GRAND-SAHARA-AVENTURES
PRIVATE DAY TRIPS • DESERT TREKS • TUNISIA EXPEDITIONS
3-DAY SAHARA TOUR: TOZEUR, KSAR GHILANE & MATMATA
Discover the highlights of Southern Tunisia on a private 3-day desert tour, from Djerba or Zarzis.
Departures from Djerba > Southern Tunisia Tours > 3-Day Sahara Tour
A PRIVATE 3-DAY TOUR TO EXPERIENCE THE ESSENTIALS OF THE TUNISIAN SAHARA
A private Sahara escape from Djerba or Zarzis, between mountain oases, salt lake landscapes, desert dunes and troglodyte houses.
Would you like to discover the most spectacular landscapes of the Tunisian Sahara without choosing a longer tour?
This 3-day Sahara tour has been designed to focus on the essentials: Tozeur, the mountain oases of Chebika, Tamerza and Midès, the crossing of Chott El Jerid, Douz, Ksar Ghilane, one night in a Sahara desert camp and the discovery of Matmata.
It is a short, intense and desert-focused itinerary, created for travellers who want to see the most beautiful landscapes of Southern Tunisia, sleep in the desert and return to Djerba or Zarzis in three days.
In one single journey, you travel from the palm groves of Tozeur to the canyons of the Saharan Atlas, from the salt lake of Chott El Jerid to the dunes of Ksar Ghilane, then from the desert camp to the troglodyte houses of Matmata.
✅ 100% private tour
✅ Departure and return from Djerba and Zarzis
✅ One night in Tozeur (4* Hotel).
✅ One night in a Saharan camp
✅ Ideal for a first immersion in Southern Tunisia
Would you prefer a more complete itinerary?
Discover our 4-day Southern Tunisia tour, with an additional day dedicated to Tataouine, Chenini, the Berber villages of the Dahar region and the iconic ksour of Southern Tunisia.
WHY CHOOSE THIS 3-DAY SAHARA TOUR?
This tour is ideal if you are looking for a powerful but well-structured desert experience.
In just three days, you discover several very different atmospheres of Southern Tunisia:
-
the mountain oases,
-
the mineral landscapes of the Saharan Atlas,
-
the vast white expanse of Chott El Jerid,
-
Douz, the gateway to the Sahara,
-
the dunes and oasis of Ksar Ghilane,
-
a night in a Sahara desert camp,
-
the troglodyte houses of Matmata.
The pace is more intense than on a longer tour, but the itinerary remains coherent: every stop has a real purpose, with no unnecessary detours.
It is the right choice if you want to see the desert, sleep in the Sahara and discover Tozeur while keeping your programme shorter.
To compare other private itineraries, you can also explore our selection of tours in Southern Tunisia.
To compare other private itineraries, also see our selection of tours in Southern Tunisia .
WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN 3 DAYS
TOZEUR
Tozeur is one of the major oasis cities in southern Tunisia.
It marks the entry into a more Saharan Tunisia, with its palm groves, brick architecture and its particular atmosphere.
It is also the ideal starting point for reaching the mountain oases of the Saharan Atlas.
THE MOUNTAIN OASES, CHEBIKA, TAMERZA AND MIDES
Chebika, Tamerza and Midès reveal landscapes that are very different from the usual image of the desert.
Here, Southern Tunisia is discovered through springs, palm trees, cliffs, waterfalls, canyons and mineral reliefs.
These mountain oases are among the most spectacular stages of the tour.
NEFTA AND ONG JMEL
The region of Nefta and Ong Jmel reveals a more cinematic atmosphere, with wide desert spaces, isolated rock formations and powerful natural scenery.
It is an ideal stop to feel the immensity of Southern Tunisia before continuing deeper into the desert.
CHOTT EL JERID
Chott El Jerid is a huge salt lake located between Tozeur and Douz.
Depending on the light, the landscape changes completely: reflections, mirages, white horizons and a feeling of infinite space. It is one of the most memorable crossings of the tour.
DOUZ
Douz is often considered one of the gateways to the Tunisian Sahara.
The town marks the transition between oases, palm groves and the more desert-like landscapes of the Grand South.
It is an important stop before reaching Ksar Ghilane.
KSAR GHILANE
Ksar Ghilane is a Saharan oasis located on the edge of vast ochre dunes.
You can discover its natural hot spring, enjoy the desert scenery and, if you wish, take an optional quad bike ride or camel ride.
If you would like to focus only on the oasis, the dunes and a night in the desert, you can also discover our 2-day Ksar Ghilane tour.
SAHARA DESERT CAMP
The night in the Sahara desert camp is one of the major highlights of the tour.
