Port El Kantaoui Tours

The desert sands of Tunisia are sprinkled with Hollywood stardust. This two-day tour takes you to some of the country's top filming locations. You'll visit ancient Roman ruins and underground houses, cross a vast salt lake and spend the night in an oasis on the fringes of the Sahara. Hamdi, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Luke Skywalker's home is in Matmata, a cave village where the houses are hollowed out of the rock. The sandstone is soft enough to dig deep pits, and then dig out caves around the edge, to form the underground rooms. Each room opens onto the base of the pit, which becomes a central courtyard.'Begin your desert adventure at El Jem Colosseum. This ancient Roman stadium used to seat 35,000 spectators, entertained by gladiatorial fights and chariot races. After your cultural fix, head to Matmata, for lunch and a visit to the rock-cut cave homes that starred in the Star Wars films. Finish the day in your very own oasis for an overnight stay in Douz, the ‘Gateway to the Sahara'.In the morning, you'll cross Chott el Djerid, a rust-washed salt lake, before hopping into a 4x4 for a ride to Onk Jemal. Here, you'll explore a film set city built exclusively for Star Wars. After stopping for a Tunisian lunch at Gafsa, you'll round off the tour with a photo stop at historic Kairouan. You won't be able to resist taking lots of pics of the richly decorative mosques that give the town an abundance of character.

The past is part of the landscape in Tunisia and nowhere more so than Kairouan – the country's holiest city – and in the Roman amphitheatre of El Djem. You'll make a pilgrimage back in time to both during this history-drenched full day excursion. Shayma, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘The Great Mosque of Kairouan is Africa's second oldest. The interior is dazzling, with ornate tiles, colourful carpets, and pine-shaped chandeliers that add to the beauty of the space. Even the drains are decorated with intricate tilework.'You'll kick off the tour in the walled city of Kairouan. Protected by sandstone walls, the medina offers quiet narrow streets, whitewashed houses with brightly painted shutters and brick-laid archways, perfect for exploring. Kairouan's unmissable Great Mosque is considered one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the region. As well as the mosque's splendid interior, the complex also features a large prayer hall, a courtyard and a minaret. Another important site in Kairouan is the Sidi Sahbi mausoleum, a significant site for Muslims around the world and known for its beautiful tilework and stucco decorations.Next, there's a stop for lunch before visiting El Djem amphitheatre, the third-largest built by the Romans. During its heyday, up to 35,000 spectators would pack its steep stands to watch gladiatorial fights. Today, you can still see the impressive structure that has stood the test of time and learn about its historical significance.

This half-day tour provides an introduction to a few of the Sousse region's highlights. You'll visit two places – the hilltop town of Hergla and the Medina of Sousse.