Tunisia
From the Classics
to Contemporary Society
June 16 - June 27, 2008

Tunisia's rich history is found in the its impressive ruins, a legacy of the Carthaginians and the Romans, who developed cities and towns such as Carthage, Dougga, Uthina, Bulla Regia and more. These rich archaeological remains contrast with the history of desert nomads and the lifestyle and architecture of the indigenous Berbers, who left their own imprints on Tunisia.

Tunisia: From the Classics to Contemporary Society provides a rare opportunity to meet the people who make Tunisia one of the most progressive countries in North African and the Middle East...a country that has maintained a friendship with the U.S. for over 200 years, a country that remains an economic model among developing countries, a country with progressive socio-economic policies and a country of warm and welcoming people.

Visiting Dougga, an expansive and impressive Roman site in northwest Tunisia.

Monday, June 1-Tunis
Arrive in Tunis and transfer to your hotel, situated in a wonderful setting. Rest and relaxation from your flight, with an afternoon orientation for those wishing to partake. Welcoming dinner in local restaurant. Overnight in Tunis. (D)

Tuesday, June 2-Tunis and environs
Morning orientation of the capital, including a visit to the Bardo Museum. Housed in a former palace of the Ottoman Bey, the Bardo is home to a world-class collection of mosaics. From the Bardo, you drive to the suburbs of Tunis, with your first stop being Carthage, the most famous (though by no means the largest) of Tunisia's ruins, as you will see in the days ahead. You then continue for a short drive to the charming village of Sidi Bou Said, a picturesque town whose architecture was inspired by its many Andalusian settlers at the end of the 15th century through the 16th century. Lunch will be at a seaside restaurant. From the suburbs, you drive into the heart of old Tunis, for a walking tour of the historic part, the medina. Late afternoon return to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Tunis. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, June 3-Northern Tunisia/Bulla Regia/Ain Draham
This morning, you depart Tunis for the northwest part of the country. Taking scenic country roads, you travel this northern and rather undeveloped part of Tunisia, eventually arriving to Bulla Regia, one of the major Roman sites in Tunisia and one of the most impressive Roman sites, anywhere. This well-preserved and expansive site has numerous examples of underground architecture, as well as well-preserved mosaics, in situ. Following your tour of Bulla Regia, you proceed to Dougga, Tunisia's largest Roman site and certainly, the most dramatic in scale and diversity. Dougga covers some sixty acres and was known as the city of temples. Its existence is thought to date back to the 4th century B.C. Following Dougga, you return to Tunis late in the day. Overnight in Tunis. (B,L,D)


Thursday, June 4-Thurbubo Majus/Zaghouan/Oudna/Hammamet
Today is a rather full day of visiting Roman sites. Your day begins by driving south via an inland route, eventually arriving at Thurburbo Majus, a town that grew under the Romans, but was actually a city of earlier origins, with Berber and Carthaginian remains. After exploring Thurbubo Majus, continue to Zaghouan, whose Roman aqueduct brought water from the hills of Zaghouan to Carthage, a distance of over 130 kilometers. Following Zaghouan, we drive to Oudna, known in Roman times as Uthina. Oudna has been undergoing excavations that have yielded some rather impressive finds, including stately homes, baths, cisterns and a theater. From Oudna, you drive to the resort town of Hammamet, where your base will be a beautiful spa hotel. You will have time to relax and if you choose, you may enjoy the option of having a spa treatment at your hotel, a member of the "Leading Hotels of the World". Overnight in Hammamet. (B, L, D)

Friday, June 5-Cape Bon/Hammamet
Today's touring takes us through a rich and fertile peninsula, the Cape Bon. The area is the source for Tunisia's wine industry, developed by the Romans and taken to a serious level of productivity and standard under the French during their years of occupying Tunisia. As we travel the Cape Bon, we will have numerous stops to complement the picturesque scenery, including El Haouaria, Kerkouane and Kelibia. Lunch in Kelibia with a mid-afternoon return to Hammamet. The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to enjoy. Overnight in Hammamet. (B, L, D)

