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Trip Report

Desert in Tunisia: My travels through this amazing country.

Here's an itinerary from my vacations. A journey between excursions in the deserts in Tunisia, local souks with some amazing shopping and a touristic coast.

  • In the heart of the desert+ 6
  • Free dromedaries
  • Sandbox
  • Desert in Tunisia: My travels through this amazing country.
maellernv
About Me:A french girl (27 years old) who, breaking away from the urban way of life, chose to travel the world during one year (or more ?) to set off on a adventure, on a auest for life, beauty, and above all, a quest of freedom. Ready to live a th... read more

AfricaTunisia5 days / February 2020

Highs & Lows

Sleeping under the stars in the heart of the desert

Djerba, too touristy

Itinerary Overview

We arrived in the small town of Douz, from Tunis. Douz is better known as the gateway to the Sahara. Indeed, the city is located at the entrance of the desert, surrounded by sand.

We spend the night in the camping Cinderella. Momo is very welcoming and makes us feel comfortable from the moment we arrive.

The next morning, it's time for an excursion in the desert. We join our guide, Edi and his famous Toyota 4x4. Here we go. 30 minutes to start on a sandy road and then suddenly, finally dunes. A huge expanse of sand stands in front of us. We have the impression to be so small in this sandbox. In the 4x4, it swings from right to left, it's fun, it's exhilarating.

In the evening, we set up camp and our guide prepares bread for us in the sand. We then drink an excellent mint tea by the fire. We then fall asleep with our eyes in the stars. Take a good mattress and a good duvet because the night in the desert, it is rather cold.

Day two, same landscapes, desertic. But this time the dunes are higher, impressive. Time does not pass in the same way in the desert. Everything here is slower, softer. And we simply feel. We cross some dromedaries in freedom on our way, fabulous. The night arrives quickly, after a majestic sunset. Same ritual as the day before, and we go back to chat with the stars.

We leave Douz in the direction of Tataouine, with our rental car. After a few hours of driving, we decide, before arriving in Tataouine, 30 minutes from the city, to visit Chenini, this ancient Berber troglodytic village, perched on the top of a rocky hill.

The place is grandiose!

The dwellings fit perfectly into the shape of the hill, and are made of the same colour, sand. It is even possible to go inside and discover some tools that were used in the past. We walk for a good hour between the dwellings, vestiges of a bygone era.

At the end of the hill stands the white mosque. It contrasts perfectly with the other houses, with its immaculate white. The view from here is spectacular.

We now head for the village of Tataouine, very lively and noisy. The city does not necessarily have a great tourist attraction in itself but passage all the same obliged in its large souk! Here, colors from everywhere, spices, teas, a multitude of flavors. We are approached every 2 meters to buy a scarf, a carpet, tea, tee shirts souvenir. We end up buying some spices and mint and rose tea.

We then decide to stop for tea in a small local bar. These mint teas are incredibly good around here! 

End of the day. We head to the hotel on the outskirts of Tataouine for a well deserved rest.

After the city of Tataouine, we are now driving towards Djerba, in the south east of Tunisia, an island bordered by the coast. Here, everything is gathered for a little moment of idleness, feet in the sand in front of the sea.

We decide first of all to explore the contours of this tourist city. Direction the synagogue of the Ghriba, the most important of the country. The architecture of this place is fantastic with its big white walls and its stained glasses. Then we go for a walk in the middle of the souk and... the tourists.

The beach calls us. We go to rest on the golden sand. We find a small and quiet cove, far from the crowd. The beaches are big here, so there is plenty of choice to enjoy this moment of relaxation.

At the end of the day, we decide to immerse ourselves in the Tunisian culture, direction... the traditional hammam. An experience for the body but also a nice moment to share with the locals.

In the evening, we had a small local restaurant with couscous and then spent the night in our hotel before leaving the next day, with a flight from Djerba to Marseille.

  • 3 Nights: Douz
    Reconnecting to yourself in the middle of the desert
  • 1 Night: Tataouine
    To go far far away... in Tataouine
  • 1 Night: Djerba
    For a little rest with your feet in the water
Douz - Reconnecting to yourself in the middle of the desert
1

Douz Reconnecting to yourself in the middle of the desert

Douz - Reconnecting to yourself in the middle of the desert - Free dromedaries
Free dromedaries
Douz - Reconnecting to yourself in the middle of the desert - In the heart of the desert
In the heart of the desert
Douz - Reconnecting to yourself in the middle of the desert - Sandbox
Sandbox

We arrived in the small town of Douz, from Tunis. Douz is better known as the gateway to the Sahara. Indeed, the city is located at the entrance of the desert, surrounded by sand.

