Day 1: Arrival in Tunis
Welcome to Tunis! Reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Stroll down Avenue Habib Bourguiba for a first glimpse of the city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Tunis - Testour - Dougga - Makthar - Sbeïtla (250 km)
After breakfast, depart at 8:00 a.m. for Testour, a charming Andalusian village. Enjoy a tea under the bitter orange trees and visit the minaret of the Andalusian mosque, decorated with stars of David. Continue to Dougga, one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in North Africa. Explore its Roman ruins, including the forum, the temple of Caelestis, the baths, the theater, and the Libyco-Punic mausoleum. After lunch in Thugga, drive to Makthar to discover its Roman monuments: a monumental gate, amphitheater, forum, and other historical buildings. Dinner and overnight in Sbeïtla.
Day 3: Sbeïtla - Kairouan (106 km)
Depart at 8:00 a.m. to visit Sbeïtla. You will see the magnificent Capitol dating from the 2nd century, as well as the large thermal baths divided into winter and summer sections. The Byzantine churches feature baptisteries decorated with colorful mosaics, and the entire site is beautifully landscaped with gardens. Continue to Kairouan. Lunch in Kairouan at 1:00 p.m. Kairouan is a place of high spirituality, home to the Great Mosque of Oqba, the mausoleum of Sidi Sahbi, and the Aghlabid basins. It's also known for its carpet-making tradition. Visit a carpet cooperative where artisans craft beautiful pieces from memory. Try some local delicacies like makroudh (semolina pastries filled with dates and honey). Dinner and overnight in Kairouan.
Day 4: Kairouan - El Djem - Sousse (145 km)
After breakfast, continue exploring Kairouan at 8:00 a.m., then depart for El Djem, passing through beautiful olive groves. Lunch in El Djem at Le Bonheur 2 restaurant. Visit the amphitheater, built in the 2nd century, which retains its three levels and could accommodate 35,000 spectators. The museum contains mosaics and artifacts from the nearby Villa Africa, discovered in 1990, which features luxurious mosaic decorations and reconstructed walls and roofs. Continue to Sousse for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Sousse - Takrouna - Zaghouan - Oudna - Tunis (150 km)
After breakfast, depart at 8:00 a.m. to visit the recently renovated Sousse Museum, then head to Takrouna, a small Berber village perched on a mountain with a panoramic view. Lunch at 1:00 p.m. in Zaghouan and visit the Temple of the Waters. Zaghouan was the source of drinking water for Carthage, transported via an impressive aqueduct. Visit Oudna, where the ancient city of Uthina once stood. Explore its excavations, including a three-level amphitheater, restored mosaics, and private baths. The return journey to Tunis follows the Zaghouan aqueduct. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Tunis.
Day 6: Morning: Bardo Museum - Afternoon: Medina of Tunis
After breakfast, depart at 8:00 a.m. to visit the central market and then the Bardo Museum, which boasts an exceptional collection of Roman mosaics. The museum has recently been restored and expanded. Lunch at 1:00 p.m. at a quaint restaurant, followed by a stroll through the Medina of Tunis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, centered around the Great Mosque, the Zitouna. Explore the colorful souks filled with gold jewelry, perfumes, and traditional chechias. Enjoy tea at a café along Avenue Bourguiba. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Tunis.
Day 7: Tunis - Carthage - Sidi Bou Saïd - Tunis (45 km)
After breakfast, depart at 8:00 a.m. to visit Byrsa Hill, the site where ancient Carthage was founded by Elyssa-Didon. The view over Tunis Bay is spectacular, and the Punic district clings to the hillside. Visit the small museum with two splendid Punic sarcophagi, then see the Punic ports and the Baths of Antonin. Lunch in La Goulette. In the afternoon, visit the picturesque village of Sidi Bou Saïd, with its white and blue buildings, streets lined with orange trees, and purple bougainvillea. Visit the Ennejma Ezzara Palace, the former residence of Baron d'Erlanger. Enjoy a charming dinner in Sidi Bou Saïd before returning to Tunis for the night.
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, depart at 8:00 a.m. for the airport. Assistance with your departure formalities, and farewell.
