Tunisia’s location beside the narrow straits of Sicily has kept it constantly at the center of the turbulent history of the Mediterranean.  For millennia, army after army has swept through this country: Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Spanish, Turks, and French all leaving their imprint upon the landscape.  The history of the diverse and significant archaeological sites constructed by these peoples, and their varied cultures, is revealed to us as we traverse the country.

Forged out of the North African coastline, Tunisia is a country of unexpected variety.  In the north are verdant mountains, lakes and rivers, and in the south, the desert of the Sahara with it desolate but striking scenery punctuated only by the intermittent oasis.  Join Far Horizons on this exceptional 16-day trip to Tunisia. We will explore Roman amphitheaters, remains of ancient Punic cities, Byzantine fortresses, and thousand-year old mosques as we travel from the beautiful coasts of the north to the arid deserts of the south. 

During the trip, we visit all seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tunisia – Dougga, Kairouan, the medinas (historic market places) of Sousse and Tunis, the Punic Town of Kerkuane, magnificent Carthage, and El Djem, the largest Roman amphitheater in North Africa.  Don’t miss this opportunity for an in depth understanding of this remarkable destination.

ITINERARY: (B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner

Day 1: Depart the USA.

Day 2: Arrive in Tunis and transfer to the hotel with the remainder of the afternoon free to rest poolside. In the evening, gather for a welcome drink and dinner. Overnight at the 5-star Golden Tulip Carthage Tunis Hotel for two nights.  (D)

Day 3: This morning’s drive takes us to the ancient city of Carthage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Founded by a Phoenician princess in 814 BC, it became the capital of the great Carthaginian Empire. We will first visit Byrsa Hill, with its vestiges of Carthaginian and Roman buildings, and the Carthage Museum that was renovated with the help of Getty Foundation funds.  Here we will have a chance to admire the many Punic and Roman artifacts recovered during the UNESCO campaign in the late 1970s, including Punic marble sarcophagi, everyday household items, jewelry and masks.  Continue to the Punic ports, including the Salammbo Tophet, where urns containing the ashes and milk teeth of 8th century BC children have been unearthed, and the Antonine Baths, a huge Roman bath complex on the edge of the Mediterranean. After visiting the dazzling, whitewashed village of Sidi Bou Said, return to Tunis to walk through the winding streets of the old city, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. One of our stops will be at the 9th century Zitouna Mosque, the physical and spiritual heart of Tunis.  Around it spreads the souk, one of the world’s great marketplaces, and there will be time to shop and wander through this fascinating area.  Dinner tonight in the medina of Tunis in a traditional restaurant housed within an old Arab house. The memorable experience will be highlighted by the delicacy of the Tunisian cuisine and the sumptuous Ottoman décor of chandeliers, painted ceilings, oriental carpets, ancient furniture and walls adorned with colored tiles and carved stucco. (B/L/D)

Day 4: Originally a fortified Berber village, and later the seat of the Numidian King Masinissa in the 2nd century BC,  Dougga became one of the most imposing of the Roman cities in Tunisia. Our stroll through the ancient city includes several impressive buildings. Dougga’s theatre dates back to 168 AD and is the most complete in Tunisia. The Capitoline Temple was built almost 1,000 years ago and is one of the finest and best preserved Roman temples in North Africa. It is dedicated to the three gods of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. The Plaza of Winds, with an elegant circle carved into its paved floor recording the names of the twelve winds.  In the afternoon, travel to Bulla Regia, noted for the elegant Hadrian-era villas built with cool underground courtyards. The Romans learned from the Berber’s use of troglodytes underground houses that it is cool to live underground and built their homes below ground arranged around colonnaded atria open to the air so the wealthy could escape the summer heat. Many of the magnificent mosaic floors of these luxuriant homes still remain intact and in situ. Overnight at the 5-star Iberostar Tabarka Beach Hotel for one night. (B/L/D)  

Day 5: Begin today in Chemtou, ancient Simitthus, a city belonging to the Berber Kingdom in ancient times.  Famous for its prized veined marble in orange, red, yellow and pink, it was transformed by the Romans into a quarry town in the 2nd century BC – the largest in ancient North Africa. The quarries can still be seen including the military and prison barracks for the slave workers. Visit the fascinating new museum holding unique treasures, and the remains of an almost intact Roman bridge and water mill. Continue to El Kef to explore the imposing Turkish fortress, and Maktar, the ancient Mactaris, one of the most important archaeological sites in Tunisia. Overnight at the simple Hotel Dorra in Kasserine for one night.  (B/L/D)

