Tunisia, Between Sea and Desert: 16 days in April 2027

Tunisia

Duration
16 Days
Category
Guided tour
French Accompanist
Date
Monday April 12 2027

Description

Tunisia first reveals itself through its light. In Sidi Bou Said, blue doors stand out against whitewashed walls, and the sea appears at the end of every lane. A few kilometres away, the stones of Carthage recall a power that once contested the Mediterranean with Rome. Three nights in Port El Kantaoui then leave time to settle in by the water.

Then the road heads south. The amphitheatre of El Djem rises in the middle of a small town, as imposing as the Colosseum. In Djerba, the potters of Guellala work clay as their ancestors did, and the island offers a full day to stroll among palm trees and white houses. The homes dug into the earth at Matmata come before Douz, gateway to the Sahara, where a camel ride accompanies the sunset.

By 4x4, the mountain oases of Chebika and Tamerza reveal springs amid the rock, and Ong Jmal will delight Star Wars fans. Kairouan, the holy city, shows its Great Mosque before the return to the sea. Hammamet closes the journey with three nights among orange trees and jasmine.

A French-speaking escorted tour with 35 meals included, combining beaches, Roman heritage and the great desert.

Highlights:
-Visit of Sidi Bou Said and the site of Carthage
-Roman amphitheatre of El Djem
-2 days on the island of Djerba
-Camel ride in the Sahara at sunset
-4x4 excursion to the oases of Chebika, Tamerza and Ong Jmal
-Two beach stays, at the beginning and end of the trip

Accommodation categories:
Tunis: Verdi Beach & Resort 5* or similar
Port El Kantaoui: Marhaba Palace 4.5* or similar
Sfax: Golden Yasmin les Oliviers Palace 5* or similar
Djerba: Djerba Plaza 4* or similar
Douz: Golden Yasmin Sun Palm 4* or similar
Tozeur: Ksar Rouge 4* or similar
Kairouan: La Kasbah 5* or similar
Hammamet: Aziza Thalasso 4* or similar

The itinerary is subject to change without notice. The final itinerary will be available from your travel advisor!

The displayed rate is for two adults in double occupancy. Other dates, room categories and occupancy types (single, triple or quadruple) may be available. Price available upon request*.

Inclusions

  • Connecting flights with Royal Air Maroc or another carrier
  • All transfers
  • Motorcoach transportation (except days 4, 5, 14 and 15)
  • 14 nights' accommodation
  • 35 meals: 14 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 14 dinners
  • Services of a tour escort and a tour guide
  • Scheduled activities (except optional ones)
  • Panoramic tour of Tunis, visit of Sidi Bou Said and Carthage
  • El Djem amphitheatre, Mahdia, Gabès and tour of the island of Djerba
  • Guellala and its museum, entrance to the Ghriba synagogue
  • Matmata, Kébili and camel ride at sunset
  • 4x4 excursion to Chebika, Tamerza and Ong Jmal, guided visit of Eden Palm
  • Sbeitla, the Aghlabid basins, the Great Mosque and the mausoleum of Sidi Sahbi in Kairouan
  • First checked bag fee charged by the airline
  • Taxes and service fees

Exclusions

  • Travel insurance (trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical care, baggage)
  • Meals and drinks not mentioned
  • Gratuities
  • Optional activities and excursions
  • Baggage handling
  • Tourist tax of 12 Tunisian dinars per person per night, payable at the hotel
  • Contribution to the Quebec travel agents' client compensation fund (FICAV)
  • Personal expenses
  • Anything not mentioned in the inclusions

Departure on Monday April 12th 2027

Itinerary

Flights to Tunis.

Tunis. Arrival in Tunis and panoramic tour of the capital: grand avenues, the UNESCO-listed medina, cafés and shops. (D)

Tunis – Sidi Bou Said – Carthage – Port El Kantaoui (3 nights). Visit of the blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Said and the archaeological site of Carthage, then drive to Port El Kantaoui, a Mediterranean seaside resort. (B, D)

Port El Kantaoui. Free day: marina, beaches, Andalusian architecture and water activities. Optional excursion to Sousse and Monastir. (B, D)

Port El Kantaoui. Free day by the sea. (B, D)

Port El Kantaoui – El Djem – Mahdia – Sfax. Visit of the Roman amphitheatre of El Djem, which once seated 35,000 spectators, then a stop in Mahdia, a picturesque coastal town. Overnight in Sfax. (B, L, D)

Sfax – Gabès – Djerba (2 nights). Stop at the Gabès oasis, then a tour of the island of Djerba with the pottery workshops of Guellala and the Ghriba synagogue. (B, L, D)

Djerba. Free day on the island of date palms: beaches, warm water and small white domed houses. Optional boat trip to Flamingo Island. (B, L, D)

Djerba – Matmata – Kébili – Douz. Visit of the Berber troglodyte dwellings of Matmata, a drive through the palm groves of Kébili and arrival in Douz, gateway to the desert. Camel ride at sunset. (B, L, D)

Douz – Chott El Djerid – Tozeur (2 nights). Crossing of the Chott El Djerid, a vast dry salt lake, then discovery of Tozeur, the pearl of the Djerid. Rest of the day at leisure. (B, L, D)

Tozeur – Chebika – Tamerza – Ong Jmal – Tozeur. 4x4 excursion to the mountain oases of Chebika and Tamerza and to Ong Jmal, a filming location of the first Star Wars film. In the evening, guided visit of Eden Palm, in the heart of the oasis. (B, L, D)

Tozeur – Sbeitla – Kairouan. Visit of the ancient site of Sbeitla, then Kairouan, holy city of the Maghreb: the Aghlabid basins, the Great Mosque and the mausoleum of Sidi Sahbi. (B, L, D)

Kairouan – Hammamet (3 nights). Drive to Hammamet, with its old fort by the waves and its orchards of orange trees and jasmine. (B, D)

Hammamet. Free day. (B, D)

Hammamet. Free day. (B, D)

Hammamet – Tunis – Return. Transfer to Tunis airport and return flights. (B)

FAQ

One 16-day, 14-night departure, from April 12 to 27, 2027, from Montreal.

Synergia network group departures

Advisors in the Voyages Synergia network build their own escorted group departures every year, with limited places. These are trips born of a passion rather than a catalogue: fishing in Guatemala, safari in East Africa, guided expeditions. The list above changes with the seasons.

What sets these departures apart

  • A Quebec tour leader who knows the destination and travels with the group
  • A restricted number of places, often a few dozen, sometimes fewer than ten
  • A clear theme, built around one activity rather than a destination alone
  • Fixed dates: you join the departure, you do not build it

How to book

Each departure has its own responsible advisor. Choose the trip that interests you in the list, then reach us through the contact page for remaining places and terms. These departures often fill months ahead.

Other ways to travel as a group

If no date suits you, two other routes exist: organized trips, already built and sold by tour operators, and a custom group, built around your own participants. Voyages AquaTerra holds Quebec permit 702703.

Frequently Asked Questions

An escorted trip built by an advisor in the Voyages Synergia network, on fixed dates with limited places, usually built around one specific activity.
No. Most participants do not know each other at departure. That is one reason these trips appeal to people travelling alone.
It varies by product, from a few dozen to fewer than ten on expeditions. The number is stated in each departure file.
Often yes, several months ahead, because places are limited. It is worth enquiring as soon as a date is announced.
Sometimes, depending on the flights and hotels used. Ask the responsible advisor before confirming, since it changes the air booking.