Sahara and Mountain Oasis Trail Tunisia Tunisia Special Offer Available!! Galloping on an Arabian steed alongside wild camels in the Saharan sand dunes may sound very "Lawrence of Arabia' but then again, so much of this weeklong horseback ride seems straight out of a movie: from pausing at an oasis to watching the sunset from your perch in the Atlas mountains to sitting down to mint tea and couscous at a traditional Berber camp. Watch the sunrise and sunset over the Sahara sand dunes and Star Wars film sets. Enjoy a traditional meal at a Bedouin camp. All that combined with an original riding tour with long canters across the wide open sand dunes, rocky canyons and dry salt lakes on Barb horses.  This new Sahara and Mountain Oasis Trail is in the southern interior of Tunisia, the smallest of the five North African countries. You ride across wild wind blown desert landscapes to welcoming oasis towns which appear on the horizon. These include the mountain oasis towns of Chebika, Tamerza and Mides and the great desert oasis towns of Tozeur and Nefta. In this arid desert, people can only live close to the oases where underground water supplies allow cultivation, the most notable being the famous date palms of Nefta and Tozeur.  The area is famous as the backdrop for some of the Star Wars films and also featured in the English Patient.  The ride moves on each day and at night you stay in and have two nights in a private Berber style camp. Meeting: Tozeur Airport:   Tozeur Nefta via Tunis or Paris Transfer: Tozeur

$270 Special Introduction Discount

Packages and Options

Click here for updated current rates.

Please fly via Tunis or Monastir to Tozeur. There are several flights a day. There are also direct flight from Paris to Tozeur.

Day 1: Arrival in Tozeur and transfer to your hotel. Settle into Tunisian time and meet the rest of the group.
Day 2: Drive for about one hour across the expanse of the Chott el-Gharsa salt lake to meet your horses. The ride starts at Chebika, a mountain oasis town.  Its claim to fame now being that the area was used as the setting for the film The English Patient. Ride across open desert and later follow a narrow gorge towards the oasis of Tamerza riding through palm trees and tall grasses which grow alongside the narrow stream. Overnight at the luxurious Tamerza Palace hotel.
Day 3: Today is a challenging day as you cross through the eastern point of the Atlas mountains. At times it appears impassable to horses and you have to dismount and lead your horse on foot for about an hour. The 180 degree view of the desert from the top of the mountain is worth all the effort. Dinner and overnight in a private Berber style camp.
Day 4: Ride from camp and take a southerly direction away from the mountains. Very soon the terrain is perfect for some long fast canters. The horses are sure footed and go like the wind. You may see some herds of camels and pass some Berber camps. Arrive at the small oasis of Neflayett where camp has been set up in the shade of the palm trees.
Day 5: Continue riding through the arid desert landscape. At the end of the day you leave the horses at a stone corral close to a water point. The grooms will stay with them overnight. You are transferred by vehicle (~ 20 minutes) to the hotel in Tozeur.
Day 6: Return to where you left the horses. The ride initially is in quite soft sand and so you have to walk but very soon you reach the dried salt lake of Chott El-Garsa. This completely flat surface is perfect for the group to spread out for a fast gallop. The horses run easily and fast. Later you arrive at the amazing sight of Aariguet. Here is the set of the Star Wars film and you have lunch amongst the strange buildings. Afterwards continue riding to Nefta where your guide will lead you on horseback through the tiny twisting streets so you get the best possible view of the interesting houses. These are low houses built of sand bricks with ornamental geometric patterns on the walls, a style found only in this region (and also in Tozeur) and in parts of Iran. Overnight Nefta.
Day 7: You cannot leave Nefta without tasting its famous dates, reputed to be the finest in the region, so time permitting, you ride into and through the oasis and have a small tour of a palm plantation with the possibility of buying some dates. Later you ride on the outskirts of Nefta with some long canters. Lunch is at a Berber family camp. After lunch you continue in the direction of the huge Chott El-Jerid. This is the second biggest salt lake in the world (after Salt Lake, Utah). A final canter through a palm tree forest and its time to say good bye to your horses which have carried you so faithfully all week. Transfer by car to the hotel in Tozeur. Tonight visit a traditional dinner show in Tozeur with traditional dancers and music.
Day 8: Depart after breakfast from the airport in Tozeur.

Subject to change

In the southern interior near to Tozeur there are daily extremes of temperature all year round. The area can get high winds and has very little rainfall. The Oasis Ride runs in the winter months between October and March when day time temperatures may reach 20C. If there is a strong wind it can feel colder than this, even in the sunshine and warm clothes are essential.

Clothing: In winter, plan for half season outfits and one warm item of clothing. From June till September, you can use light summer clothes

…  this list is only a guideline for you

Hidden Trails Travel Documents and TripVoucher (contains important local tour contact info.)

Flight tickets

Passport

Visa (check with your consulate)

RIDING GEAR

Riding pants or Jodhpurs (used if possible!)

