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TUNISIA:
From The Hills of Carthage to the Threshold of the Sahara

15 days / 14 nights

February 13 - 27, 2008

estimated cost $5,795.00 per person in double from Denver

The whole country of Tunisia is a living museum filled with UNESCO World Heritage sites. Join our adventure to this little country with a big heart, a long history, and endless surprises. This northernmost country of Africa has, over 3,000 years, witnessed the passage of Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Turks, Spanish and French. Each of these left a part of its story in stone or mosaics on the hills of Carthage and on the threshold of the Sahara. Be part of our unique Sahara experience. We’ll board our 4 x 4 land cruiser and journey to Matmata with its famous underground houses built both to protect the Berbers from intense heat in the summer and provide them with warm in winter. One of these Barber villages with its pitted lunar landscapes was the set of the Spielberg’s movie Raiders of The Lost Arc and Lucas “Star Wars”. What a wonderful adventure this exotic and diverse desert country offers. During our 15-day stay we will:

EXPLORE THE BEST OF TUNISIA CITIES & ARCHAELOGICAL SITES:

· Legendary TUNIS, the capital of Tunisia.

· CARTHAGE – founded by the legendry princess Elissa-Dido, Carthage is a storehouse of history: Punic & Roman Empires sites, dwellings, temples, shrines and the fabulous naval port of the Carthaginians

· KAIOROUAN – “The city of 50 Mosques”. The spiritual home of all Tunisians. Visitors wonder at the exquisite elegance of the wood carved doors and stucco Arabesques. Inside its monumental walls are hundreds of shops where world famous Kairouan carpets of pure wool are woven.

· TOZEUR – With its fabulous 14th century medina and botanical gardens where groves of over 200,000 palms are watered by hundreds of natural springs.

TRAVEL THROUGH VILLAGES: Where native Berber people live a way of life unchanged since the time of Christ.

VISIT:

· The exotic City Of SOUSSE “Pearl Of the Sahl”. The mildness of its climate, its calm and beautiful coast and its hospitality captivated those who came to conquer as surely as they do visitors today.

· DOUGGA & MATMATA, where houses were built with a winter apartment on the ground floor and summer quarters underground with hollow air-pipes built into the walls. DOUGGA is perhaps among the most touching of the 200 or more Roman sites in Tunisia. One cannot help feeling that it stands waiting for people who will never return.

· The breathtaking SIDI BOU SAID. This lovely blue and white village is gaily perched on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Tunis. Legend tells of Saint Louis who, coming to wage war instead fell in love with a Berber Princess and became the patron saint of this village where he lived in joy and peace. Sit and sip a green tea with mint at the “Café des Nattes”. Visit Baron d’Erlanger Museum and marvel at the princely splendor of this Arabian Nights “Palace of the Star of Venus”. Small shops offer antiques, Tunisian handicrafts, lovely silver jewelry and art gallery exhibits works of both Tunisian and international artists.

· Among the most picturesque sites of the south are the towns of TAMERZA and MIDES, which combine barren mountain vistas with winding, green, palm-filled vistas. Across the vast salt depression known as Chott El Jerid, lies DOUZ with its rolling sand dunes working camels and desert culture of the tent and the tribe.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS :

MEALS:
· Buffet breakfast daily in all hotels in Tunisia
· Eight (8) dinners including farewell dinner at the hotel
· Ten (10) lunches during tours including a special picnic lunch under the shades of palm trees featuring a barbecue, salads and fruits.
· One (1) bottle of mineral water per day per person

TRANSFERS - AIRPORTS / HOTELS:
· Four (4) transfers in Tunis
· One (1) transfer in Tozeur
· All transfers by private A/C coach, driver and HLO Tours representative
· For the desert experience we will be using very comfortable A/C 4WD Totota land cruiser, maximum four (4) people in each vehicle.

