Private Tour to Kairouan, El Jem & Monastir: Explore Tunisia's Historic Cities

Embark on a private tour to Kairouan, El Jem, and Monastir in Tunisia. Discover the rich history and cultural heritage of these historic cities, from the oldest mosque in the Muslim West to the impressive Roman amphitheater.

Duration: 10 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • The Great Mosque of Kairouan - The Great Mosque is the symbol of Kairouan. It is one of the oldest and most beautiful mosques in the world, one of the most impressive monuments in all of the Maghreb! Its religious prestige makes Kairouan the 4th holy city of Islam. We admire its imposing minaret, its majestic courtyard of impressive dimensions, surrounded by superbly drawn arcades and sheltering a sundial, and the high doors of richly carved cedar wood. They open onto the prayer rooms, adorned with dozens of marble columns. Built in 670, this architectural masterpiece whose appearance evokes an adobe fortress has inspired other mosques in the Maghreb.
  • Medina of Kairouan - The medina of Kairouan is one of the most preserved and authentic in Tunisia, where you can take a look in the souks, taste the pastries of Kairouan “Les Mekroudhs” and its artisanal carpet making.
  • Amphitheatre of El Jem - A visit to the Roman Colosseum, founded in the 3rd century AD and classified as a World Heritage Site in 1972, which can accommodate 30,000 spectators, third in the Roman world by its size after that of Rome and that of Capua, the amphitheater of El Djem and the most impressive Roman monument in Africa.
  • Ribat of Monastir - It is the oldest and most important of the defensive works erected along the Maghreb coast by the Arab conquerors, at the dawn of Islam. Founded in 796, this building underwent several renovations during the medieval period. Initially, in the shape of a quadrilateral, it is made up of four main buildings opening onto two interior courtyards. In addition to the small cells of the “warrior monks” who, while ensuring their military functions, devoted themselves to prayer and contemplation, the Ribat houses two prayer rooms, the most spacious of which now houses rare collectibles of worship. and medieval crafts. times. A hundred spiral steps provide access to the watchtower from the top of which luminous messages were exchanged at night with the towers of the neighboring ribats and which offers the visitor a superb view of the city of Monastir and its sea.
  • Bassins Aghlabites - The Aghlabid basins are a Tunisian historical monument located in Kairouan.
    Dating from the beginning of the second half of the 9th century and located outside the ramparts of the medina of Kairouan, they are considered to be the most important hydraulic works in the history of the Muslim world.
What's Included
  • Entrance to historical sites: The Aghlabid basins, Medina of Kairouan, Forte El Ribat, Amphitheater of El Jem, and Great Mosque of Kairouan
  • Complimentary bottled water
  • All taxes included (GST)
  • Air-conditioned vehicle for comfortable transport
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Travel from your accommodation to Kairouan, recognized as the fourth holiest city in Islam and considered Tunisia’s spiritual heartland. During your visit, you’ll explore the Great Mosque, touted as the earliest religious institution in the Muslim West. Following this, indulge in some leisure time within Kairouan’s medina. Next, pay a visit to El Djem, former Thysdrus, acclaimed as one of the richest cities in Roman Africa, to tour its renowned amphitheater. Conclude the trip with Monastir, originally a Phoenician settlement and later a Roman city known as Ruspina.

Location
The Great Mosque of Kairouan
Rue Sidi Abdelkader,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(209 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Kyle_b
Jul 24, 2024
See some of the top historical sites! - What an amazing tour! Our guide was extremely professional and knowledgeable, and was patient in answering questions and providing historical context. We were very grateful for the AC too! Communication with the tour operator was fast and responsive.
Review provided by Viator
Waqqas
Jul 23, 2024
Here we’re are - 5/5 could you believe where you made it too ? And then on top of that to only find out it was all true ???? ❤️❤️❤️❤️😂😊😊😂😂well whenever you feel upset always knows the a greater Allah who knows exactly how bad it is for you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fan_j
Jul 9, 2024
Great tour - We had a great trip with a great tour guide Mr. Baligh. Recommend to any solo traveler or group tour.
Review provided by Viator
Padraig_d
Jul 7, 2024
Incredible day. Recommend without hesitation - My experience on the private tour was nothing short of excellent. The guide, Mr. Choukie, was outstanding. His extensive knowledge, multilingual abilities, and kind demeanor made the day truly enjoyable. One of the highlights was Mr. Choukie’s comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle, which made the journey pleasant and relaxing. Being a private tour, I had complete control over the itinerary. This allowed me to spend more time exploring the historic sites and avoid the bustling markets and vendors. Mr. Choukie was very accommodating with my request for coffee breaks whenever I needed them. I even included a visit to Hammamet to see the old medina and the sea, something that would have been difficult to manage on a group tour. We started the tour at 6 am, a choice that helped me avoid the heat and crowds. This meant I had the amphitheare of El Jem all to myself—a truly remarkable experience. The agency’s responsiveness and clear communication added to the overall positive experience. I couldn't have asked for a better day and would recommend this tour without hesitation. The flexibility, personal attention, and tailored experience truly set this private tour apart. Thank you Mr. Choukie.
Review provided by Viator
Mona_m
Jul 4, 2024
Super day out - I had an amazing day out. The mosque at Kairouan was fantastic. I was also able to buy 2 rugs which I had wanted to do. The colosseum at El Jem is a wonder. Monastir is beautiful near the coastline. My tour guide was very knowledgable, kind and helpful. I had a great day.
Review provided by Viator
Sightseer17167468950
Jun 18, 2024
Amazing tour with a great guide! - We really enjoyed this trip with our tour guide Beligh. The places we visited where amazing, and Beligh is a very knowledgeable guide who could tell us a lot about the history of the sites and adjusted his stories and anekdotes to fit with the background of the group. I would definitively recommed this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexandra_d
Jun 6, 2024
A great way to see these... - A great way to see these incredible sites with limited time! Comfortable drive over and very informative explanations of the historical explanations.
Review provided by Viator
Santha_c
May 31, 2024
Amazing tour, great experience, knowledgeable guide - Fahmi was an exceptional guide during my Private Tour to Kairouan, El Jem & Monastir in Tunisia . Not only is he incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the area, but he also has a unique talent of engaging with fun conversations. Absolutely had a terrific time and would not hesitate to highly recommend Fahmi as a guide. Excellent itinerary, comfortable car with a good driver & the guide. Lunch place was decent as well..
Review provided by Viator
Farzana
May 29, 2024
Excellent - Excellent trip with Yahya our tour guide he was informative, patient and very knowledgeable. We had a great time! Highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Matthew_f
Jun 3, 2024
Beligh was knowledgeable... - Beligh was knowledgeable and the trip itself was excellent. A unexpected and unnecessary detour into a rug store (and explicit pressure to purchase once we were there) was the only complaint. This wasn't explicitly on the itinerary and it felt unprofessional and, simply put, like a trap. On a more positive note, the sights were incredible and our driver was fantastic.
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today