"TUNISIA" (Ref: TUN001)
6 Days (5 nights)
Arrive: Tunis
Depart: Tunis
(Based on land only 2 sharing)
Itinerary:Tunis - Kairoun - Sbeitla - Tozeur - Douz - Gabes - Matmata - El-DJemammamet - Tunis
Day 1: Arrive Tunisia (Tunis Carthage Airport)Met by local Mistral Travel representative, help with arrival formalities. Transfer to hotel.
Hotel: Tunis 3*/4* Twin Rooms en-suite (H.B./F.B.)
Day 2: TUNIS/
BARDO MUSEUM – THE SOUKS & THE MEDINA
After breakfast you will depart for Tunis Medina, the 12th
Century old town. This is a site not to be missed. It is a UNESCO world
heritage site and home to bustling souks, a confusing maze of colourful
streets as well as the revered Zitouna Mosque where worshippers have been called
to prayer for more than one thousand years. Housed within a magnificent 13th century
building, the Bardo museum contains one of the world’s largest collections of
mosaics. These mosaics, gathered from throughout Tunisia, have been ordered
into the various periods of Tunisia’s history: prehistoric, Carthaginian,
Roman, Christian and Islamic.
Afternoon depart Tunis for Sousse.
Hotel: Sousse 3*/4* Twin Rooms en-suite (H.B./F.B.)
Day 3: KAIROUN -
SBEITLA - TOZEUR
This morning you will discover
Kairouan "the city of 50 mosques”. The spiritual home of all Tunisians,
the city itself rises like a dream of ochre and tawny beige, serene in its 13
centuries of Islamic culture, authentic and proud of the wondrous beauty of its
mosques, the symphony of its columns and arches, the exquisite delicacy of the
stone work. The towering and sober dignity of the Great Mosque seems to embody
the spirituality that has inspired artists and poets from its creation until
the present day.
Later this afternoon
you will visit Sbeitla. Emperor Vespasian and his sons began to
develop Sbeitla after the Third Augustan Legion established a garrison at
Ammaedara. The town found success in the olive industry during the 2nd century
BC and continued to be prosperous through to the 3rd and 4th centuries despite
the decline of the Roman Empire in many other provinces. During this time many
churches were built in Sbeitla, some belonging to Rome and others to the
Donatist dynasty. Many of these churches still stand and are viewed as some of
the most impressive monuments left by the Roman Empire. We continue on to Nefta where we will spend
the night.
Hotel: Nefta 3*/4* Twin Rooms en-suite (H.B./F.B.)
Day 4: TOZEUR - CHOTT EL
JERID - DOUZ
This morning a 4x4 Jeep excursion to visit the Oasis of Mountains. The original film 'Star
Wars' trilogy attracted thousands of additional visitors to this spectacular
desert region and the structures are still intact.
After lunch we explore the shimmering Chott El Jerid salt lake
and the remote mountain oasis of southern Tunisia. We continue to Douz, the oasis town known as the “Gateway to
the Sahara”. A
camel trek over the majestic sand dunes of the Sahara desert is an exciting
conclusion to the day (Optional).
Hotel: Douz
3*/4* Twin Rooms en-suite (H.B./F.B.)
Day 5: GABES – MATMATA - EL DJEM -
HAMMAMET
Today we will visit Gabes & Matmata, while we are there we will have a
visit to the Troglodyte underground houses, which date from the fourth
century BC and were used in the 'Star Wars' films. The troglodyte houses form a
circular crater and you can actually stand on the edge and look down on
them.
This afternoon will be spent at El Djem, which represents the
glory of the Roman Empire. It is the third largest colosseum in the Roman
world, dominating the local town and nearby countryside.Then we continue on to Hammamet on the coast.
Hammamet is possibly the best-known resort in Tunisia. It has changed
greatly from the small fishing village it once was, evolving into a
sought-after holiday resort. Known as the ‘garden resort’ it is backed by
olive, orange and lemon groves and lines of cypress trees.
In the late afternoon you will be able to relax by the seaside. This
evening will be at your leisure.
Hotel: Hammamet
3*/4* Twin rooms en-suite (H.B./F.B.)
Day 6:Depart Hammamet Hotel to Tunis Airport for flight home
