With its central location in North Africa, bordered by Algeria, Libya, and the Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia has long been an important player in the Mediterranean. The small country has a rich history and an elaborate mixture of cultures from all its former rulers: Romans, Arabs, Ottoman Turks, and French. Whether you choose to visit the ancient cities, the beautiful beaches that lie along the Mediterranean coast, or take in the ever-enchanting sands of the Sahara that stretch deep into Africa and learn of the traditions of the indigenous Berbers, you will find that Tunisia just might be North Africa's most relaxed and hospitable country.

SUGGESTED TUNISIA TOURS

Like all of our tours, these are simply suggested itineraries, and can easily be customized to suit your schedule, budget, and interests.

Tunisian Ruins – 9 days
Tunis, Carthage, Hammamet, El Djem, Kairouan

Tunisian Adventure – 14 days
Tunis, Carthage, Kairouan, Tozeur, Ksar Ghilane, Djerba, Port El Kantaoui

Adventure in Morocco & Tunisia – 18 days
Fes, Meknes & Volubilis, Erfoud, Skoura, Marrakech, Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, Tunis, Carthage, Hammamet

National Museum of Bardo, North Africa, Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia, Sahara, Berbers, Tunis, Carthage, Hammamet, El Djem, Kairouan, Roman ruins, Kerkouane, Necropolis, Sousse, Monastir, Amphitheater, Maktar ruins, Tabarka, Dougga, Dar Said, Antonine Baths, Tophet, Odeon, Sidi Bou Said, Zitouna Mosque, Sidi Sahbi mausoleum, Thubarbo Majus, Tozeur oasis, Ksar Ghilane, Island of Djerba, Port El Kantaoui, Oqba ibn Nafi, Tamerza, Douz, Bedouin tent, Gabes, Sfax, Honeymoon in Tunisia, Private luxury travel in Tunisia, Tunisia tours, Privately guided tours in Tunisia, Tunisia hotels, Golf tours, Family tours, Food and Wine tours, Active Adventure tours, Beach, Trekking, Private luxury tours.

Originally a 13th century Hafsid palace, the Museum contains a major collection of Roman mosaics and other antiquities from Ancient Greece, Tunisia, and from the Islamic period.

North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent; it includes seven countries. Absolute Travel's custom-designed journeys encompass three: Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant.

Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa; bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area is almost 165,000 km2, with an estimated population of just over 10.3 million. Its name is derived from the capital Tunis located in the north-east.

The Sahara, steeped in myths and legends, is the dream destination of many romantic adventurers. According to National Geographic, it is one of the 50 Places of a Lifetime.

The Berbers are the first people known to history in what is now Tunisia. The name possibly means "free people". Berbers represent the major ethnic origin in North Africa.

Tunis, the ancient capital of Tunisia, is a captivating mixture of Mediterranean, Arabic and North African flavors with a European touch.

The name Carthage refers to a series of cities on the Gulf of Tunis, from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC to the current suburb outside Tunis, Tunisia.

Hammamet is a town in Tunisia. Known for its beaches, it is a popular destination for swimming and water sports.

El Djem is a town in Mahdia Governorate. It is home to some of the most impressive Roman remains in Africa.

Referred to as the Islamic Cultural Capital, Kairouan is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was founded by the Arabs around 670, becoming an important center for Islamic and Quranic learning, and thus attracting a large number of Muslims from various parts of the world, next only to Mecca and Medina.

Apart from the more famous Roman ruins at Carthage and the incredible amphitheater at El Jem, there is also a great collection of Roman ruins in near the northern town of Dougga.

Kerkouane is a Punic city in northeastern Tunisia, near Cape Bon. The city was supposedly abandoned in c. 250 B.C. and was not rebuilt by the Romans. The site could be visited as a day trip from Tunis. The remains are well marked out and set on a nice stretch of coast line. There is a small museum detailing the archeological finds and history of the site.

The necropolis consists of a series of vaults set in a seaside hill, four primary chamber-tombs, and a surrounding burial area. Declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. The remains constitute the only example of a Phoenicio-Punic city to have survived.

Sousse is an important tourist resort known for its fine sandy beaches, orchards, and olive groves. The city retains a medieval heart of narrow, twisted streets, a kasbah and medina, its ribat fortress and long wall on the Mediterranean.

Traditionally a fishing port, Monastir is now a major tourist resort. The city captures that blend of the traditional and modern that characterizes Tunisia. A marina nestled in the shade of the walls provides a enjoyable promenade as does the long avenue that offers the bluest of Mediterranean seas on one side and restaurants and coffee houses on the other.

The Roman Amphitheater in Carthage dates back to the 2nd century. An open-air venue used for entertainment and performances, it had seating capacity of 50,000 people. The remains include its foundation and some underground rooms.

The site of ancient Maktar was rediscovered in the nineteenth century. Ancient Maktar was founded in the second century BC by a Numidian king trying to protect his domain from Berber incursions.

As with most of Tunisian cities Tabarka's history is a colorful mosaic of Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Turkish civilizations. The rich natural environment of Tabarka has been carefully preserved and visitors will delight in crystal clear waters and a bay of fine sand with the lovely mountains of Kroumirie as a backdrop.

Dougga began as a Numidian royal capital. It was the place of residence for the Numidian Kings until the first century AD. Grandiose temples and theaters, forum and markets stand on a mountainside overlooking wheat fields and valley.

Set in the most fabulous position in the delightful village of Sidi Bou Said, Dar Said Hotel is a beautiful building whose charm matches that of the surrounding village houses with their white-washed walls, mosaic tiles and blue framed Moorish windows and doors.

