Guide To Tunisia – Where To Go And What To See

Tunisia is above all one of the great beach destinations on the Mediterranean. But more and more visitors come to join one of the meharees, the camel riding excursions through the Grand Erg Oriental, or Great Eastern Sand Sea, in the Sahara. Other reasons for going include a hospitable population, northern regions that are as unknown as they are untouched by modern life, and a considerable architectural heritage.

Coast In Tunisia

Tunisia’s many well-equipped beaches, offering everything imaginable for water sports, spread along 800 miles of shoreline. the beaches have star billing above other attractions because it is on the beaches that Tunisia built its reputation as a tourist destination, and this is where most tourists stay. The beaches get ever more crowded toward the south.

The dream of a vacation of sun, blue ocean, R&R, and spa services (thalassotherapy) can be fulfilled on the Jasmine Coast near Nabeul and Hammamet, The new and imposing Jasmine Hammamet resort offers 40-odd hotels, a new medina (old town), an amusement park (Carthageland), and a marina—simply everything for an indolent vacation devoted to idleness, spa treatments, and water sports.

Sousse Tunisia-Aug 01 Young Fakir Participates In Fakir Show In A Pirate Boat On Aug 01, 2011 In Sousse Tunisia

Other beaches along the coast are at Port el-Kantaoui, Sousse, Monastir, and Zarzis, ending with Djerba Island, where, according to Homer, Ulysses once stayed; that most legendary of travelers would be seriously challenged today by the crowds.

For divers, the seabed of the Tabarka peninsula, off the Coral Coast, is the best place to see red coral. Golfers can also enjoy their game in Tabarka.

Landscape And Villages In Tunisia

The landscape in Tunisia’s interior is quite varied and most pleasant in the south. The Tozeur Oasis, for example, is said to be the most beautiful in Africa, covering 2,500 acres with 400,000 palm trees. The ecological balance, however, is somewhat upset because of the presence of so many tourists and the construction of golf courses.

A few miles to the north lie the mountain oases of Chebika, Mides, and Tamerza. Moving farther south. visitors will travel one of the most unusual routes in existence, crossing the vast expanse of the Chott el-Djerid salt lake, where mirages are guaranteed. Nefta, another famous oasis, lies west of the lake.

Farther east are the underground “troglodyte” settlements of Mat-mata. The Route of the Ksars is dotted with ancient Berber fortresses and their ghorfas, multilevel wheat storage houses; these include Ksar Ouled Soltane, Ksar Ouled Debbab, Ksar Hadada, Ksar Ghilane, and especially Chenini, a veritable eagle’s nest, the most typical of the Berber villages.

Four top destinations in the north arc: Jugurtha’s Table, a curious isolated mound; the steep slope of Djebel Zaghouan; the cliffs of Cape Blanc, accessible near Bizerta by a cliff road along the Mediterranean with vertical drop of about 300 feet; and the Kroumirie Massif, not far from Tabarka, suitable for some fine hiking excursions.

Desert In Tunisia

The Sahara begins by way of the Grand Erg Oriental. At the end of December, the little town of Douz holds a festival celebrating traditional desert culture. Douz is also the gateway to the Sahara and the departure point for meharees. Tourists can join a one-week tour, alternately traveling by camel or on foot, and gain an understanding of the desert life of the camel drivers. This may turn into a great adventure and yet is not terribly exhausting. The traditional itinerary goes from Douz to Ksar Ghilane, but tour operators keep finding variations, including a stop at the hot spring of Haouidet.

Cities And Monuments In Tunisia

It’s a pleasure to visit the capital city Tunis and the nearby villages of Sidi Bou Said and La Marsa. In the city, Bourguiba Avenue seems rather European, but the large attractive medina bursts with traditional architecture, especially around al-Zaytuna Mosque, the most famous one in Tunisia. The Bardo Museum holds a collection of some of the most beautiful mosaics in the world.

The town of Sousse also has an interesting medina, a grand mosque, and an important ribat (fortified convent). The ancient Punic city of Monastir boasts ramparts, its own ribat, and a mosque with pink marble columns. Mahdia, with its Great Mosque and sailors’ cemetery, is also worth a detour.

Kairouan, the fourth most holy city of the Muslim world (Great Mosque of Sidi Oqba, Mosque of the Barber, Mosque of the Three Gates), is also known for the quality of its artisanship (carpets) and its Museum of Muslim Art.

Only a few walls remain of ancient Carthage, and the few artifacts that were found are exhibited in museums. But the amphitheater of el-Diem, the ruins of Bulla Regia (thermal baths, amphitheater, mosaics), the temples of Sbeitla, and the impressive ruins of Dougga recall the Roman era. El Ghriba synagogue on Djerba Island is the oldest one in Tunisia.

Advice

Pros

Perfect beaches on the Mediterranean, the architectural heritage, and the opportunities for travel in the desert make for a varied vacation

Cons

Hammamet and Tozeur risk being overrun by large-scale tourism.

Safety

A hospitable and peaceful country; safety is not a problem for tourists in Tunisia.

Special Tip

Interest In desert excursions is growing. Today it is considered chic to round out a beach vacation in Hammamet or on Djerba with a trip into the desert near Ksar Ghilane or Tozeur.