Riding boots (short) + Minichaps

Riding helmet  (recommended for all trips)

Riding gloves

Hat (with chin strip) for sun protection

Lightweight Rain coat

PERSONAL CLOTHING

Jacket or sweater for cool evenings

Comfortable T-Shirts/Shirts

Jeans

Shorts

Underwear and socks

Pyjama

Bag for dirty clothes

Trekking boots/ comfortable shoes

Swimsuit

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BRING

Personal Toiletries

Insect protection

Personal medications

Sore cream (for an emergency)

Sewing kit

Handkerchiefs

Adapter for electric appliances

Camera and extra film or batteries

Belt pack

Address book and pen (for postcards!)

Sun glasses with strap

Sun tan lotion and lip balm

** No trip reports found with the tour ID you provided.

The ride moves on each day and at night you stay in good quality hotels in Tozeur (3 nights), Tamerza (1 night) and Nefta (1 night) and have two nights in a private Berber style camp. The hotels range from a very comfortable three star hotel in Nefta to a luxurious five star hotel, the Tamerza Palace.

In the very comfortable desert camp, each Berber tent has a proper bed with bedding and towels provided. There are also toilets and hot showers. 

Electric power is 220 voltage. Plugs used in Tunisia are two pin plugs, same as Europe. English customers need adapters (3 pin plug to 2 pin plug).

The riding itinerary gives a full day and there is little time for other activities. However this area is famous for its spa treatments and the hotel in Tozeur has an extensive spa and treatment facility so you may wish to have a massage after a day in the saddle. You may also wish to experience a Hammam (steam room).

Breakfast and dinner are taken at your hotels and the buffets offer a selection of Tunisian and European style dishes. At lunch time and at dinner on the two nights in camp, you will have the opportunity to taste the best of Tunisian cuisine prepared by the camp staff and enjoy delicious sweet dates and oranges.

Water: Tap water is generally safe to drink, but just to be cautious; you may purchase mineral water from the hotel or local grocery shops.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

The horses are Barb Arab, ranging in height from 14.2hh to 15.2hh. They are fit and as lean and lithe as race-horses. There is a weight limit of 13stone. The horses are either mares or geldings. You will be impressed at their overall fitness and stamina for both the sand and mountaineous terrain. You can only marvel at the ability of the Arabian horse to withstand the daytime heat of the desert and the extreme cold of the night.

The pace varies according to the terrain. You walk where the terrain is soft sand, stony or full of marmot holes. Each day there are opportunities for fast canters and gallops over flat salt pans or dried up river beds and this is a ride for experienced confident riders.

You should be a fit and experienced rider since much of the ride is at a fast pace and you are riding forward going horses. There are also times when you need to dismount and lead your horse over rough mountainous terrain. It is not suitable for nervous riders.

Tack:		French trekking (similar to English trekking)
Horses:		Barb or Arab-Barb (mostly stallions, but easy to handle)
Pace:		Moderate, trots and fast canters -- long hours in the saddle - 5 hrs in the saddle per riding day | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop |
Level:		(3.5 to 4 out of 5)     Good intermediate
Age:		Min 16	Max 75
Weight:		Max 225 lbs
Riders:		Min 5	Max 10

The horses are Barb Arab, ranging in height from 14.2hh to 15.2hh. They are fit and as lean and lithe as race-horses. There is a weight limit of 13stone. The horses are either mares or geldings. You will be impressed at their overall fitness and stamina for both the sand and mountaineous terrain. You can only marvel at the ability of the Arabian horse to withstand the daytime heat of the desert and the extreme cold of the night.

The pace varies according to the terrain. You walk where the terrain is soft sand, stony or full of marmot holes. Each day there are opportunities for fast canters and gallops over flat salt pans or dried up river beds and this is a ride for experienced confident riders.

You should be a fit and experienced rider since much of the ride is at a fast pace and you are riding forward going horses. There are also times when you need to dismount and lead your horse over rough mountainous terrain. It is not suitable for nervous riders.

Passports
Passport valid six months after return date required by all nationals referred to in the chart.

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to three months (up to one month for nationals of Greece; up to four months for nationals of Germany and USA), with the following exceptions:
(a) 1. nationals of Australia who do need a visa;
(b) 2. nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the Slovak Republic, who must travel on a recognised package holiday, and nationals of Cyprus who do need a visa.
Note: Visas are not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above if transit passengers, provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport or ship or continuing their journey within 48 hours of arrival.
Visa Note
(a) All visitors must hold sufficient funds for the duration of stay. (b) 1. Nationals of Australia who do need a visa, can obtain it on arrival at the point of entry. Check with the embassy for details of length of stay. (c) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Short-stay: US$34.
Validity
Short-stay usually for stays of up to three months. For up-to-date lengths of stay, contact nearest consulate.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses.
Working Days Required
Approximately three weeks, for both postal and personal applications.

Passport Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	Yes
Visa Required?
British	No
Australian	Yes/1
Canadian	No
USA	No
Other EU	No/2
Return Ticket Required?
British	Yes
Australian	Yes
Canadian	Yes
USA	Yes
Other EU	Yes