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Maxine Ben Taarit

A Guide: What to do in Tozeur Tunisia

Last February my husband surprised me with my first trip to Tozeur. I could not wait to find out about what to do in Tozeur. Tozeur is an oasis retreat famous for its palm trees, date production, and traditional yellow kilns brick. I truly had an amazing experience while visiting the city. Getting to Tozeur from Tunis is a long drive, around six and a half hours, but once you’re there you see why it was worth the drive down. Below I give details of my trip including where I stayed in Tozeur, and what I did in Tozeur during my three days there.

Table of Contents

Weather in Tozeur

The best time to visit Tozeur is either in the spring or fall. We went in February and it was fairly warm during the day but chilly in the early morning and evening. During the summer months, Tozeur’s average temperature reaches above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees celsius) which makes difficult conditions to go out and explore.

My hotel in Tozeur

My hotel in Tozeur was the Anantara Tozeur . I absolutely loved my time there. This hotel opened just about a month before my stay so everything was brand new. Our room had a beautiful view of the desert. The breakfast was really nice. As well as the spa! We had a magnificent service as well. I would recommend staying there. In my opinion, it is one of the best hotels in all of Tunisia.

How I got around Tozeur

We arranged for a private guided tour of Tozeur through our hotel. If you are planning on going into the Sahara having someone who knows where they are going is a must and will make your trip go smooth and that much more enjoyable. There are different tour companies you can book a guide with or your hotel should be able to recommend one.

What to do in Tozeur?

Below I give you the details of what there is to do in Tozeur, and what I personally saw during my time there.

The Chebika Oasis

The first thing we did in Tozeur during our guided tour was the Oasis in Chebika. This oasis is in the mountains of Tozeur. We first visited the old village of Chebika that was abandoned in 1969 due to severe flooding. It is perched upon a hill and has a magnificent view. After that, we climbed down to the oasis. The walk down to the oasis is something out of movies. The dry desert landscape with the contrasting green palm trees makes up a picturesque walk. The oasis is an inside out island for me. The water is the center and the land surrounds it. You can swim in the oasis if you like, we did not swim as it was February and we thought it was not the weather for swimming. 

Next on our tour was Tamaghza. Tamaghza is the largest mountain oasis in Tozeur. The mountains were impressive as they were immense, and we stopped at the waterfall to take a few photos and admire the beauty.

Before lunch, we stopped at Mides. Like Chebika, Mides also has an abandoned town. We wandered through it a bit. After came the canyons. I had no idea beforehand that there are canyons in Tunisia. The canyons are picturesque and impressive.

Camel Neck (Ong Jamal)

After our lunch break, we headed to the Sahara desert. On our way to the Star Wars set Mos Espa, we stopped at what is called Camel Neck. This mountain is said to look like a camel sitting down with his neck sticking out. You can climb up the mountain to have a birds-eye view of the desolate and peaceful desert.

Before reaching Mos Espa we drove through the large Sand Dunes. On top, we had a view of the set before reaching it!

Star Wars Site Mos Espa 

The town Mos Espa is one of the star wars set still intact. While interesting to see, the condition of the set is going down. The buildings are slowly filling up with sand. You do not need much time to explore. An hour is good to take your pictures and ride a camel if that is something you would like to experience.

The last stop before reaching our hotel was Nafta. We went to a lookout point where there was a beautiful view of an oasis.

Other Noteworthy sites

There are two other things to do in Tozeur that is worth visiting that we did not cover on our tour.

Chott El Djerid

Chott El Djerid is the largest salt lake in the Sahara Desert. We drove down the long stretch of road on our way back to Tunis which runs right through the lake. In the summer the lake is dried up, but during the winter when rain is present boats are used to cross some parts of the lake. The lake’s salt is currently collected for production. You can expect gold and pink hues from the salt lake as well as plenty of mirages. 

Tozeur Old Medina

We didn’t have time to stop at the medina of Tozeur, however, on our next trip, we will make sure to visit it. The style of the medina is made up of the traditional yellow kilns brick, which is special to Tozeur and the surrounding cities.

If you are looking for an oasis retreat in the desert, Tozeur is definitely the place to go. The land of the oasis, palm trees, and dates will definitely not disappoint you. I hope this guide helped with finding what to do in Tozeur.

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Tozeur makes an excellent base for longer forays into the surrounding area, including the mesmerising Chott El Jerid, Tunisia's largest salt lake, and the mountain oases to the north. Bounded on one side by an enormous palmeraie and with the desolate snow-white expanse of salt on the other, the town feels at once far-flung and urban and lively.

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Adventures of Alice

Tozeur, Tunisia: The 7 Best Things to Do

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If I’m completely honest, Tozeur is not somewhere I ever imagined myself visiting. I’d wanted to visit Tunisia for years, but Tozeur was never really on my radar. Primarily because I never knew that it existed! But, that’s the thing about travelling to find hidden gems – quite often, the best ones are the ones you’ve never heard of. And this was certainly the case with Tozeur, Tunisia. 

This small oasis city is located in the Sahara Desert in Tunisia. It’s strangely beautiful and there’s a surprising amount to see and do around it considering it’s more or less in the middle of nowhere. If you’re planning to visit Tunisia, or Africa in general, this is definitely one to add to your bucket list. 

✅ Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here’s the best tour in Tozeur , and t he hotel we stayed at during our time there.

Where to Stay in Tozeur

Tozeur is a fair distance from the popular touristy places of Tunis and Hammemet. As such, it can be slightly more difficult to find a good place to stay. But, I wholeheartedly recommend the Palm Beach Palace.

The lobby is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen in a hotel, the rooms are very comfortable and there are lots of facilities.

There’s an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, the bar serves delicious cocktails (ask for the Blue Lagoon – trust me), and the staff are really friendly and welcoming.

There’s also a very large breakfast buffet station and a great dinner selection. 

If you’re looking for a wonderful place to stay in Tozeur, I cannot recommend Palm Beach Palace enough. 

✅ Book a room at the Palm Beach Palace Tozeur

The Best Things to Do in Tozeur Tunisia

But, now, let’s get down to business. Here are the 7 most unforgettable things to do in Tozeur Tunisia.

1. Explore Chebika Oasis

Out of all the places that we visited in Tozeur, this was my favourite. I have a thing for exploring abandoned sites and historical places and pairing that with the stunning oasis, waterfalls and palm groves really took my breath away. Beautiful would be an understatement. 

We visited Chebika Oasis on our second day in Tozuer. It’s about a 45-minute drive north of the city centre.

To get there, you’ll need to get a taxi because there isn’t any public transport. It’s pretty much in the middle of nowhere, so it’s easy to see why.

We had a private driver, but there were also a few other tour groups at the site. 

Despite this, it was fairly quiet. In fact, compared to other historical sites I’ve visited in Africa , it was virtually empty of tourists.

There were a lot of vendors though, selling their wares. You could buy all sorts of things from handmade jewellery to a very unique ‘desert rose’ which was effectively crystallised sand. There is also a small cafe here and toilets.

How to visit Chebika Oasis

There are two sides to Chebika Oasis – the abandoned village and the oasis itself.

You have to walk through part of the the village to get to the oasis, but there are two ways to do this, either climbing over the hill or by heading down into the oasis from the bottom. We chose to climb to the top of the village and then back down into the oasis. 

It was worth it. The views were stunning. 

Our guide also told us that the whole place used to be underwater and actually showed us water markings on that rock from thousands of years ago. Considering how high we were, I was completely amazed!

After exploring the village, we headed down to the oasis. There were several streams and waterfalls here, although, once again, the water used to be much deeper than it is now.

The entire route through Chebika is pretty much a circle and you can spend as long as you like there. The site is free to enter and we were there for about 45 minutes.

I could’ve easily spent longer as it’s such a beautiful spot and one of the best things to do in Tozeur, Tunisia.

✅ I recommend this tour to Chebika Oasis!

2. Wander Around Onk Jemel (Mos Espa)

If Chebika is my favourite thing to do in Tozeur, then this is my second favourite. I had no idea before I visited Tunisia, that it was such a popular filming location. 

There are hundreds of film locations in Tunisia , scattered throughout the desert. You can actually book film tours around the region to see them all. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do this and only had time to see this one, but it was well worth it. 

What is Mos Espa?

For those Star Wars fans out there this pace needs no introduction. Even I recognised it since my fiance has recently made me watch the entire Star Wars franchise. It wasn’t actually that bad, but I certainly felt like a bit of a nerd as I was walking around. 

One of the most important and well-recognised sets of the entire franchise, Mos Espa is the birthplace of Anakin Skywalker, the little slave boy who later becomes Darth Vadar. 

You can explore the entire set, purchase Star Wars merchandise, and even go on a camel ride or hop on a dirt bike. It’s right in the middle of the Sahara Desert, so it’s surrounded by sand dunes. We saw several Jeeps at the top of the dunes that looked like they were showing tourists around.

Like Chebika, Mos Espa was surprisingly quiet. For the most part, we had the site to ourselves and it was completely free to visit. It’s around 40 minutes from the centre of Tozeur in the opposite direction to the oasis.

I recommend hiring a driver or booking a guided tour for this as it’ll probably be quite tough to get someone to take you back to Tozeur once your taxi leaves. But, it’s well worth visiting. The site is very impressive and another of the best things to do in Tozeur.

✅ I recommend this tour to Mos Espa!

3. Visit Tozeur Medina

Next, let’s explore somewhere a little closer to the centre of the city. The Medina is the heart and soul of Tozeur. It’s a maze of narrow alleys and centuries-old architecture. A visit here provides you with a wonderful glimpse into the rich culture of the region. 

You can explore the historic quarter and admire the traditional Berber influences and gorgeous Islamic architecture. I absolutely love the geometric designs here, the pattern of the bricks and the ornate wooden doors. 

You can also explore the souks, and find an array of local crafts, from vibrant textiles to intricately woven carpets and beautiful pottery. If you’re interested in authentic Tunisian culture, Medina is one of the best places to visit in Tozeur.

4. Explore Tamaghza Oasis

Another of the natural wonders located just a short distance from the city, Tamaghza is a great place to combine with a trip to Chebika. It’s about a further 20 minutes from Chebika and is another beautiful site to visit from Tozeur, Tunisia. 

This oasis also contains a canyon – and one of the most impressive canyons in Tunisia. Once again, you’ll need to hire a driver to get here as it is quite remote, but I recommend using the same driver that took you to Chebika and asking them to take you a little further. 

After we’d parked up here, it was just a short walk into the oasis itself. You’ll pass more vendors selling similar fares to what they were selling at Chebika and another small cafe. 

Once you get down into the canyon, you’ll have to cross a small stream via sandbag stepping stones. Then, you’ll reach the waterfall. It’s taller than the waterfalls at Chebika, but the surroundings are not quite as impressive.

You can walk behind it though, which makes it a little more exciting.

Once you’ve explored the waterfall, you can either head back the way you came or continue for a walk into the canyon. We didn’t do this, but I would certainly be curious to find out where the stream leads.

✅ I recommend this tour to the oases of Tozeur!

5. Go Zip-Lining at Sahara Lounge

Without question, one of the most fun things to do in Tozeur Tunisia is to take a trip to the Sahara Lounge . Located within the city centre, Sahara Lounge is a series of zip lines strung from the palm trees in the oasis.

If you enjoy adventure attractions when you travel, this is definitely one to add to your Tunisia bucket list. 

When you first arrive, the staff will help you into your harness. You’ll then be given a safety demonstration showing you how to use the equipment and have to complete a training course including a rope bridge, and a mini zipline. 

After that, they set you loose on the real thing. 

There are 7 zip lines in total across the course; some small, some long, and a giant one at the end which was over 100 meters long.

To get between the zip lines, you sometimes have to climb up rope bridges and navigate platforms very high up in the palm trees. Then, you strap yourself to the zip line and wizz across to the next one!

It was so much fun and if you enjoy adventure, you will love it here!

6. Explore Tozeur Town

After your adventure at the Sahara Lounge, head into the old quarters of Tozeur for a bit of a wander around. The city is pretty busy with local markets, stalls selling dates, pottery, wicker baskets, lanterns, and many other handmade products.

You’ll also be able to explore more of the architecture. You’ll see more of the curious brick pattern all over the walls, a statue in the centre of the city covered with lights, and rows of shops with pattered carpets draped from the roofs.

This is another great place to get lost exploring Tunisian culture and, of course, it’s pretty essential to see the city centre when you’re visiting! 

7. Try the Local Cuisine

Last but not least, when in Tozeur Tunisia, you have got to try the local cuisine. Tunisian cuisine wasn’t something I’d previously heard a lot about but it was pretty delicious.

We were spoiled for choice with dishes from all over the country. But there were a few things that really stood out to me and you have to try while in Toezur:

• Brik – A type of filo pastry parcel filled with a runny egg, tuna, and potato. It was one of the most delicious things I tried on this trip.
• Lamb with cous cous – An African classic but completely delicious. The cous cous was fragrant and laced with chickpeas and spices and the lamb just fell off the bone.
• Bambaloni – An incredibly light fried doughnut. It was so light and fluffy that I could probably have eaten about 5 of them in one sitting!
• Dates – Dates are an important part of Tunisian culture and the country is one the largest exporters of dates in the world. They’re often served alongside deserts or as a side dish.
• Thibarine – A scrummy date liquor. It was so sweet and smooth and something that I suspect I could’ve drunk quite a bit of! 

