Roman Tunisia Tour
Set in the beautiful scenery of North Africa are the charismatic and well-preserved sites of Dougga, Thuburbo Majus, Sbeitla and El Jem. Our seven-day tour includes them all, as well as some exceptional collections of mosaics.
At the height of their empire, the Romans had at least 200 cities in Tunisia, their first colony south of the Mediterranean. The legacy of this civilisation is over 26,000 listed sites. Most are yet to be excavated, but many are in a remarkable state of preservation, giving a rare insight into the life enjoyed by Rome’s ancient colony.
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Departures & Prices (2010)
By Tunisair return scheduled flight Heathrow/Tunis.
Prices per
person: 14 Mar £1,145 and 10 Oct £1,245.
Single supplement:
Mar departure £105 and Oct departure £175.
What the price includes
Return scheduled flight Heathrow/Tunis.
Transportation in Tunisia by air-conditioned vehicle.
Half-board accommodation at 5-star Iberostar Saphir Palace
All meals except dinner on Day one.
All entrance fees to museums and sites mentioned in the itinerary
(photography fee of 1dinar per site not included).
Experienced English-speaking guide from day 2 to day 6.
Combining Archaeology and the Sahara
It is possible to combine this trip with the Sahara Aspects Tour in October at the following preferential prices
Archaeology and Sahara tours (prices per person):
Mar departure: £2,195. Single supplement: £250.
Oct departure: £2,295. Single supplement: £350.
Itinerary
Based in Hammamet, our 7-night guided tour takes you to visit not only the key sites but also the museums which hold the largest and finest collection of Roman mosaics in the world. You cover a lot of ground, yet the trip is comfortably paced, busy days alternating with leisurely ones.
Day 1
Depart by scheduled flight from London Heathrow to Tunis Carthage. Transfer to your hotel in Hammamet.
Day 2
Leave hotel for the Punic site of Kerkouane in the Cap Bon, more revealing of the life of its founders than Carthage. Lunch in Kélibia. On the way back to Hammamet stop in Nabeul, the pottery centre of Tunisia, for some shopping and to see the potters at work. Dinner and overnight at Iberostar Saphir Palace.
Day 3
Depart for Tunis and the Bardo Museum. A former 19thcentury palace, this houses a comprehensive collection from Tunisia’s eventful history with a special accent on the Roman period. Richly-coloured mosaics of great artistry show aspects of everyday life in the early centuries AD. After lunch, visit Roman Carthage and enjoy a panoramic view from Byrsa Hill where, according to legend, the Phoenician city was founded by Dido. See the Museum and the Antonine Baths. Return to Hammamet for dinner and overnight as before.
Day 4
Travel to Dougga, the best-preserved site in Tunisia. A settlement of Numidian origin in the 2nd century BC, Dougga was later promoted to the status of Municipium by the Romans. You can actually walk along its ancient stone-paved streets and admire its capitol, theatre and other splendid public buildings. After lunch, on to Thuburbo Majus, a city which flourished in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD and whose monuments reflect the importance of its position at the crossroads of trade routes between Carthage and other cities. Return to Hammamet.
Day 5
Travel to the holy city of Kairouan, former capital of Tunisia, to look at columns quarried from Roman ruins used in the building of its Great Mosque and visit the shrine of Sidi Sahab, companion of the prophet. On to Sbeitla for lunch and then to explore Sufetula, the 1st century AD site known for its superb Temples to the Capitoline Trinity and its Byzantine quarters. Back to Hammamet.
Day 6
Leave for El Jem (formerly Thysdrus) to visit one of the best preserved amphitheatres in the Roman world, a colossal monument rising above the local houses. 27,000 spectators used to pack its steep tiers.After lunch, visit the Sousse Museum to view its superb Roman mosaics. Back to Hammamet.
Day 7
At leisure in Hammamet. Dinner in hotel.
Day 8
Return to London Heathrow.
Operation
Please note that a minimum of 8 people is required for us to be able to operate each tour. Maximum 20. Should it be necessary for us to cancel a tour, you will either be offered the option of an alternative date or a full refund of all money paid.
We strongly recommend Holiday Insurance. To arrange cover, simply call tagdirect on 0845 345 3456 or e-mail their sales team at enquiries@tagdirect.co.uk
