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Tunisia: Kaleidoscope of cultures and landscapes led by historian Mohamed Halouani

TheSaharaDesert,MediterraneanSea,ArchaeologicalSites,UNESCOWorldHeritageSites,BerberCulture,ArabandEuropeanArchitecture…andFrenchspeakingpeople!

September 17-October 1, 2020

(follows our Algeria tour)

Sep17Day1:ArrivalinTunis/HotelTunisiaPalace(D)

ArrivalatTunisairport,meetyourguideandtransfertothehotel.

Dependingonthearrivaltimesofthegroupmembers, late intheafternoon,wedrive15minutestoSidi-Bou-Saïd,thebest-preservedMoorishvillageinTunisiaandaMUSTfortravellers,photographersandwriters.

PerchedonacliffthatisoverhangingCarthageandtheGulfofTunis,thequainttownSidiBouSaidisaveritablegemofArab-Andalusianarchitecture.Thevillagedelightswithnarrowwindingstreetsborderedbyimmaculatewhitewashedhouseswithblueshuttersanddoors.

Wewillhaveashort,guidedwalkingtourandenjoyatraditionaldinner inSidi-Bou-Saïd.(If therearepeoplearrivingintheevening,wewillmovethisvisittotomorrowevening).

ReturntoTunisforovernight.

Sep18Day2:BardoMuseum–Medina–Carthage/HotelTunisiaPalace(B,L)

The daywill startwith a 20 km drive to visit of the BardoNationalMuseum, one of the best archaeologicalmuseumsof theMediterranean, especially known for its beautiful collectionof roman-byzantinemosaics, theWorld's largest, and located in an old 18th century palace that belonged to the Beys, the Turkish rulers ofTunisia.

Afterwards,wevisittheMedinaofTunis(oldwalledcity).YoucanstrollinthesoukssellingproductsofskilledNorthAfricancraftsman,suchascopper,leather,wool,andbeautifullywovencarpets.

Continue to Carthage for lunch. Then visit theArchaeologicalMuseum, theRomanBaths ofAnthonine,ByrsaAcropolis,thePunicharboursandtheTophetNecropolis.Thetourherewilltakeabout2.5hours.

Carthagewasbuiltonapromontorywithseainletstothenorthandthesouth.Thecity'slocationmadeitmasteroftheMediterranean'smaritimetrade.AllshipscrossingtheseahadtopassbetweenSicilyandthecoastofTunisia,whereCarthagewasbuilt,affordingitgreatpowerandinfluence.Thecityhadmassivewalls,37kilometers(23mi)inlength,longerthanthewallsofcomparablecities.Mostofthewallswerelocatedontheshoreandthuscouldbelessimpressive,asCarthaginiancontroloftheseamadeattackfromthatdirectiondifficult.The4.0to4.8kilometers(2.5to3mi)ofwallontheisthmustothewestweretrulymassiveandwereneverpenetrated.TheAntonineBathswere among the largest baths tobebuilt in theRomanworld andwere the largest suchcomplex inNorthAfrica. The bathswere originally built from145 to 165AD,mostly during the reign of theRoman Emperor Antoninus Pius. The baths contained a number of rooms and chambers standard to suchancient bath complexes, including the Frigidarium (cold room), Caldarium (hot room) and Tepidarium (hotbath).Althoughonceexistedmanystorieshigh,theremainsthatcanbeseentodayaremostlyfromthelowerlevel. Despite lacking its original grandeur, the fascinating ruins of the Antonine Baths are certainly worthexploringandprovideapicturesquelocation,positionedastheyareagainstthebackdropoftheocean.

