Tunisia

Ancient Crossroads of the Mediterranean

                                         October 26 - November 8, 2007

Day 1:  October 26                                                                            USA

Depart from your gateway city on an overnight flight to Tunis via Paris.

Day 2 October 27                                                                       Tunis (D)

Upon your arrival in Tunis you will be met by your tour leader and be taken by private coach to your hotel.  There will be time to freshen up  before your welcome dinner (included).

Day 3: October 28                                                                  Tunis (B,L)

After breakfast, the motor coach will take you to the Bardo Museum.  The museum’s collection of    Roman mosaics is the most extensive to be found in the world.  There you will also  discover the riches of  Tunisia’s Islamic dynasties.

After lunch  (included) you will drive to the Medina of Tunis with its narrow alleyways and passages and its complex of souks (markets). You will also take a tour of The Museum of Ethnography. 

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 4:  October 29                                                             Tunis (B,L,D)

Today, after breakfast, you will drive to Carthage to explore the Roman ruins of the ancient city, the adjoining museum and, later, Punic tombs. You will then have lunch  at a wonderful restaurant on a cliff along the Mediterranean sea.

In the afternoon you will visit Sidi Bou Said, an Andalousian village which was settled by the Maures . There will be time for shopping and for tea.  On the way back to the hotel the bus will make a stop at the American Military Cemetery.

Dinner tonight  will be at a local restaurant (included).

Day 5:  October 30                                                                 Mahdia (B)

This morning you will depart  by motorcoach for the city of Sousse.  There you will visit the old city and the new harbour where you will have many choices for lunch on your own.

In the  afternoon you will visit Monastir with its magnificent fortress and the mausoleum complex where President Bourguiba is buried.  Monastir and its harbor are particularly attractive.  By late afternoon you will arrive at your 5 star beachfront hotel in Madhia.

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 6:  October 31                                                             Mahdia (B,D)

Today you will have time to enjoy the luxurious accommodations, relax at the beach or at the pool.  In the late afternoon, you will drive to the picturesque center of Madhia for sightseeing, shopping and dinner (included).

Day 7:  November 1                                                            Djerba (B,D)

In the morning you will depart  for the city of El Jem.  The Roman coliseum in this city is considered to be better preserved than its counterpart in Rome.  The nearby remarkable museum with its beautifully restored Roman villa complete with original  mosaics allows you to experience life in those times.  There will be a lunch stop on the way to Djerba (on your own).  Your hotel in Djerba is again located on the beach.

There will be time to settle in before dinner (included).

Day 8:  November 2                                                                Djerba (B)

Today you will visit Guellala and its new museum representing life in the menzels.  There will also be visit to the Ghriba Synagogue.  It houses some of the world’s oldest Torah Scrolls.  The Jewish community on the island dates from 600 BC.

Today’s lunch is included and dinner is on your own.

Day 9:  November 3                                                      Tataouine (B,D)

This morning you will leave Djerba and drive along the Roman way to Medenine and Tataouine in the desert to visit the Ksours (berber villages).  You will overnight in Tataouine.

Dinner there is included.

Day 10:  November 4                                                     Kairouan (B,D)

Following breakfast you will be enroute via Gabes and Sfax to Kairouan.  Lunch is on your own in Sfax and you will also have time for sightseeing and shopping.  Arrival in Kairouan will allow an opportunity to settle in at your hotel priot to dinner (included).  Kairouan, the most religious city in the country, was founded within 40 years of the Prophet’s death.  It is the 4th holiest city in       Islam.

Day 11:  November 5                                                         Kairouan (B)

After an early breakfast you will travel to Sheitla, a little village with one of the country’s most important ancient sites.  Known in Roman times as Sufetula, there are well preserved Roman temples a Roman forum complex considered to be the best preserved in North Africa.  You will be able to have lunch at the site.  The return to Kairouan will leave time to visit that old city and its important mosque.

Dinner is on your own.

Day 12:  November 6                                                    Tabarka (B,L,D)

This morning you will drive to Dougga. Set on a hill, Dougga is a Roman town subsequently settled by Berbers who wanted to live the Roman way.  The ruins and its impressive Amphitheater are very well preserved.  It is easy to imagine life in the 1st Century.  Lunch is included.  You will then drive to your hotel in Tabarka.

Dinner is included.

Day 13:  November 7                                                        Tunis (B,L,D)

After a short city tour you will drive to Bulla Regia,  a Roman town of Phoenician origin.  There you will visit the underground houses and some       beautiful villas. Lunch today is included.  From Bulla Regia , you will drive back to Tunis for a last night in Tunisia.

The Farewell dinner will be at a local restaurant.

Day 14:  November 8                                           Home (B)

Today after breakfast you will transfer to the airport for your flight home.

The price (land only) is:

$2,110 per person double occupancy based on 10 participants OR

$2,050 per person double occupancy based on 12 participants.

The price of the single occupancy supplement will be provided upon request.

The price includes:

• Twelve nights accommodations in superior class hotels,

• An extensive meal program of 12 breakfasts,                                     seven lunches and eight dinners including a sumptuous Welcome     Dinner  and a memorable Farewell Dinner

• An exciting Travel Program per the itinerary

• A multilingual tour guide/leader throughout the trip

• A private motor coach for all travel per itinerary.

• All transfers

• All necessary entrance fees