Uncover the Secrets of the Sahara in Tunisia
Visit the Sahara Desert in Tunisia
Behind the sanctity of the glittering beaches and bustling cities along Tunisia’s coastline lies one of the great feats of nature, into which a large number of holiday-makers have yet to travel. The Sahara desert is the world’s largest and most stunning non-arctic desert, covering over nine million square kilometres of Africa and has sand dunes which tower up to six hundred feet high. Tunisia’s tour operators offer desert safaris for those who want to explore this magnificent realm on their Tunisia holidays either by jeep to cover wide expanses out of the glare of the sun, or by camel for an authentic and first-hand experience.
Desert Safari in Tunisia
Whether in a cosy air-conditioned jeep or aloft on the back of a camel, safari-goers can watch the sand dunes disappear into the horizon in every direction. Contrary to many expectations, the Sahara offers many awe-inspiring sights other than sand dunes; radiant pink salt lakes, cascading gorges, spectacular oases and even sites used for famous movies such as Star Wars and The English Patient can be found within the Tunisian desert.
Near Tozeur, the safari heads past the desolate Atlas Mountains, then through the Gorges of Selja, whose rocky sides plunge almost vertically down to the narrow valley through which the safari passes. Nearby, the Chott El Jerid salt lake shimmers in red and pink shades in the sun, which is a breath-taking view for any traveller and can create the most striking mirages. Take a trip from the resorts of the Carthage Coast, Hammamet, Sousse or Port el Kantaoui to visit the sites which featured in two Star Wars movies which have remained the same since the time they were filmed. The Ksar Haddada citadel is fortified into a sheer rock side and featured in Star Wars Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace, and the Troglodyte Village of Matmata featured in Star Wars Episode IV, which is a village built into the rock for inhabitants to escape from the sun within man-made cave dwellings.
The Tunisian Sahara is also home to a great number of structures still standing from many ancient and other historical empires, as this country has witnessed the passage of the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Vandals, Turks, Spanish and French over a period of three thousand years. In the desert near the town of El Djem, drive through a sea of olive trees to visit one of the best conserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. Journey to the holy city of Kairouan, for a panoramic view of the Grand Mosque of Kairouan, whose interior is adorned with marbled columns and large gold chandeliers.
You can find tour operators in the major tourist destinations in Tunisia, such as the resorts of Hammamet, Hammamet Yasmine, Port el Kantaoui, Sousse and Skanes which operate throughout most of these sights. These affordable trips come in one to four day packages and can include a combination of jeeps, camels and trains for a more complete desert experience and to see the most in the relatively short time you’ll have to explore this fantastic expanse. To get the most out of what the desert safaris have to offer, take advantage of great savings on your holiday to Tunisia with http://www.lowcostholidays.com






