Sightseeing & traditions in Port El Kantaoui-Sousse

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Enfidha–Hammamet Airport VIP Lounge

Travel in style with the full VIP service at Enfidha–Hammamet Airport. Avoid all the usual hassle as you're fast-tracked through check-in and security to enjoy unlimited drinks, snacks and more in the exclusive departure lounge. An altogether more relaxed way to round off your stay.Make your wait at the airport a breeze. The VIP service sees you sail through check-in and security with fast track – giving you more time to take advantage of the comfortable VIP Lounge and all its benefits.Inside, you've access to complimentary coffee, tea, water, soft drinks and snacks, as well as selected alcoholic beverages. What's more, there's access to TV, magazines and newspapers too, allowing you to relax right up to take off.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - El Jem Colosseum tour

With an amphitheatre to rival that of Rome, El Jem makes for a fascinating trip back in time. You'll travel from Port El Kantaoui to the colosseum to have a look around. Then it's off to the museum to learn even more about the games and battles that took place there.You'll be stepping into the age of Gladiator on this half-day tour, which includes a visit to the largest colosseum in North Africa. Once you arrive, you'll have time to explore, taking in the wonder of this vast historic space and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It could once hold up to an incredible 35,000 spectators who came to cheer and jeer the games and battles unfolding on stage.You'll also have the chance to admire how El Jem, formerly Thysdrus, was hugely important during the time of the Roman Empire. Then cap off your visit at nearby El Jem Museum, where a selection of Roman mosaics and exhibitions on the games provide a captivating insight.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Zulu Dinner Show

Look no further than the Zulu dinner show for an evening of Tunisian fun. Tribal groups, belly dancers and Berber drummers come together to deliver this entertainment extravaganza, which will have you on your feet. What's more, you'll tuck into a sumptuous banquet with free-flowing drinks. The tour has all the ingredients for an evening to remember.You'll be picked up from your hotel and transported to Friguia Animal Park, Tunisia's first zoo. On arrival, there's free time to explore the park and get up close to tigers, elephants, giraffes and more animals which roam around large, natural-style enclosures.Then, it's on to the main event. Take your seat in the Shaka restaurant, a circular thatched tent where you'll spend the rest of the evening. The show kicks off in style with a belly dance performance, followed by infectious drumming, tribal dances and melodic songs by African folklore groups. All this while you feast on hearty Tunisian cuisine, washed down with unlimited wine and soft drinks.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Tunisian Sahara two-day film set tour from Sousse

Imagine a place where the sands of the desert have been touched by the magic of Hollywood stardust. You've found it with this two-day tour, which'll show you some of Tunisia's most famous film locations. You'll visit a Roman amphitheatre, explore underground cave homes, cross a vast salt lake and discover a legendary film set on the fringes of the Sahara. Hamdi, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Between Matmata and Douz, there are endless "ergs" – sand dunes – in the restless desert. This desert is not a dead entity, it's even cultivated in places by those who inhabit it. The sands come alive according to the seasons.'Embark on your sandy adventure at El Djem Amphitheatre. One of the best-preserved Roman arenas in the world, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was featured in Gladiator and once held crowds of 35,000 spectators for gladiatorial contests. You'll then head to Matmata, where you'll have lunch and visit the underground cave homes that starred as Luke Skywalker's home in the Star Wars saga. Finish the day in the oasis town of Douz, known as the gateway to the Sahara, for an overnight stay. This is a great spot to take an optional camel or carriage ride in the desert.After breakfast, you'll cross Chott el Jerid, Tunisia's largest salt lake, where shimmering white salt crystals create a surreal landscape. Then, jump into a 4x4 for a ride to Onk Jemal, where you'll discover the Star Wars film set city still standing among the desert dunes. After lunch in Gafsa, you'll round off the tour with a photo stop overlooking Kairouan's Great Mosque, where you can admire the distinctive skyline of one of Islam's holiest cities.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Sousse pirate boat trip