ByrsaAcropolis(PunicBuildings):ArchaeologistshavefoundthattheterracesuponwhichtheRomanforumwasbuiltweresupportedinpartbywallsofveryoldhousesandtheyhaveunearthedasmallsectionofthePuniccity.Itappearsthatthebuildingshadseveralstories;roomsandcourtyardswererathersmallwhichindicatesthatthecitywasovercrowded.Accordingtotradition,QueenDido,thefounderofCarthage,wasallowedbythelocalkingtobuildhercityonthepieceoflandcoveredbyanoxhide.Didocutthehideintoacontinuousstringandwiththatshesurroundedthetopofahilloverlookingthesea.ProbablytheaccountoriginatedfromtherelativelylimitedextentofthePuniccity.Thecityhadahugenecropolisorburialground,religiousarea,marketplaces,councilhouse,towersandatheaterandwasdividedintofourequallysizedresidentialareaswiththesamelayout.RoughlyinthemiddleofthecitystoodahighcitadelcalledtheByrsa.Twolarge,artificialharborswerebuiltwithinthecity,oneforharboringthecity'smassivenavyof220warshipsandtheotherformercantiletrade.Awalledtoweroverlookedbothharbors.WhentheRomansdestroyedCarthagetheyburntallthefacilitiesofitstwoharbors,butbecauseeventuallytheyhadtorebuildthemtohousealargemercantilefleet,theirlocationisstillclearlyidentifiable.Themilitaryharborwasdugtoformanartificialcircularislandaroundwhichtheshipsweremoored.Itwasprotectedbyhighwallssothatthemerchantscouldnotseewhatwasgoingonfromthenearbycommercialharbor.Thecommercialharborwasmuchlargerthanitappearstoday.Ithadarectangularshape.Anarrowpassagegaveaccesstothemilitaryharbor.WhentheRomansdestroyedCarthagetheyestablishedtheirfirstprovinceonAfricansoilandsettheresidenceoftheRomanproconsulatUtica,analliedtownatthemouthoftheMejerdaRiver.OvertimehowevertheharborofUticasiltedandCarthagebecamethemainportfromwhichgrainswereshippedtoOstia.TophetTombs:In1921thediscoveryofalargecemeterycontainingthecharredbonesofinfantsneartheharborsofCarthageseemedtoconfirmtheCarthaginianpracticeofsacrificingtheirfirstmalechild.ThecemeterywascalledTophetwithreferencetothebiblicaltermwhichindicatedthesitewheretheCanaanitessacrificedchildrenbyburningthemalive.TodaytheCarthaginianpracticeofsacrificingchildrenisquestioned.Returntoourhotel(5mindrive).Thiseveningatleisure.Dinneronyourown.Therearemanywonderfulcafesnearthehoteltochoosefrom.

Sep19Day3:Tunis–Bizerte&Utica–Tunis/HotelTunisiaPalace(B,L)

Wedepartat8amforourexcursiontoBizerteandUtica(Roman-Carthaginiantowns).

WedriveaboutonehournorthalongthedeltaoftheMedjerdaRiver,verylushandgreenarea,mountainsandhillssurroundthecityofUtica,ourfirststopoftheday.OnceofcapitalofNorthAfricaaftertheRomansconqueredtheCarthaginians.Wewillvisitthemuseum,oneoftheuniquesitesofTunisiaduetoitslocationandPuniccollection.Thenwecontinuetothesite,amultilayeredareaculminatingCarthaginianandRoman

vestiges.Youwilldiscoverthebeautifullypreservedvillaofthecascadesandexplorethemainstreet,thenthePunicnecropolisand2400year-oldtombs.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Punic_WarAfterwards,continue45minutestoBizerte.Lunchatalocalrestaurant.Afterwards,wevisittheoldtown.OncecalledKsiba,the17thcenturycityissurroundedbyasmallfishingharbor.Westrollthestreetsandmarvelattheconstrictionoftheramparts.ReturntoTunis,1hr10mindrive.

Sep20Day4:Tunis–Dougga-Kairouan(150km)/HotelLaKasbah(B,L)

