Is this overnight experience safe?

Yes. This is a guided tour operated by TUI Tunisia with an expert local guide who knows the desert terrain and filming locations well. Transport is provided throughout, including a 4x4 for the off-road section to Onk Jemal. You stay overnight in Douz, an established Saharan oasis town.

What happens to my hotel booking?

You'll skip one night at your beach hotel. Let your hotel reception know in advance that you'll be away for one night. There's no need to cancel your booking. Just inform them so your room is held. You'll be back at your hotel by evening on day 2.

What is included in the price?

The price covers transport, a local guide, overnight accommodation in Douz, lunch on both days, dinner on day one, and breakfast on day two. Entrance fees are also included. A single room supplement is payable in cash at the hotel. The optional camel or carriage ride in Douz is not included in the price.

What is the best time of year to visit?

October to April is the most comfortable period for this tour. Summer temperatures in the Tunisian Sahara regularly exceed 40°C, making the desert sections less pleasant. Spring and autumn offer warm days with manageable heat for the outdoor stops.

Do I need to be fit for this experience?

No special fitness is needed. This is primarily a driving tour with short guided walks at each stop. The longest walk is through El Jem Colosseum and the Matmata cave homes. The 4x4 section to Onk Jemal is vehicle-based. Suitable for all ages.

Tunisian Sahara two-day film set tour from Sousse

2 days + 1 night
3 meals included
Light intensity
Hotel

From a Roman amphitheatre that once held 35,000 spectators to a film set city built for Star Wars, this two-day tour from Sousse covers a stretch of Tunisia most visitors never reach. You'll cross the rust-washed salt lake of Chott el Djerid, walk through underground cave homes at Matmata, and spend the night in Douz, the town known as the Gateway to the Sahara.

Your route

What makes the night special

Douz sits right on the edge of the Sahara, and your overnight here puts you in the last town before the dunes begin. After a day of ancient ruins and cave dwellings, the pace drops as you settle in for the night. An optional camel or carriage ride is available in Douz for those who want to see the desert fringe up close before dinner.

Your tour begins with a drive south to El Jem, home to one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. This colosseum once seated 35,000 spectators for gladiatorial fights and chariot races. After your guided visit, you continue to Matmata, a village where traditional homes are carved deep into soft sandstone, forming underground rooms around central courtyards. These cave dwellings famously appeared in the Star Wars films. After lunch in Matmata, you'll head further south to Douz, the Gateway to the Sahara. This is your base for the night. An optional camel or carriage ride is available here before dinner.

In the morning, you cross Chott el Djerid, a vast rust-washed salt lake that stretches to the horizon. On the far side, you transfer into a 4x4 for the ride to Onk Jemal, where a full film set city was built for Star Wars. The desert landscape feels like you're on another planet, which is exactly why it was chosen. After a Tunisian lunch stop at Gafsa, you head north to Kairouan for a photo stop. The town's richly decorated mosques give it a character of its own. From there, you drive back to your Sousse hotel.

What travellers are saying

AI snapshot

4.3/5

Generated from real customer reviews

Summary: This two-day excursion covers a lot of ground, showcasing Tunisia's diverse landscapes and cultural sites. Highlights include camel rides, 4x4 desert adventures, and visits to Star Wars filming locations. The guides are highly knowledgeable and make the journey enjoyable. However, be aware of long coach rides and consider the condition of the overnight hotel. Despite these, the trip is packed with memorable experiences and stunning scenery.
What visitors loved: Knowledgeable and engaging guides. Camel ride across the Sahara Desert. 4x4 trip across the dunes to the Star Wars set.
Worth knowing: Be prepared for long travel times on the coach and early wake-up calls. Overnight hotel conditions may not meet expectations.

Why choose TUI Musement experiences

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Made by us

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Local touch

The right time to visit. The view most miss. Do it like our creators and guides – who live and love it there.

Why you’ll love this…

You'll step back in time on a guided tour of El Jem Colosseum during a two-day tour of Tunisia
There's the village of Matmata, where traditional cave dwellings are carved into sandstone to explore
The rivers run red in the rust-washed salt lake of Chott el Djerid that you'll cross
It'll feel like you're landed on another planet at the Star Wars city film set at Onk Jemal
Your local guide is an expert on the deserts and Hollywood hotspots of Tunisia

Important to know

Optional camel or carriage ride available in Douz
Single room supplement of approximately EUR 15 per guest payable in cash at the hotel
Accommodation tax isn't included
Pick-ups are available from the selected area in the following resorts.
If you don't see the option to add a hotel for pick-up, please provide the details at checkout

Aqua Skanes Famıly Resort
Sahara Beach
Jaz Tour Khalaf
Marhaba Royal Salem
Riadh Palms
TUI SENSIMAR Scheherazade
Sentido Bellevue Park
El Mouradi Palace
Royal Kenz Thalasso & Spa
Seabel Alhambra Beach Golf & Spa

Cancellation policy

Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 1 day before the experience begins.

What’s included

Transport
Guide
Accommodation
Lunch
Breakfast
Dinner

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.

Pickup points

To see which pickup points are available, check under availability & prices.

Provider

TUI TUNISIA

What people say about this experience

4.3/5

All reviews are verified

Based on 398 reviews

Review categories

Safety

5/5

Service

5/5

Staff

5/5

Value for money

5/5

All ratings (398)

5 stars (217)

55%

4 stars (129)

32%

3 stars (44)

11%

2 stars (2)

1 star (6)

G
Gareth
Solo traveller
31 October 2026
5
United Kingdom
It was two very long days out of a seven day holiday; however it was very enjoyable and good value for money. I was a single traveller and I would have appreciated some better information about the added costs.
J
Jasu
Travelled with a group of friends
28 October 2026
5
United Kingdom
The best trip I had the guide was so good we enjoyed every minute great trip
S
Steve
Travelled with family
27 October 2026
5
United Kingdom
Absolutely fantastic trip. Well worth the travel and excellent value for money. I would recommend it and pay the extra for the camel ride, it was a great experience at sunset.
A
Ann Scott
Travelled as a couple
14 October 2026
5
United Kingdom
The first lunch at the Stars Wars wasn’t that nice to be honest! The 4x4 experience was great & the driver superb. The Guide we had throughout was excellent & very informative & knowledgeable. The Coach driver was exceptional. The Colosseum was an experience in itself Great.
S
S Wilkinson
Travelled as a couple
4 October 2026
5
United Kingdom
You get alot of stuff included with the excursion so many places to see, the hotel was great standard for 3 stars. Pretty, clean, good good, aircon better than our actual hotel. I did not like the guide telling us to purchase the scarfs from the hotel as other places were selling for a lot cheaper. He also told us to take our scarfs to the star wars set... which was not needed and alot of hassle from local ppl there asking us to do the scarf on our head and pay 10d for it.
J
John T. Williams
Solo traveller
3 October 2026
5
United Kingdom
The range of scenery was amazing , and the activities chosen were splendid. Both the guide and the driver were great .