World heritage

World Heritage

Tunisia hosts eight-UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From North to South, these sites have been added to the cultural & ecological Heritage for their exceptional beauty and because they needed to be protected in order to remain in their present state.
This allowed for instance the Ichkeul natural wildlife reserve to benefit from protection measures and incentives, allowing it to remain one of the most splendid wild birdlife reserves in the Northern Hemisphere, with rare species reproducing here and stopping over during the migration season. But most of Tunisia’s World Heritage sites are of high cultural & historical importance. Sites like the legendary Carthage, the magnificent roman city of Thugga or the well-preserved El Jem Coliseum allow their visitors to travel back in time, and the stones which remain today have been witness to the various battles & invasions, but also to the splendors of some of History’s finest civilizations.

Day 1: Tunis- Kerkouane – Tunis
On this day, you will drive to Kerkouane, a splendid Punic site, beautifully laid-out on the coast of Cap Bon. It used to be a walled, fortified city located just outside of the modern town of Kerkouane, and was discovered in 1952 by a team of French archaeologists. The museum offers some of the site’s archaeological finds on exhibit. Don’t miss the House of Tanit, the main Temple and the Priest’s House, as well as the remnants of the city’s public baths. Drive back to Tunis.

Day 2: Tunis – Dougga - Sousse
This morning, your guide takes you to the World Heritage site of Dougga. Known as Thugga in Roman times, this site is arguably one of the best preserved Roman cities in North Africa and makes for a thrilling visit for archaeology fans. Sightseeing includes the Forums, the Roman marketplace and the Capitoline temple. After the visit of Dougga, lunch at a local restaurant and travel to Sousse, a major tourist resort on the east coast of Tunisia and a perfect place to start from in order to visit the nearby World Heritage sites of El Jem and Kairouan.

Day 3: Sousse – El Jem – Kairouan
After breakfast, 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. After lunch, the visit of Kairouan, the fourth holiest city in Islam after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. Your guide will explain the historical foundations of Kairouan and the legends that tie this unique travel destination with stories from Mecca. This stage of the tour opens a window of knowledge to the true values of Muslim beliefs while entertaining you with legends and myths. Check in at your hotel in Kairouan. Dinner and relaxing before a good night’s sleep.

Day 4: Kairouan - Tunis
After checking in at your hotel, lunch at a local restaurant and visit of the World Heritage Tunis Medina with your guide. At the very heart of the capital, the old walled town shelters some architectural treasures (old Palaces and homes), as well as the famous Souks (markets), which are still organized by trade (leather, copper, perfume, etc.) as they were centuries ago. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel.

Day 5: Tunis – Bizerte – Ichkeul – Tunis
After breakfast, you meet with your guide and embark on a day-long visit of the North of Tunisia, starting with Bizerte. This city is the northernmost point of the African continent. Its laid-back and quiet little town atmosphere make this city a favourite week-end beach spot for Tunis families in summer. Then, we proceed to visit Lake Ichkeul and its national wildlife Park. This World Heritage listed park has one of North Africa’s most diverse ecosystems and is a popular stopover for migrating birds on their way to Africa, which makes Ichkeul a must-see for bird watchers. After this afternoon spent in the greenery of lake Ichkeul, drive back to Tunis.

Day 6: Tunis – Carthage – Sidi Bou Said
This morning starts 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 visit Carthage, the most famous (though by no means the largest) of the ancient sites in Tunisia, listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage. You have lunch at a restaurant. Following your visit, you continue to the nearby picturesque village of Sidi Bou Said, whose architecture was inspired by its Andalusian settlers.

Day 7: Tunis
Departure After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your return flight.