Holidays in Tozeur

From the heights of Belvedere Rocks, travellers can watch the sun sink into the desert horizon, the dusk sky transforming the sand dunes with its orange and pink hues. In December the desert comes to life with an international festival featuring music, dance, storytelling and camel racing.

Planning Tozeur holidays

A short three hour flight will take travellers from London to Touzeur, an oasis and city in south-west Tunisia. One hour ahead of the London (GMT +1), Tunisia has a Mediterranean climate characterised by mild winters and hot, dry summers. The best time to plan Touzeur holidays is between mid-March and mid-May, as the temperatures are warm but not yet sweltering. Travelling around Touzeur is easy with the abundance of taxis and minibuses. Walking is also a great way to be charmed by the city's unique architecture, known for its rich geometric designs and intricate patters.

Tozeur holidays: Oasis and Red Lizard

The palmeraie is a large desert oasis which boasts over two hundred thousand date palms, fig and pomegranate trees and canopied gardens. Visitors can explore the area by a horse drawn carriage, bicycle or on foot. For an adventure, travellers can board the Red Lizard Train, which weaves through desert landscapes, water springs, mountain ranges and deep gorges. Built in 1910, the train runs daily and is the only way to visit the gorges of Selja.

Tozeur holidays: Bled el-Hader and Ouled El Hwadef

Sitting in the heart of the old quarter of Bled el-Hader is an 11th century mosque the minaret of which rests on the square base of a Roman tower. For those interested in architectural examples from three centuries later, the old town of Ouled El Hwadef features exquisite examples of local brickwork with endless variations of intricate patterns. Meandering through the town’s narrow streets and stopping for a cup of Arabic coffee every now and then, is an ideal way to spend an afternoon.

Once a vital pit stop for transport through the Sahara, the oasis of Tozeur is a prosperous city steeped with history from its distinctive taupe architecture to serving as the backdrop for the Star Wars film franchise.

Tozeur holidays

Famously filled with thousands of palm trees, this oasis town enjoys warm weather year round. As the heat can reach 45 degrees Celsius in summer, spring and autumn are the best times to visit. The Sahara International festival in Douz (which takes place at the end of the year) and the winter months are also good times to visit. All-inclusive package deals for Tozeur holidays are available from Britain, and flights are about fifteen hours long (depending on the number of stopovers), whilst there is only an hour's difference between the time zones. Upon arrival, the city functions with a number of public transport systems to provide easy access to most areas. Taxis or group shared louages are also available for reasonable prices and rental cars are always available. Otherwise, walking within the city and tourist zones is easy and hastle free.

Architecture and desert mirages

Holidaymakers can visit the old town of Ouled El Hwadef, which showcases some of the city’s finest geometric architecture. A visit to the Dar Chariet Museum is also recommended, as is it the largest private museum in the world, housing many early artifacts, as well as jewels and ceramics. During their Tozeur holidays visitors can also explore the Sahara desert outside the city. Many companies offer camel trips to the endoheic salt lake of Chott el-Djerid, where Fata Morgana mirages may be spotted. History has seeped into every corner of this oasis town and Tozeur holidays provide a fascinating cultural getaway for all holidaymakers.