Saturday, June 6-Sousse/El Jem/Kairouan
This morning we drive south along the coast to Tunisia's third largest city, Sousse. A real working city, Sousse and particularly, its suburb of El Kantoui, have become the primary tourist destination in Sousse. Our purpose of visiting Sousse is to see its historic offerings. The small Sousse Museum has an impressive collection of mosaics, which were found in the central portion of Tunisia. We will also take an enjoyable walk through the old town of Sousse. From Sousse, we continue south along the coast to visit an impressive archaeological excavation in progress, a project under the directorship of our “in-house” archaeologist/historian, Professor Nejib Ben Lazreg. After spending time seeing recent discoveries, we drive inland to El Jem. Known in Roman times as Thysdrus, El Jem is noted for its amphitheater, which is similar to the coliseum of Rome. Following your exploration of El Jem and the impressive El Jem Museum nearby, we drive to Kairouan, our base for the night. Our hotel is situated in the heart of this small city, a hotel whose architecture incorporates part of the historic walls around Kairouan. Overnight in Kairouan. (B,L,D)

Sunday, June 7-Kairouan/Sbeitla/Tozeur
We begin our day by visiting parts of Kairouan that were not visited upon our arrival. Kairouan is Tunisia's holy city and the site of Africa's first mosque. We will visit the Grand Mosque, as well as other early sites of Kairouan, a city that became home to a flourishing crafts industry during the 14th and 15th centuries and even today, remains Tunisia's center for rug weaving. From Kairouan, we drive southwest with our next major stop being the ruins of Sbeitla. The modern town of Sbeitla is small and unimpressive, rather incongruous to its antiquity site, known in Roman times as Sufetula. The site has the best preserved early Christian remains of Tunisia, as well as the best-preserved forum temples. From Sbeitla, we continue in a southwest direction, arriving late in the afternoon to the southwest oasis town of Tozeur. Overnight in Tozeur. (B,L,D)

Monday, June 8-Tozeur and oasis region
After breakfast, you depart early to take advantage of the sunrise and your tour of the oasis of Tozeur. Following your visit to the oasis, you depart by land rover to the mountain oases of Tamerza and Chebika, with the exotic contrasts of barren hills juxtaposed with waterfalls and palm groves. Early afternoon return to Tozeur, with the remaining afternoon at leisure to relax by the pool or explore more of Tozeur's old town, as you choose. We will have an evening visit to the privately owned Dar Cherait Museum, a museum that specializes in lifestyle of the Tunisian urban life of pre-independence Tunisia. Overnight in Tozeur. (B, D)

Tuesday, June 9-Chott el Jerid/Matmata/Jerba
This morning, you depart early for further exploration of the south. You travel eastward via the Chott-el-Jerid, Tunisia's salt lake, via Kibili and Douz, small towns that appear to be plopped down amidst the dunes. For those wishing to have a camel experience, Douz is the place. A jumping off point for Sahara excursions, the setting and the camels are the reason for European and American film crews coming to the region. From Douz, we drive east into the semi-arid desert, eventually arriving to the region of Matmata. This region's crater like topography is dotted with troglodyte dwellings. Its exotic settings provided some of the film locations for the movie, Star Wars. You will have an opportunity to explore some of these dwellings and the region, as well as have lunch in a troglodyte restaurant. From Matmata, we drive towards the coast where we take the ferry to the island of Jerba. Late day arrival to your seaside hotel. Overnight in Jerba. (B, L, D)

Wednesday, June 10-Island of Jerba
Jerba has a peaceful and rather exotic feel, a terrain of small dunes and olive and date palms. Absence the string of hotels along the seacoast, much of life on Jerba still seems to move with the slow pace of island life. Our visits will include a relatively new folk-art museum, as well as a rather intimate visit with the island's Jewish community, one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world and one that continues to remain youthful and vibrant, an oddity among the legacies of Jewish communities in the Arab world. Your afternoon will be free to enjoy the small-scale town of Houmt Souk, the economic heart of Jerba and one of the best market towns in Tunisia. You are free to enjoy lunch as you choose and browse the souk, independently. Jerba has many nice lunch venues to choose from, with the town having a wonderful Mediterranean atmosphere. Arrangements will be made for those who would like to return to your seaside hotel and enjoy it amenities. Dinner will be in an enjoyable setting. Overnight in Jerba. (B, D)

Thursday, June 11-flight toTunis
We have a morning flight back to Tunis where you will be transferred to your hotel in central Tunis. The remainder of the afternoon is independent, including lunch. You have numerous options to consider, from returning to the Bardo Museum, the medina of Tunis, or to enjoy your final afternoon in Tunisia just enjoying the atmosphere. Our farewell dinner will be in a very special setting. Overnight in Tunis. (B, D)

Friday, June 12-departure
Transfers will be arranged to the airport for your return flights to the U.S., via Europe.