Westartwitha1hr45mindrivesouthwesttovisitthemostprestigiousRomansiteinTunisia,Dougga(UNESCO).Dougga,alsoknownasThugga,isaRomano-BerbercityinnorthernTunisia,includedina65hectarearchaeologicalsite.UNESCOqualifiedDouggaasaWorldHeritageSitein1997,believingthatitrepresents“thebest-preservedRomansmalltowninNorthAfrica.”BeforetheRoanannexationofNumida,Thugga,builtonanelevatedsite,wasthecapitalofanimportantLibyco-Punicstate.ItflourishedunderRomanandByzantinerule,butdeclinedintheIslamicperiod.Thesiteisanoutstandingexampleofthebirth,developmentandhistoryofanindigenouscitysincethesecondmillenniumBC.Itconservesthecompleteruinsofanantiquecitywithallitscomponentsandprovidesthebestknownexampleoftownlayoutofanindigenousfoundation,adaptedtotownplanningontheRomanmodel.Continue1.5hrtoKairouan,lunchen-route.Sep21Day5Kairouan–ElJem–Kairouan/HotelLaKasbah(B,L)Kairouan, (UNESCOWorldHeritageSite),wasonce theArab capital for all ofNorthAfrica andoneof Islam’smostsacredcities.FourthholiestcityofIslam(afterMecca,MedinaandJerusalem),Kairouanisanimportantreligiouspilgrimagesiteand,forhistorylovers,oneofthehighlightsofTunisia.Thisbustlingcityisjam-packedwithsomeofthecountry'sbestexamplesofIslamicarchitecture,fromgrandmosquesandtombswithornatedecorationtotheMedinabackalleyslinedwithcandy-coloredhouses.Keirouan'sMedina(oldtown)isthemostatmosphericandbestpreservedinTunisia,thetightlypackedalleywaysgivingatasteoftheArabempires.UnliketheprettifiedoldtownsofHammametandDjerba,theoldtownhereiscompletelyuntouchedbymoderntimes.TheMedinaissurroundedbya3.5kmlongcircuitofbrickwallsreinforcedbynumeroustowersbuiltbytheHusseinitesintheearly18thcentury.Insidethewalls,lanesrambleinamazeofdirections.Thebestwaytoexploreissimplytochuckthemapandwander.Thenarrowstreetslinedwithcolorful,paint-peelinghousesareattractionsthemselves.Youcouldspendhoursherejustsoakinguptheoldtown'sbeautifularchitecture.VisittheGreatMosque,SidiOqba,builtinthe9thcenturyandlocatedinthenortheastcornerofthemedina..ThisistheoldestandmostimportantIslamicbuildinginNorthAfricaandwasoriginallybuiltbyOqbaibnNafi,theArabcommanderwhofoundedKairouaninAD672.ManyofTunisia'sothermajormosques,includingtheGreatMosqueofSousse,tooktheirinspirationfromKairouan'sGreatMosquearchitecture.ManyRomancolumnswerereusedtobuildtheprayerhall.Themosquecoversamammotharea135mlongby80mwidewithavastinnercourtyardsurroundedonthreesidesbydouble-aisledcolonnadesofantiquecolumns.Non-Muslimsarenotallowedtoentertheprayerhallbutthedoorsareoftenkeptopensoyoucanhaveapeekinside.Next,visittheBarber'sMosque(alsocalledtheZaouiaofSidiSahab).Thecomplexincludesamausoleum,amosqueandmadrassa(Islamicschooloflearning),andwasbuiltbetween1629and1692overthetombofoneofMuhammad's(theprophetofIslam)companionswhodiedinAD685.AccordingtolegendSidiSahabalwayscarriedafewhairsfromMuhammad'sbeardoutofreverencefortheProphet,hencethemosque'sname.Thecomplexisnotableforitsmagnificenttiledecoration,muchofwhichdatesonlyfromthe19thcenturyandsuperbAndalusiandécor.Youenterthroughaforecourt,ontheleftofwhicharetheimam'slodgings,guest-roomsandablutionfountains.Oppositetheentranceistheminaret.Theforecourtalsogivesaccesstothemadrassa,laidoutroundasmallcourtyard,theprayerhallbeyonditand(bywayofapassageadjoiningtheminaret)anothercolonnadedcourtyard,offwhichopensthetombofSidiSahab(notopentothepublic).