Day 6: Sbeitla, ancient Roman Sufetula, is one of Tunisia’s most beautiful sites. A stroll along the city streets takes us to the forum, the baths, the remains of early Christian basilicas with mosaic lined baptismal pools, and the impressive triple Temples of Jupiter, Minerva and Juno. After the morning onsite, continue to the fascinating oasis town of Tozeur, the main market and administrative center for the surrounding desert communities. Spend the afternoon exploring the old town, little changed since the 14th century when it was built.  This quarter is famous for the unique decorative architecture in brick with exuberant towering facades patterned in bas-relief zigzags, lozenges and chevrons.  Dinner is on our own to sample one of Tozeur’s excellent restaurants. Overnight for two nights at the 5-star Dar Cherait Hotel, housed in an elegant Ottoman palace. (B/L)

Day 7: In the morning, drive to the mountain oases of Tamerza and Midés where many of the scenes of "The English Patient” were filmed.  Tamerza, overlooking a picturesque gorge created by a now dry river, is the largest mountain oasis in Tunisia.  The old village of Midés once served as an outpost on the Roman frontier as the nearby gorge stretches for 3 kilometers.  Upon return to Tozeur, visit the Dar Cherait Museum, built in traditional style, with its fine collection of local costumes and replicas of Tunisian life, past and present. Dinner is on our own. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Cross the great salt lake of Chott El Jerid, through oasis towns and barren mountains to Matmata, used as a setting in the move “Star Wars”. Viewing the weird moonscape of the area with its strange troglodyte (underground) houses will be one of the highlights of the trip. Over one hundred dwellings have been built by digging vertically into the ground and we will have lunch in one of these unusual underground houses. Overnight in the charming Hotel Sangho, shadowed by mountains on the edge of the desert in Tataouine.  (B/L/D)

Day 9: The area around Tataouine is filled with Berber ksars, or fortified villages, that were often used to store local crops to ensure the community’s survival. We will pass fortress after fortress and stop to visit Cheninni, one of these citadel villages built on a hilltop to help protect it from raiding parties. Continue to the island of Djerba by driving along El Kantara, formerly a Roman road, with a stop in Gigthis to walk among the Roman ruins by the sea.  Overnight for two nights at the charming Dar Dhiafa Hotel, an intimate 14-room hotel sited in four old houses in Erriadh, a quiet village in the center of the island.  (B/L/D)

Day 10: Djerba is thought to be the mythical Land of the Lotus Easters in Homer’s Odyssey. Today we will explore this magical island visiting Ghriba Synagogue to see one of the oldest Torahs in the world, and Borj el Kebir, a castle originally built in 1289 AD on foundations that dated from Roman times.  We will stop by the Popular Arts Museum where regional costumes are displayed, and explore the markets and the beautiful tiny whitewashed mosques in the countryside. Lunch will be in a local restaurant in the souk. Gather this evening for a festive dinner party in one the island’s elegant restaurants. (B/L/D)

Day 11: Cross to the mainland by ferry and drive to El Djem to admire North Africa’s greatest Roman Monument - the 3rd century arena towering over the modern village.  The amphitheater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was capable of seating 35,000 spectators; only Rome’s Colosseum and the ruined theatre of Capua are larger. The nearby museum houses splendid mosaics on themes of Bacchus and figurative motifs depicting the province of Africa. Continue to Sousse and overnight at the 5-star Hotel Hasdrubal for one night. (B/L/D)

Day 12: The old section, or medina, of Sousse is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This ancient section of the city, a maze of winding narrow streets enclosed by protective walls, contains many fine examples of Arab architecture.  Our exploration of the medina includes the archaeological museum containing the largest collection of antiquities in Tunisia, after the Bardo Museum. A museum highlight is the room containing marvelous mosaic floors including the Triumph of Bacchus depicting the Roman god of wine riding in a chariot at the head of a parade of satyrs. In the afternoon drive to Kairouan, the first capitol of Islamic North Africa, and visit the nearby Raqqada Islamic Museum.  Kairouan (the name means “caravan”) was founded as a stop on an ancient camel route by a disciple of Mohammed and is considered the fourth holiest site in Islam. The city remains a purely Arab city filled with outstanding examples of the finest Islamic architecture in Tunisia, and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Here, visit the Great Mosque, the oldest place of worship in North Africa; the zaouia, or tomb complex of Sidi Sahab, a companion of the Prophet; and the impressive pools at Aghlabid Basins, built in the 9th century to collect and store winter rainwater. There will be time to stroll into the medina, the ancient marketplace encircled by 11th century walls.  Overnight in the luxurious 5-star Hotel Kasbah, located in the heart of Kairouan. (B/L/D)

