Desert Sunset, Matmata, Tataouine & Star Wars by 4x4 from Djerba
A full day by 4x4 from Djerba into the heart of southern Tunisia: Tataouine and its ksour, Ksar Hadada and Sidi Driss, Star Wars filming locations, the hilltop village of Guermassa, the dunes and hot spring of Ksar Ghilane oasis, desert sunset and the troglodyte houses of Matmata. Dinner, guide and hotel pickup included.
Highlights
- ✓Star Wars filming locations: the fortified granary of Ksar Hadada and Sidi Driss in Matmata
- ✓Traditional Berber villages and ancient troglodyte houses: step inside a Berber home carved into the earth
- ✓The sand dunes of Ksar Ghilane oasis, waiting to be explored
- ✓The natural hot spring of Ksar Ghilane oasis, to relax or swim in
- ✓Guermassa, one of Tunisia's oldest Berber villages, perched on its rocky hilltop overlooking desert plains
- ✓Desert sunset at day's end, when golden light transforms the landscape into a breathtaking panorama
📸 Gallery
In brief. A full day of ≈ 10 hours by 4x4 from Djerba, into the heart of southern Tunisia's landscapes and heritage: Berber culture, desert and Star Wars filming locations. We pick you up at your accommodation around ≈ 10 a.m. and drop you back at the same place around ≈ 8 p.m. On the agenda: Tataouine and its ksour, Ksar Hadada, Guermassa, Ksar Ghilane oasis and its hot spring, desert sunset, then the troglodyte houses of Matmata. Dinner is included.
The Roman road, heading south. You leave the island via the ancient Roman road connecting Djerba to the mainland, then the road heads south toward Tataouine: a region famous for its ksour and Berber traditions stretching back centuries.
Ksar Hadada, Star Wars filming location. One of the most remarkable fortified granaries in southern Tunisia. Its clay storage cells, stacked one upon another, tell the story of traditional Berber architecture and daily life of old. The site is known worldwide for serving as a Star Wars backdrop: a must-see for saga fans.
Guermassa, a hilltop village. A mountain village, one of Tunisia's oldest Berber settlements, perched atop a rocky hillside. Ancient ruins, stone paths, abandoned houses… and all around, a panoramic view over desert plains. Your guide shares the history of the Berber communities who lived here, in harmony with this stark and magnificent environment.
Ksar Ghilane oasis: dunes and hot spring. Explore the sand dunes of Ksar Ghilane oasis. You discover this emblematic oasis and relax in its natural hot spring: bring your swimsuit if you'd like to bathe in it.
Desert sunset. As evening falls, you settle in facing the desert for a peaceful sunset. Warm golden light transforms the landscape into a breathtaking panorama: a moment of calm, the perfect conclusion to a day rich in culture, history and scenery.
Matmata and Sidi Driss: troglodyte houses. The excursion continues to underground troglodyte homes carved into the earth. You visit a traditional Berber house and discover a unique way of life, adapted to the desert climate. Sidi Driss, too, served as a Star Wars filming location.
What's included, what's not. Included: 4x4 transport, pickup and drop-off at your Djerba accommodation, a guide speaking French, English, German, Italian or Arabic, program visits, dinner and our team's assistance. Not included: beverages and personal expenses, as well as optional on-site activities such as camel rides or quad rides.
Who it's for, what to bring. A day designed for travelers seeking authenticity, culture and a genuine connection with southern Tunisia, far from mass tourism. Adult rate from age 7, child rate ages 2-6, babies up to 1 year. The outing is noted as accessible to wheelchair users: let us know at booking. In your bag: comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat or cap, light clothing for daytime and an extra layer for the cooler evening, plus swimwear for Ksar Ghilane's hot springs. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Included
✅ Included
- ✓Hotel pickup in Djerba and return to the same location
- ✓4x4 transport
- ✓Guide in French, English, German, Italian or Arabic
- ✓Program visits: Ksar Hadada, Guermassa, Ksar Ghilane oasis and its hot spring, desert sunset, troglodyte house in Matmata
- ✓Dinner
- ✓Our team's assistance
❌ Not included
- ✕Beverages and personal expenses
- ✕Camel rides (optional, on-site)
- ✕Quad rides (optional, on-site)
- ✕Other additional activities offered on-site
Day schedule
- ≈ 10 a.m.
Hotel pickup
The 4x4 picks you up at your Djerba accommodation, 0 to 15 minutes before departure time.
- Stop 1
The Roman road, heading toward Tataouine
You leave the island via the ancient Roman road connecting Djerba to the mainland, then the road heads south toward Tataouine: land of ksour and Berber traditions.
- Stop 2
Ksar Hadada, Star Wars filming location
One of the most remarkable fortified granaries in southern Tunisia: stacked clay cells, traditional Berber architecture, daily life of yesteryear… and Star Wars scenes filmed here.
- Stop 3
Guermassa, hilltop Berber village
A mountain village, one of Tunisia's oldest Berber settlements, perched atop a rocky hilltop: ruins, stone paths, abandoned houses and panoramic views over desert plains.
- Stop 4
Ksar Ghilane oasis: dunes and hot spring
The sand dunes of the oasis, then time to relax in its natural hot spring. Swimsuit recommended if you'd like to bathe.
- Stop 5
Desert sunset
As evening falls, a peaceful sunset: golden light transforms the landscape into a breathtaking panorama.
- Stop 6
Matmata and Sidi Driss: troglodyte houses
Underground homes carved into the earth. You visit a traditional Berber house, a way of life adapted to desert climate. Sidi Driss also served as a Star Wars filming location.
- Stop 7
Dinner
Dinner is included. Beverages are at your own cost.
- ≈ 8 p.m.
Return to your accommodation
Drop-off at the same location as pickup, ≈ 10 hours after departure.
🗺️ Stops on this tour
Everything about each village and destination visited: history, highlights, practical tips.
Matmata: the troglodyte houses and Luke Skywalker's home
Seen from the sky, Matmata looks like a field of craters: each crater is a house, dug into the earth by the Berbers to shelter from the heat. One of them became Luke Skywalker's home.
Tataouine: the capital of the ksour, between the Dahar and the Sahara
The town of Tataouine lent its name to Luke Skywalker's planet, but its real treasure lies around it: dozens of ksour, the fortified Berber granaries, and the hilltop villages of Chenini, Douiret and Guermessa.
Ksar Hadada: the Mos Espa slave quarter, a ksar turned film set
In this ksar converted into a hotel, George Lucas filmed the alleys of Mos Espa's slave quarter in 1997, where Anakin and his mother live. The ghorfas remain, and the place draws fans from all over the world.
Ksar Ghilane: the oasis and its hot spring at the gates of the Grand Erg
A palm grove set on the edge of an ocean of dunes, a pool of hot water where you swim in the middle of the sand, a forgotten Roman fort on a hillock: Ksar Ghilane is the first real encounter with the Sahara from Djerba.