There are lots more wonderful foods to try in Tunisia , but these were just a few of my favourites.

The Best Time to Visit Tozeur Tunisia

The best time to visit Tozeur is either at the start of the year between January and April or at the end of the year between October and December . 

Between May and the end of September, the desert city can reach highs of around 40°C which is much too hot to really do anything. As such, the winter, early spring, and autumn months are much more pleasant. 

We visited in January and the temperature was around 20°C during the day. This did drop a fair bit at night though, but it was still bearable with a jacket.

How to get to Tozeur

By far the easiest way to get to Toezur is by plane. There is a direct connection from Tunis International Airport to Tozeur which takes around 1 hour. Tunis has connections to a lot of other destinations around the world.

This is how we would’ve travelled to Tozeur, but unfortunately, the flight was cancelled at the last minute so we ended up driving instead. It wasn’t too bad a drive.

We stopped at the city of Kairouan for a little wander around the old town a few hours into the drive. But overall, it takes 6 hours to get to Tozeur from Tunis by car, so it’s much easier to fly. 

How Many Days Do You Need in Tozeur?

This depends on your interests. If you’re a film fanatic or a Star Wars fan and want to go around the desert exploring all of the fascinating film sets, you could easily spend 5 days or more here.

However, if you want to explore some of the main attractions, and see the Sahara and the oases, I recommend spending around 3 days in Tozeur. 

We were there for 2 days and, even though we visited a lot of incredible places, it felt like there was more to see when we left. So, I think 3 days is the perfect way to have a relaxing trip, whilst seeing the best of Tozeur.

Is Tozeur Worth Visiting?

Yes, I think Tozeur is definitely worth visiting. Compared to the more touristy areas of Tunisia, it felt much more authentic. It wasn’t crowded at all (unlike the town of Sidi Bou Said which was very busy in the afternoon).

This meant you could explore at a comfortable pace without having to battle lots of other tourists. Plus, some of the sights were just incredible. 

Overall, if you love hidden gems and authentic culture, you’ll love Tozeur.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Tozeur, Tunisia

I really enjoyed my time in Tozeur. The city was unique, the surroundings were beautiful and there was quite a lot to see and do there.

I feel like it’s one of those places that aren’t really on the tourist radar yet. This is partially why I loved it so much because undiscovered places and hidden gems are literally what I live for.

Nonetheless, if you’re planning on visiting Tunisia, I do recommend you pay a visit here. It’s authentic, it’s unique, and it’s a wonderful place to explore if you love culture, natural beauty, and fantastic film locations.

*This guide was written in partnership with Discover Tunisia . All opinions are my own.

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Alice Smith is a full-time travel blogger and content creator and the founder of Adventures of Alice. Following an unexpected redundancy from her career as a Content Marketing Specialist, she embraced her passion for exploration and turned her hobby of travel blogging into a full-time career.

From her roots near Cambridge, UK, she's ventured to over 30 countries since 2016. With a passion for the outdoors and a knack for finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, Alice is on a mission to show that budget travel can still be luxurious and that every destination, no matter how touristy, holds hidden gems.

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Tozeur Travel Guide

• Destinations

This charming city in the South West of Tunisia is based around a large Oasis famous for its Palm trees and production of dates, which are exported around the world. The city is a good place to glimpse the Sahara from and take in traditional Tunisian culture including a wide range of architectural styles.

Tozeur was historically an important stopping point for caravans crossing the Sahara, a place to rest and refuel before heading deeper into the dessert. It was also used as an important Roman outpost and has since been ruled by a variety of tribes including the Berbers for much of its history, who have perhaps the most influence on the city’s historic architecture.

Getting to Tozeur is time consuming but worthwhile, it is a place which would be teaming with tourists if it was easy to get to but remains largely unspoilt yet with good facilities for the tourists who do come here. The main and most convenient way in to Tozeur is by overnight train from Tunis.

What to See

The Medina, the old city, of Tozeur is where you will find the most historic and beautiful buildings, some are magnificent in their detail but most are more humble but still stand distinctive and proud: integral parts of the city that have stood for hundreds of years.

Tours and trips

From Tozeur you can also reach the Sahara easily, by Camel if you wish;. There are a wide number of different tours which may take in a number of Saharan villages nearby as well as the Palmaries. Though not for everyone those with an interest in film will love visiting the scene of much of Star wars:

A New Hope’s filming for scenes set of Tatooine which has been used for subsequent Star Wars films as well. For those accompanying Star Wars fans the sites in the dessert are themselves breath-taking and well worth a visit. Another breath-taking site is the dry lake: vast and barren yet picturesque a causeway across the lake is the best place to take photos from.

About Olivia Marsh

Olivia Marsh - Author - Professional chef and Travel enthusiast. Culinary Institute of America (CIA) graduate. Chef Marsh has traveled the globe from France, Italy, Germany to China, Thailand, India, Tunisia and more. Olivia lived in Tunisia for almost 10 years now. Follow me on Twitter

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Recent Articles

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Exploring the dunes and oases surrounding Tozeur, Tunisia might have you wondering if you’ve stumbled onto a different planet. So it’s no surprise that the most beloved galaxy-sprawling sci-fi film franchise shot its desert planet scenes here. Or perhaps the grandeur of nature over glowing swords is more your speed? Tozeur is still the perfect spot to satisfy your wanderlust with otherworldly beauty and plenty of things to do.

The possibilities are endless and so are the savings you get with Travel + Leisure GO.

INSIDER’S TIP: SEEKING SERENITY AT ANANTARA SPA

Insider’s tip: a dining date with dates.

• Restaurants

FULL DAY TRIP: CHEBIKA OASIS, FILM LOCATION, & CHOTT EL DJERID

• Sightseeing

INSIDER’S TIP: SHINING SPECIALTIES AT RESTAURANT LE SOLEIL

Insider’s tip: the timeless old quarters of tozeur and nefta, overnight luxury sahara desert safari (first day).

Bring your sense of adventure and thirst to explore to this thrilling overnight Sahara safari that you’ll never forget — one of the best things to do in Tozeur. See for yourself why these magical dunes have captivated the imaginations of many for thousands of years, even serving as the inspiration for fantastical settings in famous sci-fi films. You’ll see the wonder up close as you soar over the dunes and make camp in a secluded area, where you’ll feel like the only person for miles. The first day begins with a trek across the dunes in a Land Cruiser as your guide spins tales of the area’s past and present. Next, spot gazelles, fennec foxes, and other wildlife as you explore the Douz Desert Reserve on an exhilarating African safari. Your home for the evening is a private camp fit for royalty, lined with torches and draped in fabrics in the Bedouin style.

Settle in, sit back, and let the magic of the Tunisian desert at sunset wash over you — make sure to snap plenty of photos. Before dinner, delight in a folklore show by local artists, and sip mint tea as you watch the chef prepare traditional Bedouin fare, and you’ll even learn to bake flatbread over an open fire. After you’re sated by a sumptuous meal, wander to the bonfire and gaze at the stars in wonder before retreating to your luxurious tent.

OVERNIGHT LUXURY SAHARA DESERT SAFARI (SECOND DAY)

Insider’s tip: souvenirs in the palm of your hand, accommodation options.

ANANTARA SAHARA TOZEUR RESORT & VILLAS

TOZEUR, TUNISIA

DAR SAIDA BEYA TOZEUR GUEST HOUSE

OFFER DETAILS Prices will vary depending on occupancy, availability, length of stay, and itinerary options selected. Itineraries are only available through the reservations line at 1-833-794-1694. Travel + Leisure GO pricing is only available to active Travel + Leisure GO accounts. Rates are subject to limited availability and may be discontinued without notice. Cannot be combined with any other offer. All monetary amounts are noted in U.S. Dollars unless otherwise noted. Itinerary pricing does not include additional expenses such as airfare, transportation, resort fees, taxes, local fees and other incidental expenses. Blackout dates may apply. Hotel prices displayed are per room, per stay based on the cheapest double room available, inclusive of all taxes and service fees — but exclude any fees payable at or to the hotel. Separate terms & conditions may apply for hotels and activities. Please check individual hotel or airline for details. Valid for new bookings only. Your credit card will be charged the total cost of your reservation at time of booking. No reservation is guaranteed until full payment is received. Void where prohibited by law.

COVID-19 TRAVEL ALERT Please remember to check government advisories before booking and traveling.

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• 1.1 By plane
• 1.2 By train
• 1.4 By louage
• 2 Get around
• 3.1 Nearby villages
• 8.1 Guest houses
• 8.3 Mid-range
• 8.4 Splurge

Tozeur is a city in Tunisia . Her architectural style is unique, playing with bricks of sand and clay. The women wear black robes with a bright blue band, unlike those from Nefta to the south with white bands.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

By train [ edit ].

An overnight run by SNCFT train connects with Tunis and Gafsa . Trains leave to (and arrive from) Tunis twice a day, usually very early in the morning (at 6AM) or in the evening.

The train station 33.926381 8.135996 2 Gare de Tozeur is located close to city centre.

By bus [ edit ]

There are plenty of long distance buses from most major cities in Tunisia. Louages can also be taken to Tozeur (for example, passing by Gafsa and going on to Nefta). The bus and louage station in Tozeur are located near each other, closer to city center than the gare.

Busses run 3-5 times a day direct for Tunis, on a 7-hour, 26-DT drive. Generally, taking the train (in 1st or Confort class, around 30 DT) is a much better option than the bus.

If you are heading south, you can take a bus direct to Douz or Gabes .

By louage [ edit ]

For the louage, transport south to Douz requires a change at Kibilli (Kebili) and from there to Douz. Each leg should take just under 2 hours, though the wait in Kibilli may be 1-2 hours for another louage. Louages are more frequent before mid-day.

Get around [ edit ]

Taxis are unmetered in Tozeur; you will have to agree on a price before the journey begins. Prices should be around 2 DT for a short trip (around a kilometer or less), and more accordingly.

Another option is in horse drawn 'carriage', though this is more of a tourist experience than a typical means of transportation. These can be found in most places although the parking area is near Residence Karim and the hospital in the south.

Bicycle rental is also common, and an excellent way to explore the impressive palmeraie. Test ride the bicycle before paying, and investigate if there are better/newer bicycles then the one offered - you are rarely offered the best bicycle. Haggling and visiting several rental shops is recommended.

There are also a few car rental agencies:

• Avis, Avenue Farhat Hatched, Tozeur: 76-452-377
• Olympic rent car, Route touristique, Tozeur: 98-235-345
• Galaxy rent car, Avenue Chebbi, Tozeur: 93-444-555

These agencies might not have websites or online booking systems, so calling is recommended. Once in Tozeur, your hotel can also help you find a rental agency.

See [ edit ]

• Star Wars . This site was used for multiple Star Wars movies. Scenes in the town 'Mos Espa' or 'Mos Eisley' have been filmed here. Tours are available from local guides. Prices should be about the same for any half-day tour from Tozeur.  
• Medina (Ouled el Hadef) . Get lost in the compact and laid-back medina, with the many sign post. This is a largely residential and underrated medina and you won't be bothered - friendly kids will smile and most people passing by will greet you happily. Admire the beautiful houses typical of the region, built with sand and clay bricks, often with very intricate designs. Look out for a triangular shaped design - it is believed to bring good luck, and people once tossed coins onto the bricks making the patterns. Some of the roofs of the tunnels in the medina are made of palm wood - they are rather fibrous, and others, of apricot tree wood, which are normally used for richer families. Look out for the "jalousies" - dark apricot wood made peeping windows from the second floor where ladies used to sit. These allowed them to watch the people in the street without being watched, it being socially rare for ladies to be outside of the house much in the pass. The mosque doors are green and rounded whereas residences have are squared doors with beautiful nail designs - including jars (used to conserve palm products), Jewish stars and candles (for the substantial Jewish community that used to live here), and even bicycles (for locals who bike a lot). One of the houses belongs to a French family and you can see a "coq gaulois" perched on one of the house walls.  
• Palmerie . One of the largest palmeries in Tunisia. Easy access from the eastern and southern side of the medina. Go in with a GPS as you could get lost in the many roads, but most people on the way are friendly, and the watch dogs are rather shy, keeping to their area and not interfering or barking if you're on the main road. Makes for a nice walk in the early morning or late evening when it is not too hot. In October, locals come from all over to help work the plantations.  
• Bled El Hadhar . Where the old Roman settlement was, this area is slightly off the main part of Tozeur but about a 10-minute walk from Avenue Abul El Kacem Chebbi. Has a few mosques and mausoleums.  
• Belvedere Rocks ( Ras El ain ). A strange mix of sand art and old playground - but climb to the top of the four sculptured heads and it gives you a view over the palm groves. About a 25-minute walk from the tourist information center on following Avenue Abul El Kacem Chebbi away from the city center. In the summer, most watering holes are dried up, but in winter, there are pools around the area.  
• Dry lakes . The nearby Chott el-Jerid is an impressive lake, completely dry for most of the year. Few people specifically make an effort to see this, as anybody driving to Douz will drive along a raised causeway over the lake bed. Have your camera handy. The white sand comes from the salt that is gathered and exported by Tunisia.  