Time permitting, we will stop to see the outside of the Three Doors Mosque (visitors are not allowed inside). One of the oldest buildings in Kairouan, the Mosque of the Three Doors (Mosquée des Trois Portes or Djemaa Tleta Bibane) was founded in AD 866 by an Andalusian scholar. Its most notable feature is the facade with three doorways, from which it takes its name. There are two friezes of Kufic inscriptions, the lower of which dates to 1440. The minaret also dates from this year.WethenvisittheimpressiveAghlabidBasins(pools),builtinthe9thcenturybytheAghlabiddynasty,thatsuppliedwaterfortheAghlabidpalace,whichoncesatonthesiteofKairouan'spresent-daycemetery.ThewaterwasbroughtbyaqueductfromDjebelCherichera,36kmaway.Thesmallerbasinwasasettlingtankfromwhichthewaterflowedtothelargeronethathadacapacityof50,000cum.InthecentreofthelargerpoolisthebaseofapavilionwheretheAghlabidrulersusedtorelax.Thepoolswererestoredin1969andanotherpoolhasbeendiscoveredjusttothewest.Next,westopatthelovelyZaouiaofSidiAbedelGhariani.Thisornatetomb,dedicatedtoaholymanwholivedinKairouanduringthe14thcentury,isnotableforitsfinewood,stuccoceilingandsumptuouslydecoratedinnercourtyard.Thetileworkdecoratingthewallshereisbreathtakinglybeautifulandhasbeenextremelywellpreserved.AnyoneinterestedintraditionalArabicdecorationandartistrywillenjoyavisithere.Lunchinroute.Afterwards,wereturntoImperialRomewithournextstop,approxonehour’sdriveaway,atElJem(Thysdrus)toviewthesplendidamphitheatrewhichcouldhold30,000people.ThoughsmallerthantheColiseuminRome,itisinabetterstateofpreservation.WealsovisitthearchaeologicalmuseumandtheVillaAfrica,oneofakindrepresentingtheromanart.Kairouanalsohassomeofthemostbeautifulandbestqualitycarpetsinthecountry.Returntothehotel.Dinneronyourown(paydirect).

Sep22Day6:Kairouan–Sbeitla(Sufetula)–Tozeur(300km)/HotelMagicKsarRouge(B,L)

Today,wewilldrivewestward1.5hourstoreachtheoldbyzantinecityofSufetula,visitthearchaeologicalsitewithitsoldRomanForum,theEpiscopalcomplexandthetheatre.

Afterdrivingabout10kmsouthwestofKairouan,westopinRaqqada,thesecondroyalcityofthe9thcentury,afterKairouan.WevisittheinterestingRaqqadaNationalMuseumofIslamicArtsetinabeautifulpark.Themuseumishousedinapresidentialpalacebuiltin1970.TheexhibitsincludefindsfromKairouan,theAghlabidresidencesatReqqadaandAlAbbasiya,andothertownsintheregion.Aspecialhighlightintroducestheexcavations6kmawayatSabraMansourya(acircularpalacebuiltbyCaliphElMansourinthemiddleofthe10thcentury).IntheentrancehallareamodeloftheSidiOqbaMosqueandareproductionofitsmihrab.Inotherroomsareoldprintswithviewsoflocaltowns,coinsofthevariousdynasties(Aghlabids,Fatimids,Zirids),oldKoranicinscriptions(includingoneonagazelleskindyedblue),avarietyofpotteryandfunerarystelaewithinscriptions.TheexhibitsarelabeledonlyinArabic,butitiswellworthavisit.ContinuetoSufetula.Sufetulawasatownofsome5,000inhabitantsintheinteriorofthecountryand,eventhoughtheRomansfoundedtownsintheoasisofsouthernTunisia,itwasalmostattheborderoftheEmpire.Yetitstempleswereaccuratelydecoratedwithmouldingsandcapitals,whichindicatesawidecirculationoftreatisesonarchitectureandengineering.ThemainbathsofSufetulawerelocatedashortdistancefromtheForum.Archaeologistshaveidentifiedatwinsetofhalls,whichhasledthemtobelievethatasectionofthebathswasutilizedinwinterandtheotheroneinsummer.Inscriptionsmakingreferencetorestorationsindicatethatthebaths,whichwerebuiltintheearly3rdcentury,wereinuseduringtheByzantineperiod,possiblyuntil647whenSufetulawasplunderedbyArabraiders.ThetheatreofSufetulawasbuiltattheedgeofaravinecreatedbythesmallrivertotheeastofthetown.Whatweseetodayislargelyamodernreconstruction.From here, it is a three-hour drive (lunch stop en-route) through the Chott Al Djerid areamarvelling at thedesertuntilwereachtheoasisofTozeur.Checkinthehotel.