We spend the night in the camping Cinderella. Momo is very welcoming and makes us feel comfortable from the moment we arrive.

The next morning, it's time for an excursion in the desert. We join our guide, Edi and his famous Toyota 4x4. Here we go. 30 minutes to start on a sandy road and then suddenly, finally dunes. A huge expanse of sand stands in front of us. We have the impression to be so small in this sandbox. In the 4x4, it swings from right to left, it's fun, it's exhilarating.

In the evening, we set up camp and our guide prepares bread for us in the sand. We then drink an excellent mint tea by the fire. We then fall asleep with our eyes in the stars. Take a good mattress and a good duvet because the night in the desert, it is rather cold.

Day two, same landscapes, desertic. But this time the dunes are higher, impressive. Time does not pass in the same way in the desert. Everything here is slower, softer. And we simply feel. We cross some dromedaries in freedom on our way, fabulous. The night arrives quickly, after a majestic sunset. Same ritual as the day before, and we go back to chat with the stars.

Tataouine - To go far far away... in Tataouine
2

Tataouine To go far far away... in Tataouine

Tataouine - To go far far away... in Tataouine - Souk
Souk
Tataouine - To go far far away... in Tataouine - White Mosque, Chenini
White Mosque, Chenini
Tataouine - To go far far away... in Tataouine - Chenini village
Chenini village

We leave Douz in the direction of Tataouine, with our rental car. After a few hours of driving, we decide, before arriving in Tataouine, 30 minutes from the city, to visit Chenini, this ancient Berber troglodytic village, perched on the top of a rocky hill.

The place is grandiose!

The dwellings fit perfectly into the shape of the hill, and are made of the same colour, sand. It is even possible to go inside and discover some tools that were used in the past. We walk for a good hour between the dwellings, vestiges of a bygone era.

At the end of the hill stands the white mosque. It contrasts perfectly with the other houses, with its immaculate white. The view from here is spectacular.

We now head for the village of Tataouine, very lively and noisy. The city does not necessarily have a great tourist attraction in itself but passage all the same obliged in its large souk! Here, colors from everywhere, spices, teas, a multitude of flavors. We are approached every 2 meters to buy a scarf, a carpet, tea, tee shirts souvenir. We end up buying some spices and mint and rose tea.

We then decide to stop for tea in a small local bar. These mint teas are incredibly good around here! 

End of the day. We head to the hotel on the outskirts of Tataouine for a well deserved rest.

Djerba - For a little rest with your feet in the water
3

Djerba For a little rest with your feet in the water

Djerba - For a little rest with your feet in the water - Djerba souk
Djerba souk
Djerba - For a little rest with your feet in the water - Hammam
Hammam
Djerba - For a little rest with your feet in the water - Beach and sand
Beach and sand

After the city of Tataouine, we are now driving towards Djerba, in the south east of Tunisia, an island bordered by the coast. Here, everything is gathered for a little moment of idleness, feet in the sand in front of the sea.

We decide first of all to explore the contours of this tourist city. Direction the synagogue of the Ghriba, the most important of the country. The architecture of this place is fantastic with its big white walls and its stained glasses. Then we go for a walk in the middle of the souk and... the tourists.

The beach calls us. We go to rest on the golden sand. We find a small and quiet cove, far from the crowd. The beaches are big here, so there is plenty of choice to enjoy this moment of relaxation.

At the end of the day, we decide to immerse ourselves in the Tunisian culture, direction... the traditional hammam. An experience for the body but also a nice moment to share with the locals.

In the evening, we had a small local restaurant with couscous and then spent the night in our hotel before leaving the next day, with a flight from Djerba to Marseille.

Q & A

  • What would you have changed?

    Maybe one more day in Djerba, to laze around a bit more
  • Anything go wrong during the trip?

    In the deserts in Tunisia we had a flat tire, but fortunately our guide had a spare!
  • Tips you would give a friend?

    Bring a good mattress and a warm sleeping bag if you want to sleep in the deserts.
  • Packing tips?

    A warm sleeping bag and a swimwear
  • Transportation Tips?

    Rent a car
  • Any surprises?

    The deserts in Tunisia is amazing, this is a once in a lifetime experience
  • Booking details?

    Hotels, campings, its really easy to book online

Lodging