Many places that trade on their pirate past, but few can actually match Tunisia's authentic heritage in this department. Now you can immerse yourself in this swashbuckling world with a half-day at sea aboard a replica pirate galley, with fruits and water included.Your adventure begins the moment we sail from Sousse harbour into the Mediterranean, just as the Barbary pirates did for centuries. But while they struck fear into European coastal communities as far afield as Iceland, we'll be going out to have wholehearted fun. Lots of fun.When you've worked up the appetite, fruit to munch on will be served, alongside water. As a fun morning for the whole family, this pirate adventure in a replica Barbary galley is hard to beat.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Sousse Medina heritage tour with visit to Hergla

This half-day tour provides an introduction to a few of the Sousse region's highlights. You'll visit two places – the hilltop town of Hergla and the Medina of Sousse.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Kairouan and El Jem Colosseum tour with lunch from Sousse

The past is part of the landscape in Tunisia and nowhere more so than Kairouan – the country's holiest city – and in the Roman amphitheatre of El Djem. You'll make a pilgrimage back in time to both during this history-drenched full day excursion. Shayma, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘The Great Mosque of Kairouan is Africa's second oldest. The interior is dazzling, with ornate tiles, colourful carpets, and pine-shaped chandeliers that add to the beauty of the space. Even the drains are decorated with intricate tilework.'You'll kick off the tour in the walled city of Kairouan. Protected by sandstone walls, the medina offers quiet narrow streets, whitewashed houses with brightly painted shutters and brick-laid archways, perfect for exploring. Kairouan's unmissable Great Mosque is considered one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the region. As well as the mosque's splendid interior, the complex also features a large prayer hall, a courtyard and a minaret. Another important site in Kairouan is the Sidi Sahbi mausoleum, a significant site for Muslims around the world and known for its beautiful tilework and stucco decorations.Next, there's a stop for lunch before visiting El Djem amphitheatre, the third-largest built by the Romans. During its heyday, up to 35,000 spectators would pack its steep stands to watch gladiatorial fights. Today, you can still see the impressive structure that has stood the test of time and learn about its historical significance.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Ancient Carthage and Sidi Bou Said tour with lunch

Carthage was the capital of ancient Rome's greatest rival and the site of a titanic clash of civilisations. Today, its ruins bear testament to Rome's ultimate victory, as you'll discover during this tour, which also takes in Sidi Bou Said and a stop at the Bardo Museum. Mariam, one of our expert local guides, says "a good place to get your bearings in ancient Carthage is Byrsa Hill. It's a bit of a climb but the view over the archaeological site, the city and the bay are absolutely worth it."You'll start the morning with a visit to the Bardo Museum, home to a magnificent collection of mosaics recovered from Roman villas across the region. Then, it's off to Carthage. Under renowned military leaders such as Hannibal, this site was one of the greatest powers of the classical world. Exploring with a guide gives you the historical background and the local perspective on the story of Carthage. Begin with a panoramic view of the Amphitheatre of Carthage, before continuing to Byrsa Hill, the ancient heart of the Punic city – this is where you'll catch those epic views Mariam mentioned. Then, it's on to see the Baths of Antoninus, which were among the largest thermal baths in the Roman Empire.After a traditional Tunisian lunch, you'll visit Sidi Bou Said, a clifftop village of cobbled alleys, whitewashed houses and famous sky-blue doors and window shutters. The blue and white colour scheme has echoes of the Greek islands, and contrasts with the Mediterranean Sea beyond. You'll discover the village's history and find out why so many artists have been inspired by it over the years.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Pirate ship cruise to Kuriat Island from Sousse

Spend half a day recharging your batteries and relaxing with this laidback cruise. But, you won't be sailing around on just any ordinary boat. This experience uses a full-size replica pirate galley, complete with sails and a swashbuckling crew. Your transfers are included with this trip, so you'll be driven from your accommodation to the harbour, where your ship will be waiting. Once onboard, you'll head out into the Mediterranean Sea and set your course for the island of Kuriat, about 20 miles offshore.During the voyage, you're free to walk around the ship and stretch out on the deck. Snacks are available while you're onboard, as are free bottles of water. When you reach Kuriat Island, you'll drop anchor and have some free time to go swimming. This place is known for having some of the country's best swathes of sand, some of which are protected nesting sites for sea turtles – you won't swim around these parts, though. When you're done here, you'll get back on the ship, return to the harbour and start the drive back to your accommodation.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Friguia Tierpark half-day tour