Sep23Day7:Tozeur/HotelMagicKsarRouge(B,L)

TozeurisacharmingcityintheSouthWestofTunisiaisbasedaroundalargeOasisfamousforitsPalmtreesandproductionofdates,whichareexportedaroundtheworld.Thecity isagoodplacetoglimpsetheSaharafromandtakeintraditionalTunisiancultureincludingawiderangeofarchitecturalstyles.

TozeurwashistoricallyanimportantstoppingpointforcaravanscrossingtheSahara,aplacetorestandrefuelbefore heading deeper into the dessert. Itwas also used as an importantRomanoutpost andhas since beenruledbyavarietyoftribesincludingtheBerbersformuchofitshistory,whohaveperhapsthemostinfluenceonthecity’shistoricarchitecture.

This morning we enjoy a leisurely visit of Ouled el-Hadef, Tozeur’s beautiful 14th century Medina. Tozeur'sdelightfuloldquarterwasbuiltinthe14thcenturyADtohousetheEl-Hadefclan,whichhadgrownrichontheproceedsofthecaravantrade.Theareaisamazeofnarrow,coveredalleysandsmallsquares.It'sfamousforitsamazingtraditionalbrickwork,whichusesprotrudingbrickstocreateintricategeometricpatternsinrelief.ThestyleisfoundonlyhereandinnearbyNefta.LikethemedinasfurthernorthinTunisia,wanderingthroughtheOuledel-Hadefisajourneyofdiscoverybestmadebygettinglost.Themostwell-preservedsectionsareeastofthemuseum,includingthehouseoftheformergovernor(DarBey).Althoughoutsidetheboundariesoftheoldtown,thebrickminaretsoftheMosqueofSidiMouldiandMosqueel-Ferdous(aveHabibBourguiba)areveryattractive.

WepassthroughtheoldquarterofBledel-Hader,thoughttobethesiteofancientThuzuros.FurtheronisthevillageofAbbeswherethetombofmarabout(holyman)SidiBouLifastandsintheshadeofanenormousjubube(Chinesedate)tree.Therearelotsofpathsleadingoffintothepalmeraiealongtheirrigationcanals.It'sdelightfullycoolamongallthevegetation.Lunchatalocalrestaurant.Afterwards,weshallexplorethePaleraieonfoot.Tozeur'sPalmeraieisthesecond-largestinthecountrywithatleast200,000palmtrees(localsclaimtwicethatnumber)spreadoveranareaofmorethan10sqkm.It'saclassicexampleoftieredoasisagriculture.Thesystemiswateredbymorethan200springsthatproducealmost60millionlitresofwateraday,distributedaroundthevariousholdingsunderacomplexsystemdevisedbythemathematicianIbnChabbatinthe13thcenturyAD.SeveralkilometerssoutheastofthestatueofIbnChabbatistheincongruousChakWakPark,anenormoustestamenttothevisionofonepassionateandwealthyman.TheformermayorofTozeurandthedrivingforcebehindtheDarCharaïtMuseum,hascreatedwhatamountstoathree-dimensionalliberaleducationonevolution,historyandreligion.SurroundedbyhighwallsreminiscentoftheKingKongfilms,insideisacircuitthattakesyoufromdinosaur-sizedreplicasofdinosaurstoareplicaofNoah'sArkwithmodelsofanimalslininguptwobytwowhileasoundsystempipesinraineffects.EventheBiblicalpartingoftheredseaisrepresentedherewithwallsofpapier-mâchéocean.OtherexhibitsaretrulyworthwhileincludinganexcellenthistoryofHannibalandtheCarthaginianwarsinEnglish,Italian,Spanish,French,ArabicandGermanandabuildinggivenovertothesymbolsandiconsoftheworld'smajorreligions.Wereturntoourhotel.Restoftheafternoon/eveningatyourleisure.Sep24Day8:Tozeur-Tamerza-Chebika-Mides–Tozeur/HotelMagicKsarRouge(B,L)Thismorningweboardthe4WDvehicleanddepart to thegoldentriangleofmountainoasis,Tamerza,MidesandChebika.Weshallexplorethemountainswithanexcitingrideonthe“RedLizardTrain.”