TOURS & SERVICES:
· Eight (8) days of private tours in TUNISIA as per the enclosed itinerary
· All entrance fees to the archaeological sites & museums as per the program.
· All tours by private A/C coach with driver and English speaking guide

AIR TRANSPORTATION ON DELTA AIRWAYS and AIR FRANCE:

Note: Air schedules and flights arrival & departure are subject to change without notice

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY:
Day 1 Feb 13 Wed
DENVER / PARIS via Cincinnati
PM: Depart from Denver to Paris via Cincinnati or Dulles . Dinner and breakfast served on board. D, B

Day 2 Feb 14 Thu
PARIS / TUNIS

AM : Arrive Paris (CHARLES DEGAULLE) airport where you will connect with your Air France two hours flight to TUNIS.

PM: Arrive Carthage airport in Tunis, where you will be met & welcomed by HLO Tours Representative, then you will be transferred to your hotel to spend the next two nights at the HOTEL AFRICA which is located in the heart of Tunis. Each room is fitted with full amenities. The lobby bar in the reception area provides a congenial venue for friends to meet. The Brasserie, located outside the hotel with a terrace prevailing over the main avenue of Tunis, offers an extensive menu of drinks and meals. Le Buffet restaurant offers buffet breakfast. Le Kilimanjaro restaurant offers French speciality and Le Mont Kenya restaurant offers international & Tunisian specialities.
Eve: Dinner at Restaurant Africa specializing in Tunisian and Mediterranean specialties. Overnight. D

TUNIS: is the capital of Tunisia and its located at the Northeast of Tunisia. Tunis is a wealth of ancient palaces, Mosques and centres of trade and learning, a living museum. As you enter the narrow streets, centuries slip away, like stepping into the looking glass to another world. Small shops, their treasure of brass, olive wood, leather, antiques, jewellery and brightly colored garments spill out into the streets.

Day 3 Feb 15 Fri
TUNIS – Bardo Museum, Carthage & Sidi Bou said

AM: After you enjoy your buffet breakfast, you will proceed to your morning visit to the Bardo museum, considered one of the richest museums in the world. Housed in one of the former Husseinite palaces, it encloses all the treasures of Tunisian history from prehistoric times to the Punic civilization, the Roman era, Christian's times, Muslim civilization and up to the twentieth century. It also features the world's largest collection of mosaics. Lunch at (restaurant La Victoire in la Goulette).

In the afternoon, we will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Carthage, the oldest Phoenician settlement on the coast of North Africa, and its glorious monuments: the Anthonine baths, the Punic Tophet, the Punic harbours and the museum of Byrsa Hill. Continue to Sidi Bou Said, a 17th century village with immaculate white and blue houses that has managed to preserve its charm and peacefulness. Stroll through Sidi Bou's narrow streets bordered by whitewashed houses with blue shutters and doors. Check out the various art galleries, try a bambalouni, light and crispy Tunisian style doughnut with some mint tea in one of the cafes of Sidi Bou Said and enjoy the superb view of the gulf of Tunis. Next, it’s back to your hotel. Dinner tonight is on your own with many options available to you both at the hotel and in downtown Tunis. Overnight. BB, L

Day 4 Feb 16 Sat
TUNIS / TOZEUR (45 minutes by air)

AM : Buffet breakfast at the hotel, followed by a morning visit to the Sadika Art Center in the outskirts of Tunis This is a very famous glass blowing center. Glass blowing has been a valued craft in Tunisia since the punic era. Lunch on your own.

PM : Transfer to Carthage airport for your 45 minutes flight to Tozeur. Arrive Tozeur airport - welcome to the heart of the desert with its exotic perfumes, eerie silence and enchanting rhythms. TOZEUR is an oasis town rising from the sands of the Sahara desert.

Enjoy your Horse-carriage ride visiting the oasis of Tozeur with its 300,000 palm trees and over 400 hot and cold springs.

You will be met and transferred to your hotel to spend the next three nights at Sofitel Palm Beach Hotel, arguably the best hotel in the region of the Jerid. It is full of cool marble and cascading fountains and has a large pool area surrounded by towering palms around which barbecue lunches are served. The hotel offers the full complement of services and amenities. The rooms are both elegant and comfortable and all are equipped with air conditioning, direct –dial telephone, satellite TV and bathroom with hair dryer. At the CHOTT restaurant, the chef proposes fine international cuisine. CHEMS, the pool side restaurant is ideal for grills and light meals. A relaxing drink can be enjoyed in the two bars : Maya and Zezoua. Taking a break and recharging
with vital energy… this is what our spas are all about, restoring our natural balance. The enveloping heat of the hammam, the sauna or the jacuzzi surrounded by marbre columns will transport you into the magic world of the orient. Also, you will enjoy the 300 m swimming pool with its sunloungers and the heated indoor pool is open all year. Dinner and overnight. BB, D

