Desert excursion from Djerba: which destination to choose?
Three regions, three atmospheres: the Berber Dahar and its ksour, the Sahara of Ksar Ghilane and Douz, the oases of the Jerid around Tozeur. Here is how to choose your excursion according to the time you have.
- From Djerba
- 130 to 400 km
- Driving time
- 2 h to 6 h
- Suggested time
- 1 to 3 days
- Best season
- October → May
From Djerba, the desert begins two hours down the road. But "the desert" is in reality three very different regions, and this choice decides your day: the Berber mountains of the Dahar with their hilltop villages and fortified granaries, the great dunes of the Sahara around Ksar Ghilane and Douz, and the oases of the Jerid around Tozeur, with the great salt lake and the Star Wars sets.
The three regions at a glance
- The Dahar (Berber villages & ksour) — Matmata, Toujane, Tataouine, Chenini, Douiret, Ksar Ouled Soltane, Ksar Hadada. Houses dug into the earth, villages clinging to the mountain, fortified granaries centuries old. It is the region closest to Djerba (1 h 45 to 2 h 30) and the richest in culture.
- The Sahara (dunes & oases) — Ksar Ghilane and Douz. The first great dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental, a hot spring in the middle of the sand, camel rides and nights under the stars. Allow 3 to 4 hours on the road.
- The Jerid (Tozeur & the mountain oases) — Tozeur, Chott el Jerid, Nefta and Mos Espa, Chebika, Tamerza, Mides. The furthest (5 hours by road), and therefore reserved for 2- or 3-day tours: immense palm groves, canyons, waterfalls and film sets.
You have one day
The great classic is the Sahara day in a 4×4 to the oasis of Ksar Ghilane: a swim in the hot spring and the dunes, with a camel ride or quad bike as an option. Two versions: via Matmata (troglodyte houses, the villages of Tamezret and Toujane), returning in the late afternoon; or via the ksour of Tataouine and the hilltop village of Chenini, with a very early start in the morning. Either way, you will have seen Berber villages and the real sand desert.
If you prefer a more cultural day, the Tataouine – Chenini – ksour day stays in the Dahar (about 9 hours): hilltop villages, the mosque of the Seven Sleepers, fortified granaries that inspired the planet Tatooine, and a sunset in the desert at the end of the day. Another option, Matmata & Douz: the dunes at the "gateway to the Sahara", then the troglodyte houses of Matmata and the villages of Tamezret and Toujane.
You have two days
Two days change everything: you sleep in the desert. The two-day programme links Tataouine, Chenini and Ksar Ghilane on the first day, with a night in a tent at the camp (traditional dinner, starry sky), then returns via Matmata and its troglodyte houses the next day (camel ride or quad bike optional). The Sahara Bivouac adds a camel ride at sunset, included. A more intimate variant: the bivouac with a Berber family or the night at Ksar Jouamaa, a restored ksar in the heart of the Dahar. For oasis lovers, the 2-day Tozeur & mountain oases escapade crosses the Chott el Jerid and reaches Chebika, Tamerza and Mides.
You have three days or more
The 3-day tour makes the complete loop of the South: Matmata, Douz or Tataouine, then Tozeur, the salt lake, the mountain oases and the Star Wars sets of Mos Espa. It is the ideal format for fans of the saga (dedicated "Star Wars" tour) as well as for those who want to see every facet of the Tunisian Sahara without driving at night.
Shared or private?
All our excursions exist in a shared vehicle (price per person, small group) and in a private vehicle (price per car, up to 6 people in a 4×4 or minibus). The private option is worth it from 4 people, with children, or if you want to take your time in the villages. In every case: hotel pick-up, guide, meals on the programme and entrance fees included.
When to go and what to bring
- Season: October to May. March–April and October–November are perfect. In summer, dawn departures and plenty of water.
- What to bring: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, closed shoes for the villages, swimsuit and towel for the Ksar Ghilane spring, a fleece for the evenings (the desert cools quickly, even in April).
- Passport: not required for these excursions, but keep some ID on you.
How to book
Book online on the excursion page or write to us on WhatsApp with your hotel, the date and the number of people: we confirm the pick-up time within the day. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
