Exploring the beauty of North, East & South Tunisia - popular & off the beaten path

3 hours ago

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Last year I travelled to southeast Tunisia for the first time and it was so much more than I expected. This year I returned to discover the north, while exploring even more of the beauty of Tunisia, and both trips made it clear to me that Tunisia is truly one of North Africa’s most underrated destinations.

What makes Tunisia unique compared to Morocco f.e.?

While I have been to Morocco before, which impressed me with its dramatic Atlas Mountains, Erg Chebbi desert, authentic medinas and highly developed tourism industry, Tunisia felt more compact, relaxed and Mediterranean. It has impressive Roman and Phoenician heritage (Carthage, El Jem, Dougga), long sandy beaches, authentic Berber culture in the south, and a noticeably lower hustle factor.

Hospitality here felt warmer and less commercial to me, prices are generally lower, and we were able to combine desert, mountain villages, coastal resorts and cultural highlights in a single week without the intensity of Marrakech or Fes.

Tunisia also has a stronger connection to the ancient Mediterranean world and, of course, the real-life landscapes that inspired Star Wars.

Exploring the beauty of Tunisia - South & East itinerary

We flew directly to Djerba from Brussels and explored South and East Tunisia on a customized group tour. With our local guides we drove through the authentic heart of the country in just one week: from Djerba to Matmata, Toujane, Chenini, the desert of Ksar Ghilane and the Tataouine region, while visiting Berber villages and iconic Star Wars locations.

Matmata - Underground Berber homes & Star Wars history

From Djerba we took the ferry and continued to Toujane and Matmata, passing traditional Berber villages along the way. In Matmata we slept in a cave hotel set amid the rugged lunar-like landscape. Here we enjoyed a traditional dinner and show with some of Tunisia’s best artists.

Get an impression via this gallery:

Matmata is famous for its troglodyte (underground) houses. Berber families dug deep circular pits into the soft rock and then carved living rooms, storage chambers and courtyards into the walls. These homes stay cool in the summer heat and relatively warm in winter.

The village remained largely unknown to the outside world until severe flooding in 1969 brought it to national attention.

The most famous dwelling is the Hotel Sidi Idris, whose sunken courtyards served as the interior of Luke Skywalker’s family home on Tatooine in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) and later in Attack of the Clones, which we had to see with our own eyes!

We stayed overnight at the authentic Diar Matmata (also known as Diar El Barbar), a unique cave-style hotel that perfectly combines traditional troglodyte architecture with modern comfort.

Chenini - Hilltop Berber village

From Matmata we drove to Chenini, a striking hilltop Berber village surrounded by pomegranate plantations and palm groves. Chenini is a classic ksar settlement – a fortified complex built on a rocky ridge for protection. Some structures date back to the 12th century.

In some parts families still live in cave dwellings carved into the hillside, and the white mosque stands out vividly against the golden stone.

Ksar Ghilane - Desert oasis, hot springs & Sahara dunes

Continuing deeper into the desert, we reached Ksar Ghilane, one of Tunisia’s southernmost oases and a gateway to the Sahara’s Grand Erg Oriental. Here we watched magical desert sunsets, shared an authentic Berber meal, slept in a luxury desert camp and woke early for a sunrise over the desert.

We explored the desert hot springs, the natural spring water is around 32–35°C and is said to have therapeutic properties, ancient wells and conquered the dunes in a 4x4.

Ksar Ghilane is built around a palm grove fed by a hot spring. Here we stayed at the beautiful Fzawa Camp Ain Essebat, a comfortable luxury desert camp, including outdoor pool and excellent restaurant, in Douz, near Ksar Ghilane.

Tataouine region & Ksar Hadada - More Star Wars magic

From the desert we continued through spectacular landscapes and more Berber villages around Tataouine. A highlight was Ksar Hadada, a well-preserved fortified granary whose courtyard and multi-storey ghorfas (vaulted storage rooms) were used as the slave quarters of Mos Espa in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

Walking through its arched passageways felt like stepping onto a film set. Our guides made exploring the heart of southern Tunisia seamless and enriching.