Day 5 Feb 17 Sun
TOZEUR – Mountain Oases – TOZEUR (70 miles round trip)

AM: Buffet breakfast at the hotel, followed with our departure to Metlaoui. Visit the Selja gorges with the Red Lizard Train. The train, which belonged to the Bey of Tunisia in early twentieth century, is a part of the colonial heritage of Southern Tunisia. With six wagons, including one used by the Bey, the train takes you to discover the famous and otherwise inaccessible Selja gorges.

Continue by 4X4 to the oasis of Tamerza where you will enjoy a special Picnic lunch under the shades of the palm trees featuring a barbecue, salads and fruits. After lunch, explore the Mountain Oases of Mides and Chebika, which are perched in granite mountains above the Sahara and provide scenery for filmmakers in search of Biblical landscapes.

Next, we will continue to the site of Ong Djamal, where some world famous movies were filmed such as (The English Patient & Star Wars). The beauty of the site is the several salt lakes, which are breathtaking.

PM: Return to the hotel for dinner & overnight. BB, L, D

Day 6 Feb 18 Mon
TOZEUR – Nefta – TOZEUR (70 miles round trip)

AM: After our breakfast we will drive to the Oasis of Nefta to explore the largest Oasis in Tunisia by horse carriages. We will visit a private farm and discover the date palm trees plantations and the farmer’s life. After our visit we will return to the city of Tozeur to visit the Old Medina with its shady streets and its vernacular constructions. Lunch on your own

Return to the hotel with time for leisure-time activities before dinner and overnight. BB, D

Day 7 Feb 19 Tue
TOZEUR / KASR GHILANE via DOUZ (172 miles)

AM: After breakfast, departure to Douz "gateway to the Sahara."
This quiet, oasis village is home to the Festival of the Sahara Desert. Here, if you are really looking for an adventure in the Sahara, you can choose - as an optional activity – one or more of these unique Sahara rides: Camel ride, Kart-cross, hovercraft, ultra Leger flight or hot air balloon.

After lunch we will continue our adventure to the Sahara desert oasis of Ksar Ghilane, the most exotic oasis in that region (and the deepest South in Tunisia), famous for its dunes and hot water spring. This is a unique day that allows you to see – on your way northwest - how the landscapes change from Saharan to Mediterranean in just a few hours.

In late afternoon we arrive at Ksar Ghilane. This tiny natural oasis at the brink of the vast dune desert is accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles. The road may be rough, but at journey’s end smooth living awaits. We arrive at PANSEA Deluxe Tented Camp where we will spend the next two nights. Located southeast of Zaafrane, it offers spacious accommodation in 60 large white private tents of linen in the middle of the oasis, palm grove and gardens. Each tent is fully equipped with heating and air conditioning, a living area and private shower and toilet.

The majestic, palm-fringed swimming pool will lure you to its sparkling waters. Local delicacies and French cuisine are prepared with pride by special chefs, and served at the restaurants, in the expanse of the desert, or against the backdrop of an old fort. Sheltered by a thicket of Tamarisk trees, yet with a limitless horizon beyond, Pansea Camp is in an extraordinary and excitingly wild location. Dinner and overnight. BB, L, D

Day 8 Feb 20 Wed
KSAR GHILANE, The Sahara Desert

AM: breakfast.
Spend the day in the oasis and the sand dunes.

An observation tower at the camp allows for panoramic views over the desert. Both horseback and camel rides are available. Lunch will be provided in the camp.

In the afternoon, you may choose to drive to a nearby Roman fort, lounge by the pool, or take advantage of several optional available activities.

