Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa - but it packs a lot in. It is a truly kaleidoscopic nation, ranging from Mediterranean beaches to the Sahara desert, from ancient souks to futuristic Star Wars film sets. This Arab-Berber nation is one of the most liberal in the Islamic world and women need not feel intimidated. Its French colonial past has a far-reaching influence (it only gained independence in 1956) and today Tunisia is stable and friendly. The country's cultural diversity is evident in the remains of Phoenician Carthage, while the Roman ruins at Sbeitla and El Jem are some of the finest in Africa. However for 2011 we concentrate on the south and the Sahara Desert - we head south to a long forgotten pass in the Jebel Asker where, if we get through and it's not guaranteed!, we'll be rewarded with a great view to the world's greatest desert and an exhilarating descent to the shining expanse of the Chott El Jerid, the largest salt flat in the Sahara. We'll enter the ancient caravan towns of Douz and Kebili - gateways to the Sahara before venturing out onto the Grand Erg Oriental, the Sahara's second largest sand mass, 75,000 square miles of sand extending north from the heart of the desert. We spend five days crossing the rolling dune fields of the Grand Erg to discover hidden lakes and table mountains near Bir Aouine, ancient sites where we may find arrowheads or desert roses and great star dunes deep in the south, before turning north to rest at Ksar Gihilane, a classic desert oasis complete with hot spring water. Leaving the sands behind us we pause to explore abandoned hill top Berber villages near Matmata, as complete now as when their silent inhabitants left them. We continue north to a wild camp on a Mediterranean beach before visiting the great Roman coliseum at El Jem, scene to many epic battles, both on screen and in reality. Finally we enter the Islamic holy city of Kairouan and a night of luxury in a 5 star hotel, housed in the former jail of the Sultan, before returning to Tunis and our boat back.
4x4 Off Road Holiday, Overseas And UK Adventure Expeditions
Paul
I would like to thank you for leading the Tunisian trip and say how much I enjoyed it. The organisation was excellent and your professionalism and experience are second to none. The equipment you carried was very impressive - the moving map display on your laptop, for example, was particularly reassuring when the weather deteriorated in the sand storm. It was also good to have a satellite phone available.
I hope you have a successful 2009 and look forward to joining you in Morocco later in the year.
"I am just dropping you a line to thank you for the holiday, we had a great time and it exceeded our expectations"
"Your commentary and knowledge of the country and its people was excellent, for me it was great to be able to have questions answered about the area we were travelling through."