100% customisable travel idea
Heritage and charming residences Spotlight on Tunisia’s history
Tunisia - Tunis - Le Kef - Kairouan - Sousse
100% customisable travel idea
Tunisia - Tunis - Le Kef - Kairouan - Sousse
100% customisable for you
Collection of the rental car. Three-night stay in a fully renovated and gleaming old house in the medina. What strikes you first is the clarity, the light, the sense of space and the harmony of the architecture. The facilities and decor highlight these vibrant and light touches of modernity. This is not a museum, this is modern-day Tunisia. And it’s truly lovely. Even the ceramic tiles can't believe it. Your room is comfortable, with a unique spirit. On the rooftop, or across the street, two restaurants serve quintessential Tunisian cuisine. Upstairs, you can enjoy a view over the medina. Downstairs, there is a classically elegant dining room. The hammam offers a wellness experience that the city has perfected and keeps secret.
Already planned - Private tour of the medina. We’re here, so let’s go. You set off with your guide.. That's no small luxury when you’re not a long-time resident of Tunis. You need to find your way in this maze, where everything captures your curiosity. There are the shops, of course, but also the cafes, civic and religious institutions, workshops, the sudden bursts of bougainvillea, and even the little alleyways where there is nothing but a few straggly cats. The old Tunis, if you will; or rather, its heart.
A little to the east, you can dive back in, searching for a chechia, a piece of gold or silver jewellery, pine nut tea, a leather or brassware item, or a fragrance. Or you can explore a bit of the modern city: Avenue Bourguiba, where you’ll find the theatre (1902 and 1911) and the Saint Vincent de Paul Cathedral (1897). Those are just examples. Nevertheless, after several years of closure, the reopening of the Bardo Museum - housed in a former Beylical palace - invites you to visit. The art, history and archaeology collections presented here are fabulously rich and rank among the finest in the Mediterranean.
Scheduled - Carthage and the Bardo Museum in private. Carthage was destroyed, then rebuilt. Today, the archaeological site, crowned by Saint Louis Cathedral (1890), is mainly Roman. Nevertheless, Punic remains can still be found, such as the residential quarter of Byrsa, traces of the harbours, or the Tophet of Salammbô. This was a ritual cemetery, though its meaning is still debated. The steles, in any case, form a striking funerary landscape. The theatre, the villas with their mosaics, the amphitheatre and the Antonine Baths date back to the Roman period. You will visit with a guide. Also at the Bardo. The reopening of this magnificent institution is wonderful news. It offers an overview of the history of Tunisia. Highly representative of Tunisian architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries, the palaces are worth visiting for their own sake. The contemporary wing is equally impressive. The mosaic of Virgil - the Mona Lisa of the Bardo? -; the 11th century Blue Koran of Kairouan, and the bust of Lucius Aurelius Verus and the baptistery of Kélibia are just four among hundreds of works - each one a fresh aesthetic interpretation
. Optional - The art galleries of Sidi Bou Said.
On your itinerary - Dougga, Bulla Regia and Le Kef in private. About 100 km (62 miles) from Tunis, the archaeological site of Dougga - a UNESCO World Heritage site - stands out for the remarkable preservation of the ancient city of Thugga. Civil and religious buildings, residential districts, the market, roads and waterworks vividly evoke what a Roman city was like in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The theatre is impressive, the Temple of Juno Caelestis has retained much of its temenos, the capitol is constructed in striking opus africanum, and even the baths’ latrines are worth a visit. The remarkable thing about Bulla Regia is the underground level of the Roman houses. This is where people long sought shelter from the sun’s fierce heat. A Christian basilica reveals its full layout at ground level. There is another one in Kef, which has retained its apse. And the Sidi Bou Makhlouf zaouia, mausoleum of a Sufi saint. The synagogue has been carefully restored. The medina and the kasbah stand out with their charm.
In El Kef, you stay for the night among the olive trees. At first glance, the house, with its pool, has a modern simplicity. Inside, however, it is arranged with a precise sense of decor including vaults, arches, gallery, marble, ceramics and fabrics. Tradition comes alive here with flair and passion. The rooms reflect this beautiful spirit. You feel very much at ease, just as you do everywhere else on the property. Meals are handmade, with ingredients sourced from the surrounding countryside. You will be given a warm green welcome, Tunisian style.
Drive to Kairouan.
Scheduled - - A private visit to the Great Mosque of Kairouan. The Oqba Ibn Nafi Mosque is the cornerstone of Islam in the Maghreb. It is a remarkable building, rightfully listed as a World Heritage Site. With its striking simplicity, harmonious proportions, and an aura of quiet majesty, it leaves a lasting impression on both worshippers and visitors. The ever-present columns transform the monument into a genuine gallery of this ancient art form whose origins date back to Antiquity. The prayer hall is particularly impressive, with its chandeliers adorned with delicate glass cups. The minbar, the preacher’s pulpit, is the oldest preserved in Islam. You will visit the site with a heritage specialist. Among the other wonders of this unique city, the Aghlabid pools showcase remarkable hydraulic engineering skills When you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, water is crucial. Alongside the technical achievement, there is also the great beauty of a functionalism from another era.
Overnight stay near the grand mosque. The small hotel has a lively charm. The rooms are arranged around a covered patio. The decor is a fusion, in a sense, of Arabic, Andalusian and French styles, each in their own way. Tunisian artisans have shown accomplished craftsmanship. It’s comfortable, elegant and glamorous. The colours bring energy to the spaces. The hammam and indoor pool, along with the practitioners’ expertise, are the foundation of the wellness area.
Drive to Sousse. Two-night stay in a dar in the medina. Behind white walls accented with touches of lime green, the courtyard is full of charm. The rooms, with their an unusual elongated layout, prove to be entirely comfortable. Each is furnished and decorated with meticulous, sensitive attention to detail. Nothing has been overlooked when it comes to guests’ comfort. Even a subtle touch of playfulness occasionally enlivens the atmosphere. This is particularly pleasant, especially when paired with a such a refined sense of aesthetics Creative cuisine is served in the dining room, while cocktails can be enjoyed at the bar or in the courtyard. Up on the rooftop terrace, breathe in the fresh air in true Tunisian style. Or you can relax in the pool.
The visit to the archaeological museum, with its remarkable collection of mosaics - hunting scenes, fish motifs, kinetic Medusa, and more - is not to be missed. From the kasbah where it stands, you then walk down through a very pleasant medina to the port and the modern districts. Easily accessible from Sousse, the impressive Roman amphitheatre of El Jem reflects the economic importance of Thysdrus in the 3rd century AD. Olive trees, as well as handicrafts, generated significant volumes of trade. Import-export was a booming activity. The monument, with its evocative power and well-preserved features, lets you witness thesevenationes - animal combats or stylised hunts - depicted in numerous mosaics now housed in various museums. The art of mosaic is an endless source of insight into the life, beliefs, ideas and customs of the Roman Empire.
Drive to Monastir Airport. Return the car and take a direct flight home.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)
Let us create your trip
Travel with complete freedom, guided by your interests,
ideas and passions.
250 travel specialists, organised by country and region. Driven by a passion for beauty and never short of ideas, they inspire you and design an ultra-personalised journey: itineraries, accommodation, workshops, encounters, and more.
Always at your service: with a dedicated travel specialist, Concierge service and 24/7 assistance, our teams support you and adapt in real time, for a trip that is both flexible and expertly supported.
With family, as a couple, in a group of ten, on a road trip, by train, by boat, for a weekend or a round-the-world journey... Trips tailored to your preferences, enhanced by clever services, for ever smoother travel.
