50 Best Things to Do in the Tunisian Sahara
The Tunisian Sahara packs an astonishing variety into one corner of North Africa: towering dunes, palm oases, salt lakes, Star Wars film sets, Berber villages and some of the darkest, most star-filled skies on Earth. Here are the 50 best things to do — grouped so you can build your perfect desert trip.
Iconic Sahara Experiences
These are the experiences that define a Tunisian desert trip — the ones you'll remember for years.
- Ride a camel into the dunes at sunset — the timeless image of the Sahara. Book a camel trek from Douz or Sabria.
- Sleep in a desert camp under the stars — the single best night of any trip. See desert camps.
- Watch sunrise over the Grand Erg Oriental — the dunes glow copper and rose.
- Swim in the Ksar Ghilane hot spring — a 36°C natural pool among the palms. Visit Ksar Ghilane.
- Stargaze in zero light pollution — the Milky Way casts a shadow. See stargazing.
- Cross Chott el Jerid salt lake — a surreal world of mirages. Visit Chott el Jerid.
- Take a multi-day meharee — a true nomadic camel expedition. See camel trek adventures.
- Drink the three rounds of Saharan tea — a ritual with the desert nomads.
Desert Camps & Bivouac
Where you sleep shapes the whole experience. Tunisia offers everything from luxury saharan suites to wild bivouacs on the open sand.
- Stay in a luxury saharan suite with a real bed and private bathroom.
- Try a traditional Berber tented camp for the classic experience.
- Wild camp on the dunes far from any structure. See wild camping.
- Share a nomadic bivouac with desert Berbers. See nomadic experiences.
- Eat bread baked in the sand — traditional khobz malla under embers.
- Listen to Berber drums around the fire after dinner.
- Stay near Sabria for some of the darkest skies. Visit Sabria.
- Camp at the edge of Douz, the Gateway to the Sahara. Visit Douz.
Star Wars & Film Sites
Tunisia is the real Tatooine. Several original sets still stand and are open to fans.
- Walk the Mos Espa set near Tozeur — Anakin's hometown. See the Star Wars guide.
- Visit the Lars Homestead dome at Ong Jmel. Visit Ong Jmel.
- Sleep at the Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata — Luke's home interior. Visit Matmata.
- Stand where the twin suns set over Chott el Jerid.
- Explore the ksour of Tataouine — Tatooine's namesake. Visit Tataouine.
- Photograph the podrace dunes around Ong Jmel.
Oases & Natural Wonders
- Wander the 400,000-palm oasis of Tozeur. Visit Tozeur.
- Find the desert waterfall at Tamerza. Visit Tamerza.
- Stand above the Mides canyon near the Algerian border. Visit Mides.
- Walk to the Chebika clifftop spring.
- See the mirages of Chott el Jerid at midday.
- Taste fresh Deglet Nour dates in a Tozeur palm grove.
- Visit the Roman fort of Tisavar by quad from Ksar Ghilane.
- Catch the pink salt pools on the causeway at sunrise.
Adventure Activities
- Go sandboarding down the dunes. See sandboarding.
- Ride a quad across the erg. See quad biking.
- Take a 4x4 dune excursion. See 4x4 adventures.
- Hike a dune at dawn. See desert hiking.
- Try a sunrise hot-air feeling from a high dune ridge.
- Join a photography tour for the golden hour. See the photography guide.
- Sleep out for a meteor shower in autumn.
- Learn to read the dunes with a nomad guide.
Culture & Villages
- Explore the hilltop village of Chenini. Visit Chenini.
- See the ghorfas of Ksar Ouled Soltane near Tataouine.
- Visit a troglodyte home in Matmata.
- Browse the Douz weekly market for desert crafts.
- Attend the Douz Sahara Festival in December.
- Meet the cameleers who keep the meharee tradition alive.
- Buy a handwoven desert rug from a local cooperative.
- Taste a traditional couscous cooked at a desert camp.
How to Plan It
- Pick your gateway — Djerba, Tozeur, Douz or the north. See desert tours.
- Choose your season — October to April is best. Read when to visit.
- Pack right — warm layers and sun protection. Read what to pack.
- Book a guided tour to tie it all together with transport, camps and a local guide.
Short on time? The classic 2-day Sahara tour from Djerba covers camel trekking, a desert camp, Matmata and Ksar Ghilane — the essential highlights in one trip. See the 2-day tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
The single most iconic experience is a camel trek into the dunes at sunset followed by a night in a desert camp — it combines the landscape, the silence and the stars that define the Sahara.
Two to three days lets you experience the highlights — a desert camp, camel trek, the Star Wars sets and an oasis. A week allows a deeper meharee expedition and the mountain oases.
Yes. Many activities — short camel rides, sandboarding, desert camps with real beds, and the Star Wars sets — are family-friendly and suitable for children.