Back to Djerba - Art, markets & beach relaxation

After a few hours’ drive and passing by camels and many traditional southeast Tunisian villages, we returned to Djerba and checked into a 4-star beach and spa resort for 3 more days of relaxation, while also visiting the highlights here.

Djerbahood & Houmt Souk

These creative neighbourhoods of Djerba instantly stole my heart. Djerbahood, in the village of Erriadh, is like an open-air museum. Born in 2014 as an international street-art project initiated by Tunisian-French gallerist Mehdi Ben Cheikh, it features more than 250 murals by over 150 artists from around 30 countries. The relaxed, creative vibe, friendly locals and relatively non-touristy atmosphere make it a true hidden gem.

My favourite things about Djerbahood and Houmt Souk:

Vibrant, ever-changing murals
Authentic shops and charming alleys
Photogenic beauty with bougainvillea everywhere
Friendly locals
Rich cultural fusion (Berber, Arab, Jewish and Mediterranean influences)

Fun things to do in Djerba

Explore Houmt Souk (Djerba’s lively capital) and Djerbahood, a shopper’s paradise and a photographer’s dream.
Hunt for souvenirs: handmade pottery, leather, textiles, spices, jewellery and traditional wool baracans.

Wander the maze-like alleys for the most photogenic shots.
Visit the synagogue and other beautiful historic buildings,

Experience the unique fish auction at dawn (one of the few of its kind) and have your catch grilled on the spot.

Take a boat trip to Flamingo Island to spot flamingos against white beaches and turquoise water.

We stayed at the 4-star Djerba Golf Resort & Spa, which won me over with its large pool surrounded by palms, a five-minute walk to the beach, stunning authentic architecture, an extensive Spa, entertainment and 4 restaurants (including 3 à-la-carte options).

Get a taste of this beautiful beach hotel in this gallery:

We also enjoyed a golf clinic at the Djerba Golf Club and finished the trip in style with dinner and a game of roulette at the elegant Casino Djerba.

Exploring the beauty of Tunisia - North itinerary

This year I returned to explore even more of Tunisia on a customized round trip with a group of Dutch and Belgian creators, after flying to Tunis in just 2.5 hours with Tunisair.

During this trip we visited Hammamet with its 15th century fort and old medina and did a clinic at the local golf club.

We also enjoyed Nabeul for a ceramics workshop, since this town is famous for its colourful pottery tradition. We explored Korba, Korbous, as well as one of the few wineries of Tunisia: Domaine Kurubis, get an impression through this gallery:

Sidi Bou Saïd - Blue & white Unesco village

And of course we also visited Sidi Bou Saïd, which is just a 25-minute drive away from Tunis.

This iconic village is located on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Tunis. Its distinctive blue-and-white architecture was protected by a municipal ordinance in the early 20th century, which makes it even more photogenic.

The village grew around the tomb of the 13th-century Sufi saint Abu Saïd al-Baji and has long inspired artists and writers. In 2026 it was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List, because of its spiritual, architectural and cultural value.

It's many cute shops, cobblestone streets and alleys adorned with bougeainvillea, decorated doors, cafés with sea views and the famous Café des Délices make it unforgettable and a true must-visit!

See for yourself through this gallery of my own pictures:

We also visited 2 traditional and very chic B&B's in Nabeul and Hammamet, also known as Dars, and stayed at 3 stunning luxury hotels during our trip to the north.

More about that coming up in my next blog.

Did you already know that Tunisia has so many unique, lesser-known and photogenic spots, from underground Berber homes and Sahara oases to street-art and Unesco clifftop villages?

North, East and South Tunisia each have their own character, yet together they create a richly varied and memorable experience, perfect for your next holiday or round trip. For other beautiful destinations near Tunisia or more to the south of Africa, find even more inspiration on this page.

Let me know in the comments if North and East Tunisia are already on your list, or if the South’s desert magic has captured your imagination! And do find me on social media where I will be exploring even more of the beauty of Tunisia through my weekly posts and reels, that I am happy to share with you!