Sahara & Oases Adventure: Douz, Ksar Ghilane & Tozeur

Today you journey south to the desert, travelling by road (or by a short internal flight) to Tozeur, the historic oasis town at the edge of the Sahara. On arrival you explore its distinctive old quarter of Ouled el Hadef, famous for its intricate patterned brickwork, and step into the immense palmeraie, a vast palm grove of hundreds of thousands of date palms fed by desert springs, threaded with cool shaded paths and irrigation channels. You take in the atmosphere of this remote and beautiful oasis town on the desert's edge. The transition from coast to Sahara is dramatic. As the day ends, you settle into your hotel in Tozeur. This evening, savour the peace of the oasis and the desert air. Rest well, ready for the spectacular mountain oases tomorrow.

Today you take a spectacular 4x4 excursion into the desert mountains near Tozeur, close to the Algerian border. You drive to the beautiful oases of Chebika, Tamerza and Mides, tucked into rugged gorges where springs and waterfalls tumble amid palm groves, and the ruins of old villages, abandoned after devastating floods, cling dramatically to the cliffs above. You walk through palm-shaded canyons to hidden pools and waterfalls, and take in breathtaking views over the desert plains stretching far below. The contrast of water, greenery and stark mountain is magical, and these landscapes have featured in famous films. As the day ends, you return to Tozeur. This evening, savour the oasis atmosphere and perhaps watch the sunset over the palms. Rest well, for tomorrow you head into the deep desert at Ksar Ghilane.

Today you venture deep into the Sahara. You set out crossing the vast Chott el Jerid, a shimmering salt lake that stretches to the horizon in a mirage of white, pink and blue, one of the most surreal landscapes in Tunisia. You then take a thrilling 4x4 drive across the open desert to Ksar Ghilane, a beautiful oasis at the edge of the great Grand Erg Oriental sand sea, where a natural warm spring wells up amid the palms and dunes and a lonely Roman fort stands guard on the sands. You soak in the spring, climb a golden dune for a spectacular sunset, and dine beneath brilliant stars. As night falls, you sleep at a desert camp in profound silence. Rest well amid the beauty and remoteness of the deep Sahara.

You wake to a beautiful dawn over the dunes at Ksar Ghilane, perhaps enjoying a final soak in the warm spring, then journey by 4x4 and road to Douz, the gateway to the Sahara. Douz sits where the palm groves give way to the great sea of sand, and it is the traditional starting point for desert caravans. In the golden light of late afternoon you ride a camel out among the dunes with your Berber hosts, the caravan swaying gently across the sand, and climb a high dune to watch a spectacular Saharan sunset. As night falls, you dine and sleep at a desert camp near Douz beneath a canopy of stars. The silence and beauty of the great desert are unforgettable. Rest well amid the golden dunes of the Sahara at Douz.

This morning, after a beautiful desert dawn, you journey south towards the arid hills of the Berber south and the extraordinary village of Matmata. Here the Berber people created remarkable troglodyte homes, dug deep into the soft earth as sunken courtyards ringed by cave rooms, cool in summer and warm in winter. You are often welcomed inside one of these homes to see how it is arranged around its central pit, and you visit the site famous as a Star Wars filming location, where one such dwelling became the boyhood home of Luke Skywalker. The ingenuity and otherworldly landscape are captivating. As the day ends, you settle into your accommodation in Matmata, perhaps in a converted troglodyte hotel. This evening, savour the unique setting. Rest well, ready to reach the island of Djerba tomorrow.

Today you leave the desert behind and travel to the sunny island of Djerba, off Tunisia's south-eastern coast, reached by a causeway or a short ferry across a shallow lagoon. Djerba is a relaxed, whitewashed island of palm groves, fishing villages and beautiful beaches, with a rich and tolerant heritage. On arrival you explore its lively main town of Houmt Souk, with its atmospheric souks and old fondouks, and take in the island's gentle pace. You may visit the famous El Ghriba synagogue, one of the oldest in the world and a place of pilgrimage. The relaxed island atmosphere is a lovely contrast to the desert. As the day ends, you settle into your hotel on Djerba by the sea. This evening, savour fresh seafood and the island calm. Rest well ahead of your departure tomorrow.

After a final morning on the beautiful island of Djerba, perhaps a last swim in the warm sea or a stroll through Houmt Souk, you are transferred to Djerba-Zarzis International Airport for your onward departure (or a connecting flight to Tunis). You leave having ventured deep into the Tunisian Sahara, the palm oases of Tozeur, the mountain springs of Chebika and Tamerza, the surreal salt lake of Chott el Jerid, the deep-desert camp and warm spring of Ksar Ghilane, the camel dunes of Douz and the underground Berber homes of Matmata. The images stay vivid long after you land, the star-filled desert skies, the camel caravan against a Saharan sunset, and the waterfalls of Chebika hidden amid the mountains. Tunisia offers wild desert beauty and adventure in abundance, and you depart already dreaming of a return to the Sahara.