Nearby villages [ edit ]

Many people who come to Tozeur do so for the three abandoned villages nearby, Chebika , Tamerza , and Mides . These three villages are easily accessible through the numerous local tour operators who sell seats per person to these villages and many other local attractions. For a half-day trip, expect to pay 30-35 DT per person. The 4x4's hold 6 or more people, so if you have a group of four or more, hire the whole 4x4 for yourself - about 120-150 DT.

The allure of these three villages is that they were abandoned during floods in 1969, and offer a window to what life was like in oasis villages back then. In reality, the mud and stone buildings are unoccupied and falling down, tourists swarm the sites in hordes, and local children will offer to sell you crystals throughout your journey. The sites are still worthwhile, though the journey there may be more spectacular than the villages - you drive into the Atlas mountains, and are only 1 km from Algeria.

• Chebika . is on the edge of a cliff and offers magnificent views. Guides for Chebika can be found waiting in the area when the cars pull up and will expect a tip (~10 DT for 30 minutes, a climb up where you can see the whole oasis and surroundings, as well as down to the natural pools). This can be done by oneself without a guide, however, but the road up isn't marked out clearly.  
• Mides . has a few palm groves and gardens, as well as a gorgeous water carved gorge. If you do go, and are up for a hike, a beautiful 4½ km gorge runs from Mides to Tamerza, and is worth the walk. Hiring a guide should cost no more than 40-50 DT total (per guide), though they may price the hike per person. Syndicated, official guides may (or may not) be found at Mides, and/or the Syndicat d'Initiative along the main road, which has various hours. Attempt to contact them before hand-one number given for them is 76-485-288. If you start the tour in the afternoon, begin the hike as early as possible, to allow for any problems or twisted ankles. The gorge will get dark long before the surrounding area.  
• Tamerza . is along the river bed and a good view can be found overlooking the town from the main road. Multiple natural swimming pools and waterfalls are along the drive. Bring swimming trunks and a towel. The signs leading to "The Great Waterfall" will bring you to an area which has a few tiny cascades pouring into the riverbed. Great for cooling off!  

If you do use a tour operator for transportation, it is recommended you pay half up front, and get a receipt that includes words like 'seatbelts' and 'driver speaks English' and anything else you find important. All this may be promised, but if you pay in advance in full, it will probably not be delivered.

If you have your own car, or a rental car, there is no reason you cannot do most, or all of this journey. All but a 100 m shortcut to Mides is on paved roads, and if you simply do not take the shortcut, you will be fine. Getting lost is nearly impossible, and following the massive number of tour companies will get you to the sites.

Do [ edit ]

• Camel tour . Go on a camel tour. One reputable operator is Amara Themri (tel +216 97280133 / 23 131 483). As always, pay for a one-hour tour before you embark on a multi-day tour if you have never ridden a camel before.  
• Hammam . Enjoy the hammam. Hours vary, as the local hammams accommodate men and women in a single hammam, though not at the same time. One of the doors is for men, the other for women. Hammam Shabia is recommended, and is just north of Hotel/Residence El-Amen. Bring your own towel and soap, and bathing suit, as people wear this or their underwear in the hammam. 2-3 DT for the hammam, and 2-4 dinar for a massage, though the 'tourist tax' may raise this price to about 8 DT total for everything.  

Buy [ edit ]

There is a market selling all kind of tourist souvenirs on the central square near the mosque.

Eat [ edit ]

Tozeur has several restaurants that feature camel, or dromedaries. If this interests you, now is your chance. Camel has a flavor similar to that of lamb. Camel is offered with couscous, or as a steak or kebab.

Towards Ras El Ain

• Pizzeria la Fontana

Along Avenue Abou El Kaccem Chebbi

Along Avenue Farhat Hached

Medina Area

• La république
• Les Andalous
• Le Petit prince

Drink [ edit ]

If you are looking for alcohol, you must head to a bar in a tourist hotel. Try (unverified) either the Hotel Continental or the Grand Hotel de l'Oasis.

Many restaurants serve non-alcoholic beer, including the popular Turkish beer, Efes (which normally has alcohol).

• Chak Wak Parc , In the Palmeraie ( Head south from the Gouvernorat building into the oasis until you see a large dinosaur statue ). During the day an amusement park, this place turns into a cool bar at night, frequented by tourists and locals alike. You can enjoy local draft beer and Tunisian live music here. Bonfires in winter create a warm atmosphere. DT8 for a draft beer . ( updated Feb 2018 )

Sleep [ edit ]

Most hotels are located along Ave. Abdulkacem Chebbi, about 700 m south of the bus station. A taxi from the bus station should be no more than 2-3 DT. Once you investigate one hotel, it is easy enough to walk to a few others. Street numbers for this avenue run west to east, with the lower numbers to the west.

Guest houses [ edit ]

• Residence Tozeur. [email protected]
• Dar Saida Beya
• Kastilia Suites. 76 461 133.
• Diar Abou Habibi. [email protected]

Budget [ edit ]

• Hotel Warda. [email protected]. 76 452 597
• Hotel Karim , 150 Ave. Abdulkacem Chebbi . Check-out: 11 . Basic but clean, it has a nice tiled courtyard and helpful staff. Roof gives a nice view of stars at night. Rooms trap heat exceedingly in the summer, perfect for colder months. The receptionist is extremely kind, speaks English, and will go out of the way to help you - genuinely wanting you to have a good time and not just promoting the services of his friends. Breakfast consists of unlimited coffee and hot milk, and baguettes (maybe in peak season with many tourists). There is now a wifi. 30 DT single . ( updated Aug 2016 )

Mid-range [ edit ]

• Residence el-Arich , 93 Ave. Abdulkacem Chebbi . Considered the best bargain for mid-rangehotels - clean rooms and a helpful reception desk. ,55 DT single, 55 _80 DT double .   can book via messenger or f/b . they do reply in hours sometimes sooner
• Residence L'oued [dead link] . 76 463 036.
• Sarra [dead link]
• Oasis. [email protected]
• Ramia. 76 454 555
• Dar Ghaouar. 76 454 255
• Borj El Aali. [email protected]
• Du Jardin [dead link]

Splurge [ edit ]

• Dar Chrait [dead link]
• Palm Beach [formerly dead link]
• Mouradi Tozeur
• Ksar Rouge [dead link]
• Ksar Djerid [dead link]
• La Palmeraie. [email protected]

Connect [ edit ]

A small internet cafe is located 30 m south of the bus station. 3G signal is strong in the city and also in the entire region, including the desert and salt lake.

Go next [ edit ]

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Exploring Tozeur's Oasis: A Visitor's Guide

Written by Jess Lee Nov 17, 2020

Tozeur's oasis (palmeraie) is the town's most prominent feature. This intensively cultivated garden area that rims the town's southeast edge, covers an area of 1,050 hectares.

It principally contains around 400,000 date palms, but there are also areas of fruit trees, shaded by the palms, including orchards of fig, apricot, pomegranate, and banana trees.

Roughly between 25,000 and 30,000 tons of dates are produced by Tozeur Oasis annually. The finest crop are the top quality deglet nour dates, which only grow on the tips of palm trees that have been well supplied with water and are feted by date connoisseurs for their aromatic, semi-sweet taste. Only about 1,000 tons of these dates are harvested from Tozeur Oasis annually.

If you've been exploring the stark beauty of the Sahara for a few days, a visit to this lush green and shady garden area provides a contrast to all that sand.

Although there are no actual tourist attractions within the oasis, a stroll, bicycle ride, or horse-drawn carriage ride along the oasis lanes, just to admire the gardens and soak up the peaceful atmosphere, remains one of Tozeur's top things to do for tourists in town.

Irrigation of Tozeur's Oasis

Land ownership in tozeur, sightseeing.

Some 200 springs and artesian wells (with a total flow of 700 liters per second) supply the oasis with water.

Most of the springs are near the Belvédère , where they join to form a river flowing through the oasis and petering out at its end, on the edge of the Chott el Djerid .

The water from the river and the artesian wells is channeled to the various land holdings within the oasis through an intricate network of little open channels, known as seguias, and in accordance with a complicated distribution system that still follows the ancient rules.

Imam Ibn Chabbat originally laid down regulations for the water distribution in a book written in the middle of the 13th century. Under this system, each holding of land, depending on its situation, size, and time of irrigation (morning, evening, etc.), is assigned a particular unit of time during which it is supplied with water through the seguias, all of which are of the same size.

This close control over the distribution of water is necessitated by the scarcity of the supply.

The artesian wells bring up water from depths of between 60 and 100 meters, but in recent years, the water table has been slowly but steadily falling.

The yield of the wells has been decreasing, and they are now giving place to modern deep wells, which tap deposits of fossil water at a depth of 600 meters - a supply dating from earlier geological periods which is not renewable.

Land ownership in Tozeur is still based on traditional and rather antiquated concepts and structures.

Most of the land in the oasis belongs to no more than 60 families, who account for less than two percent of the population, and the Zaouia Tijaniya, a wealthy and influential religious brotherhood found throughout the Maghreb.

Only eight percent of the land belongs to smallholders, who work their own land and usually own no more than 50 palms.

The large landowners — many of them merchants or nomads, who are traditionally disinclined to work on the land — and religious brotherhoods own more than 1,000 palms apiece.

Their land is worked by sharecroppers (khammes), who retain between a tenth and a third (depending on the crop) of the harvest. The name khammes comes from khamsa ("five"), the croppers' average or traditional share being one-fifth.

This pattern of land ownership and employment developed over the centuries, when the caravan routes fell out of use and oasis farming remained the only means of subsistence.

The wealthier landowners bought up the impoverished smallholders' water rights, cut off their water supply, and finally acquired their land. The dispossessed peasants were then compelled to become their tenants. The share of the harvest they receive is sufficient only to meet the most basic requirements of subsistence.

The main attraction of visiting the oasis is simply its shady, tranquil atmosphere.

The best way to visit is by bicycle , as the size of the oasis means that exploring on foot will only allow you to skirt a small section. Many hotels and shops in Tozeur hire out bikes at hourly rates.

Horse-drawn carriage rides along the oasis lanes are also a popular way to see the oasis.

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Ferreting Out the Fun

Travel Tips and Inspiration for the Culturally Curious

• Visiting Tozeur: Tunisia’s Stunning Desert Oasis

Last updated on March 27, 2024 By Heather Hall 2 Comments

Tozeur is a charming little town in southern Tunisia, on the edge of the Sahara desert. Thanks to a large oasis and successful date palm cultivation, Tozeur was an important stop of the camel caravans of the late Middle Ages. The town’s beautiful medina was built during this era of prosperity. In the 1970s and ’80s, Tozeur was rediscovered by Hollywood directors and became a popular filming location. Here are the major attractions you’ll want to see when visiting Tozeur.

Tozeur Palm Grove

My local guide told me that Tozeur’s palmeraie, or date palm grove, has 400,000 trees, though online sources put the number closer to 200,000. Either way, it’s an impressive number of palm trees. They are kept hydrated by 200 springs, which are fed by a complex irrigation system that was built in the 13th century. Sadly, the surface water is long gone and wells are tapping aquifers deep below ground.

My guide made another seemingly wild claim that the palm trees produce 150 different types of dates, but this one wound up being supported by the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture’s website. Of these date varieties, around 30 or so are cultivated in quantities large enough to sell. The Deglat Noir variety is by far the most popular thanks to its soft, creamy texture and sweet caramel flavor. This is Tozeur’s top commodity.

Tozeur’s palm grove covers around 17 square kilometers and is best explored by horse-drawn cart or bicycle, both of which you can hire in town.

Star Wars Film Sites

The bleak southern Tunisian landscape is a perfect stand-in for Tatooine, the fictional planet baked by two suns. Scenes from four Star Wars movies were shot around Tunisia, and I visited two of the film sites near Tozeur.

In the movie, this Tatooine spaceport was the home of Anakin Skywalker and his mother. It was featured in Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Episode II: Attack of the Clones. The Mos Espa film set was built from scratch in 1997 and remains in good shape today, despite the harsh desert conditions.

Multiple souvenir stands are set up in the marketplace, and lightsabers and Wookiee costumes are available for photo ops. You can stroll around on your own or take a short camel ride around the film set. I’m fully convinced that camel sounds were the inspiration for Chewbacca’s voice.

ATVs are also available for joy rides in the surrounding dunes. Mos Espa is most popular at sunset, so go earlier in the day to avoid the crowds. There is a paved road that will get you close to the site, leading north from Nefta.

This unique rock formation is called “the camel’s neck” and it’s easy to see why. A short but challenging climb to the top will give you sweeping views of the Chott el Gharsa salt flat. See if you can spot the mirage shimmering in the distance.

In The Phantom Menace, Darth Maul landed near Ong Jemal and surveyed the area before heading to Mos Espa.

There was the semblance of a road to Ong Jemal, but it petered out in the parking lot. The ride between Ong Jemal and Mos Espa is basically through the desert. You may want a skilled driver to traverse the dunes depending on where you’re coming from. Camel and ATV rides are also possible here.

Nefta Basket

The Nefta Basket, or Corbeille, is a large depression filled with palm trees in the middle of town. Centuries ago it was fed by natural springs, but those have dried up and a concrete pool was built as a replacement. It doesn’t sound super appealing, but makes for a lovely photo op when viewed from above.