Dinner and overnight. BB, L, D

Day 9 Feb 21 Thu
KSAR GHILANE / KAIROUAN via Matmata (230 miles)

AM : Buffet breakfast, followed by our departure in our 4X4’s to Kairouan, the holy city of Tunisia with its impressive Islamic monuments some dating to 670 AD. En route we are going to stop at the small town of Matmata with its famous troglodytes: houses built underground to protect the Berbers from intense heat in the summer. Berber villages are among the most exciting places to explore in Tunisia. One of these fabulous Berber villages with its pitted lunar landscapes was the set of the Spielberg's movie Raiders of the Lost Arc and Lucas “Star Wars”. Lunch will be served at Diar El Berber hotel.

In the afternoon we continue to Kairouan, the holy city of Tunisia with its impressive Islamic monuments some dating to 670 AD. To check in at the deluxe LA KASBAH Hotel located in the heart of the holy and fortified city of Kairouan. This hotel, with a luxurious inside and a sober outlook, merges harmoniously into the Arab-Islamic architecture of the city of Kairouan. It offers luxurious accommodation decorated in an Arabian style. The main restaurant or the Tunisian style a la cart restaurant offer local specialties as well as international dishes. Don’t miss the Turkish Café with its exceptional décor for Tunisian pastries and tea.

Dinner and overnight. BB, L, D

Day 10 Feb 22 Fri
KAIROUAN – City Tours

AM: Buffet breakfast followed by our morning visit to the seventh century great mosque of Oqba ibn Nafii, an important reference point in Islam and Islamic architecture. After our visit to the Mosque we will continue our journey to visit the Berber’s Mausoleum and the Islamic Art Museum of Rakkada, some of the unique Koran Manuscripts are displayed at the museum, among them the famous Blue Koran.

Walk at your leisure in the souks, taste the traditional local pastry stuffed with dates called Makroudh, and learn about the traditional know-how of women making rugs. Lunch on your own Time at leisure to explore during the afternoon.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. BB, D

Day 11 Feb 23 Sat
KAIROUAN – El Djem - KAIROUAN ( 35 miles)

AM: Buffet breakfast followed by our short drive to visit El Djem’s spectacular amphitheatre that dates back to238 A.D, and is the second largest in the World only to Rome's. Visit the museum and the excavations extending behind the museum where beautiful mosaics have been found. Lunch in route. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. BB, L, D

Day 12 Feb 24 Sun
KAIROUAN / TUNIS via Sousse (180 miles)

AM : Buffet breakfast followed by our departure from our hotel in Kairouan to TUNIS the capital of Tunisia. En route we are going to stop at the city of Sousse where you will visit the archaeological museum of Sousse and the medina with the Arab fortress, Ribat. Lunch downtown. After lunch we will continue our journey to Tunis.

Late afternoon arrive Tunis where we are going to spend the next three nights at Hotel Africa. Dinner & overnight. BB, L, D

Day 13 Feb 25 Mon
TUNIS – Day trip to Dougga - TUNIS

AM: Buffet breakfast followed by our departure from Tunis, visiting en route the ancient city of Dougga, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in Africa. Listed in 1997 in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Roman city of Dougga, built on an elevated site overlooking a fertile plain, was the capital of Punic and Roman states. Lunch in Thugga.

After lunch we will return to our hotel in Tunis. Dinner on your own. Overnight. BB, L

Day 14 Feb 26 Tue
TUNIS – City Tours

AM: Buffet breakfast. Today is dedicated to visiting the nearby Medina of Tunis, the largest in North Africa (larger than Fez) where we will stroll through the various souks and main monuments including palaces being restored and traditional homes which illustrate the way of life and customs of the nineteenth century Tunis.

Lunch at restaurant Escheick, serving exquisite and genuine Tunisia food.
After lunch, spend some time in the Medina and its Souks, colourful local markets to discover the exquisite craftsmanship of Tunisia's artisans and discover the traditions and cultural heritage of Tunisia in the various libraries and bookstores. Farewell dinner in a seventeenth century old palace.

Overnight. BB, L, D

Day 15 Feb 27 Wed
TUNIS / PARIS / DENVER

AM : Transfer to CARTHAGE Airport for your flight back to Paris.

AM : Arrive DEGAULLE airport where you will connect with your flight to Denver via Cincinnati or Dulles airports. Welcome back home

OR
Join our wonderful & exciting 7 days extension to MALTA, the Cradle of the Mediterranean From February 27 – March 4, 2008

For more information, contact Ellie Leinaweaver.