Jewish heritage tours

Jewish Heritage Tours

The first Jews came to Tunisia (then known as the roman province of Africa) following the first Diaspora in 586 BC. Hence, Tunisia can claim to have had a Jewish community since Roman times. Most of the Jews left the country in the 1960’s, mainly for Israel and France, leaving around 2,000 Jewish Tunisians today. Many Jewish landmark temples and sites remain today and can be visited all year round.
Batouta Voyages operates a number of tours on the theme of Tunisia’s Jewish Heritage, to bring former Tunisian Jewish residents to their roots and the neighborhoods of their youth, or to make you discover the monuments that are witness to more than 2,500 years of Jewish presence and tradition. Batouta Voyages Jewish Heritage tour, will take you to visit Tunisia’s treasures from Djerba to Tunis and La Goulette (where an important Jewish community remains), Sousse, Sfax, and Le Kef. A subtle combination of visits to some of the country’s numerous synagogues and other major World Heritage sites, from Carthage to the splendid roman cities of Dougga and Bulla Regia.

Day 1 : Tunis
Meet with our guide, transfer to your hotel for a light lunch. Afternoon is free at leisure. Late afternoon visit to the Grand Synagogue of Tunis, followed by dinner at a restaurant specializing in Tunisian Jewish style cuisine. Overnight in Tunis. (L,D)

Day 2 : Tunis
You start your day with a visit to the Bardo Museum, a former Ottoman palace housing one of the finest collections of Roman and Carthaginian mosaics in the world. This will help set the stage in learning about Tunisia’s history during Roman times. From the Bardo, you drive to the suburbs of Tunis where you will visit Carthage, the most famous (though by no means the largest) of the ancient sites in Tunisia, but one where historians find traces of Jewish presence. Following your visit to the ruins of this ancient Phoenician city, you continue to the nearby picturesque village of Sidi Bou Said, whose architecture was inspired by its Andalusian settlers. Lunch will be near the seaside. Following lunch, you drive into the heart of old Tunis for a walking tour of the medina, Tunisia's historic heart. After the walking tour, you will have some time to explore and shop within the souk on your own, returning to your hotel with the bus, or on your own. Dinner at leisure. Overnight in Tunis. (B, L)

Day 3 : Tunis - Kairouan - Sousse
You depart Tunis for Kairouan, Tunisia's holy city and, during the medieval times, home to a scholarly Jewish community, and an important site in African Islamic history, for being the site of the first mosque in North Africa. You will visit the Great Mosque, as well as other sites in Kairouan. Following a late lunch in Kairouan, you head east to the coast of Sousse, where you will visit the Ribat. You will then go for a walking tour of old Sousse, the area within the city walls. You will have some time to explore on your own, before going to your hotel on the seacoast outside of Sousse. Dinner will be at a restaurant near the marina of Kantaoui. Overnight in Sousse. (B, L, D)

Day 4 : Sousse - El Jem - Sfax - Gabes - Jerba
This morning, you head southwest, towards El Jem to see the Roman coliseum, the largest of its kind in North Africa. El Jem also has a wonderful museum of mosaics. From El Jem, you drive south to Sfax, Tunisia's second largest city. You visit the Sfax Synagogue and medina, one of the best-preserved in Tunisia. You continue on to Jerba via Gabes and El Hamma, where you will have an opportunity to see the town’s oasis. From Gabes, you continue your drive along the coast, eventually taking the ferry crossing to the island of Jerba. You arrive at your hotel by early evening. Dinner and overnight in Jerba. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Jerba
You start the day with a visit to La Ghriba Synagogue of Jerba, one of the most important pilgrimage sites for the Jewish communities of North Africa. It contains one of the oldest Torahs in the world. You then drive to the village of Hara Kabira, the larger of the island's two Jewish villages, for a walking tour of the "hara", visiting many of the village's synagogues. Hara Kabira has nearly a dozen synagogues, most of which are still in use today. At the communal oven of the Jewish community, you’ll hear about the role it plays in the holiday and Shabbat meals, and learn more about the active role of Jewish education in Jerba, today. You’ll then visit Houmt Souk, Jerba's main town market and the location of many of Jerba's Jewish merchants. There will be time to explore the Houmt Souk independently, and to enjoy lunch at one of the many seafood restaurants nearby or you may return to the hotel to relax by the pool or the Mediterranean sea. Dinner and overnight in Jerba. (B, D)

Day 6 : Jerba
Transfer to Erriadh to visit La Ghriba Synagogue, continuing to Guellala to visit the Museum of Popular Arts and Culture, which provides an introduction to the island’s inhabitants and some of their customs. This afternoon you are free to enjoy Jerba as you choose. Before sunset, transportation to a local synagogue for Havdalah Service, for those who wish to attend. For dinner, you can choose on your own where to eat. Overnight in Jerba. (B, L)

Day 7 : Jerba - Tunis
Return to Tunis by plane and transfer to your hotel. After check in and lunch, you are free to explore Tunis by yourself and do any last minute shopping or visits as you choose. Your farewell dinner will be in a very special setting. Overnight in Tunis. (B, L, D)

Day 8
Departure Morning check-out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)