Mides: the dizzying canyon and the oasis on the Algerian border
Updated 10 September 2026⏱ 1 min read✍️ Djerba Holiday
The old village of Mides is perched on a rocky spur ringed by a canyon dozens of metres deep. It is the most spectacular of the mountain oases, a stone's throw from Algeria.
- From Djerba
- ≈ 420 km
- Driving time
- ≈ 6 h (1 h 30 from Tozeur)
- Suggested time
- 45 min on site
- Best season
- October → April
At the very end of the mountain-oasis road, after Chebika and Tamerza, Mides is a surprise: the old village, of stone and earth, sits on a promontory almost entirely ringed by gorges. Three hundred metres below runs a wadi that has carved the rock into ochre and grey layers. Several scenes of The English Patient were filmed here.
What to see
- The canyon: from the edge of the old village, a plunging view of the gorges winding towards the plain; one of the most impressive landscapes in Tunisia.
- The old village: also abandoned after the floods of 1969, it keeps its narrow alleys and half-collapsed houses, with fine cut stone.
- The palm grove: below, a few hundred palm trees and gardens irrigated by channels, cultivated by the inhabitants of the new village.
- Crafts: at the car park, children and elders sell desert roses and fossils gathered in the mountain.
On our tours
Mides closes the "mountain oasis" morning of our 2-day Tozeur and 3-day Djerba → Tozeur tours. From Mides, the return to Tozeur follows the same road, with a last viewpoint over the Tamerza canyon.
Practical information
- From Tozeur: about 75 km, 1 h 30 via Chebika and Tamerza.
- Caution: the edges of the gorges are not protected; keep children close to you.
- Best season: October to April.
Frequently asked questions
Can you go down into the Mides canyon?▼
The main viewpoint is at the edge of the gorges, in the old village. Local guides offer a short hike into the canyon; allow an extra hour and good shoes.
Is Mides really on the border?▼
Yes, Algeria is a few kilometres away. You obviously do not cross it, but the presence of the border explains the calm of the place.
