Day trips from Djerba
All three variants cross the same Roman causeway and then branch further into the desert — the further you go, the longer it takes and the more it costs.
- Nearest: Matmata
- about 2 h to Matmata
- Tataouine, Chenini, the ksour
- about 1 h 30 to Tataouine
- Furthest: Ksar Ghilane
- most of the day driving
All three trips take the same road, across the seven-kilometre Roman causeway to the mainland, and then branch: the nearest is Matmata, with houses dug into the ground, further on are Tataouine and Chenini, cliff villages with the ksour near Medenine, and furthest is Ksar Ghilane, an oasis and hot spring on the edge of the real Sahara.
Across the causeway to Matmata
The first seven kilometres from the island to the mainland run along the Roman causeway, and from there it's about 2 h to Matmata to Matmata, a village where houses are dug into the ground instead of built on it. Transport is driver/agency, across the Roman causeway, a full day. The price depends on whether Matmata is folded into the same tour as Tataouine and Chenini or driven separately — operators differ, so the price is checked at booking.
Tataouine, Chenini and the ksour near Medenine
Further past Matmata, about 1 h 30 to Tataouine, lie Tataouine and the cliff village of Chenini, with granaries that were a film set before they were a landmark, and the ksour near Medenine. A group tour, minibus/agency, with a guide, leaves in the morning and returns in the evening, a full day, for €58 (children €38).
An oasis on the edge of the real Sahara
The furthest trip runs most of the day driving to Ksar Ghilane, an oasis with a hot spring on the edge of real sand dunes. You go 4×4 with a driver, a full day (early start), with an early start; the price depends on how many are in the vehicle, €65–140 (depends on group size).
When to go, and when not to
All three variants not done in summer (heat, no shade), since the villages and the dunes have no shade; booking is in advance with an agency, whichever variant you pick.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Which day trip from Djerba is nearest?
Matmata, about 2 h to Matmata across the causeway.
Are these trips done in summer?
No. not done in summer (heat, no shade).
Which is cheaper, Tataouine and Chenini or Ksar Ghilane?
Tataouine and Chenini with the ksour, €58 (children €38) on a group tour; Ksar Ghilane is a private 4x4 and depends on group size, €65–140 (depends on group size).
Ready for Djerba?
Where to next
Where to stay in Djerba
→The hotel zone in the east, Houmt Souk with its funduqs in the north, or Midoun and the villages between them…
El Jem · 159 km
→A Roman amphitheatre for 35,000 in the middle of an olive plain — an hour from the beach
How well does Djerba suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Front row for the next trip
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