground, mosaics still on the floors
Day 3DouggaThe best-preserved Roman town in North Africa, standing almost alone in the hills
Day 3Thuburbo MajusA capitol and forum standing in open farmland, usually with nobody else in them
Day 4KairouanIslam’s fourth holy city, built around the Great Mosque and its vast cisterns
Day 4SbeitlaA Roman forum with three golden Capitoline temples standing side by side
Day 5El Jem AmphitheatreOne of the largest Roman amphitheatres ever built, and among the best preserved anywhere
Day 5Medina of SousseA walled Aghlabid port town whose ribat and great mosque still face the sea
Day 6TozeurA desert oasis of patterned brickwork, its palm grove fed by hundreds of springs
Day 6Chott el-JeridA salt lake so flat and bright it produces mirages across the whole crossing
Day 7Douz & the DunesThe gateway to the Sahara, where the tarmac stops and the erg begins
Day 7Ksar GhilaneA hot-spring oasis at the edge of the great dunes, reached where the tarmac gives out
Day 8MatmataBerber pit dwellings carved into the earth, familiar from the Star Wars films
Day 8ReturnDrop-off at your hotel
Included
Private air-conditioned vehicle, your group only
Driver speaking French, English, Italian, German and Arabic
Fuel, tolls and parking
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Fixed price agreed up front, no deposit
Not included
Site entrance fees
Lunch and drinks
Licensed guide (optional)
Personal spending and tips
Places on this trip
Carthage UNESCO
The Punic capital Rome destroyed and rebuilt — baths, ports and villas above the sea
Grand Tunis
Sidi Bou Saïd UNESCO
A clifftop village of blue doors and whitewashed walls above the Gulf of Tunis
Grand Tunis
Tunis Medina UNESCO
A UNESCO-listed maze of souks, mosques and palaces, still trading as it has for centuries
Grand Tunis
Bulla Regia
A Roman town that built its villas underground, mosaics still on the floors
Jendouba
Dougga UNESCO
The best-preserved Roman town in North Africa, standing almost alone in the hills
Béja
Thuburbo Majus
A capitol and forum standing in open farmland, usually with nobody else in them
Zaghouan
Kairouan UNESCO
Islam’s fourth holy city, built around the Great Mosque and its vast cisterns
Kairouan
Sbeitla
A Roman forum with three golden Capitoline temples standing side by side
Kasserine
El Jem Amphitheatre UNESCO
One of the largest Roman amphitheatres ever built, and among the best preserved anywhere
Mahdia
Medina of Sousse UNESCO
A walled Aghlabid port town whose ribat and great mosque still face the sea
Sousse
Tozeur
A desert oasis of patterned brickwork, its palm grove fed by hundreds of springs
Tozeur
Chott el-Jerid
A salt lake so flat and bright it produces mirages across the whole crossing
Tozeur
Douz & the Dunes
The gateway to the Sahara, where the tarmac stops and the erg begins
Kébili
Ksar Ghilane
A hot-spring oasis at the edge of the great dunes, reached where the tarmac gives out
Kébili
Matmata
Berber pit dwellings carved into the earth, familiar from the Star Wars films