Tozeur Medina

Tozeur has one of the best preserved medinas in Tunisia. Human settlement here predates the Romans, though what we see today was built in the 1300s. The defensive walls and structures maintain their original brick facades, which feature unique designs such as camels and birds nests. Around 60 families live in the medina today, and their homes have been updated with modern necessities like electricity and indoor plumbing.

As you are strolling along the quiet lanes, be sure to look up at the windows above the arched tunnels. In past generations, single women would sit in these windows hoping to catch the eye of an eligible bachelor walking below.

Another historical feature is the door with three knockers. One would be for male visitors, one for women, and smaller one for children. Each makes a different sound, so the residents inside could answer the door accordingly.

A small museum dedicated to traditional life in Tozeur is run by a local artist. She gives lively demonstrations in cooking and weaving and even dressed me up in a traditional wedding outfit. Her singing while doing all these things was my favorite part.

Café Berbère serves traditional Berber coffee and other beverages on a roof terrace overlooking one of the medina’s main squares. I tried the orange blossom coffee and it was very strong and floral.

La Grande Boutique de la Medina is located in the same square and has every type of Tunisian souvenir you can imagine. The shop opposite has a stunning collection of antique furnishings and decor.

Visiting Tozeur Brickmakers

The sand-colored bricks covering much of Tozeur are made by hand locally. The family I met has been continuing this tradition for six generations. It is hard work that begins with mixing the clay by hand. It must have the correct percentage of red and white to achieve the approved shade.

After being shaped with a mold, the bricks are coated with ash and left to dry in the sun. Once dry, they are stacked in the family’s homemade kiln outside. The kiln is sealed with a palm tree trunk and fired. It can reach temps over 800 degrees Celsius!

Tozeur City Center

Daily life in Tozeur seems to center around the market. You can find everything from dates and fresh produce to spices and meats. Camel meat is popular here, so don’t be surprised to see a head or two hanging outside the butcher stand.

Popular souvenirs include woven baskets and “desert roses,” which are clusters of crystals found in the Sahara. For higher quality pottery and carpets, head to the covered shopping arcade nearby.

Where to Stay in Tozeur

I stayed in Dar Tozeur , a beautiful boutique hotel just inside the main entrance to the medina. Unfortunately it was too chilly during my winter visit to take a dip in either of the two swimming pools, though I did enjoy reading in the peaceful courtyard.

Food in Dar Tozeur’s restaurant was pretty disappointing, and I’d skip it in favor of the fabulous restaurants below.

Where to Eat in Tozeur

Restaurant tisouros.

This might be my favorite restaurant in Tunisia. Opened in 2023, Tisouros supports local farmers and women, sourcing much of its ingredients from the oasis. The salad arbi made of lettuces grown in the shade of the palm trees, is outstanding. So is the saffa, a tomatoey pearl couscous dish that’s a specialty of Tozeur.

Another regional specialty is chakhchoukha. This slightly sweet dish is made of traditional semolina bread called mtabga, which is cut into small pieces and tossed with chick peas, sultanas, and spices.

Restaurant Le Soleil

Where else in the world can you dine under the shade of an immense fake date palm tree? But the decor of Restaurant Le Soleil is just half the experience. Start with a plate of doigts de Fatma, or the “fingers of Fatima.” Tunisia’s version of eggrolls, they are filled with mashed potato, egg, and tuna and are so good!

Then order a gargoulette, a traditional Tunisian Berber dish. On menus it might be listed as “a la jarre.” Lamb and dromadaire (camel) are the most popular proteins, but I opted for chicken. The meat and vegetables are cooked in a sealed clay pot until they are fall-apart tender. I scraped out my pot to make sure I got every morsel.

Restaurant Les Arcades

With its white tablecloths and tuxedoed waiters, Les Arcades is one of the fancier restaurants in town. This is a great place to try “Berber pizza,” a spicy rolled calzone which comes as a free appetizer. I also really enjoyed the brik, a hot Tunisian pastry typically filled with egg and tuna.

You can find chakhchoukha and saffa here as well, though the traditional Tunisian couscous with lamb is an excellent choice.

How to Get To and Around Tozeur

There is a small airport in Tozeur with direct flights from Tunis and Paris. I flew from Tunis with Tunisair Express and it was a relatively easy experience, though my return flight was unexpectedly moved up five hours early. Schedule changes are common for this route, and you’ll definitely need to be prepared for last minute notifications.

I prebooked a ride to take me to my lodging as my flight arrived late at night, but there were plenty of taxis waiting outside the airport.

Getting around: The town center and medina are compact and easily walkable. Horse-drawn carriages parked all around the main tourist areas and are a pleasant way to see the date palm grove.

I arranged all my tours and excursions through local agency, Wildyness . Their website isn’t the most user-friendly, but they are very responsive on email and WhatsApp. I had a great experience with them and would recommend their services. (This is not a paid endorsement or affiliate relationship, just an honest review!)

Is visiting Tozeur on your Tunisia wish list?

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Want to see more places around Tunisia? Check out my guides to Kairouan and Dougga !

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March 5, 2024 at 7:16 am

Heather thank you again for an interesting posting. Your pictures of Tozeur look stunning. All the best, Celeste

March 27, 2024 at 5:42 am

Thanks, Celeste! I appreciate your kind comment!

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Best places to visit in Tozeur: mountain oases and Star Wars sets

Posted on February 12, 2019 | Julie J. |

Last Updated on November 5, 2022

Tozeur, near the Algerian border, is home to many wonders. From trekking to mountain oases to exploring Star Wars sets in the middle of the Sahara, the region will keep you busy. I guarantee you’ll be impressed and mesmerized by its splendid beauty.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on any links and make a purchase, I’ll get a small commission, at no cost to you.

Places to visit in Tozeur and around:

1 – the medina.

Tozeur’s Medina is special and unique, different from the others in Tunisia; it reflects the architecture of the region. The buildings are made of small ocher-colored bricks, assembled to create amazing geometric patterns. The designs usually represent flowers or Quranic verses.

Notice also the massive doors with three knockers, the one on the left for women, the one on the right for men and the one under for children. This way, people inside the house could know who was knocking and, hence, know who had to open the door.

Inside the medina, you can check out the  Dar Ben Azouz , a traditional house that you should be able to visit if it’s open (they tend to close whenever they feel like it). You can also visit the  Museum of Arts and Traditions  (rue de Kairouan). It’s located in an old Koubba (monument elevated on top of a marabout’s tomb) which served as a Quranic school and mosque during the 15th century. Same as for the Dar Ben Azouz, it’s often closed when it should be open.

Discover more Medinas across Tunisia.

2 – The palm groove

Another great place to visit in Tozeur is its palm grove, one of the biggest in the country and also one of the most beautiful. Around 350 000 palm trees, spread on 2 000 ha, creating a true jungle, consisting of three layers of vegetation: culture fields, fruit trees, and the palm trees.

You can visit the palm grove on foot, or you can rent a bicycle. You’ll find several restaurants and cafes here and there. In Eden Palm, you can take a tour to learn everything about palm trees. In Sahara Lounge, you can play paintball, play monkey in the trees, go up the climbing wall and do many more outdoor activities. In Chak Wak, you can take a tour that will take you to the origin of the world until today, it’s supposed to be serious, but you’ll laugh a lot.

3 – Day trip to the mountain oasis

The three mountain oasis of Chebika, Tamerza, and Midès, will definitely be the highlight of your stay in Tozeur and are some of the best places to visit in Tozeur. The landscape, as well as the old villages, are impressive.

Chebika is the closest oasis to Tozeur and is beautiful. On your way there, you can take a detour to the palm grove then keep on following the touristic circuit. You’ll stop at the old village, abandoned in 69 after massive floodings, the new town is a bit farther up the road.

There’s a small trek you can do, follow the path to the waterfall then up the mountain, and further you can go down to the old village.

Next stop is Tamerza, Tunisia’s biggest mountain oasis. The old village there has also been abandoned in 69. From afar it looks like a giant sandcastle.

In Tamerza you can organize a trek from there to Chebika. It takes around 5 hours, the views are amazing and the guides extremely knowledgeable. You can ask at the Syndicat d’Initiative de Tamerza. They can also help you visit the numerous caves of the region, usually full of fossils and prehistorical remains.

Midès is the Arizona of Tunisia; its canyons are quite a sight. The canyon used to surround the village completely (now abandoned), but cultivation needs have made the villagers fill one side of it. Down the canyon is the river, there’s a path leading down, and you can walk following the river. You can even swim, and there are some sandy parts.

How to visit the mountain oasis:

You can take a louage from Tozeur to Chebika and Tamerza, but it might be hard to find one to get back. The best option is to either rent a car or go through a tour. If you’re there during high season (winter) you can easily join one, during summer you’ll need to rent the jeep all for yourself. Ask your hotel about it, they will help you find a tour or a private car. You can couple this trip with a Sahara tour.

Related article: Discovering Southern Tunisia’s troglodyte villages

4 – Chott el-Jerid

Chott el Jerid is a salt plain, aka a mirage. I always had thought that mirages were hallucinations, it’s not, it’s more of an optical illusion. Salt plains are frequent in the Sahara, and the reflection of the sun on the salt makes it looks like there’s water. This Chott is a top-place to visit while in Tozeur

Chott el-Jerid is the biggest salt plain in Tunisia, around 2000 square miles and the Douz-Tozeur road is right in the middle of it. It’s an impressive sight, and the landscape is truly unique. If it weren’t so hot out there, the lake would look like snow.

5 – The Sahara

Ever since I’d set foot in Tunisia, I’d been dreaming of seeing the Sahara and let me tell you, I wasn’t disappointed one bit when I did. It’s magnificent. The Sahara is one of the last great wild places left in the world. It’s rough yet soft, dangerous and yet so peaceful. When you’re there, and you see nothing but sand, you just want to go deeper and deeper, until you find one of its hidden treasures. The Sahara is full of amazing sights, in Tunisian part, there are a lot of oases and ksour. Taking a méharée (camel safari) is a one-in-a-lifetime experience.

From the beginning of May until the beginning of October, the Sahara is officially closed. You cannot organize any long trip there. There are still several options if you wish to see the Sahara, you can arrange a little tour at sunset, and even spend the night in the desert. The best is to go in winter and take a 3 to 7 days trip in the desert.

6 – Ong Jemel

Ong Jemel (meaning camel neck) is a big rock shaped like a camel laying down and a famous attraction in Tozeur. Located in the middle of the desert, a visit to Ong Jemel is usually included in the Sahara day-tour. You can climb on top but be careful, it’s steep and slippery when you get down. From up there, you’ll get a beautiful view over the Sahara and its dunes.

7 – Mos Espa (Star Wars set)

A lot of scenes from Star Wars first saga were filmed in Tunisia, some of the sets were real villages already there before the crew came, and some others like Mos Espa were entirely created for the movies.

It’s a great place to take pictures, especially at sundown. The landscape around is fantastic: the Sahara and huge dunes surround the set.

It’s uninhabited, but there’s always souvenir sellers there. You can also take a tour around on camel-back.

You can go there on your own with a regular car, there’s a track, just learn beforehand what to do in case of a sand storm as you’ll be crossing the desert.

Nefta is another place to visit near Tozeur, a smaller city with a medina just as cute. The palm groove is also worth a look, located at the bottom of a vast natural pit. Nefta used to have dozens of sources alimenting the palm grove, but now it’s all dried up. Thanks to the UNESCO’s help, it benefited from an ambitious regeneration program and is now looking better than ever.

Nefta means “what comes out of the earth” in Arabic, and it is believed that the Triton lake from Greek mythology could have been located here. Nefta is also a profoundly spiritual city, with a strong Sufi tradition and around 100 marabouts (Saints’ mausoleums).

For more places in Tunisia, check out this Tunisia General Travel Guide.

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The city of Tozeur

The city of Tozeur is a Tunisian city on the borders of the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert, the largest of the five oases of the Jerid. Gradually built around its palm grove, it is the capital of the governorate of the same name.

The city of Tozeur is located northwest of Chott el-Jérid , near the Algerian border, renowned for its huge palm grove, its succulent dates and the beauty of the architecture of its houses and mosques in bricks baked in the sun, it is one of the jewels of southern Tunisia.

Tozeur is 450 kilometers southwest of Tunis. A city with an important religious past, it welcomes many scholars. Ibn Chabbat bequeathed him the irrigation system of the palm groves, and the poet Abou el Kacem Chebbi composed his famous Ela Toghat Al Alaam there, in the middle of the French protectorate. The contemporary topography of Tozeur pays homage to them, as well as to the marabouts.

The city experienced significant demographic growth, coupled with considerable expansion, during the second half of the 20th century, with the sedentarization of the Bedouins. It goes in a few decades from a population of about 11,000 inhabitants to 37,365 inhabitants, according to the 2014 census.

The architecture of its built heritage, in particular that of its medina characterized by raised brick patterns, is unique in Tunisia, along with that of the neighboring town of Nefta.

Agriculture, and in particular the monoculture of dates of the Deglet Nour variety, is its main resource, representing a third of Tunisian date production. Its brickyard is still in operation, to meet the needs of many construction sites. Since the 1990s.