BuiltbytheFrenchattheendofthe19thcentury,theoriginalpurposeofthenarrowgaugelinewastotransportthe rich phosphate deposits, discovered in 1896 by amateur palaeontologist and French army veterinarysurgeon,PhilippeThomas,fromMetalouiwestwardstoRedeyef.TheRedLizarditselfwasformanyyearsusedbytheBeyofTunis,totravelbetweenTunisandhissummerpalaceatHammamLif,butin1995wasrefittedbythenationalrailwaycompanyandsettowork,whichitstilldoestoday,transportingtouristsinstyle.

Takinganenjoyablehourandahalf, the return journeyalong thegorge takesyou through someofTunisia’smostwonderful rock formations. As the track follows the path carved out by theOued Seldja, the riverbed,whichisdrymostofthetime,stillhasenoughmoisturetoallowsmallpocketsoflushgreenerywhichservetoheightenthedramaoftherockylandscapeandmakeyouradventureallthemoreremarkable.

Afterwards,wedrivethroughtheoasisofMides,TamerzaandChebika,whichareperchedinGraniteMountainsabovetheSaharaandprovidescenery for filmmakers insearchofBiblical landscapes.Theseoasesusedtoberomanoutposts2000yearsago,wheresomeromangarrisonwerestationed.

LunchandthenreturndrivetoTozeur.

Thisevening,visittheDarCheraïtMuseum,anethnographicalmuseumthatfeaturesluxuriousdecorationswiththemostrepresentativescenesofNorth-Africanlife.ThemuseumispartoftheimpressiveDarCharaïtcomplex.Thebuildinginwhichthemuseumishousedisanextravagantreproductionofanoldpalaceandcontainscollectionsofpottery,jewelry,costumesandotherantiques,aswellasanartgallery.ScatteredthroughouttheroomsoffthemaincourtyardisaseriesofreplicasofscenesfromTunisianlife,pastandpresent.Thewholecomplexistastefullylitatnight.Dinneratalocalrestaurant.Sep25Day9:Tozeur-Douz-Matmata(250km)/HotelDiarElBarbar(B,L)Afterbreakfast,wedeparttoDouz"gatewaytotheSahara."CrossthedrysaltlakeofChottelDjeridtoreachthequiet,oasisvillage.Wewillvisittheoasisandmarketplace.Lunchintown.ThisafternoonwedrivetoMatmataandseethefamoustroglodytes,undergroundvillasusedbytheBerberstoprotectthemselvesfromheatinthesummer,andwhereIndianaJonesandtheEnglishPatientwerefilmed.Checkintohotel,dinneronyourown.Sep26Day10:Matmata-Chenini-Douiret–KsarOuledSoltane-Tataouine-DjerbaIsland(300km)/DarGaïa (B,L)WebeginourjourneysoutheasttowardstheDaharMountains(110km/2.5hrs)tovisittheBerberhamletsofCheniniandDouiretwherewecanexploretheBerbergranariesandthevalleys.We’lldrive45kmtoKsarOuledSoltaneandvisitthe15thcenturygranary(theslavequartersinGeorgeLucas’Starwarsfilms).Continue to Tataouine for a lunch stop, one of the several areas where the Allied forces have challengedRommel’stroopsinWWIINorth-Africancampaign.Thenonward135km/2hrstotheCausewaytovisitthevillageofGuellala,knownfororitsspectacularpottery.Thevillageislocatedonthecausewayleadingtothecontinent.VisittheGuellalaMuseum,whichislocatedinanarchitecturalmasterpieceandfilledwithancientartifacts toenableyoutosoakupsomeof thehistoryof thisexquisiteisland.ContinueonemorehourtoDjerbaIsland.Checkintoourhotel.

Sep27Day11:Djerba/DarGaïa (B)

DepartafterbreakfastonourguidedtourofDjerbaIsland.

First,weshallvisittheElGhribaSynagogue(alsoknownasDjerbaSynagogue),locatedintheformerlyJewishvillage of Harah Sghira (currently known as Er-Riadh), several km southwest of Houmt Souk, the capital ofDjerba.

