ITINERARY
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Depart U.S. / Travel Day
Today is a travel day. Depart the United States on an overnight flight, arriving in Tunis, Tunisia (airport code: TUN), sometime tomorrow morning or afternoon. If you cannot arrive before 5pm tomorrow, we recommend that you plan on arriving a day early. We can easily extend your reservation at our group hotel.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Arrive in Tunis
Arrive at the Tunis International Airport this afternoon. One group transfer from the airport to the hotel will be arranged to accommodate the greatest number of arrivals. If your flight arrives at a different time, we can arrange a private transfer for you (optional) or you can take a taxi to the hotel. Once at the hotel, the afternoon is free to rest up from jet lag and enjoy the amenities of our beautiful property. This evening Toto Tours hosts a tasty introduction to Tunisian cuisine with a Welcome Dinner at the Dar El Djeld Restaurant. (Welcome Dinner)
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Carthage
After a hot buffet breakfast at our hotel, we board a motorcoach and drive 13 miles to tour the quaint town of Sidi Bou Said, often described as Tunisia’s prettiest village with cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, light blue window grilles, and doors with studded ornamentation. A number of the town’s 300-year-old mansions are open to visitors. We visit one of them, Dar El Annabi, also known as the Arts and Popular Tradition House.
We continue on a few miles to Carthage, one of the most powerful cities of the ancient world. Founded in 814 B.C. by Phoenician colonizers, it was conquered over the years by Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, and finally Arabs, falling into ruins by the 7th century A.D. We take time to tour the archaeological site before returning to Tunis.
This afternoon enjoy a brief orientation tour of Tunis, followed by entrance to the Bardo Museum which houses one of the world’s greatest collections of Roman mosaics. Dinner is included at our hotel tonight, and we overnight in Tunis. (Breakfast / Dinner)
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Hammamet / Sousse / Monastir / Sfax
Depart early for a very full day of travel, visiting several incredible places along the way to our final destination. Our first stop is at Hammamet, situated on a beautiful bay. We stop to visit its 15th century fortress.
Next we pass through the coastal resort Port El Kantaoui constructed around a picturesque marina fringed with shops and restaurants. As this resort city was built specifically for tourism and doesn’t have a lot of historical interest, we give it a cursory look and continue on.
Just a few miles down the road we arrive at Sousse, Tunisia’s third largest city, packed with atmosphere and hundreds of years of history. We take a half-day sightseeing tour of the town, including the Great Mosque, and the Medina (Old Town), as well as a glimpse of the Ribat (seaside fortress). UNESCO declared the medina of Sousse a World Heritage Site in 1988, citing among other things its near perfect preservation.
After lunch in Sousse we continue on to the quaint resort town of Monastir for a panoramic driving tour of the city, and then to El-Djem, where we visit the 30,000-seat Roman Amphitheatre. Only slightly smaller than Rome’s Colosseum, it is better preserved and much more imposingly situated at the end of a street of modern houses.
One more brief ride of an hour brings us to our destination for the day—the town of Sfax. We check in and enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant, with the remainder of the evening free for independent exploration. (All Meals)
Monday, May 26, 2008
Gabes / Matmata / Djerba
This morning we travel to the seaside town of Gabes, known as the world’s only seaside oasis, and also as the winter nesting grounds for thousand of species of migratory birds. We visit the oasis briefly, then continue on to Matmata, world-famous because George Lucas filmed the opening scene of the original Star Wars movie (1977) in the troglodyte cave houses dating back to the 4th century B.C. We enjoy a half day sightseeing tour with lunch, including entrance to one of the cave houses and a visit an ancient ksar (fortified granary).
Our final destination today is the island of Djerba, connected to the mainland by a causeway. According to myth, Odysseus landed here on his ocean voyage and nearly lost his crew to the amnesia-inducing food of the resident lotus-eaters.
An island of ten thousand palm trees rising from the sea like a mirage, this “Polynesia of the Mediterranean” is ringed by miles of fine sandy beaches and luxury hotels, and will be our oasis of pleasure for two nights. Buffet dinner is included at our resort. (All Meals)
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Djerba Free Day for Beach / Sightseeing
Today is entirely free to enjoy the amenities of our seaside resort with its wide sandy beach and beautiful outdoor pool. Our resort also has a fitness center and sauna. For active guys, Djerba offers thremendous diversity in optional activities. There are a variety of sea sports, Roman sites, a pirates castle, the ancient synagogue of the Ghriba, fortress-like mosques, potters and silversmiths still faithful to the art of their craft, and the bustle of the open air markets. Your choice of activities will create a perfect mix of excitement and relaxation, as you please. Buffet dinner is included at our resort. (Breakfast / Dinner)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Douz / Salt Lake / Tozeur
Before leaving Djerba this morning we make a photo stop at La Ghriba Synagogue and visit Houmt Souk, the main town on the north side of Djerba. We cross back to the mainland and make the drive to Douz, making comfort stops along the way as needed to stretch our legs. We arrive in Douz in time to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant followed by an orientation tour of this lush oasis.
Douz is sometimes called the “Gateway to the Sahara,” and a short drive takes us to Chott El Jerid, the largest of a series of large salt lakes forming inland seas. A thousand years ago it was part of the Mediterranean Sea, and today it offers amazing optical effects as the play of sun and heat on the highly reflective surface conjures up mirages.
Our destination this evening is Tozeur, one of the many resort towns that have sprung up around the salt lake. Upon arrival in the late afternoon, enjoy some free time to relax and explore, then share a buffet dinner together at the hotel. (All Meals)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tozeur / Nefta
Enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of Tozeur this morning, including entrance to the Dar Cheraiat Museum Complex, devoted to southern Tunisia’s history and everyday life. One of this morning’s activities involves a half-hour camel ride in the desert.
After the ride we make a short journey to the Oasis of Nefta, one of Tunisia’s holiest sites because it once housed more than 100 sacred tombs. Today, filmmakers frequently come here for the unique scenery of canyon walls, palm-covered hillsides and ancient houses. See La Corbeille (basket) of the palms growing on the slopes of the green valley, and visit some of the marabouts, the scattered graves of holy ones.
Return to Tozeur via a route that provides panoramic vistas of the canyons in the area. A buffet dinner is included at the hotel this evening. (Breakfast / Dinner)
Friday, May 30, 2008
Sbeitla / Kaitrouan / Tunis
We return to Tunis today, completing our circuit tour of the country. The first of several stops along the way is at Sbeitla, site of the particularly well-preserved ruins of the 3rd century Roman town of Sufetula. We visit the ruins and enjoy lunch at a restaurant there.
A short drive brings us to Kairouan, the holiest of all sites within Tunisia. The main site is the Great Mosque, but the town has so many other points of interest that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. We make a photo stop at the Great Mosque; view the 4-mile fortified city walls; and visit the Old Medina and the enormous cisterns of the Aghlabid Basins. Continuing on, we return to our original hotel in Tunis in the late afternoon. A buffet dinner is included at the hotel this evening. (All Meals)
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Free Day / Farewell Dinner
Our last full day is entirely free to savor Tunis as you like it. You may choose to relax and enjoy the amenities of our hotel, or do some last minute exploration and souvenir shopping. This evening Toto Tours hosts a very special Farewell Dinner at the Dar Bel Hadj Restaurant to mark the conclusion of our spicy and delectable adventures in Tunisia. (Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Departure
The tour officially ends after breakfast this morning. You may make your flight reservations to depart any time today. One group transfer from the hotel to the airport will be scheduled to accommodate the greatest number of departing participants. Most morning flights will get you back to the U.S. later this same day. Let us know if you would like us to extend your stay at our hotel in Tunis. (Breakfast)
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