Tunisia road trips: ksour route, oases and Cap Bon

A medium-sized country with a dense road network, Tunisia is perfect for touring. In one or two weeks, you can link the forests of the north, the beaches of the Sahel, the holy cities and the oases of the Sahara. The A1 motorway connects Tunis with Sousse and Sfax, while slower secondary roads lead to villages, ancient sites and little-known landscapes.

Each region suits a themed tour: Berber villages and fortified granaries in the south, palm groves and canyons in the Djerid, the farming peninsula of Cap Bon, the Sahel coast dotted with ribats, or the green, archaeological north-west. Taking time to stop is part of the journey, as are the encounters along the way.

Routes and road trips

Our picks

The ksour route

Around Tataouine, ksour and fortified granaries with stacked ghorfas punctuate the Dahar mountains. Ksar Ouled Soltane, Chenini, Douiret and Ksar Hadada are its highlights.

Tataouine

The oasis route

From Tozeur to Nefta, then to the mountain oases of Chebika, Tamerza and Mides, the road crosses palm groves and canyons. The crossing of Chott el Jerid then leads to Kebili and Douz.

Tozeur

Cap Bon loop

From Hammamet to Nabeul, Kelibia, Kerkouane and El Haouaria, the peninsula alternates beaches, orchards, vineyards and Punic sites. The coast road to Korbous offers fine views over the Gulf of Tunis.

Nabeul

The Sahel coast

Sousse, Monastir and Mahdia follow one another along a shoreline dotted with medinas and ribats. A detour to the amphitheatre of El Jem rounds off this tour perfectly.

Sousse

The green and ancient north-west

From Bizerte to Lake Ichkeul, then on to Tabarka and the forests of Ain Draham, the road reaches the sites of Bulla Regia and Dougga. This is the Tunisia of hills, forests and Roman ruins.

Tabarka

Around Djerba

Houmt Souk, the Ghriba synagogue, Erriadh, Guellala and Ajim can be explored in a day. The island is reached by the Ajim ferry or by the El Kantara causeway.

Djerba

Planning your itinerary

Distances look short on the map, but secondary roads lengthen journey times. Plan reasonable stages, especially in the south where petrol stations are further apart and roads cross long empty stretches. A hire car offers great freedom, while trains, louages and domestic flights let you combine several regions without driving long distances yourself. Allow extra time for photo stops and unexpected detours.

Driving in Tunisia

Traffic drives on the right and a national driving licence is generally accepted for a short stay, but check the conditions with your rental company. Police checkpoints are frequent, so always keep your documents and the vehicle papers to hand. Watch out for pedestrians, two-wheelers and animals, especially when driving through villages.

Combining regions

In a week, you can combine Tunis, Cap Bon and the Sahel coast with Kairouan and El Jem. In ten to fifteen days, it becomes possible to add the south: the Djerid oases, Douz, the ksour route and Djerba. The greener north-west makes an excellent getaway in spring, when its hills are at their greenest and wild flowers line the roads.

Destinations

Where to experience it

The South & Djerba

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