DESTINATIONS ESCORTED TOURING | TUNISIA
3 TOP TIPS Tony O’Connor,
Tunisia travel guide, Andante Travels
“Emphasise that Tunisia is a very liberal country within
North Africa and is known for its hospitality. Escorted tours covering the country allow you to see this first hand.”
E
“Tunisia is a place to take your time. It’s not a huge place, so
travelling times are fairly short. Tours give you the chance
to appreciate the beautiful deserts and farmland, and don’t make you feel like you have to rush through all the cultural sites, either.”
E “Prices in Tunisia are very
reasonable, and you’ll get the chance to sample the very
good wine on offer (or boukha, a date-based liqueur, if you’re feeling brave) as well as all the other wonderful goods at its markets.”
National Tourist Office, says it is aiming for 160,000 British visitors in 2023. This would represent a jump of 49,000 compared with last year, while talks are ongoing about increasing flight capacity from the UK. Tounsi told Travel Weekly that the trade remains a vital player when it comes to bookings, with 60% of the overall volume coming through agents. Escorted tours are a great way to secure bookings, and for visitors to see more of the country, he says, adding that he’s pleased to see several operators offering a range of options. Michael Pullman, head of marketing at Wild Frontiers,
says: “Tunisia has been through a fairly tumultuous recent history, but it is mostly FCDO-friendly now. It’s a fairly small destination and offers a huge variety beyond what many people know it for, which is its beaches.” Tunisia’s enchanting history spans Phoenician, Roman,
Ottoman, French and Arab periods, among others. Pullman adds: “There’s history in Carthage, Dougga and El Jem; Saharan desert scenery, including the troglodyte dwellings of Tataouine made famous in the Star Wars films; the colourful backstreets and bazaars of Tunis and Kairouan; amazing handicrafts including carpets; the National Museum of Islamic Art; and the pretty coastal towns of Monastir and Sousse.” Here we highlight three escorted tours that show off
Tunisia’s cultural side, from its space opera filming sites to thriving cultural melting-pot spots.
32 9 FEBRUARY 2023
33You see great sites and the great landscapes of the country on our tour, but you also see ordinary life going on
ROMAN RUINS At just 100 miles away from Sicily, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the conquering Roman Empire made its way into Tunisia. But that’s only part of the story. What was known as the city of Carthage, on the outskirts of modern day Tunis, was one of the leading settlements in Roman Africa and a major Mediterranean trading post. The Roman era led to a mix of cultural practices that can still be seen today, as well as several stunning examples of classical Roman architecture and colourful artworks that have survived. Expert guide Tony O’Connor, who has been
travelling to Tunisia for almost 30 years, says all this can be experienced on an in-depth escorted tour of the country, including on one he leads for Andante Travels. Its Carthage & Roman Tunisia tour has been
brought back for 2023 and includes visits to the El Jem amphitheatre, Africa’s largest and best-preserved
²
travelweekly.co.uk
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Dougga, Carthage and El Jem – three of Tunisia’s eight Unesco World Heritage Sites; inset,
tourists at Carthage PICTURES: Shutterstock/ maxime57974, Liya_Blumesser, NatalyaBond
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