Archeological Tunisia

Day 1 Tunis

Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 2 Tunis / Sidi Bou Said / Carthage / Tunis

Breakfast. The day starts with a transfer to picturesque Sidi Bou Said. The village is known for its white walls and blue windows and doors, and a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea, at an altitude of over 100 meters. Next stop is the site of Carthage, located on a magnificent coastline. Although the ancient city was destroyed by the Romans, excavations of houses, baths, and sewage systems can still be seen today. The other significant site in the area is the Amphitheater of Carthage, built around the I century and later rebuilt by the Romans. The theater now hosts around 30000 visitors during the Carthage International Music Festival. After lunch, departure to the center of Tunis to visit the Bardo National Museum, famous for its rich collection of mosaics and its location in an old beylical castle in the center of the old city of Tunis. The day ends with a visit and some free time in the old medina of Tunis. Accommodation.

Day 3 Tunis / Dougga / Bulla Regia / Hammamet

Breakfast. Departure for another of Tunisia's rich archaeological sites, the site of Dougga, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for containing one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the area. The site contains a heritage of a variety of civilizations, including Roman, Punic, and Byzantine. Its most significant monuments are the Capitol and the Theater. After a local lunch, continuation to Bulla Regia, a Berber, Punic, and Roman city. Its surviving ruins are notable for their semi-subterranean dwellings from the Hadrianic era, which provided protection from the fierce heat and effects of the sun. Many of the mosaic floors have been left in place; others can be seen in the Bardo Museum in Tunis. Accommodation.

Day 4 Hammamet / Outhna / Zaghouan / Thuburbo Majus / Kairouan

Breakfast. Continuation to Outhna, one of the oldest cities of the Roman Empire in Africa. Not much is known about Uthina, but the city had one of the largest Roman amphitheaters in North Africa, enjoyed by its cosmopolitan residents at the height of the city's popularity in the II century, and it remains the biggest attraction for today's traveler. Then, enjoy a meal in the eco-village of Dar Zaghouan before continuing the journey to Thuburbo Majus. Its Roman name was originally a Punic city, then founded as a colony of Roman veterans by Augustus in 27 BC. Military veterans were sent to Thuburbo, among other sites, by Augustus to allow them to start their post-army life with land of their own. Its strategic location and access to trade routes made it an important settlement. The ruins of the city are located in the middle of the countryside with no nearby towns. Arrival in Kairouan. Accommodation

Day 5 Kairouan / Sbeitla / Makhtar / Kairouan

Breakfast. Sbeitla or Sufetula is your first stop on the fifth day. The Roman ruins of Sufetula contain the best-preserved Roman forum temples in Tunisia. It was the point of entry for the Muslim conquest of North Africa. After lunch, departure to Makthar, a strategic fortress built by the Numidians in the III century BC, chosen at that time to control the trade routes between Sbeitla, Kairouan, and El Kef. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 6 Kairouan / El Djem / Port el Kantaoui / Hammamet

Breakfast. Start the day in the ancient Medina of Kairouan and visit the Great Mosque of Kairouan, located in the middle of the Medina and built by the Arab general Uqba Ibn Nafi in 670 AD. The site attracts thousands of local and international visitors for its magnificent architectural and spiritual value. The next visit is to the Aghlabid water site, where two large basins and some shaving cisterns survived centuries after serving for decades of scarce drinking water resources. After lunch, the tour heads to El Djem, home to the Roman amphitheater of El Djem, the second largest Roman amphitheater, built about 18 centuries ago, and still exceptionally well preserved today. The site was mainly used for spectator events, namely gladiator battles. The day will end with a short walk through the marina of Port El Kantaoui, where you will have the opportunity to buy some souvenirs or simply enjoy the scene while sipping a Tunisian coffee or fresh juice. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 7 Hammamet / Kelibia / Kerkouene / Haouaria / Tunis

Breakfast. This day will be dedicated to the Cap Bon peninsula, known for its large production of oranges and lemons, but also for its beautiful towns directly on the Mediterranean Sea. The first stop will be Kelibia, known in Roman times as Clypia or Clupea. The city was founded by the Carthaginians as the fortified city of Aspis in the V century BC. The siege of Aspis in 255 BC was the first African battle of the First Punic War. The next stop is Kerkouen, one of the most important Punic cities. After lunch, the day ends in Haouaria before returning to Tunis. Dinner and accommodation. 

Day 8 Tunis

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport.