Tunisia School Group Holiday

You visit the old Kasbah dating back to the 17th century and explore the town of Le Kef.  Then you head south to Sbeitla, visiting the very well preserved extensive Roman site, built around the year 3 BC. Where as many Roman cities were quarried for stone down the centuries, Sbeitla has remained relatively untouched apart from a little refortifying under the Byzantines. This makes the complex Forum temples highly photogenic. In the afternoon you head to the fringes of the desert and arrive at the green oasis of Tozeur Overnight: Hotel Hafsi (BLD)

Tozeur, the sleepy capital of the Djerid (which means ‘palm’ in Arabic) region has a traditional feel that is further enhanced by the sight of women dressed in all-enveloping black wraps. You’ll be able to visit the old town where the facades of its mud houses are decorated with geometric brickwork - the bricks are all made locally by hand. Due to its remoteness, Tozeur is an introspective sort of place - all life revolves around its palmeraie, a broad swathe of date palms in whose shade market gardens produce citrus fruits, pomegranates and vegetables. Everything depends on an intricate system of irrigation - first established in the 13th century - that ensures an equal distribution of this precious resource. Improved modern techniques mean that water can now be brought from deeper inside the earth’s crust, so the area under cultivation has expanded in recent years.
Next, transfer to Douz (approx 2 hours) where you’ll leave your motorised transport behind, trading it in for camels – the ships of the desert. The area is covered in rolling sand dunes and you’ll head off across them for a camel trek (roughly an hour) to the camp. There’s nothing quite like the rhythmic motion of a camel to make you feel like Beau Geste or a true explorer (anyone who prefers can walk!). At the end of the day the sight of the sun setting makes a splendid conclusion to a fun day. Tonight you dine on traditional fare under the clear, starry skies of the desert and sleep in Bedouin-style tents. Desert camp – 1 night (BLD)

You leave the desert behind as you drive to the spiritual and religious capital of Tunisia, Kairouan. The city was the first base for the conquering Arab Muslim armies from the east back in the 7th century. Still surrounded by its historic town walls,  you visit the Great Mosque and can also visit the Islamic Art museum, time depending. Next, you will venture to to the spectacular El Djem coliseum (approx 3 hours),  arguably Tunisia’s greatest highlight – the Amphitheatre of El Djem. The tiny town of El Djem - little more than a village really - stands at the centre of an extensive plain covered with olive trees. Somewhat incongruously for such a small place, it’s the site of an enormous amphitheatre – the third largest in the Roman world (after the Colosseum in Rome and Capua near Naples), and the largest Roman monument in North Africa. After Emperor Hadrian fostered the planting of olive trees, the town became such an important centre of olive oil production that its population reached 30,000. Quite who took the decision to construct such a huge building remains unknown, but it was never completed. It was obviously a massive undertaking as the nearest quarries are around 30kms away, and although the stone is relatively soft and so easy to cut, it still had to be transported to the site! The amphitheatre remains incredibly intact and you can climb up several storeys for a great overall view. You can even explore the tunnels under the arena itself where the animals and gladiators would have waited before being released into the bright sun to fight for their lives. It is not difficult to imagine what it was like when the Romans enjoyed the spectacle here or the atmosphere as swords clashed.
Finally, arrive in Sousse (approx 1 hour) where you will spend your last night in Tunisia. Sousse wears many hats as it is a commercial port, tourist beach resort and an old fortified medina. It is this last element that interests us most and you’ll spend the morning exploring the narrow twisting alleyways of the old town. Stalls selling everything from spices to trinkets spill out onto the streets; the variety is amazing and really gives a flavour for North Africa.Overnight: Hotel Medina (BLD)

Transfer to Monastir or Endfida airport for your flight back to London. (B)