SAHARA DESERT TREK

Day 1
If on group flights you will spend your first night in Tunis. If you have booked land only you will make your own way to Djerba and spend your first night in Djerba.

Day 2
Those on group flights fly from Tunis to Djerba early this morning. Mid morning we start our tour. We drive to Douz, the gateway town to the Sahara. We visit the town centre and Sahara Desert museum before meeting with the camel drivers for the start of our trek into the Sahara. On arrival in camp, our team will set up camp and start preparing dinner on an open fire. It is possible that our team of support staff will provide entertainment in the evening, perhaps playing traditional music around the camp fire.

Day 3 - 6
We spend four full days trekking through the vast Saharan Desert. We will pass a number of landmarks, such as an ancient fort, a small well and a koubba (burial place of a 'sidi' or saint). As we head southeast across this corner of the desert we will notice a distinct change in the colour of the sand dunes surrounding us, gradually changing from white to orange. Our intended camps will be at Dhirat Lemezil on day 3 (where we will be surrounded by large yellow dunes), Hguif El Boom on day 4, the valley of Eddakhla on day 5, and near the ancient ruins of the Ksar Ghilane Fort on day 6.

Day 7
Our final day's trek as we head out of the desert early in the morning to the oasis village of Ksar Ghilane, one of Tunisia's most famous, with its natural pools, red sand dunes and numerous palm trees. After enjoying a welcome dip in the warm spring water, we will rejoin our vehicles and begin our return to Djerba. We plan to stop for lunch at the town of Matmata, famous for its troglodyte buildings such as the one featured in the film Star Wars. We shall then continue our journey, and, depending on ferry times, may arrive just in time for a quick look around the souk before enjoying a shower and celebratory evening meal together.

Day 8
For those on group flights, these depart on Day 8 and will arrive in the UK the same day.