25 Oct 2026
Twin share
£2,556pp
Escorted tour
Tunisia Expedition: Medinas, Sahara & Troglodyte Villages – 12 Days
Medinas, a Sahara camp and troglodyte villages in a group of up to twelve.
12 days
From £2,556
Tour overview
This 12-day expedition explores Tunisia from its Mediterranean coast to the Sahara and the Berber villages of the south. A local leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than twelve. You stay eleven nights: eight in hotels, two in a troglodyte gîte and one in a permanent tented camp in the Sahara with proper beds. Most meals are included, from a home-cooked dinner in Gammarth to a lunch in a cave home in Matmata.
In Tunis you wander the medina, the largest in North Africa, then visit the blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Said on the way to Kairouan and its 9th-century Great Mosque. Two nights in the palm-lined oasis town of Tozeur lead you across the Chott el Jerid salt lake to Douz and a night in the Sahara among the dunes.
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Continuing to Matmata, you visit an old kasbah and olive press at Toujane and eat lunch in a troglodyte cave home, then stay two nights in Douiret with an optional hike in the Dahar Mountains. On the way back north you visit the great Roman amphitheatre of El Jem and the old port town of Mahdia before returning to Tunis.
The physical rating is medium. This trip suits curious travellers who want to experience the variety of Tunisia in a small group.
Trip highlights
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The Tunis medina (Day 2)
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Sidi Bou Said (Day 3)
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Kairouan’s Great Mosque (Day 4)
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A night in the Sahara (Day 6)
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A troglodyte stay in Douiret (Days 8–9)
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El Jem’s amphitheatre (Day 10)
Your route
16 stops from Tunis to Tunis
- Tunis Days 1–2
- Carthage Day 2
- Sidi Bou Said Day 3
- Kairouan Day 3
- Tozeur Days 4–5
- Chebika Day 5
- Tamerza Day 5
- Chott El Jerid Day 6
- Douz Days 6–7
- Toujane Day 8
- Matmata Day 8
- Douiret Days 8–9
- Chenini Day 9
- El Jem Day 10
- Mahdia Day 10
- Tunis Days 11–12
Why choose this tour
Coast, desert and Berber villages in one trip. A night in the Sahara and two in a troglodyte gîte.
Best suited to
- Curious, adventurous travellers
- History and culture lovers
- Solo travellers
- Food lovers
Day-by-day itinerary
12 days from Tunis, Tunisia to Tunis, Tunisia
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Day 1 · Tunis Tunis
A welcome meeting.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 2 · Tunis medina Tunis
North Africa’s largest medina.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 3 · Sidi Bou Said, Kairouan Kairouan
A blue-and-white village.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 4 · Kairouan, Tozeur Tozeur
The Great Mosque.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 5 · Tozeur Tozeur
An oasis town.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 6 · Chott el Jerid, Douz Sahara
A night in the dunes.
- Hotel
- Permanent tented camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 7 · Douz Douz
Sunrise in the Sahara.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 8 · Toujane, Matmata, Douiret Douiret
Cave homes.
- Hotel
- Troglodyte gîte
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 9 · Douiret, Dahar Mountains Douiret
An old Berber village.
- Hotel
- Troglodyte gîte
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 10 · El Jem, Mahdia Mahdia
A Roman amphitheatre.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 11 · Mahdia, Tunis Tunis
A coastal walk.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 12 · Tunis Tunis
The trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Tunis (2 nights) Hotel
- Kairouan (1 night) Hotel
- Tozeur (2 nights) Hotel
- Sahara (1 night) Permanent tented camp
- Douz (1 night) Hotel
- Douiret (2 nights) Troglodyte gîte
- Mahdia (1 night) Hotel
- Tunis (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 11 nights in hotels, a gîte and a desert camp
- Meals 11 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 9 dinners
- Private transport throughout
- Tunis medina and Sidi Bou Said
- Kairouan, Tozeur and the Sahara
- Matmata, Douiret and El Jem
- Local leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Meals not included 6 lunches and 2 dinners
- Optional activities
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a beach holiday
- You want luxury hotels
- You dislike long drives
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–12 · Lunch: Days 2–3 and 8–9 · Dinner: Days 3–11
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Tunisia
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £2,556 per person, twin share, tour only. 1 upcoming departure.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
What is the desert camp like?
A permanent camp with fixed tents, proper beds and shared bathrooms nearby.
What is a troglodyte gîte?
A traditional dwelling built into the rock, simple but full of character.
Is Tunisia safe to visit?
Check the latest FCDO advice before you travel.
Do I need a visa?
UK citizens don’t need a visa for Tunisia for stays of up to 90 days.
How hard is the Dahar hike?
An optional 8km walk in the hills around Douiret.
How many people travel together?
No more than twelve travellers, with a local leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary