Tunisia – A quick overview

Tunisia lies just across the Mediterranean Sea from the European mainland. It successfully combines the Mediterranean influence with a long history of Arabic inhabitants to blend it into a fascinating place. The country contains both the northern most part of the Saharan desert and the Eastern end of the Atlas mountain range. Tunisia’s landscape is very diverse being made up of many different type of terrain. These range from fertile soils to the wonderful sandy shores which cover most of the Mediterranean coast line.

Whatever you’re looking for from your trip you should be able to find it here. Depending on what you want from your trip her are a few suggestions of things you can find to do.

If you feel like a bit of an adventure then try a journey across the Sahara in a 10-day desert trek. You start at the sacred mountain of Temb’ain, before spend more than a week tackling the sands and sleeping under the stars in a Bedouin tent. The guides are well trained and you can choose whether you want to walk or ride your own camel.

However if you prefer your adventure to be a little more comfortable then try a 4x4 drive over the dunes. A private two-day tour with an English-speaking guide will show you all the mysteries of the desert without some of the effort. If you do take this option then be sure not to miss the opportunity to go quad biking. Lots of groups offering the chance to hire a vehicle, and miles of sands and the dunes you will have plenty of chance to challenge yourself.

If its culture and sightseeing that you want then there is again plenty on offer. You will definitely want to explore the souks; here you can buy ornate carpets, jewellery and ceramics. However you must remember to practise your bartering skill to get a reasonable price for anything you want. If you pay more than 50% of the asking price you have normally paid too much, the exception being gold, where the weight will determine the value. The Bardo Museum provides a view of Tunisian life in ancient times. Highlights of the collection are some well-preserved Roman mosaics, rare Phoenician artefacts and early Islamic ceramics.

A different type of culture awaits if you are a Star Wars fan. You will find Tunisia is the home to one of the film’s most memorable settings. In Djerba, you will find the town of Ajim, which was the location for Mos Eisley in Star Wars: Episode IV.

Now if you’re the kind of person who wants to be pampered then look no further. Tunisia is well renowned for its excellent spas, and is one of the top places in the world in which to relax and unwind. It’s also the perfect place to try out thalassotherapy; this is a form of treatment that uses seawater to improve the skin’s health. Alhambra Talasso is one of the largest and most luxurious thalassotherapy centres in Tunisia. The centre is covers a total area of 4, 500m² and includes an indoor therapeutic swimming pool with seawater, a solarium and a tearoom. Also on offer are skin-rejuvenating seaweed remedies, marine mud wraps or an underwater massage.

Perhaps the answer is to combine them all with a desert trip followed by some retail and spa therapy?