After the 4×4 track, you reach a camp set in a desert environment, at the foot of the dunes.
You sleep in a private tent, with a Sahara-style dinner, a starry sky and the atmosphere of the desert.
MATMATA AND TAMEZRET
The final day is dedicated to Matmata, famous for its troglodyte houses dug into the ground, and to Tamezret, a Berber village that adds a more local and human dimension to the journey.
This stage brings a cultural ending to the tour, after two days focused mainly on Saharan landscapes.
For a shorter discovery of Matmata and the gateway to the desert, you can also consult our one-day Matmata and Douz tour.
Book your 3-day private tour in Southern Tunisia now.
YOUR SAHARA TOUR IN PICTURES
PRICES FOR THE 3-DAY PRIVATE TOUR
2 ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS:
-
Guesthouse: local atmosphere, charm and bed & breakfast.
-
4-star hotel: Ksar Rouge or equivalent, with hotel-style comfort and half board.
TOZEUR GUESTHOUSE
Prices including nights in a guesthouse (Tozeur)
For 5 people, price per person | € 310 |
For 4 people, price per person | € 355 |
For 3 people, price per person | € 410 |
For 2 people, price per person | € 575 |
KSAR ROUGE 4* HOTEL IN TOZEUR
Prices including nights in a 4* hotel in Tozeur
For 5 people, price per person | € 350 |
For 4 people, price per person | € 395 |
For 3 people, price per person | € 450 |
For 2 people, price per person | € 610 |
WHAT’S INCLUDED / NOT INCLUDED
Included in the price
-
Pick-up and drop-off directly at your accommodation in Djerba or Zarzis.
-
Private 4×4 or minibus transport, with driver.
-
Services of a licensed ONTT* guide, speaking French, English, German or Italian.
-
Lunches in local restaurants.
-
One night on a half-board basis at Ksar Rouge 4-star hotel or equivalent in Tozeur, in a double room.
-
One night on a half-board basis in a Sahara desert camp, in a private tent.
-
Entrance fees for the visits included in the programme.
-
Water during lunches.
Not included in the price
-
Domestic or international flights.
-
Drinks other than water.
-
Drinks and personal consumption in the accommodations.
-
Optional activities: quad biking, camel ride or other extras.
-
Tips.
-
Personal purchases.
*ONTT: Tunisian National Tourist Office.
PROGRAMME OF THE 3-DAY SAHARA TOUR
DAY 1 — DJERBA / ZARZIS → TOZEUR → MOUNTAIN OASIS → NEFTA
-
Early departure from your accommodation in Djerba or Zarzis.
-
The road takes you inland, away from the coast, through landscapes that gradually become drier, wider and more mineral.
-
Several photo stops are planned along the way, depending on the light, the weather and the pace of the journey.
-
Arrival in Tozeur and lunch in a local restaurant.
-
The afternoon is dedicated to the mountain oases: Chebika, Tamerza and Midès.
-
These three sites offer a striking contrast between cliffs, springs, palm trees, canyons and desert light.
-
You then continue towards Ong Jmel and the Nefta region, known for its powerful desert landscapes and natural cinematic atmosphere.
-
Return to Tozeur at the end of the day.
-
Dinner and overnight stay at Ksar Rouge 4-star hotel or equivalent, based on a double room.
DAY 2 — TOZEUR → CHOTT EL JERID → DOUZ → KSAR GHILANE → DESERT CAMP
-
After breakfast, departure towards Chott El Jerid.
-
Crossing this vast salt lake is one of the most memorable moments of the journey: white horizons, reflections, mirages and a powerful sense of open space.
-
Visit to Sidi Bouhlel Canyon, an impressive natural site often associated with the film landscapes of Southern Tunisia. To learn more about filming locations, you can consult our Star Wars Tunisia guide.
-
Continuation towards Douz, a transition town between the oases and the desert.
-
You discover the palm grove and its ancient irrigation system, then have lunch in Douz.
-
In the afternoon, drive to Ksar Ghilane, a Saharan oasis located on the edge of the dunes.
-
On arrival, you can enjoy the natural hot spring, whose water reaches around 32°C.
-
Optional activities, payable locally:
-
Camel ride: €15/hour.
Quad biking: €30/hour.
-
In the late afternoon, arrival and installation at the Sahara desert camp.
-
Free time to enjoy the sunset over the dunes, followed by a traditional demonstration of bread baked in the sand.
-
Dinner at the Sahara restaurant and overnight stay in a private tent in the desert.
DAY 3 — DESERT CAMP → TAMEZRET → MATMATA → DJERBA / ZARZIS
-
Breakfast at the desert camp.
-
In the morning, you still have a few quiet moments to enjoy the silence of the desert before taking the road again.