This development is based, among other things, on the presence of an international airport and numerous hotels, on the promotion of heritage and filming locations, and on the organization of the International Oasis Festival.

Known for the superior quality of its dates and mainly the “deglet ennour” variety, fingers of light, with transparent and succulent flesh, Tozeur essentially lives off its oasis economy: agriculture remains the main activity of the city. The oasis of Tozeur has more than three million palm trees, including 400,000 in the city, but also 200 springs. It is surrounded by dunes and a stone desert.

The history of Tozeur dates back to the third millennium BC. It was Numidian, Christian, then Muslim. The population is now predominantly Arab, although the Berber tradition still exists.

Tozeur is marked by a strong cultural tradition. Many contemporary works are exhibited at the Planet Oasis cultural center. The city has many museums and an entertainment center telling the story of the Thousand and One Nights.

Tozeur has a diversified tourist infrastructure: luxury hotels, camps, guest houses, golf course, an internationally renowned museum Dar Chraït, a huge palm grove, mountain oases and waterfalls. It is the starting point for many excursions: Nefta, Chott el-Djérid and its mirages, the mountain oases of the eastern Atlas or the Ong Jmel region where George Lucas’ Star Wars trilogy was filmed, but also the film The English Patient, among the most famous.

The city of Tozeur in pictures

The city of Tozeur in video

Where to stay in tozeur.

In Tozeur, the choice of accommodation is so vast that it can meet all needs and all tastes! Between hotels, guest houses and vacation rentals, you are spoiled for choice.

Hotels in Tozeur

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Top visits in Tozeur

Tozeur is the place where there is no risk of getting bored! Between its palm grove, its medina and its museums we have enough for a week. Discover with us the essentials of Tozeur.

Tamarza waterfalls

The mountain oases of Chebika

The canyons of Midès

The palm grove of Tozeur

The Dar Chraiet museum

Nefta’s basket

Ong Jmel Tozeur

Mos Epsa Star Wars

The old Medina of Tozeur

The salt lake Chott Djerid

The zoo of Tozeur

The Chakwak Museum

Tozeur on the map

Tozeur is very much a city relying on tourism, but everything is done in a tasteful manner. Early developers understood that it was the traditions and culture that represented the possibilities for the future. While agriculture remains an important income, tourism employs a large part of the 40,000 inhabitants. But it is not only the lifestyle and the specific architecture of Tozeur, that bring tourists out here. The city is well situated at the fringe of the seasonal large lake Chott el Jerid, allowing visits into the Sahara, as well as to many other smaller settlements.

Small arches

The history of Tozeur goes back a couple thousand years. Through most of its history has been autonomous, and beyond the direct control of Tunisian rulers. With the arrival of the French protectorate, no place in the country resisted new lifestyles and education more than Tozeur.

Houses of Tozeur are decorated with rectangular yellow bricks arranged in patterns. The result is one of the most distinct and beautiful architectural styles of Tunisia. What is even better, is that all new houses implement the same style. If you see a construction site, you will see that load-bearing walls are made in common concrete, and the yellow bricks are added just as decoration.

This almost metropolitan city has surprisingly many bicycles,- very rare in Tunisia, and quite a number of women in black veils covering everything. Note the use of white and black ribbons on their cloaks, blue is married, white is unmarried.

Carpet shops

Ouled el-Hadef

Brick walls

Ouled el-Hadef clearly has one of the most impressive desert quarters in Tunisia. This area is almost unchanged over the centuries, and some of the houses are from the 14th century. The house and decoration style is even older.

Most houses are two storeys, and there are fairly few with houses towards the street. When they do have windows, they are made of mashrabiyya (small palm pieces put together in intricate patterns), which lets some light in, and casts decorative shadows on the inner walls.

Light is commonly let into rooms from inner courtyards, all in correspondence with a very conservative view of women and family life.

Doors and interiors

Blue decorated door

White decorated door

Tozeur is one of the best places in Tunisia to go door spotting. Styles vary a lot, and many doors are unique to this part of the country.

Note the 2 or 3 door knockers. The number reflects the family structure, but explanations vary. One says that the third knockers is added to the door when the family has its first child, or its first son. The other explanation says that the right knocker is for the men of the house, the left for the women and the lower for the children. According to this explanation, each knocker gives a different sound, the male knocker the deepest.

There is a small museum in the area, the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions which is actually a holy man’s mansion. Here you can look into the tiny rooms of Sidi Aissa’s (lower photo), inspect decorative elements and look into old documents (in Arabic, of course). Among the latter are documents describing the manner of distributing water between the properties.

Traditional bedroom

Marabout of Sidi Aguili

There is nothing special, historical or religiously, about the Marabout of Sidi Aguili. But its setting is ideal, right where where a water canal enters the oasis gardens, and with plenty of flower bushes in front. It is among the most popular postcard motifs from Tozeur.

Shopping quarters

Carpet shop

Hanging carpets

The shopping quarters of Tozeur are among Tunisia’s most attractive. Streets are made up traditional Tozeur houses, and exhibits are very colourful.

Locally made rugs and baskets seem to be among the better options for those interested in picking up a souvenir from Sahara.

El Farkous Mosque

El Farkous Mosque is a rather new mosque, but has the highest minaret in Tozeur, and is today one of the most noted buildings in Tozeur.

Dar Cherait Museum

Depending on your taste, it can be argued that the Dar Cherait Museum is one of the best in Tunisia.

Since it is private, it has a higher entrance fee than most other museums, 3TD plus 1.5TD for camera permit.

It has exhibitions depicting life among both ordinary and the rich in bygone times. Instead of the normal bus driver uniforms, the personnel here wear traditional costume, and whenever you find a corner without other visitors, you can imagine what Tunisia was like a hundred years ago.

Ras el-Ain, where you are allowed to take a dip

The 250,000 date palms, and all the vegetation in between, get the water from 200 springs. The entire oasis is about 11 sq km, with Tozeur as the large centre, but there are small settlements scattered around the area.

Around the city, nature is far from flat, and tiny valleys and riverbeds are found all over. Between the palms that are penetrating the city from all sides, a complicated irrigation system is found, together with plants and trees, that gives plums, grapes and strawberries.

In older times, Tozeur had a very strict system of sharing water between plantations. In modern times, water pumps have made it possible with more intense agriculture. The sad result so far is a fall of the water table.

Village of Bled el-Haddar

The minaret

The village of Bled el-Haddar is part of the best trip through the oasis, although getting to it simply takes too little time to create the effect of a separate village. From the main road of Tozeur, it is only 500 metres. But it is historically set apart from Tozeur, with its own identity.

It has one attraction, the mosque, where the minaret is built on Roman foundations (top photo). This among the very few remains of the Roman town Tusuros.

The mosque is sometimes open, I was among the unfortunate. Inside you should be able to admire a stone mihrab built by craftsmen from Balearic Islands.

Marabout of Sidi Bou Lifa

Jujube tree

This must be among Tunisia’s most beautiful marabout. Sid Bou Lifa is said to have planted the jujube tree which stands in front of his tomb by his own hands.

Paradise zoo and gardens

The zoo and garden out here, past the Marabout of Sidi Bou Lifa is better than you might expect. The garden is well-maintained with trees and flowers of all kinds. Pheasants roam the area, apparently aware that tourists try to photograph them. I worked hard to get the photo above.

The zoo is small, but has a few interesting animals, like baboons, lions, boars, snakes and a cola-drinking camel. Cages are small, so this may not be a place for tourists with a soft heart for animals.

The shop here sells natural syrups, like pistachio, rose and pomegranate. I disregarded this, just to find out that there is no other place to buy these products. But by then it was too late.

Garden Path

Weird Belvedere

Belvedere belongs to the early stage of tourist development of Tozeur, and the result is so kitsch that it almost is fascinating. An unknown local artist with Jeff Koons aspirations has been let lose on a large boulder, designing three faces. Mount Rushmore? But who is the model?

At nights the Belvedere is illuminated, in an attempt to please tourists at Tozeur’s more expensive hotels.

Practicalities

Hotels and alternatives

Tozeur is an important tourist destination, and this is reflected in the selection of hotels and camping grounds. The value for money has improved in recent years, and some of the budget options here offer some of the best deals in all of Tunisia. Both for those with less money, and plenty of it, Tozeur has got it all. There are 3 camping grounds, but remember that in winter time, nights can be cold.

Restaurants and Alternatives

Tozeur has many good value restaurants, many aiming at budget travellers. Along the Avenue Abdulkacem Chebbi there are many restaurants with menus posted next to the door.

Posh diners are found in the posh hotels.

There are some bars in Tozeur, all the ones aiming at foreign travellers are found in the better hotels.

Change money

No problems. Banks, ATMs and exchange services in hotels. Most Western money is accepted (even smaller currencies like Norwegian kroners), and your only safe credit card options are VISA and MasterCard.

Good connections with shared taxis or buses in directions of Nefta, Gafsa (and beyond) and Kebili/Gabes.

Tozeur has also plenty of car rentals, where you can get a car on the spot, but where you should book a bit ahead if you want to get the car of your choice.

In summer, Tozeur can be extremely hot. In late August 2000 I experienced more than 45?C (over 110?F). This is not recommended for children, older travellers and anyone with a health condition.

The very best time to visit, is in winter.

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The medina of Tozeur

The Medina of Tozeur , also called the district of old Ouled el Hadef, is one of the best preserved in Tunisia. It has a magnificent stone wall that surrounds it. We notice at the entrance the traditional stone of the region: the briquette. All the walls and most of the administrative buildings are made with this material built in the southwest of the city. You can also visit the factory.

As soon as you enter the city, you will be bewitched by the charm of the beautifully well-preserved small vaulted streets. A visit is essential to fully understand the city. This very pleasant visit will allow you to walk the narrow streets of the fortified Medina without having to consult a map.

At the bend of a path, you will come across one of the oldest and most beautiful doors in Tunisia. This one is worked in palm wood. At the heart of the city, there is also the Koranic school and its imposing minaret, as well as the house of the bey, a sort of local governor. This house is also famous since it was used by Anthony Minghella to shoot some scenes of The English Patient. There is also a remarkable mashrabiya , a kind of palm wood window, allowing the woman to look outside without being seen. The visit lasts approximately one hour.

The medina is not very large, It has some covered streets and small squares, but it is known for its unique traditional architecture which uses bricks on the facades of buildings, forming a characteristic geometric decoration. Apart from the market, the narrow streets and the small shops of the souk, it is interesting to visit the small museum of archeology and popular traditions, located in the old Koubba of Sidi Bou Aissa.

The best preserved areas of the medina are to the left (east) of the museum , which houses the palace of the former governor (Dar-Bey). There is also the Medina and Sidi Sidi Lakhdar Ben AbibGaleb mosque.

The medina of Tozeur in pictures

The medina of tozeur in video, the medina on the map.

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Tozeur is a large and beautiful oasis with thousands of palm trees, fig trees, pomegranate trees, and banana groves. Tozeur is well known for growing the best dates in all of Tunisia, which is exported around the world. Historically, Tozeur was an important stopping point for caravans crossing the Sahara desert.

One of the distinctive highlights of this city is its unique architecture. The architecture in this city is renowned for its use of brickwork in creating beautiful geometric designs within the buildings and streets especially within the old medina.

What to Do in Tozeur?

There are numerous activities to enjoy in Tozeur including:

• Visit the palm museum to learn about the history and cultivation of palm trees.
• Enjoy a horse carriage ride through the town and the old medina.
• Take a stroll through the old medina.
• Visit a zoo featuring many animals from the Sahara regions and sub-Saharan Africa. This could be a fun family activity.
• Walk through the  Chak Wak Park to see life-size sculptures and a variety of paintings and designs to give you an educational tour about evolution, history, and religion . 
• Have fun zip-lining or tree trekking through a grove of palm trees at the Sahara Lounge.
• Relax in the “hamman” which is similar to a Turkish bath.
• Eat a traditional Tunisian meal including couscous and lamb. Several restaurants will even serve camel meat.

International Festival of Oasis

During December each year, the International Festival of Oasis is held in the town of Tozeur. Tunisians and international visitors come to this popular festival to enjoy dancing, playing of music, camel racing, storytelling, and other fun activities.

Want to Visit Tozeur?

Tozeur has its own airport, the Nefta International Airport, making it easily accessible to visit via a flight. If you are interested in visiting Tozeur, our travel experts are happy to assist you to plan an unforgettable Tunisia tour .

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11 days in Tunisia - a trip report from April 2024 - Tunisia Forum

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11 days in Tunisia - a trip report from April 2024

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My partner and I recently returned from a trip to Tunisia for 11 days, and thought I'd give you a rundown of our itinerary in case it is helpful for any future planners. I've included the costs that I can remember. We had planned on using public transport, but as you can see below, some things did and did not go to plan.

Our hotel was Dar Ben Gacem Kahia in Tunis Medina. Beautiful hotel with a very nice rooftop. By the time we arrived, all the restaurants in the medina seemed to be shut, so purchased an "escalope" sandwich from one of the small takeaways in the medina.

Took a Bolt to Bardo museum (I used Bolt with my UK mobile number and Tunisian data eSim). Entry is 13 dinar, cash only. Brilliant museum, really worth visiting.