Thesynagoguewasbuilt in the6thcenturyBC(fallof Jerusalemto theBabylonians),and isoneof theholiestJewishplacesinTunisia.Itisthemostveneratedofthe20synagoguesthatusedtofunctioninthethreeJewishvillagesonDjerbaat theheightof theJewishcommunityintheearly1950s.ElGhriba is thedestinationofanannualpilgrimageofJewsfromallovertheworldfortheholidayLagBaOmer,whichiscelebrated33daysafterthebeginningofthecelebrationofPassover.ThesynagogueholdsoneofthemostancientTorah'sintheworld.

Next,wevisittheHeritageMuseum-twothousandsquaremetersofobjectsandartifactsincludingexhibitionsonislandfolklore,jewelryandcostumes.AndtheMuseumLellaHadhria,aprivatemuseumshelteringthebestcollectionofIslamicArtinNorth-Africa.

The day culminates with an opportunity for an independent stroll in Houmt Souk, the island's capital, for achancetoexperiencelocalcraftsandfood.HoumtSoukisthemaincenteroftheislandandisalsohometotheFolk Museum and the magnificent Old Town. It’s here where you will find a wide selection of cafes andrestaurantswhereyoucantastesomeofthedeliciouslocalcuisine.

Enjoylunchonyourown,anopportunitytointeractwithresidentsifyousodesire.

Lateafternoon,returntoyourhotelandtheremainderofthedayatleisure.Sep28Day12:Djerba-Sfax–Mahdia(340km)/hotelMahdiaPalace(B,L) Departat730amandboardaferryfora15minuteride,thena60km/approx1hourdrivetoSfaxwherewevisit theDar JallouliMuseum.This isadelightful18thcenturypatricianhouse in theheartof themedina.ThehousewasbequeathedbyoneofthegreatfamiliesoftheSfaxianbourgeoisieandis inpureclassicalTunisianstylebehindamodestfaçade.Thefourroomsarelaidoutaroundacourtyardportrayingreconstructedscenesfromdailylife.WecontinuetoMahdia,oncetheCapitaloftheFatimiddynasty,andcheckintoourhotel.

Sep29Day13:Mahdia-Monastir-Sousse–Hammamet(180km)/hotelIberostarAverroes(B,L)

Inthemorning,visittheMedinaofMahdiawithitsoldnarrowstreets,CairoSquare,theoldFatimidmosqueandthecemetery,thendriveapproximately1.5hourstoMonastir,onceaPhoeniciansettlement.InMonastir,visittheRibat,bestpreservedArabfortress.TheRibatisbothanhistoricalmonumentandsomewhatofamovie-starhavingbeeninanumberofmoviesthemostfamousbeingtheLifeofBrianandJesusofNazareth.HarthamabenAyanin796wasthekeyarchitectandenvisionedliketheRibatinSoussetobuiltthefacilityaspartofthecostaldefencesthatwouldprotecttheIslamicempireformtheheathenstotheNorth.UnlikeSoussehoweverthebuildingwassignificantlyaddedtoovertimeandbecamemuchlargerthantheoriginalstructure.Inthe11thcenturytheKasbahwasbuiltaswhereadditionsineachcenturyafterculminatinginitsextensiverenovationsinthe1960'snodoubtinkeepingwithitsplaceasthemainattractionofMonastirwhichwasthethenhometownofthePresident.Eachrenovationaddedmorespaceandtheoriginalstructureof1300wasextendedtoformacomplexofover2200m.UndertheAglabids,theRibatwasareligiouscentre,aplaceofpilgrimageandaninfluentialIslamiceducationalcenter.TheRibatwascalledintoactionafewtimesinthe15thCenturywithpartofitdestroyedin1550bytheSpanishnavy.Atitsmostdangerous,theRibatwashometoover30cannonsandwasafortressofsomerenown.AroundtheRibatyouwillfindtheoldmosqueofMonastiraswellasareligiousmadrassathoughthesearenowdwarfedbythe1960'sHabibBourguibamosquewhichwasneededtocatertothetownsincreasingpopulation.Enjoylunchinlocalrestaurant.Afterwards,wedrive30minutestoSoussetoexploretheMedinaanditsmonuments.Lateintheday,drive1.5hourstoHammametandcheckintoourhotel.

Sep30Day14:Hammamet-Nabeul–Tunis(80km)/HotelTunisaPalace(B,D)

HammametisapleasantbeachtownlocatedinthesoutheastofthenorthernPeninsulaofCapBon.

