Begin your adventure in the historic coastal city of Tunis, capital of Tunisia. As flights often arrive late, we have our welcome briefing tomorrow morning.

Arrive early and there’s plenty to explore, including the UNESCO-listed medina, home to the Zitouna Mosque, centuries-old palaces and souqs that recall Tunis’s long history as a centre of trade.

Want more time in Tunis? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Palais Bayram (or similar)

We gather as a group for the first time this morning for our welcome briefing, a chance to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

After, we begin our exploration at the Bardo National Museum, where mosaics, sculptures and archaeological finds reveal more than 2,000 years of Tunisian history and set the scene for our adventure ahead.

We then continue to the once-great city-state of Carthage, founded by the Phoenicians in the ninth century BCE. It was a major Mediterranean trading power before Rome destroyed the city in 146 BCE and rebuilt on the ruins. With our tour leader separating the Punic from the Roman remains, we begin to understand just how many versions of Carthage lie beneath our feet.

Later, we visit Sidi Bou Said, a blue-and-white village with cobblestone lanes, before returning to Tunis medina for our welcome dinner at Fondouk El Attarine, where refined Tunisian-Mediterranean cuisine is served within a restored caravanserai.

Accommodation: Palais Bayram (or similar)

Discover the culinary heritage of the city today, heading into the ancient medina of Tunis. Start with a guided tour of the central market, choosing the ingredients we’ll later turn into a Tunisian dish.

After, we enter a traditional house, where a local chef reveals ancestral cooking techniques in a hands-on cooking demonstration, before we sit down to eat our creations.

The remainder of the day is free. You may wish to continue through the medina, where mosques, madrasas, fountains and former palaces reflect centuries of Tunisian history.

Accommodation: Palais Bayram (or similar)

Bid farewell to Tunis and drive to Domaine Ben Ismail, a family-run farm near Majaz al Bab, passing traditional Tunisian villages en route.

At the farm, we enjoy a refined tasting experience, featuring a selection of their local cheeses and premium olive oils. The experience is complete with a traditional lunch showcasing authentic regional flavours and artisanal products.

After, we visit the archaeological site of Dougga, considered one of the best-preserved Roman cities in North Africa. As we walk between the temples, theatre and baths, our tour leader helps us unpack the grandeur and urban planning of the Roman people.

We then continue to the holy city of Kairouan for the night.

Accommodation: La Kasbah Hotel (or similar)

Today is dedicated to exploring Kairouan, one of the spiritual capitals of Islam. Our tour leader guides us through the UNESCO-listed medina to the Great Mosque and Mausoleum of Sidi Sahbi.

The afternoon is free to continue independently. Alternatively, join an optional Arabic calligraphy workshop with a local artisan. After learning how different strokes and letter forms are created, you can try the techniques yourself.

Accommodation: La Kasbah Hotel (or similar)

Leave Kairouan for Sbeitla, home to the well-preserved ancient Roman city of Sufetula. Its most memorable structure is the Capitol. Rather than housing Jupiter, Juno and Minerva in one building, Sufetula gave each deity a separate temple. We walk through the forum to see the trio, then continue among paved streets, baths, churches and other remnants of city life.

Our journey south ends in Tozeur, where the scenery and architecture signal our approach to the Sahara. In the old quarters, small bricks are arranged at different depths to create geometric patterns across the facades.

You may wish to visit the Dar Cherait Museum, housed in the reproduction of an old palace, to dive deeper into Tunisian culture.

Accommodation: Dar Horchani (or similar)

Begin today in Tozeur’s old quarter, where our tour leader shows us the unique desert architecture, intricate brickwork patterns, and traditional oasis atmosphere that reflects the heritage of southern Tunisia.

The afternoon is free to explore at your own pace.

Alternatively, join an optional 4×4 excursion to Chebika, Tamerza and Mides. Water runs down the mountainside at Chebika, Tamerza’s oasis is irrigated by a waterfall, and Mides stands beside a deep canyon – three very different landscapes in one journey. The route continues off-road towards Ong Jmal and the surviving Mos Espa set used in the Star Wars films.

Accommodation: Dar Horchani (or similar)

We leave Tozeur and cross Chott el Jerid, a vast salt pan known for its mirror-like surface, before continuing to the desert town of Douz. In the medina, we meet a craftsperson for a traditional shoemaking demonstration.

Transferring to 4x4s, we travel across the Sahara sands towards Tembaine and our camp among the dunes.

There is time to try sandboarding before we see how khobz el mella, desert bread cooked beneath hot sand, ashes and embers, is prepared. We have dinner at our camp and spend the night deep in the Sahara, with little around us but dunes and a star-filled sky.

Accommodation: Camp Abdelmoula (or similar)

Our 4x4s take us on a thrilling journey across the dunes towards Douz before we enter the rocky landscapes of the Dahar region.

At Tamezret, we visit the village museum to learn more about Amazigh history and culture, before stepping inside the underground homes of Matmata, carved into the earth to naturally regulate temperature. We also visit Hotel Sidi Driss, one of Matmata’s underground buildings, which was used for interior scenes in Star Wars.

We then continue through Toujane, where weaving remains part of the village’s craft tradition. An Amazigh dinner hosted by GDA El Ferech rounds off the day, providing time to meet our hosts, learn about the food and enjoy traditional hospitality.

Accommodation: Ksar Ouled Debbab (or similar)

We begin at the historic Amazigh village of Douiret, taking in its hillside ksar (fortified village), traditional stone homes and sweeping desert panoramas at a relaxed pace.

We then continue to Chenini for a gentle walk through the remarkable village, exploring cliffside dwellings, ancient granaries and striking views across the Dahar mountains.

After time to look around, we transfer (3hr 30min) to the major port city of Sfax.

Accommodation: Z Hotel Sfax (or similar)

This morning, we head to El Jem, one of the largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. Built on flat ground and supported by a complex system of arches, it could accommodate up to 35,000 spectators. Standing inside gives us a much better sense of its scale – and of the engineering needed to manage crowds that large.

We continue to Sousse and visit the UNESCO-listed medina, where our tour leader connects its ribat, ramparts, Great Mosque and kasbah to the city’s former role as an important Aghlabid commercial and military port.

In the evening, we gather for our farewell dinner in an authentic Tunisian setting, accompanied by live traditional music – a warm, festive atmosphere in which to celebrate our journey together.

Accommodation: Marhaba Palace Hotel

You’ve explored ancient medinas, camped among Saharan dunes and stood inside a grand Roman amphitheatre, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.

If you’re catching the group transfer to the airport (which departs around 3.30pm), you may wish to relax at the hotel, enjoy lunch overlooking the marina, take a stroll through Port El Kantaoui’s attractive harbour (which is around a 10-minute walk from our hotel), browse the local shops, or spend some final time by the beach.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.