❓Did you know that Tunisia is among the most visited countries in Africa?
Nearly 7 million international tourists visited Tunisia in 2023.
According to Statista, the number of international tourist arrivals in Tunisia will continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 1.8 million arrivals (+24%). By the year 2029, there will be an estimated 9.27 million international arrivals in Tunisia. These numbers show there is much to love about Tunisia! But want to visit Tunisia while escaping the crowds? Consider exploring Southern Tunisia!

From the desert oasis to ancient Berber villages, this article dives into some of the lesser known destinations in Southern Tunisia and when is the best time to visit to avoid the crowd.

Where are the Crowds?

If you want to avoid the crowds in Tunisia, then it’s important to know where exactly the crowds are.

⚠️ At the Tunis Capital and Surrounding Areas

Most visitors arrive in Tunisia at the Tunis-Carthage International Airport. It is located in the Tunis Capital and it a great starting point to explore some of the most spectacular historic sites in the country including Ancient Carthage, the Bardo Museum and the Medina of Tunis.

There are also many amazing day trips from Tunisto consider.

⚠️ At the Pristine Beaches in the Coastal Cities

Many visitors flock to one of Tunisia’s many spectacular white sandy beaches. The coastal cities of Hammamet, Nabeul, and Sousse are popular destinations for luxury beachside hotels and water activities.

Discover Southern Tunisia’s Hidden Gems!

There are good reasons why the crowded areas are so crowded! We would still highly recommend exploring the must-see historical/cultural sites and taking a dip in the pristine beaches in Tunisia. Afterwards, if you want to escape from the crowds, then you should really consider visiting Southern Tunisia for a peaceful and unforgettable getaway.

Step Back In Time with a Tour of Ancient Berber Villages

The Berber culture in Tunisia is said to be the oldest culture in the region. The Berbers, also known as Amazighs, have strategically built their villages atop mountain ranges to detect enemies from afar. One of the most popular Berber villages in Tunisia is Chenini. Dating back to the 12th century, this picturesque village was constructed into the tops of two mountains with a white washed mosque located in between them.

Today, Chenini is still inhabited by about 600 people. Be sure to stop by one of the few restaurants for a meal, as well as the souvenir shops. Many tourists staying at Djerba Island may arrive in buses to visit Chenini during the late morning time and will leave after having lunch at the restaurant located at the bottom of the village. If you want to avoid the crowd, then you can consider visiting in the early morning or in the afternoon. There are also a few basic accommodation options there if the idea of spending the night at a historic mountaintop Berber village sounds intriguing to your adventurous spirit.

Tour Inside an Underground Troglodyte Home

Traditionally, the Berbers did not only live on top of mountains, but they also lived in underground troglodyte homes. Many of these Berber troglodyte homes are still inhabited by local Berbers today near the Matmata and Tamezret regions of Tunisia. These homes are now equipped with electricity, and some residents open up their troglodyte home as a small museum where you can visit for a small gratuity fee as a gesture of appreciation.

The Berber troglodyte architecture may appear to be simple and unusual, but this vernacular way of life proves to be very strategic and versatile. Firstly, these underground structures are out of sight from any incoming enemies. Secondly, these homes are built underground to escape the intense summer heat. Temperatures in these underground homes remain at a warm level which makes it a good all-year-round living habitat. This natural air conditioning provides heat during the winters and remains cool during the summers, as well as providing protection from the elements throughout the year.

Want to experience this for yourself? There are a number of troglodyte hotels in the Matmata region such as Hotel Marhala and Au Trait d’Union Tijma. The most popular troglodyte hotels is Hotel Sidi Idriss, which was also the film location of Luke Skywalker’s home in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

Are you a Star Wars fan? Want to visit the Star Wars film locations in Tunisia? We have a popular private Star Wars 8-day tour that visits all of the Star Wars film locations located throughout Southern Tunisia.

Explore One of the Many Ancient Granaries in Southern Tunisia

Another hidden gem of Southern Tunisia is its ancient fortified granaries. The Berbers have been constructing “ksour” (plural) since the 15th century. Each “Ksar” (singular) was once used to store their granary and harvest. The exterior fortification protects the multiple overlapping interior storage rooms from looters. Each storage room contain multiple levels of storage including holes dug into the ground for a natural cool refrigeration. It was common for caravan traders to stop at these Ksours for trade or for meeting other fellow caravan traders.

There are approximately 92 Ksour throughout Tunisia. It would not be possible to visit all of these during your vacation, so we highly recommend you visit these two:

Ksar Ouled Soltane: Having the reputation as the best preserved Ksar in Tunisia, this will give you the best idea of what an ancient fortified granary once looked like in its original form. Many Tunisians will recognize Ksar Ouled Soltane because its image was displayed on the old Tunisian 20-dinar bill. The fame of Ksar Ouled Soltane also comes from it being used as a backdrop Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It was used to represent the Mos Espa Slave Quarters where young Anakin Skywalker grew up.

Ksar Hadada: This Ksar is a must-visit for Star Wars fans! Ksar Hadada was the film location of the Los Espa slave quarters in Star Wars Episode I. You will recognize it as the location where young Anakin prepared for his pod-racing competition. Ksar Hadada has been converted into a hotel accommodation where you can spend a night in Anakin’s home. You can also consider going on our Star Wars 8 Days Tour which visits Ksar Ouled Soltane, Ksar Hadada and Ksar Medenine that were all used as the Star Wars film location of the Mos Espa Slave Quarter.

Get Off the Beaten Track and Venture Into the Sahara

While you’re in Southern Tunisia, what better way to escape the crowd than by venturing into the Sahara Desert? There are several popular gateways into the Sahara such as Ksar Ghilane or Douz. Hotel and tenting accommodations are available.

For those who are adventurous at heart, you can consider our 6-day Sahara Desert Camel Trek. This tour spends 4 days on a camel, which includes two full days where you will travel an average of 20 km a day through the Sahara.

Staying in Some of Tunisia’s Most Charming Guesthouses

Another great way to avoid the crowds is to stay in traditional guesthouses instead of hotels that cater to mass tourists. The traditional guesthouses in Tunisia are called “dar” which means “house” in Arabic. These are smaller guesthouses with usually 10 or fewer rooms. The building itself and each individual room are carefully renovated and decorated with an elegant charm. Many of these guesthouses are historic buildings and it is common for it to be owned and operated by entire generation of families. You can expect great Tunisian hospitality with careful attention to your individual needs that you would not find in the hotel chains. Dar Dhiafa in Djerba and Dar Hi Life in Nefta are just a few examples of the charming guesthouses you will find in Tunisia.

Consider Visiting Tunisia in Wintertime

Fewer crowds make the winter months of November to January a great season to experience Tunisia at a local pace. Wintertime is also the cheapest season to visit Tunisia where you will find many hotels offering promotional prices. Something to be aware of is there are higher chances of rain during the November and December months in Tunisia.

The weather in Tunisia during wintertime will depend on which part of the country you are visiting. You can expect temperatures with highs of about 16/18 °C (61/64 °F) in Tunis and along the Mediterranean coast during wintertime. The mountainous areas in the northwest of the country will be much colder and you can even expect snow in Ain Draham and surrounding areas. The Sahara desert in the south is also very cold especially at nightime where it can be a few degrees below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F).

Ready to Explore Southern Tunisia?

There are pros and cons to visiting Southern Tunisia in each season. The obvious fact is that it is worth exploring the charm and beauty of Southern Tunisia. We are here to help! Our team of Travel Experts all live in Tunisia, including Southern Tunisia, and have years of experience customizing tour itineraries for travellers. Let us take care of the logistics while you get ready to fall in love with the diverse history, culture and natural beauty of Tunisia.