The Antonine Baths were built between 146 and 162 AD. The name comes from the Emperor Antoninus Pius who commanded their completion. The Baths in Carthage were among the largest baths in the Roman Empire in an area of 4.5 acres. What remains of the baths is fragmentary but substantial enough to give an impression of their original size and opulence.

Tophet was the sacred place where sacrifices were offered to the gods. The principal gods of Carthage were the sun god Baal-Ammon and the moon goddess Tanit. The Tophet, a sanctuary enclosed by walls, is believed to have been built on the spot where the legendary foundress of Carthage, Elissa, landed in Tunisia.

On the top of the hill in Carthage are the remains of the Odeon, a small covered hall built in A.D. 207.

Sidi Bou Said, this lovely blue and white village, gaily perched on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Tunis, is perhaps the most cherished in Tunisia. Following the cobblestone streets winding upwards, visitors will catch glimpses of the emerald sea with the mountain of Bou Kornine and the southern beaches of Tunis across the Bay.

Zitouna Mosque is the main religious site of Tunisia. It is one of the main landmarks of Tunis and reflects the religious sentiments of 99% of the local inhabitants. Flocked by tourists and pilgrims, the mosque is rated among the top tourist attractions.

The Mausoleum of Sidi Sahbi, generally known as the Mosque of the Barber in Kairouan, North Africa's largest Muslim city and the 4th holiest city of Islam. The prayer hall is not open to non-muslims. The place is worth a visit to admire the columned courtyard and the charming and colourful tiles that decorate the walls.

Thuburbo Majus (or Thuburbo Maius) is a large Roman site. Most of the town was built around 150 - 200 AD. This town does not have fully restored buildings, but there are remains of a forum, the amphitheatre, temples, baths, houses, and other sites.

Tozeur is an oasis city in south west Tunisia. It was once one of the Roman outposts and a stopping point for the caravans coming from the sub Sahara to trade with the coastal cities of the Mediterranean. Now it owes its fame and affluence to the stately palm and its world renowned dates - deglet nour.

Ksar Ghilane is a small oasis in southern Tunisia located on the edge of the Grand Erg Oriental. This is the Sahara of your dreams where extraordinarily fine, orange sand dunes stretch on for miles and miles. Ksar Ghilane is the perfect spot to explore the dunes on a camel for a few hours or two weeks.

Djerba (also: Jerba, Jarbah or Girba) is the largest island of North Africa, located in the Gulf of Gabes, off the coast of Tunisia. The island is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful beaches and dramatic sunsets. Legend has it that Djerba was the island of the Lotus-Eaters where Odysseus stranded on his voyage through the Mediterranean.

Port El Kantaoui is a tourist complex in central Tunisia, built in 1979 around a large artificial harbor which provides mooring with 340 berths for luxury yachts, hosting sporting activities from water skiing to paragliding, and several golf courses. The 36-hole PGA approved championship course makes Port El Kantaoui a popular destination for golfing.

Uqba ibn Nafi was an Arab general under the Umayyad dynasty, who began the Islamic conquest of the Maghreb, including present-day western Algeria and Morocco in North Africa. In a region of what is now Tunisia, he established the town now called Kairouan.

Tamerza (or Tameghza) is the largest mountain oasis in Tunisia. The town was destroyed and abandoned in 1969 after a flood lasting 22 days.

Douz is a relatively large Tunisian town, a base to use when you want to explore the Tunisian side of the Sahara Desert. Bedouin guides will lead you out across the dunes until you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere, and provide you with a traditional-style lunch or tea at a campsite. You may also want to spend a night or two out in the desert, camping in traditional tents.

Most of the Bedouin live in low, rectangular tents woven from camel or goat hair. A line of poles supports the center of the tent. The sides of the tents may be rolled up to let the breezes in, or closed up tightly during rain or sandstorms. The tents are divided by decorative partitions called gatas. Half of the tent is for the men, the other half is for the women and children.

Gabes, an amalgamation of the two old villages of Djara to the north and Menzel to the south, is the chief town of a long coastal oasis in which there is a number of other settlements. Within the oasis are more than half a million date palms and extensive plantations of fruit-trees - apricots, figs, olives, pomegranates.

Sfax is the second largest city of Tunisia, founded in 849 AD on the ruins of Taparura and Thaenae. Adding a metropolitan spirit to the ancient charm of Sfax are the streets filled with shops and restaurants. Being one of the best areas in the country to buy souvenirs, Sfax is far cheaper than other Tunisian cities.

Many things define Tunisia. So do intricately and beautifully detailed door arches. Each one has a very interesting story to tell and much about the people behind it.

The amphitheatre at El Djem was built by the Romans under proconsul Gordian, who was acclaimed Emperor at Thysdrus, around 238 and was probably mainly used for gladiator shows and chariot races.

Sidi Bou Said is a town in northern Tunisia. The town is a tourist attraction in its own right - known for the extensive use of blue and white colors all over the town. Sidi Bou Said has a reputation for being a town of artists. Many famous artists lived there or visited Sidi Bou Said. Most famous is probably Paul Klee.

Tunisian cuisine with its distinctive spicy fieriness is a blend of Mediterranean and desert dwellers' culinary traditions. A popular condiment and ingredient which is used extensively in Tunisian cooking, harissa, is a hot red pepper sauce made of red chili peppers and garlic, flavoured with coriander, cumin, olive oil and often tomatoes.