Inthemorning,visittheoldMedinaofHammametanditsfort,thendrive20minutestoNabeul,tovisitthearchaeologicalmuseum.

Wecontinue1hourTunis.Transfer toourhotel. Therestof thedayat leisure.Youmay liketoreturntothesoukforshoppingandlunchorrelaxatthehotel.

Tonight,weenjoyatraditionaldinnerintheMedinaforourfarewell.

Oct1Day15:Depart(B)Transfertotheairport.

Yourlecturer/guide:Mr.MohamedHalouaniisaTunisiannativewhotransformedhisprofoundpassionfortravelandhistoryintoacreativeanddiversifiededucationalcareer,designingandcarryingoutmultiplearchaeologicalandculturaltripsforinstitutions,suchasTheDetroitInstituteofArt,theTextileMuseum,theAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory,CrossCulturalAdventurersandmanymoreorganizations.AfterhavingreceivedhisdegreesinEnglishandSpanish,Mr.HalouanicompletedhisEuropeanMaster’sinlinguisticsandHispanicstudiesattheSorbonneUniversityinParis.HehasextensiveknowledgeonIslamicarchitectureandEasterndecorativeelementsaswellasRomanarchaeologyandhistory.Askilledmultilingualinterpreter,MohamedhasservedastheheadtourguideinTunisia.HenowresidesinParisandleadsonlycertainselectsmallgroupstothethreecountriesinNorthAfricathatboastthehighestconcentrationofRomanRuins:Libya,TunisiaandAlgeria.Price:$4970perperson,basedonaminimumfourpeople.SingleroomSupplement:$998Discount:$200ifbookedwithourMoroccoorAlgeriatour.ExtranightinTunis:$tbaperpersontwinshare;$tbasingleroomAirportarrivalordeparturetransferifnotontourdates:$45percar

Includes:

Accommodationswithdailybreakfast,basedonavailability:

Tunis:TunisiaPalace4*http://tunisiapalace.com-tunisia.com/CentrallylocatedstepsfromBabelBahrandCathedralofSt.VincentdePaul.Ac,wifi,fitnessfacilities,sauna,SatelliteTV.ThewebsitecomesupinFrenchandyouhavetheoptiononthetopnavbartotranslatetoEnglish.

Kairouan:HotelLaKasbah5*https://www.goldenyasmin.com/fr/la-kasbah/IntheheartofKairouan,thisluxurioushotel'sArabIslamicdesignblendsharmoniouslyintothecity'sarchitecture.ThepropertyhasbeenrecentlyrenovatedkeepingancientareassuchasthebeautifulTurkishcafé.

Tozeur:MagicKsarRouge4*https://www.ksar-rouge.tn/en/presentation.phpAnAndalusianstylehoteloverlookingthepalmgrovesandthesaltedlakeinTozeur.

Matmata:HotelDiarElBarbar4*http://www.diarelbarbar.com/hotel.htm

DjerbaIsland:DarGaïahttp://dargaia.tingitingi.net/OneofthenicesthousesinTunisia,suiteroomsinagardensetting.

Mahdia:hotelMahdiaPalace5*https://www.hotelpalace.com.tn/fr/hotels/mahdia-palaceAbeautifulpropertywithfullfacilitiesincludingathalassospa,excellentrestaurant.

Hammamet:hotelIberostarAverroes4*https://www.iberostar.com/en/hotels/hammamet/iberostar-averroes/Amodernseafronthotelwithfullfacilities.Gardenviewroms,optiontoupgradetoseaviewMealsasindicated:11lunches,2DinnersAirporttransfersonthetourarrivalanddeparturedatesac transport: 8 seatmini-van/4-5 people; 12 seats/ 6-7 people; 16 seats/8-9 people, 25 seats/10-12 people;everyonehasawindowAccompanyingguideandlecturer:MohamedHalouaniEntrancefeesCamerafeesatthesitesWaterduringthedrivesGratuitiesathotelsandrestaurantsDoesNotInclude:internationalflight,visafee,tipstodriverandguide,Tipstoairportporters,beveragesduringmeals,anyexpensesofapersonalnaturesuchaslaundry,phonecalls,alcoholicorsoftdrinks.