-
Departure towards Tamezret, a Berber village in Southern Tunisia.
-
Continuation to Matmata, famous for its troglodyte houses dug into the ground.
-
Lunch in Matmata in a simple, local and welcoming atmosphere.
-
These traditional dwellings show a way of life adapted to the climate and landscapes of Southern Tunisia.
-
The Matmata region is also known for its lunar scenery and for landscapes used in several film productions.
-
Photo stop at the Berber village of Toujane.
-
Return to Djerba or Zarzis in the late afternoon.
-
Drop-off at your accommodation.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
-
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights.
-
Departure: Djerba or Zarzis, from your hotel, villa, guesthouse, residence or airport.
-
Return: Djerba or Zarzis in the late afternoon on the third day.
-
Transport: private 4×4 or minibus depending on the number of participants.
-
Accommodation: 1 night in Tozeur + 1 night in a Sahara desert camp.
-
Meals: full board according to the programme.
-
Tour: private, with no outside group.
-
Accessibility: this tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
-
Network: some desert areas may have no mobile phone coverage.
-
Baby seats / booster seats: available on request.
WHAT TO BRING FOR THE TOUR
For the desert camp, we recommend using a soft travel bag rather than a rigid suitcase.
It is more practical in the sand and easier to handle during the night in the desert.
-
Clothes for three days.
-
Toiletries.
-
Towel, not provided at the desert camp.
-
Torch or headlamp.
-
Sunscreen.
-
Hat or cap.
-
Sunglasses.
-
Scarf or cheche for wind, sand or quad biking.
-
Swimsuit for the hot spring at Ksar Ghilane.
-
Camera.
-
Some cash for optional activities and personal expenses.
-
In winter, bring warm clothes for the evening and the night at the camp.
-
Blankets, pillows and sheets are provided.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 3-DAY SAHARA TOUR
This 3-day tour is an excellent option if you want to experience a real Saharan adventure in a limited time.
Highlights include:
-
A night in Tozeur, in the heart of southern Tunisia.
-
The mountain oases of Chebika, Tamerza and Midès.
-
The desert landscapes of Nefta and Ong Jmel.
-
Crossing the Chott El Jerid.
-
Douz, gateway to the Sahara.
-
Ksar Ghilane, its hot spring and its dunes.
-
The 4x4 track towards the camp.
-
A night in a private tent in the desert.
-
The discovery of Matmata and its troglodyte houses.
-
A Berber lunch in Matmata.
This program is short, but it offers a real progression: oasis, salt, desert, dunes, camp, troglodyte villages.
You don't stay in just one atmosphere: you travel through several landscapes of southern Tunisia in a short time, with a private and flexible organization.
3-DAY TOUR OR 4-DAY TOUR?
The 3-day Sahara tour is the best choice if you want to focus on the major landscapes: Tozeur, the mountain oases, Chott El Jerid, Douz, Ksar Ghilane, the Sahara desert camp and Matmata.
It is more direct, more intense and more focused on the desert.
The 4-day Southern Tunisia tour is more complete from a cultural point of view. It adds the Tataouine region, Chenini, the Berber ksour and more time in the Dahar mountains.
In summary:
Choose the 3-day Sahara tour for a short but intense immersion in the great Saharan landscapes.
Choose the 4-day South Tunisian tour for a more complete loop including the Tataouine region.
FAQ – 3-DAY SAHARA TOUR
Is this tour private?
Yes. The vehicle, driver, and guide are reserved exclusively for you. There are no other groups, clients, or convoys.
Does the tour depart from Djerba?
Yes. Pick-up is directly in front of your accommodation in Djerba or Zarzis, or at the airport depending on your arrangements.
Is this tour difficult?
The tour is not physically demanding, but it involves long driving distances. It is suitable for travellers who want to see many landscapes in a short time.
Do we really sleep in the desert?
Yes. The second night is spent in a Sahara desert camp, in a private tent.
Can we swim at Ksar Ghilane?
Yes. You can swim in the natural hot spring at Ksar Ghilane, depending on the time available on site.
Can we do quad biking or a camel ride?
Yes. These activities are available at Ksar Ghilane and are paid directly on site.
Is this tour suitable for families?
Yes, provided that the children can handle the driving distances.
As the tour is private, the pace can be adjusted as much as possible.
Baby seats or booster seats can be provided on request.
What is the difference with the 4-day tour?
The 3-day tour focuses on Tozeur, the mountain oases, Chott El Jerid, Douz, Ksar Ghilane, Matmata and Tamezret.
The 4-day tour adds Chenini, Tataouine and the Berber ksour. It is therefore more complete for travellers interested in the cultural side of the Dahar region.