Then took a walk around Tunis medina and wider area. Visited the Cathedral of Saint Vincent de Paul. Check the opening times as it is shut for a certain period during the day.

A local man directed us to the viewpoint on top of a “government shop” in the medina. The tiles on the wall and floor up here are beautiful. Very nice site and view of Tunis.

Tried to get dinner in the medina but everywhere was shut, I think due to it being a Friday evening, especially just after Eid. We took a Bolt to another restaurant in the city centre, which also turned out to be shut, but wandered along the main boulevard and found some open restaurants.

This was our day of visiting Dougga.

Took a louage from Bab Sadoun station in Tunis to Teboursouk. There's no ticket office at this Tunis louage station so we wandered around asking for Teboursouk/Dougga. All the louage drivers are very helpful and directed us to the correct louage. However there was quite a long wait, over an hour, before the louage filled up and left.

On the way, the louage driver asked if we wanted him to call ahead for a taxi, which we did, and he dropped us off on the side of the road next to a waiting taxi. The louage cost 11 dinar, and the taxi cost 25 dinar, including 3 hours waiting time. It’s certainly worth getting the taxi because the Dougga site is up a long hill, too far to walk really from Teboursouk.

Dougga is an incredible site. We loved walking up the hill a bit, away from the main ruins, to be amongst the wildflowers. The ruins are also fascinating to walk amongst. Definitely recommended.

The taxi from Dougga was waiting for us to go back to Teboursouk, and we thought this was all running very smoothly. But on arriving at Teboursouk’s small louage station at 3pm, the few drivers that were there told us that there were no more louages back to Tunis today, and we’d have to come back tomorrow morning. We then asked at the small bus station kiosk, only to be told there were no buses either (despite the online bus timetable – for what it’s worth - saying there were several).

Fortunately we met another tourist wanting to go back to Tunis, and after assuring ourselves there were definitely no louages or buses, we formed a plan to get a taxi. It seemed a bit fruitless haggling with what seemed like Teboursouk’s only two taxi drivers, but together we all landed on a price of 180 dinar to drive back to Tunis. Considering our predicament, this seemed like quite the bargain. The taxi driver, in his yellow taxi, did get stopped by the police enroute, but after quite a long chat, we were on our way to Tunis again.

Arriving in Tunis, we took a Bolt to our next hotel, La Villa Bleue in Sidi Bou Said. (While I know we could have taken the tram, a taxi seemed like a good option to at least see some of Sidi Bou Said in daylight.)

Sidi Bou Said is pretty, with its whitewashed walls, blue doorways, cobbled streets and bright bougainvillea. It feels very different to the rest of Tunis. Personally I would just manage your expectations about how it compares to Santorini, though. You realise that the pictures of Sidi Bou Said are taken from an overpriced café, and when we were there the famous view was partly obscured by some ugly white metal hoarding, and the white paint was peeling off. Still, it was a nice place to wander around and try one of the bambalouni donuts.

This day saw us visit the various sites in Carthage. We took a taxi to the Roman amphitheatre, and walked the rest of the way from there. The sites aren’t as impressively complete as Dougga, but it is wonderful to learn the history of this monumental settlement. 12 dinar cash for an entry ticket that covers all the Carthage sites.

We picked up our luggage and headed to the airport for our flight to Tozeur. Important to note here that the check in desks for the domestic flights are all downstairs. We wandered around upstairs for quite a while looking for check in desks that didn’t appear to exist. Even the information desk couldn’t help us out, directing us the wrong way. It wasn’t until another passenger overheard us and directed us downstairs and to the far corner.

Our flight to Tozeur with Tunisair Express was delayed from 5.20pm to 9pm. Our guesthouse host picked us up from the airport. Despite the long delay, I’m still happy we took the flight option. We met two other guests who had taken the bus, and said it took 7 hours next to screaming children.

Took a tour to Chebika oasis, Tamerza and Mides Canyon. This trip was spectacular. Just the two of us and a driver in a 4x4. The sites were beautiful and it is really is extraordinary to see an oasis in the desert. Note that Mides Canyon is extremely close to the Algerian border (you can literally see the border crossing) and so is firmly in the UK foreign office “Advise against all but essential travel” orange zone. There are many organised tours that go here without issue, but just be aware that technically it may affect your travel insurance.

Our guesthouse host organised a horse tour of Tozeur oasis and the medina for the afternoon. At 20 Euros for 2 hours it was probably more expensive that just getting one from the side of the road, but our host highly recommended him, and the man (or so he claimed) was the only English-speaking horse tour guide in Tozeur. In my view, it was certainly worth the money. Our guide took us in the botanical garden in Tozeur oasis, talking us through all of the plants and flowers there, and then walked us through the medina, pointing out lots of fascinating bits of history and architecture.

In the evening we walked to Ras El Ain Park (aka Tozeur Park) to see the faces in the rock. It’s a fun place to be at sunset.

Our day to get to Douz and into the desert. We had planned to do this next section by louage via Kebili, but the fact that we had a definitive deadline of 2pm in Douz (and in light of our previous louage experience), we opted for a private transfer. The other benefit of a transfer was we could stop for some nice pictures at Chott el Djerid salt lake, and another site with interesting rocks called Debabcha, on the way. The transfer cost 83 Euros.

In Douz we had lunch and wandered down to the Defi du Desert parking lot to get our transfer to Camp Abdelmoula in the Sahara. This 4x4 transfer cost 140 Euros, which obviously is expensive but at the end of the day, it is a return 2-3 hour transfer through the Sahara. There were small cafes and toilets enroute. People can and apparently do do this drive themselves, but you would need a certain level of offroad experience and a good 4x4 as the later part of the journey involves driving over sand dunes with a potential to get lost.

After the long but extraordinary drive, we arrived at the camp. It really is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by incredible dunes that you can climb for sunset. We were the only English speakers at the camp, but everyone did their best to make us feel welcome. It was a comfortable campsite that could cater to children. The food and facilities were surprisingly impressive, and the main hut even had power sockets (from solar panels) to charge your devices. You can buy drinks and water (5 dinar for 1.5L) but better to buy water in Douz before you leave.

There was a bread cooking demonstration and then music with drums. A bright moon destroyed hopes of evening stargazing, but we awoke at 3am to witness the majestic sight of the Milky Way over the Sahara.

Another 2 hour drive back from the campsite to Douz. To my surprise, we picked up a hitchhiker in the desert and drove him to Douz. Our driver said he lived in the desert looking after camels.

We were planning on taking louages today to Djerba via Gabes, but met a man at a restaurant in Douz who offered to arrange a driver for us to take us to our next hotel in Djerba, via Matmata. Matmata was somewhere we wanted to see but couldn’t make it fit our schedule, so seeing the opportunity to turn a travel day into a “doing” day (along with some other personal reasons), we settled on a price of 400 dinar for the trip.

After an hour or so walking around Douz and its market, our driver picked us up from the restaurant. Matmata was a fascinating place to visit. We walked around one of the local underground homes, giving some money to the family for welcoming us in.

Our journey took us via the ferry from Jorf to Djerba, and on to our next guesthouse.

Djerba, like Tozeur, is an interesting place for anyone with an interest in large derelict hotels. I would love to come back by myself to photograph these fascinating abandoned structures that line the east side of the island. Clearly Tunisia was hit hard by the terrorist attacks, and I hope they can make a good recovery.

We rented electric bikes for 60 dinar each, for 24 hours. We rode out along the Flamingo Island spit, then through Houmt Souk and down to Djerbahood. We thought Djerbahood was beautiful and fascinating, and really enjoyed walking through with our bikes. The synagogue shuts between midday and around 3 or 4, so we could only see the outside. We had overly ambitious plans to cycle to Guellala, but Djerba is actually quite large so we ditched the plan and rode back to the cycle shop, after a journey of about 40km. It was fun to cycle through the small villages and see another “real life” side of Djerba.

We then took a taxi to Guellala Museum, which is up on a hill with a terrific sunset view. 12 dinar entry per person. The museum is worth visiting. It shuts at 6pm but the café is open later to have a tea while watching the sunset. Afterwards we wandered down into town, and had a look behind the scenes of a pottery shop to see how they make the local pottery. I saw something on Google Maps called “The World’s Largest Jar” which you can’t really say no to visiting. To be fair, it was quite a large jar. Then took a taxi back home.

While on the subject of taxis, all taxis in Djerba (and elsewhere in Tunisia, in fact) seemed very honest and would have the meter running by default – not even needing to ask.

A day to get to Sousse . We took a taxi to Houmt Souk louage station, and then a louage to Gabes for 15 dinar. To clear up something I was worried about - there is space in the louage for your luggage. And toilets at the louage station, although they are not clean.

Gabes has a busy louage station, with any destination you can imagine. You buy your ticket from the ticket office, but have to be the correct queue for your destination (Sousse is line number 1). Ticket from Gabes to Sousse is 22.2 dinar.

Arriving at Gabes, we saw the louage for Sousse only had one person on it. Thinking we had time to grab a sandwich, we went to one of the small eateries that line the station. Unfortunately with our backs turned to purchase said sandwich, the louage filled up quickly in a sudden rush and left without us. We were told at the ticket office there would be no louage for Sousse for a while.

Then, maybe 45 minutes later, a louage driver starting calling out “Sousse”. The louage filled up quickly and we were on our way. However, the louage routed via Sfax and we had to wait a while in a car park for a second louage to arrive to take us to Sousse. The other passengers on the louage (all Tunisians) were also not happy with this arrangement, believing we were all on a direct louage to Sousse, and things got quite heated on board. However, they were all very funny and we had a good laugh, making it a very long but entertaining journey. Having left our accommodation in Djerba at 9.15am, we didn’t arrive to our Sousse accommodation until 8.10pm – a full day of travelling!

Our accommodation for the night was Dar Lekbira in Sousse medina. A really beautiful hotel with gorgeous tiles and a wonderful central courtyard.

Our booked excursion to Kairouan and El Jem. We wanted to see both sites but only had one day to do it. Given there’s no transport connection between them (meaning you’d have to come back to Sousse midway through), a tour group seemed the best option, despite it not really being our preferred way to visit places. Even despite the obligatory tour group stop at a carpet shop, it was a great day and both sites were certainly worth visiting.

We were back in Sousse by 3.30pm, which gave us time to visit the Ribat in Sousse Medina (8 dinar entry). It was a special experience to climb the tower as the sun was setting, and listen to the azaan (call to prayer) ring around the whole city.

Shared shuttle (booked through Holiday Extras) to Enfidha airport. As our hotel was in the medina, our pick-up was from the nearby Sousse Palace hotel. Very cheap transfer but required an early start, stopping at all the big hotels up the coast, and sometimes waiting for people to get out of bed (grr!).

All in all, it was a great trip. Tunisia offers a surprising amount of variety, and some really fantastic experiences. I did not feel hassled in any of the medinas, and did not feel pressurised into buying anything. Everyone seemed incredibly welcoming and friendly, telling us how welcome we were to visit their country.

3 replies to this topic

An outstanding , well constructed, good to read and detailed report .

A #good a report as i have read on the forum.

You covered a lot of great destinations 😁

For each city /place you visited there is very good information for others 👏

I am just going to read it again 😂

Haha, thanks Mick. I read a lot of really useful information on this forum - from you and others (thank you) - so thought it might be helpful to report back on my trip!

That was some adventure 😁

The louage argy bargy had me laughing. 😂

Like you guys, it was all Tunisians on board, bar my wife and myself.

They shared snacks and fruit with us during the long journey 😊

It was our second Tunisian holiday and that experience alone ensured us returning time and time again. .Wonderful generous people.

Memorable journey that was ! And very hot, i recall 🔥

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Star Wars Tunisia: A Complete Filming Location Guide 2024 (+ bonus scouting locations too!)

A re you a star wars fan or just looking for something cool to do in tunisia then this complete guide for star wars locations in tunisia is for you.

As a child of the 80’s, the 3 original Star Wars films were omnipresent. I watched them as a kid, but as I grew up, I lost interest. Until I went to Tunisia. I spent two months in the country of Tunisia in 2024, and during that time, I took a road trip around the country visiting several Star Wars filming sites between Tatouine and Tozeur. The other-worldly desert landscapes of Tunisia were inspiring and reignited my excitement for the Star Wars universe. As soon as the road trip was over, I started on a new adventure: watching every Star Wars film in chronological order.

Watching and rewatching those Star Wars films was even more thrilling as I wrote this blog post. I saw the real-life places where Princess Amidala and Anakin first met in Mos Espa, I walked the streets of the slave quarters where Anakin lived with his mother, Shmi, and saw the courtyard where Anakin built his pod racer. In this blog post, I have included not only the many Star Wars filming locations in Tunisia, but also the inspiring locations that were scouted out during preliminary research, and are worth a visit, as they served as inspiration to building the world of Tatooine.

Short on time? Here’s what’s inside:

• Star Wars filming locations in Tunisia
• Star Wars scouting locations in Tunisia
• Videos of our Star Wars road trip around Tunisia
• A complete map of the Star Wars filming and scouting locations
• The best ways to travel around Tunisia
• FAQ section for Star Wars fans heading to Tunisia

Book a 5-Day Star Wars Tour in Tunisia

May the Force be with you as you visit all these iconic film locations.

NickiPostsTravelStuff.com contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon.com links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Read the disclaimer for more information. I only recommend products that I believe in.

Here are my top 5 favorite locations

• Ksar Ouled Soltane
• Ksar Hadada
• Chebika Oasis

16 Star Wars Locations In Tunisia

Here are the 16 scouting and filming locations for Star Wars in Tunisia. They are spread across southern Tunisia between the Tatouine, Tozeur, and Medenine regions.

Read more: All blog posts about traveling in Tunisia

1. Star Wars Filming Location: Mos Espa

Movies with this filming location.

The Phantom Menace, Episode I

Attack of the Clones, Episode II

Where Mos Espa appears on the screen

Mos Espa is the town where Anakin Skywalker grew up, and where Watto enslaved him. This is where Qui-Gon Jinn, Jar Jar Binks, and Padmé first met Anakin when they were looking for parts to fix their ship in Phantom Menace . This is also where Anakin becomes free after winning the pod race. He returns many years in Attack of the Clones looking for his mother.

What Mos Espa is Like now

Mos Espa is one of the few filming locations in Tunisia that is entirely false. Up close you can see that all the structures feel like paper mache. They are not as strong as they appear. When you walk inside of them, you can see the wood of the set holding everything up. That said, it is still very cool to see. You really do feel that you are walking around inside of a Star Wars movie.

Because this set was built entirely for Star Wars, it does not have a regular function besides attracting tourists. There are vendors surrounding the area selling dolls, rocks, scarves, and other toys. There are also a ton of guys around offering you quad rides and camel rides. They are very annoying and follow you around unless you are very strict with them. One of them followed me around for a while and pushed me against his sitting camel so that I would take a photo with it, even though I said I didn’t want to many times. He did not leave us alone until my male friend yelled at him.

How to get to Mos Espa

Mos Espa is located about 40 minutes northwest of the desert town of Tozeur. You can take paved roads until you reach Mos Espa. It is easy and free. We went in our rental car. A 4×4 is not necessary to reach Mos Espa. Be careful in the Mos Espa parking lot. Several short grey columns are marking the parking area. However, many of them are broken, fallen over, or missing so it can get confusing. I actually hit one with my rental car because I couldn’t see it from the driver’s side.

Location: Star Wars: Mos Espa

2. Star Wars Filming Location: Eriguet Dunes

Where eriguet dunes appear on the screen.

These sand dunes are on the outskirts of the town of Mos Espa. The Naboo spacecraft lands here. The dunes also serve as a backdrop for the slave quarters, where Anakin builds his racing pod.

What the Eriguet Dunes are like now

They are sand dunes and look exactly as you would expect them to. They cover a lot of the expanse of the desert area, just south of the Chott el Gharsa.

How to get to the Eriguet Dunes

The Eriguest Dunes are next to the Mos Espa film set, which you can reach easily on paved roads from Tozeur. You can walk over to them from Mos Espa if you want. To go deep into the desert and the dunes, you will need to take a camel or a quad. You can organize this with the sellers at the Mos Espa site directly (they’re annoying), or you can book a tour ahead of time.

Location: Eriguet Dunes

3. Star Wars Filming Location: Ong Jemal

Where ong jemal appears on the screen.

Ong Jemal is a large formation in the shape of a camel’s neck and head. In The Phantom Menace, this is seen in a couple of places. First, it appears in the background of the pod race that Anakin wins. Secondly, Darth Maul lands on top of this and eventually fights with Qui-Gon Jinn here.

What Ong Jemal is like now

This large rock formation sits in the middle of the desert, south of the Chott el Gharsa. There is a formation on one side that resembles the neck and head of a camel. On the other side, there is a platform-like formation. There is a path leading up to the center of the formation, and you can walk all over it. There is a shack with a table in front selling trinkets and rocks. This is a popular destination to reach on a quad trip from Tozeur.

How to get to Ong Jemal

You can reach Ong Jemal from Mos Espa via camel or quad tour, which you can organize at Mos Espa. If you didn’t drive to Mos Espa, then you can take a quad tour from Tozeur.

Location: Ong Jmal

4. Star Wars Filming Location: Sidi Bouhlel

A New Hope, Episode IV

Where Sidi Bouhlel appears on the screen

Sidi Bouhlel is a red rock ravine that is used for the wide-angle scenes in The Phantom Menace during the pod race that Anakin wins. It takes place around Mos Espa in the film. In A New Hope , this is the location where the Jawas kidnapped R2D2 after he and C3PO go in different directions. This is also where the Sand People attacked Luke Skywalker before meeting Ben Kenobi. The current parking lot for Sidi Bouhlel is the site where Luke discovered all the dead Jawas.

What Sidi Bouhlel is like now

This red rock canyon gets crowded in the high season, and you can find the parking lot full of cars, tour vans, and vendors. You can hike up and see the white and green mosques at the top. You can easily spend a couple of hours wandering around the canyon area. It is also called “Star Wars Canyon.”

How to get to Sidi Bouhlel

You can find the Sidi Bouhlel ravine about 30 minutes outside of the town of Tozeur. Park in the parking lot (it’s big) and walk into the canyon on the left. You need a car to get here. If you don’t have a rental car, then you can hire a taxi in Tozeur to take you. Just make sure he waits for you to go back.

Location: Djebel Sidi Bouhlel

5. Star Wars Scouting Location: Mides Oasis

The Phantom Menace, Episode I (scouting location)

Where Mides Oasis appears on the screen

The Mides Oasis was originally considered during the scouting location trip for The Phantom Menace . In Mides, you can find an ancient village on top of the hill overlooking the canyon. The canyon is also wide and you can get great shots looking down. In the end, Mides Oasis was not used for either the village or canyon scenes. Instead, Ksar Hadada and Ksar Medenine were used for the slave quarters, and Sidi Bouhlel was used for the canyon scenes.

What Mides Oasis is like now

The Mides Oasis area feels like a big park. There is one entrance down a dirt road. Near the parking area, there are a few shops and a small cafe. There is also a primitive bathroom that costs 1 TND. You can hire a guide if you want, or you can walk around the area on your own. There are large areas with palm trees and date trees that seem to be privately owned. Men are working in these plots. Across from the palm tree gardens, you will find the canyon, to your left. It is incredibly beautiful and massive. You can follow the path that goes parallel to the canyon. There are a few cafes and lookout points along the path. There are also men selling rocks and Toureg jewelry.

How to get to Mides Oasis

The Mides Oasis is the last stop before the border with Algeria. It’s easiest if you have a rental car. You can drive one hour north from Tozeur along the P16 highway, and you’ll run into it. There are plenty of signs marking the way to the entrance. You will need to drive along a narrow dirt road for a couple of minutes until you reach the parking area. The parking area is not big but it’s usually not that crowded, so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding parking.

Location: Mides Oasis

6. Star Wars Scouting Location: Chebika Oasis

A New Hope, Episode IV (scouting location)

Where Chebika Oasis appears on the screen

Despite not making the final cut, Chebika was strongly considered for several Mos Eisley scenes in A New Hope . The sites in Ajim were chosen instead of Chebika for these scenes (stormtrooper checkpoint and cantina exterior).

What Chebika Oasis is like now

Chebika is a beautiful place that feels almost fake because it is so beautiful. There is a giant loop path that you can take from the parking lot. If you go the right first, you will walk down a path that takes you through a palm tree garden and a canyon. There used to be rushing water passing through the canyon, but it hasn’t rained enough in the past several years. If you keep going, you’ll turn a corner to find a small waterfall and an area where men are selling trinkets.

Keep following the path up above the waterfall, and you’ll walk along a small river, and eventually, the path will become very steep. The first section of this steep area has stairs to walk on. To reach the peak of the mountain, you’ll need to continue up a dirt path. From there, you can see the remnants of the ancient village down below, abandoned after the floods of 1969. Then follow the path that takes you through a narrow passageway between two large rocks. You’ll then descend through the village, and eventually find yourself back in the parking lot.

How to get to Chebika Oasis

The Chebika Oasis is just off Highway P16, about 20 minutes south of the Mides Oasis. Many signs direct you through the town of Chebika to reach the oasis. You will arrive at a dirt parking lot. There are plenty of parking spots here. If you want, you can ask one of the locals to be your guide. Or more likely, they will ask you first if you want a guide.

Location: Historic Village Chebika

7. Star Wars Scouting Location: Tamerza Oasis

Where tamerza appears on the screen.

Because of the canyon, Tamerza was considered for the pod racing scenes. In the end, it didn’t work out, but it’s still worth a visit, especially if you’re already planning to visit Chebika and Mides.

What Tamerza Oasis is like now

Tamerza, also seen as Tamaghza on the map, is a small town on the P16, between Mides and Chebika Oases. There was once an ancient village here but it is now abandoned after a flood came through the area in 1969. There are several palm and date trees in the area. But the main attraction is the small waterfall or cascade on the lower level. The waterfall is small and a little underwhelming. You can swim in it if the weather is nice. There is also a canyon that you can walk through.

On the upper level where you park, some shops are selling the standard items of the area (scarves, toys, wood carvings, pottery, etc.), as well as a small cafe. We had lunch here and tried the “Berber pizza” and the famous palm juice of the area.

How to get to Tamerza Oasis

When driving on the P16, look for signs that say “Tamaghza Cascade.” There is a small road that will lead you off the highway and downhill, leading you to the dirt parking area. It is obvious where to park because there are shops and cafes around. After parking, follow a small path that will take you down into the canyon. Go left to see the canyon, and right to see the cascade.

Location: Tamaghza Oasis (for the village) and Grand Falls of Tamaghza (for the canyon and cascade)

8. Star Wars Filming Location: Chott el Djerid

Revenge of the Sith, Episode III

Where Chott el Djerid appears on the screen

Chott el Djerid is the largest salt flat in Africa. It was the location used for the small dome structure representing the exterior of the Lars Homestead. This structure is the home where Luke Skywalker grew up in A New Hope . After filming in 1977 the home was torn down but reconstructed for the prequel films. You can see the home in Attack of the Clones when Anakin and Padme come looking for Anakin’s mother, and meet Lars and his step-brother, Owen. Shmi Skywalker’s funeral is also held here. In Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Won Kenobi hands the baby Luke Skywalker to Owen, Anakin’s half-brother, in front of the Lars Homestead.

What Chott el Djerid is like now

The Chott el Djerid is a large salt flat in the south of Tunisia. If you look at Google Maps, it is blue and will look like a large lake. Yet in reality is a dry salt flat. There is one main highway going through the center of the salt flat. Off to the sides of the highway, you can find a few kitschy roadside stops of piles of salt. There are several flags put into these salt piles, and a few are made into jokes. For example, there is a small boat that says “Titanic,” and a small hut that says “hotel.”

How to get to Lars Homestead (exterior)

The Lars Homestead does not serve a purpose in any contemporary way, other than being a tourist attraction. You can find the Lars Homestead about 30 minutes west of Tozeur along the P3 Highway. You will need to pass through the town of Nefta first. You’ll need to turn off the paved road and drive on a dirt road for a bit. But it is possible to do the drive with a regular sedan. You don’t need a quad or 4×4 truck.

Location: Lars Homestead | Chott el-Djerid

9. Star Wars Scouting Location: Ksar Hallouf

Where ksar hallouf appears on the screen.

This was a scouting location for the slave quarters where Anakin and his mom lived in The Phantom Menace. It is also rumored that this Ksar first inspired George Lucas regarding the architecture and look of the Tatooine structures, and feel of the planet.

What Ksar Hallouf is like now

Ksar Hallouf is an ancient Berber village on top of a hill. The domed structures have small doorways on both upper and lower levels that were once used as grain storage for the nomadic Berber tribes. There are stairs constructed to the second-floor doorways. You can roam around the area on your own; it is completely free to enter. The day we went was rainy and windy, but we had the place to ourselves. The only other person there worked at the small cafe. There is also a bathroom here. This was the first Berber grain storage area that we had seen in Tunisia and we were in awe. It really is cool to see.

How to get to Ksar Hallouf

We stopped at Ksar Hallouf on our way from Tozeur to Tatouine. It was just 5 minutes out of the way, off the main road. Pass through the town of the same name, and continue on the path until you see the structures up on top of the hill. Drive up the hill until the end. There are several parking spots available.

Location: Ksar Hallouf

10. Star Wars Filming Location: Ksar Hadada

Where ksar hadada appears on the screen.

Ksar Hadada is one of the filming locations that represent the slave quarters in Mos Espa. In The Phantom Menace , this is where Qui-Gon Jinn talks with Shmi Skywalker as she explains how Anakin has no father. They talk while watching little Anakin build his pod racer. Many of the slave streets are filmed in Ksar Hadada as well.

What Ksar Hadada is like now

Ksar Hadada was originally a Ghorfa village and grain storage hundreds of years ago. It is currently a hotel. The rooms are renovated from the larger grain storage spaces on the bottom floors. If you are not staying at the hotel, you can pay 2 TND (.70 USD) to enter the area. You are free to wander around the alleyways and climb the stairs. There is a cafe inside the ground with several tables to enjoy a coffee while surrounded by Star Wars nostalgia. There are a few posters around showing which scenes were filmed here, as well as a few items left behind by the filming crew. It’s definitely worth a visit. The area is big. The front area is renovated but the back area is more primitive.

How to get to Ksar Hadada

Ksar Hadada is in the Tatouine governate in the south of Tunisia, about 30 minutes north of the town of Tatouine. It is very easy to find by car as it is in the center of Ksar Hadada town. There is a big sign out front announcing that Star Wars was filmed there.

Location: Ksar Hadada (historic ghorfa village + Star Wars film site)

11. Star Wars Scouting Location: Ksar Ouled Soltane

Where ksar ouled soltane appears on the screen.

This was one of the original scouting locations for the Slave Quarters in Mos Espa, but ultimately it was not used. The Ksar of Medenine and Ksar Hadada were used instead to show the exteriors of Anakin’s house, where Qui-Gon spoke with Shmi Skywalker about his virgin birth. That said, there is online debate as to whether this location was truly a filming location or not. Some say yes, and some say no. I didn’t recognize this location specifically while watching The Phantom Menace .

What Ksar Ouled Soltane is like now

This is one of the coolest and best preserved Berber grain storage villages that we saw in Tunisia (more specifically the Amazigh Ouled Chehida tribe). Many of them are just two floors high, but here at Ksar Ouled Soltane, they are 3 and 4 stories high. There are two sections. When you first walk up you’ll be in the first section. There are several buildings that you can climb on and walk up the stairs. There is also a Star Wars-themed cafe but it is very small. Then you’ll pass through a door that brings you into a square village, all sides surrounded by these tall grain storage structures. Inside you’ll find a few guys selling art. It is totally free to enter and you can walk around and climb the stairs.

How to get to Ksar Ouled Soltane

Ksar Ouled Soltane is just 30 minutes south of the town of Tatouine. It was easy to find. Follow the signs that lead you into this small village. There is a roundabout in the center of town with the Ksar Cafe. The entrance to the site is next to the cafe. It was free to enter. We rent in our rental car, but you can also take a louage there from Tatouine for 2 TND and back. I believe buses go between the two places as well. Ksar Ouled Soltane is also included in many of the tours in the area.

Location: Ksar Ouled Soltane

12. Star Wars Filming Location: Sidi Idriss

Where sidi idriss appears on the screen.

Sidi Idriss serves as the inside portion of the Lars Homestead. In Attack of the Clones , Anakin first comes here when he is looking for his mother. After returning to Mos Espa, he is told that his mother married Lars and moved to his home. It is here that Anakin meets his half-brother. This is also where Luke Skywalker grows up with his aunt and uncle in A New Hope.

What Sidi Idriss is like now

This site is a Star Wars-themed hotel in the Trogolodyte Berber grain storage remnants. The rooms are named after various Star Wars characters. The theme is very played up, with several toys you can pose with, like fake lightsabers and masks. You can wander around for free even if you’re not staying in the hotel. But beware that some of the locals will try to guide you around and then demand payment. If you decide to stay in the hotel for the night, just know that it is simple and not fancy, but includes breakfast and dinner for around 30 USD.

How to get to Sidi Idriss

The hotel is in the town of Matmatat-Al-Qadimal, about 2 hours and 15 minutes north of the town of Tatouine. It is easy to reach, just off the highway.

Location: Hotel Sidi Idriss

13. Star Wars Filming Location: Ksar of Medenine/Ksar Ommarsia

Where the ksar of medenine appears on the screen.

You can see the Ksar of Medenine in the scene when Anakin leaves Mos Espa with Qui-Gon Jinn, and turns back to say goodbye to his mother. You can also see this site a few scenes earlier in the film when Anakin brings his new friends (Padmé, JarJar, Qui-Gon) to his home to meet his mother and the sand is blowing everywhere.

What Ksar of Medenine is like now

It’s free to walk around in this area. Unfortunately, it has not been taken care of very well and there is a lot of trash around the grounds. It’s more of an alleyway in the center of town, than a protected site. You can easily identify the section of the village where Anakin waves goodbye to his mother, but everything is crumbling down.

How to get to the Ksar of Medenine

If you look at Google Maps, you’ll find Ksar of Medenine and Ksar Ommarsia next to each other on the map. They are the same thing. You can find the Ksar of Medenine in the center of the town of Medenine. It’s about one hour north of Tatouine.

Location: Ksar of Medenine

14. Star Wars Scouting Location: Chenini

Attack of the Clones, Episode II (scouting location)

Where Chenini appears on the screen

The sketch above can be found here on Dr. David West Reynold’s Instagram page. He was the Star Wars archaeologist who worked with the scouting location team.

While Chenini didn’t make the final cut in the movie, it was considered while doing the location scouting for all the ‘prequel’ films. It was a potential filming site for Mos Espa and its markets and slave quarters. It may not have made it into the film but this place is incredible and deserves a visit.

What Chenini is like now

Chenini is a sprawling city built on the side of a mountain by the Amazigh people several hundred years ago. The architecture is truly incredible, and you can spend hours walking around this vast network of alleyways, staircases, and lookout points. There is a large white mosque in the center of the town. This was one of the coolest ancient villages that we saw on our trip. The locals will ask if you want a guide, but you are also free to walk around on your own. Just beware that they might get angry with you if you don’t want a guide.

How to get to Chenini

Chenini is 30 minutes west of Tatooine, along paved roads. It’s very easy to reach by car. Some tours go there as well.

Location: Ksar Chenini

15. Star Wars Filming Location: Amghar Mosque

Where the amghar mosque appears on the screen.

This is the solitary home (external) of the aging Obi-Won Kenobi. The actual location of this “home” is on top of a small hill, along the coast, though on-screen it appears in the Jundland Wastes. To achieve this effect, the shots were filmed from down below looking up.

What the Amghar Mosque is like now

This was once used as a small hut for the local fishermen and was also used as a mosque. I have actually seen several identical concrete huts all along the coast of Tunisia. This structure does not feel like anything significant if you’re just driving by unless you’re specifically looking for it. It’s just an empty, abandoned hut along the coast. There is an 8-bit mosaic of Obi-Won Kenobi on the side of the building.

You can check the Instagram post here from Dr. David West Reynolds (Star Wars archaeologist), from his scouting trip. He discusses how he found the original Obe Won Kenobi home by pure coincidence.

How to get to the Amghar Mosque

The Amghar Mosque is in the southwest corner of the Island of Djerba, which is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a small paved road that goes parallel to the coastline. You’ll be able to see the small mosque from the road. There is a small dirt road that allows you to pull off the paved road and drive right up to the structure.

Location: Old Ben’s Hermitage (Obi-wan)

16. Star Wars Filming Location: Ajim

Where ajim appears on the screen.

Parts of Ajim represented Mos Eisley on the planet of Tatooine. You can find the cantina where Han Solo and Chewbacca meet Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. There is also the Docking Bay 94 alley where they escape in the Millennial Falcon, the plaza, and a stormtrooper checkpoint.

What Ajim is like now

Djerba Ajim is the name of the city on the Island of Djerba’s southwest corner. In Ajim, you can find a few structures meant to be in Mos Eisley. One structure used to be a bakery that served as the Mos Eisley Cantina. There are a few structures in the area, but most of them are crumbling. There is a stormtrooper painted on the side of the building. Unfortunately, it is mostly a dump now. It was not taken care of. You can check Dr. David West Reynolds’s (Star Wars archaeologist) post here comparing the structure during his scouting trip and the film footage.

How to get to Ajim

All the roads in town are paved, so it is very easy to reach these shooting locations. You should familiarize yourself with a few scenes before going here so you know what to look for. It is not obvious at all, and things are falling down.

Location: bakery (ruins) | Mos Eisley Cantina (exterior)

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Star Wars Map

Here are a few helpful maps I have created to facilitate your understanding of the Star Wars locations visually. The locations with blue squares are true filming locations. The green squares are the scouting locations. I hope this helps!

The orange map shows the entire country of Tunisia and where you can find all the Star Wars filming locations between Tozeur, Tatouine, and Djerba Island. The other maps are close-up versions of both the Tozeur and Tatouine regions.

Getting Around Tunisia

Tunisia is a small country which makes getting around fairly easy. That said, it can also feel quite overwhelming when you’ve never been there and don’t know how things work. I was in Tunisia for two months and got around most of the time via train or louage. However, we did rent a car for one week to do a road trip around the entire country. It was fantastic and well worth it!

If you’re headed to Tunisia soon, make sure to take a look at all the blog posts about traveling in Tunisia that I have written for your convenience.

There is a train that goes along the east coast of the country from Tunis to Metlaoui, with a few stops in between, including Sousse, El Jem, and Mahdia. To check the train schedules, click here . Trains tend to be delayed in Tunisia. Both times we took a train, it was delayed by one hour. The “first-class” ticket between Tunis and Sousse was 10.400 TND (3.50 USD).

This is the timetable from Tunis for 2023 and 2024.

Buses are available for travel around the country but are not commonly used by tourists. They are not reliable and are harder to find information for.

A louage is the most practical and easy form of transportation in Tunisia. They are also very affordable. Louages are white vans with a red stripe on the side. Each city has a louage station. You simply go to the station, buy a ticket from the ticket window, give the ticket to the van driver, and wait until the van fills up. The vans only leave once they are full, but this doesn’t usually take very long.

Don’t worry about knowing where to go once you reach the station because there will be many people there asking where you’re going. They will point you to the ticket window and they will point you to the van to get into. It’s very simple.

Louages are one of the cheapest ways to travel. It costs 13 TND (4 USD) between Tunis and Sousse. The cost is dependent on the distance that you go. For example, Sousse to Hergla (30 minutes) is just 2.400 TND (.70 USD) and Sousse to Djerba (5 hours) is 35.000 (11 USD).

We found a 4-door Sedan on Rentalcars.com for $250 for the week. We declined the rental company’s insurance because I have car rental coverage on my credit card. It was a good thing too because I hit one of the small poles in the Mos Espa parking lot and scraped the side of the passenger door. But the insurance company covered it and I was reimbursed within a month. Also, the customer service at RentalCars.com was really helpful during the process, as they assisted me in gathering all of the documents I needed to submit to insurance.

Gas was fairly affordable as well. We filled up the tank for 90-100 TND (30-35 USD). We were three people, so splitting the costs of the rental car also made the trip very affordable for us.

Having your own transportation is a huge bonus in Tunisia as there are many places where public transportation does not go. We were able to go on our own schedule, find accommodation outside of city centers, and stay as long as we wanted in places without worrying. It also allowed us to go to more rural areas that are not touristed. The majority of the sites on this list would have been impossible for us to see without a rental car.

Tunisia is full of filming locations for the planet of Tatooine in the Star Wars universe. Even if you’re not a big Star Wars fan, visiting the sites is fun for everyone. Here are a few commonly asked questions about the Star Wars filming sites in Tunisia.

Was Star Wars filmed in Tunisia?

The scenes from the planet Tatooine were filmed in Tunisia. Tunisia has 24 governates (states), and one of them is called Tatouine, in southern Tunisia. The capital city of Tatouine is also called Tatouine, but there is not much to see in the city itself. Many of the filming locations in Star Wars can be found in the Tatouine governate, as well as the Tozeur governate, which is the desert oasis region in the west of the country, near the Algerian border.

Is Tatooine based on Tunisia?

George Lucas was very inspired by Tatouine in Tunisia. It is otherworldly with its expansive deserts, rock formations, ancient Amazigh villages, and Ghorfa grain storage structures. As you travel around the Tatouine region, it becomes apparent just how much of Star Wars’ Tatooine was based on Tatouine, Tunisia.

In Tatooine, the distant planet in Star Wars, there are three moons: Chenini, Ghomrassen, and Guermassa. All three of these planets are named after towns that exist in Tunisia in the Tataouine governate. Note that the spelling changes slightly between the real place ( Tataouine ) and the fictional place ( Tatooine ).

The jedis wear long cloaks with a large hood. This clothing is greatly inspired by the southern Tunisian Berber tribes’ desert attire called a jalaba . When you are in Tataouine and Tozeur, you can see men wearing these every day. It makes you feel as if you are inside a Star Wars set.

When you drive around Tunisia, it becomes very obvious that George Lucas borrowed several names for the Star Wars films from several places that already exist. Of course, the three moons are borrowed from real places, but there are more coincidences than that. There is a small town called JarJar , for example. Also, there are beasts of burden in A New Hope resembling buffaloes called Jerbas , named after Djerba Island.

Where is Luke Skywalker’s house in Tunisia?

The exterior of Luke Skywalker’s house at the Lars Homestead can be found in the Chott el Djerid salt flats, about 30 minutes west of Tozeur. The inside of the Lars Homestead can be found in the Sidi Idriss Hotel in the Matmata area of Tatouine.

Star Wars Tunisia Final Thoughts

Before coming to Tunisia, you could hardly call me a Star Wars fan. After two months in Tunisia, and lots of time spent traveling around and visiting Star Wars sites, you can now say I’m slightly obsessed. I even started dreaming about Star Wars. That said, you don’t need to be a massive Star Wars fan to see these places. From the ancient Berber villages and their ghorfa grain storage structures to the desert landscapes, Tunisia has it all. There is something for everyone. As you can see in my case, it turned me from not caring at all to a big Star Wars fan. If you’re coming to Tunisia, why not add a few of the Star Wars sites to your itinerary?

Pin for your next trip to Tunisia!

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