Tunisia tours & vacations
Straddling Africa and the Middle East, this once-overlooked Mediterranean gem is well and truly back on the map
From the sun-drenched beaches of the north to the lunar-like desert of the south – and all the caves, mountains and palm-fringed oases in between – Tunisia has a unique allure. It’s not often you can clock Roman ruins this grand, get lost in a maze of medinas and learn age-old pastry recipes with a beloved local baker in their home. Many people think of Tunisia as a seaside holiday destination, and while its glittering Mediterranean beaches are definitely something to write home about, there’s so much more to discover in this diverse country.
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Tunisia Expedition
Tunisia Expedition
Tunisia Expedition
Tunisia Expedition
Tunisia Expedition
Tunisia at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Tunis
POPULATION
12.5 million
CURRENCY
Tunisian Dinar (TND)
LANGUAGE
Arabic, Italian, English
TIME ZONE
(GMT+01:00) West Africa / Central European time
CALLING CODE
+216
ELECTRICITY
Type C (European 2-pin) Type E (French 2-pin, female earth)
Learn more about Tunisia
Best time to visit Tunisia
Tunisia boasts a Mediterranean climate in the north and an arid, desert-like climate in the south. The busiest months are July and August when the hot weather draws tourists to the beaches.
The coldest and wettest months are January and February, although the average rainfall for this period is still relatively low; many interior Saharan regions of Tunisia don't see rainfall for years.
March to May is a great time to visit as it's less crowded, the temperatures are cooler and the scenery is spectacular. November is considered the optimal time for trekking in the desert.
You may also want to factor in the holy month of Ramadan (the dates of which change yearly). Travelling during Ramadan presents benefits and challenges as many restaurants close and business hours can be interrupted. That said, it's a great opportunity to learn about the local culture and customs.
Culture and customs
Tunisia is an Arabic country with a strong sense of history and tradition, yet a good dose of modernity. The overwhelming majority are Arabic-speaking Muslims; nine in ten Tunisians are Amazigh (Berber), with the remainder a mix of European, African and Arab peoples.
These days social and political life in Tunisia is mostly secular. Since the Arab Spring – a region-wide revolutionary movement sparked in 2010 by the Tunisian Revolution – the Tunisians have enjoyed more religious and social freedom and greater democracy. Still, when travelling, it’s important to keep in mind the country’s Islamic culture. If Ramadan is on, be careful not to drink or smoke in the public presence of those practising it.
Family is an important part of Tunisian life and a good topic of conversation when meeting new acquaintances. Wearing a headscarf is not necessary for women travelling in Tunisia (unless visiting mosques), but it pays to dress conservatively. Language-wise, French and Arabic are the officials, but English is increasingly prevalent – children are nowadays taught it at school.
Eating and drinking
Tunisian cuisine is a mix of Mediterranean, French, Italian, Turkish and Amazigh (Berber) influences. Seafood is popular in coastal areas in the north, while hearty regional classics like shakshouka (baked eggs in tomato) are common all over.
Two major staples of Tunisian cuisine are harissa (a spicy chilli paste made with coriander and caraway seeds) and couscous (buttery semolina granules) which are also popular in neighbouring countries like Morocco.
Must-try foods in Tunisia
1. Kosksi
Translating to couscous, this is Tunisia's national dish. The Amazigh people are thought to have created it as far back as the 3rd century. A simple yet delicious plate of seasoned couscous is usually accompanied by baked vegetables and chickpeas, or by beef, lamb or chicken.
2. Brik pastry
Brik, or 'brick', pastry comes in sweet and savoury forms, but you'll likely stumble on the egg and meat-filled kind first. Though its name may suggest otherwise, the dough is relatively thin and delicate. You'll find this snack at street stalls across the country.
3. Tajine
Not to be confused with the Moroccan version (that’s very different), Tunisian tajine is similar to a quiche or frittata – more of a European-style finger food. Typical ingredients are onions, spices and ground meat, all held together with egg and breadcrumbs and flavoured with herbs and spices.
4. Lablabi
A fantastic option for vegetarians, lablabi is a hearty chickpea soup with liberal doses of cumin and coriander. Tuna or egg are sometimes added for extra punch, and some harissa doesn’t go astray. Capers or chopped almonds sometimes top the dish off.
5. Bambalouni (Tunisian doughnut)
Sweet toothed-travellers shouldn’t miss the ‘yo-yo’, also known as a bambalouni, or simply Tunisian doughnut. Deep fried, but with the subtlety of so many other sweets from the region, it’s often lightly flavoured by rose water, orange blossom or lemon.