Day 13: Drive east along the Cap Bon Penninsula to explore the Punic city of Kerkouane, the only purely Carthaginian town yet found and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  At the tip of the Peninsula we will see the Roman quarries of El Haouaria, from which the Phoenicians took the stones to build Kerkouane and Carthage.  Continue to the lovely coastal town of Hammamet and visit the International Cultural Center, built by Romanian millionaire George Sebastian in the 1920s.  Designed and constructed to invoke the spirit of Greco-Roman architecture, the 14-acre grounds boast an impressive collection of art and a Greek amphitheater used as a stage for Hammamet’s annual International Cultural Festival.  Overnight in Hammamet’s 4-star Hotel Sindbad for one night. (B/L/D)

Day 14: Upon returning to Tunis, we will visit the Bardo Museum. This is Tunisia’s National Museum and the repository of the country’s rich archaeological collections, including the world’s largest collection of Roman polychrome mosaics.  Housed in an 18th century Beylical palace, it was the first museum to be founded in Africa and contains stunning mosaics and relics from the sites we have visited. Return to the 5-star Golden Tulip Carthage Tunis Hotel for two nights. Our final dinner party will be held this evening in an elegant local restaurant.  (B/L/D)

Day 15: Today’s tour takes us along a great aqueduct built by Hadrian to visit three fascinating Roman sites. Uthina, or Oudna, is a small city still under excavation.  Eleven Roman villas have been unearthed here, many with colorful mosaics still intact. Continue to Thuburbo Majus with its interesting temple and gymnasium. Our final visit will be to Zaghouan, where a monumental fountain built in the 2nd century filtered the spring water before it entered the aqueduct for its 80-mile journey to Carthage.  Dinner is on our own this evening. (B/L)

Day 16: An early morning transfer takes us to the Tunis airport for our flight to the USA. (B)

(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner

STUDY LEADER: Naomi J. Norman received her BA Magna Cum Laude from Bryn Mawr and her PhD in Classical Art and Archaeology from the University of Michigan. Dr. Norman is a specialist of Greek Art and Architecture and the Romans in North Africa. She has repeatedly worked on projects at Carthage, Tunisia and since 1992 has been the Director of the University of Georgia Excavations at the same site. She serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Archaeology, one of the premier journals for classical archaeology, and has published extensively in books and other periodicals. Dr. Norman has been a Professor in the Classics Department at the University of Georgia since 1980.  She reads ancient Greek and Latin, and is conversant in Arabic, and is an ideal scholar to lead a trip to this part of the world.

TRIP DATES:  October 19-November 3, 2009

TRIP COST: $9,395.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes roundtrip airfare from New York’s JFK, all hotels, most meals (as noted in brochure), entry fees and ground transportation within Tunisia. 

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:  A donation as outlined below; airport transfers for flights other than designated group flights; meals other than those listed in the itinerary; food, alcoholic and other beverages not on set menus; passport and visa fees; airport fees and taxes; excess baggage charges; gratuities to guides and drivers; email, telephone, and fax charges; laundry or other items of a personal nature.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $495.00.  Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.

FUEL SURCHARGES: Far Horizons must pass on price increase for uncontrollable charges such as flights and other services due to additional fuel charges.

REGISTRATION: A deposit of $500.00 and a non-refundable, separate check for $150.00 to the donation project are required upon making your reservation, along with a completed and signed registration form. Final payment is due 75 days before departure. Upon receipt of your deposit and completed registration form, you will be sent a reading list and a tour bulletin containing travel information. An information book designed for this trip, including maps of archaeological sites and articles of pertinent interest will be sent upon receipt of final payment.

NOTE ON DONATION: As a tour company that benefits from the cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to the scientific and cultural projects and museums we visit.  This has created a bond between Far Horizons and the academic and local communities that has helped us establish an extensive list of lecturers and contacts in each of our destinations.  We ask that each participant write a check to the noteworthy project we designate. The donation amount is $150.00 per person and is made by check directly to the donation project.  Note that the donation is required as part of your registration for the trip and that it is non-refundable.  We will be designating a donation project for this trip shortly.

NOTE ABOUT ITINERARY CHANGES: Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur.  A good book to read as well as a flexible attitude and a sense of humor are essential.

CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS: Cancellations received in writing at least 75 days before departure will result in an administrative fee of $250.00. Cancellations received less than 75 days before departure will not receive a refund. Should you cancel off the trip, your separate donation check will not be refunded. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, FAR HORIZONS will not reimburse any fees. It is stro­ngly advised that you purchase travel protection that includes trip cancellation upon registering for the trip.

PRIVATE TOURS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES:  Private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts.  However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be onsite when our groups arrive due to other commitments. 

LIMITED TO 17 PARTICIPANTS