Friguia Park is more than a zoo – it's an animal kingdom where you can see and meet everything from antelopes to zebras. As you walk along elevated wooden platforms, you can observe more than 60 species of animals. This unguided morning trip – when the sun and heat have yet to move through the gears – is an ideal outing for all the family.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - El Jem Colosseum tour with pirate boat cruise

Prepare for an adventure that takes in Tunisia's Roman roots and pirate past. You'll visit an amphitheatre to rival that of Rome with a tour of El Jem – an ancient colosseum where gladiator games once took place. Then, take to the waves for a swashbuckling afternoon at sea that includes swim stops, lunch and snacks aboard a replica pirate galley.This UNESCO World-Heritage site of El Jem is soaked in history. You'll be captivated by its stone-cut walls, fine-tuned archways and three-floor facade, a testament of glory to what was the Roman Empire. Take a seat in the age-old stadium and admire the arena below, just like they did in times gone by.Then, we'll cast off from Monastir harbour into the Mediterranean, just as the Barbary pirates did for centuries. But while they struck fear into European coastal communities as far afield as Iceland, we'll be going out to have wholehearted fun. There'll be stops to dive into the sea for swimming and plenty of time to dry off on-board while chillin' with water drinks and munching on snacks.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Atlas Mountains Berber villages tour from Sousse

The remote Berber villages of Tunisia's Atlas Mountains are about as far away from modernity as you can get. On this tour, you'll be whisked away in an off-road vehicle into these highlands to visit the Roman ruins of Zaghouan and Uthina as well as the mountain village Zriba El Alya. Mohamed, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Zriba El Alya was deserted in the 1960s after the development of the new town in the plain. But four to five families still live here among the ruins, which now mostly serve as sheepfolds.'Your Atlas adventure begins at the little-visited Uthina, which is still being excavated by archaeologists. Admire the amphitheatre – up to 16,000 spectators watched gladiatorial combats – the magnificent mosaics unearthed in villas and more. The Roman theme continues at the Zaghouan Water Temple, site of an ancient sacred spring. Its location, fringed by pine trees at the foot of a mountain, gives an indication of just how revered it was by the ancients.We'll then drop into a Zaghouan eco-lodge set in beautiful gardens for a Tunisian pastry cookery demonstration and a typical lunch made from locally sourced ingredients. What's more, your visit contributes to the local community and economy. The day's final stop is the half-ruined Berber village of Zriba El Alya, which lies on a craggy ridge. It boasts superb views of Djebel Zaghouan, the fourth highest peak in Tunisia, and the coastline. Your guide will fill you in on the story behind its hard-to-reach location.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Taste of Tunisia tour

Combining local markets and wine tasting, this full-day tour is a celebration of all the flavours of Tunisia. You'll start off by haggling and wandering around one of North Africa's largest street markets, Nabeul, before heading into the wine-growing region for a tasting and lunch at Château Bacchus.Arriving at Nabeul's Friday market, you'll immerse yourself in eye-catching stalls. From local pottery and embroidery to arabesque-style carpets, perfumes and spices, there's something for everyone. Watch locals go about their daily shop, and go off in search of your own souvenirs to take home.After some free time in the market maze, you'll travel into the wine-growing region, to Château Bacchus, set among scented orange, lemon and olive groves. A freshly-prepared lunch will be served alongside a selection of wines for you to sip.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Mahdia and Monastir full-day tour with lunch at a farm

Two of Tunisia's coastal cities will be in focus on this full day tour, rounded off with a typical lunch at a country farm. Explore Bourguiba mausoleum in Monastir first, then delve into the white-washed medina of Mahdia.

Port El Kantaoui-Sousse - Tunisian Camel Caravan Tour

There's still no better way to explore a desert than on the back of a camel. This camel caravan adventure allows you to become sultan of the sands and discover aspects of traditional country life in Tunisia.