Like many my age, I grew up watching the original Star Wars trilogy. You know, I don’t think a single set of school holidays ever passed when my parents didn’t put them on to keep us amused for a few afternoons. Now six movies later names like the Jundland Wastes, The Dune Sea, The Lars Homestead, Mos Eisley, Mos Espa and Anchorhead are burnt into the psyche of generations of science fiction fans. Names which conjure up the images of a galaxy far far away.
The truth is that many of the locations used are not really so far far away, at most they are but a few hours, definitely not lightyears! One of the places where these locations abound is Tunisia. Now Tunisia is an incredible destination for any reason. Djerba, Zaghouan, Carthage, Sfax, Sousse .. there is so much to see and do there. But for the true fan a trip across Tunisia is to see the highlights of Tatooine .. the homeworld of Luke Skywalker, a word whose very name is a derivative of Tataouine, a location in Tunisia.
From Lukes search for his missing droids, to podracing canyons, the Lars Farmstead and Old Bens house .. there are a number of sites to visit fo rthe Star Wars Fan
Much of what was seen of Tatooine in both the original movies, and the prequels is still visible in Tunisia, the desert and lack of change in the areas have preserved many locations almost as they were first viewed on the big screen. Others like the Hoted Sidi Driss (the location most associate with the Lars Farmstead) have remained unchanged mostly due to being a tour drawcard.
So if you are a Star Wars fan who loves travel, we have the perfect combination for you!
The Hotel Sidi Driss – the famous Lars Homestead
DAY 1: TUNIS / ARRIVAL
Upon arrival in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.After checking in, dinner (buffet) & overnight.
DAY 2: TUNIS – kairouan – Tozeur
After breakfast, our tour will depart for Kairouan. Kairouan is a city known for its mosques and world famous carpet making craft industry. The great mosque , and the mausoleum of the barber companion of the prophet Mohamed, are two of the city’s famous religious sites. We also visit a carpet making workshop to learn how carpets are designed and handmade. After lunch our tour heads to the archaeological site of Sbeitla. This site presents well preserved ruins such as temples, beautiful baptisteries, a thermal complex, a triumphal arch and forts dating back to the Byzantine period. Sbeitla also hosts an original antiquities museum to display excavated objects. Continue to Tozeur, check in at the hotel. Dinner (buffet) & overnight.
DAY 3: Chebika – Tamerza – Chott el Gharsa- Tozeur (Episode I – II-III and IV )
After breakfast our tour will set out for the mountain oases of Chebika, Tamerza, and Mides. There we will have time to hike through the oasis area and enjoy the beautiful scenery of these amazing desert springs, canyons and waterfalls not far from Algeria. After lunch we visit the “Ong Jemal” among the sand dunes, and the desert site of one of the Star Wars films (episode 1 and 2 and Lars farm episode 2, 3 and 4.) Back to the hotel in Tozeur. Dinner (buffet) & overnight.
DAY 4: Bou Hlel – Douz – Matmata (Episode I – II and IV)
After breakfast, visit of the Star wars Canyon ( Episode IV of the desert Jundland , and some passages of the pod race in Episode I) then we cross the dry salt lake of Chott El Jerid. When arriving at Douz there is an optional activity of a camel ride into the Sahara desert (1 hour). After Lunch we drive to Matmata, This part of Tunisia is well known for the unique Berber people who dwelt here for many years before the Arabs came. Matmata boasts the Berber troglodyte housing where Berber people open their troglodyte houses for visitors to have a cup of tea. Also visit Of the Troglodyte hotel Sidi driss a shooting place of the movie “Star Wars Hotel Sidi Driss which includes five courtyards: 4 of them being surrounded by rooms, and the fifth, named “Star court Wars “, constituting the restaurant. It was the setting for the dining room and kitchen in Lars farm. Check in at the hotel. Dinner (buffet) & overnight.
DAY 5: Ksar Hededa – Tataouine – Ksar Ouled Soltane – Djerba. (Episode I )
After breakfast, visit of the Ksour region, A Ksar (plural ksour) is the Arabic term for a fortified Berber Granary and is composed of houses and granaries, in organized cells (ghorfas in Arabic) and its where George Lucas drew the name of Tatooine. It was used for filming sets of Mos Espa, in this case the slave quarters, in Episode I (scene where Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan contacted by comlink and scene with Shmi “He did not have a father …”). Departure to the Tataouine for lunch.After lunch visit of Ksar Ouled Soltane, one of the best preserved ksour in Tunisia which includes two separate courts, and more than 400 ghorfas (bins), 4 or 5 levels serving in episode 1 as the slave quarters of Mos Espa, where the character Anakin Skywalker lived as a boy. Drive to Djerba . Check in at the hotel. Dinner (buffet) & overnight.
DAY 6: Djerba Island “Ajim – Sidi Jemour – Guellala ” (Episodes IV )
After breakfast, departure to the near town of Ajim for a visit of the house of Ben Kenobi during his exile on Tatooine.Episode 4. Then to Sidi Jemour where 2 scenes of Episode 4where filmed , the cut scene outside Anchorhead and The scene of arrival of Luke and Ben speeder in Mos. Lunch and after lunch visit of the oldest Synagogue in north Africa and the pottery town of Guellala. Back to the hotel . Dinner (buffet) & overnight.
DAY 7: Gabes – El Djem – Sousse – Hammamet (Episode I )
After breakfast , departure to ksar Medenine where two scenes from episode 1 where the scenes of arrival of Anakin in the storm, and the departure of Anakin and Qui-Gon farewell to Shmiwhere filmed. The place is known since as “Skywalker Alley”. Departure to the maritime oasis of Gabes for a visit the the Spice market, Departure to El Djem (ancient Thysdrus) to visit the largest and most spectacular Roman amphitheatres in North Africa and the best preserved in the world. This colossal edifice classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch and departure to Sousse to visit its Medina (old town), a UNESCO World heritage Site. Transfer to your hotel in Hammamet. Dinner (buffet) & overnight.
DAY 8: Departure
After breakfast, you will be transferred by bus to the airport for departure.
The Berber Graneries of Matmata were used as the Slave Quaters in Mos Espa
All World Journeys 