Geography and environment
Sandwiched between Libya and Algeria, Tunisia benefits from its location on the Mediterranean Coast. The south is characterized by arid plains and desert, which give way to rolling hills and fertile areas prime for cultivation in the north.
With a coastline along the Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia has plenty of white sand beaches that are popular with swimmers, surfers and divers. Tunisia's capital and largest city, Tunis, is mostly modern in design, except for the old medieval medina in the middle of town.
Shopping
Tunisia is a treat for those who love to haggle the North African way. The country has many souqs and medinas where you can get a great price on local and authentic items. Shop for endemic spices, blown-glass perfume bottles, traditional ceramics and more.
You may like to purchase a Tunisian rug, which will be truly evocative of your stay in the region. Kairouan is a particularly good place to shop for a rug. Just look out for the ONAT (Office National de l’Artisanat Tunisien) stamp of approval on the back of your rug before you buy it to ensure it’s authentic.
A traditional Arabic shisha, also known as a hookah, is also worth considering as a souvenir. It’s the apparatus used to smoke the characteristic flavoured tobacco of the Middle East. It’s not for everyone, of course, but travellers are known to buy them for their aesthetic qualities alone.
Festivals and events
International Festival of Sousse
This three-week festival brings together a miscellanea of arts from across the country. See performances, eat African cuisine and enjoy the biggest carnival parade in Africa.
Festival of the Sahara
Held in Douz in the heart of the namesake desert, Festival of the Sahara started as a Bedouin marriage market but became a full-blown celebration of arts, culture and sports in the region. There’s delicious food, military parades, greyhound racing and much more.
Ulysses Festival
The legendary Greek king Ulysses is said to have immortalized the island of Djerba when he visited thousands of years ago. The island hosts this festival every year with cultural events and performances from across the Mediterranean.
Public holidays that may impact travel include:
Independence Day
Youth Day
Martyrs' Day
Labour Day
Republic Day
Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
Women's Day
New Era Day
Mawlid (Birth of the Prophet Muhammad)
*Please note dates of Tunisia's public holidays may vary.
Further reading
| Title | Author |
| Carthage Must Be Destroyed | Richard Miles |
| The Tremor of Forgery | Patricia Highsmith |
| The Pillar of Salt | Albert Memmi |
| Behind Closed Doors: Women's Oral Narratives in Tunis | Monia Hejaiej |
| The Influence Peddlers | Hedi Kaddour |
Tunisia travel FAQs
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information.
You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our visa and entry requirements page.
Tipping in Tunisia is discretionary but expected by most service workers. Drivers, waiters, porters, baristas and hotel staff will generally expect a small tip for serving you at a restaurant, showing you to your room or carrying your bags. We recommend setting aside some dinars for this.
Most hotels, restaurants and bars offer wi-fi, particularly in large cities and resorts along the coast, but it may be harder to find in more remote areas.
Cell phone coverage is generally good in Tunisia, especially in large cities. Coverage may not be available in more remote areas, especially if travelling through the desert. Ensure you have global roaming activated with your cell phone carrier before you leave home if you wish to use it while in Tunisia.
You'll have to adjust to different standards of hygiene and sanitation while in Tunisia. The standard toilet in Tunisia (and throughout much of Africa) is of the squat variety and this may take some getting used to, although western-style toilets can be found in some hotels and tourist areas.
Public toilets are often equipped with just a hose, so you may want to carry a packet of tissues and hand sanitiser with you.
Exercise caution when drinking water in Tunisia. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found as some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available.
ATMs can be found in large cities like Tunis but are less common in rural areas and smaller towns. It’s best to carry plenty of cash with you if you’re travelling out of the city.
Major credit cards are usually accepted by large hotels and shops in cities and tourist areas, but are less commonly accepted by smaller vendors, in remote towns and rural areas. Ensure you carry enough cash for dinners, coffee and smaller purchases since credit cards aren't always an option in Tunisia.
Homosexuality is illegal in Tunisia and can be punishable by imprisonment. We recommend that LGBTQIA+ travellers carefully consider the risks of travelling to Tunisia and refer to your government’s foreign travel advisories. Equaldex and ILGA are other useful resources for LGBTQIA+ travellers.
Intrepid is aware of Tunisia’s legislation affecting LGBTQIA+ people – as a company these discriminatory laws do not reflect our values and we stand in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ travellers all over the world.
Intrepid Travel will continue to strive to build an inclusive company for our people and our customers, while continuing to support the vital contribution that tourism makes for local communities in Tunisia.
Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
Eden Reforestation Projects
Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe.
Find out more or make a donation
World Bicycle Relief
World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilise school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most.
Find out more or make a donation
From Australia?
Go to: Smart Traveller
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From the UK?
Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice
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From the US?
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The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.
For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance