From Djerba & Zarzis : Tataouine chenini & berbers day tour

About This Experience

Ksar Hadada is the reason to take this one. The fortified granary north of Tataouine stood in for the slave quarters of Mos Espa in The Phantom Menace, and unlike the sets built out in the sand it is a real building that was already centuries old when the crew arrived. Entry is included in the price here, which is worth checking on any competing tour.

The day starts at 7:00 from Djerba or Zarzis and crosses the Roman causeway to the mainland. The first stop is the Chahbania salt lake, which is a photo halt rather than a visit — early light on the crust is the point of stopping there at all.

Tataouine itself is the town that lent its name to the planet, and you get free time in its market: spices, blankets, the usual haggling. From there the road climbs to Chenini, a Berber village stacked up a ridge, where a local guide walks you through the troglodyte houses, the granary and the mosque. That walk takes 30 to 40 minutes and the ground is uneven.

Lunch is at a local restaurant and is included, drinks aside. The afternoon is Ksar Hadada, then the long drive back to the island.

Highlights

• Walk into Ksar Hadada, the Phantom Menace slave-quarters location — entry included
• Guided walk through Chenini with a Berber guide from the village itself
• Free time in Tataouine's market, the town that named the planet
• Sunrise photo stop at the Chahbania salt lake
• Air-conditioned transport with a licensed driver and a licensed guide

What's Included

• ✓ Air-conditioned transport from Djerba or Zarzis
• ✓ Licensed driver
• ✓ Licensed tour guide
• ✓ Lunch at a local restaurant (drinks not included)
• ✓ Half a litre of water per person in the vehicle
• ✓ Entry to Ksar Hadada
• ✓ 24/7 operator support line

Not Included

• Flights
• Travel and repatriation insurance
• Drinks and personal spending
• Tips

What to Bring

• Walking shoes for the Chenini ridge
• Camera or phone
• Sun hat and sunscreen
• Cash in dinars for the market, drinks and the village guide's tip

Good to Know & Caveats

• Departure is at 7:00 and the day runs long — this is a full twelve hours by the time you are back on the island.
• The guided walk at Chenini lasts 30 to 40 minutes over uneven ground and stone steps.
• Chenini's walk is led by a guide from the village. The operator asks that you tip them directly; that money does not come out of the ticket price.
• Drones are not permitted on this tour, and alcohol is not allowed in the vehicle.
• Drinks with lunch are charged separately — several reviewers were caught out by this.

Meeting Point

Pickup from any address on Djerba or in Zarzis. Departures are at 7:00 in the morning; give an exact address when you book.