Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Tunis & Journey South
Morning Arrivée à Tunis & route vers Tozeur
Land at Tunis-Carthage international airport. Pick up your rental car and head south. The drive to Tozeur is about 450 km (5h) via the A1 motorway then the national road. Tunisia is THE Star Wars country: George Lucas filmed Tatooine scenes for episodes I, II, III, IV and VI here. The country's south, with its desert landscapes, oases and Berber ksour, brought the galaxy's most famous planet to life.
Afternoon Arrêt au Chott el Jerid — Le lac salé de Tatooine
On your way to Tozeur, cross the Chott el Jerid, the vast dried salt lake spanning over 5,000 km². This lunar, surreal landscape served as the backdrop for Tatooine's vast desert expanses. The causeway across the chott offers spectacular views of mirages and salt crystals. On clear days, the horizon seems infinite — exactly like in the films. Stop at the desert rose stands sold by locals along the road.
Evening Arrivée à Tozeur & première soirée
Arrive in Tozeur, the gateway to the Tunisian Sahara and the ideal base camp for exploring Star Wars filming sites. Check into your hotel (Dar Horchani or Résidence Warda are excellent choices). Stroll through Tozeur's medina, famous for its ochre brick facades arranged in geometric patterns — an architectural style unique in the world. Dine at a local restaurant and taste southern specialties: fish couscous, brick à l'œuf, and the famous deglet nour dates from Tozeur's oasis.
Day 2 Mos Espa — Anakin Skywalker's Ghost City
Morning Décors de Mos Espa — Épisode I
4x4 excursion to the Mos Espa set, the most iconic Star Wars set still standing in Tunisia. Located at Ong Jmal in the desert north of Tozeur (~40 min off-road), this full-scale set was built for The Phantom Menace (1999). You'll discover the buildings of Anakin Skywalker's hometown: Watto's shop where Qui-Gon Jinn meets young Anakin, the slave quarter streets, and the rounded buildings typical of Tatooine. The set is partially buried in sand but remains remarkably intact.
Afternoon Canyon de Sidi Bouhlel — Le canyon de Star Wars
Visit Sidi Bouhlel Canyon (also called 'Star Wars Canyon'), 20 min from Tozeur. This spectacular canyon served as a backdrop for numerous scenes: this is where R2-D2 is captured by the Jawas in Episode IV, where young Luke is attacked by Sand People, and where Qui-Gon fights Darth Maul in Episode I. The rock formations are impressive and immediately recognizable for any saga fan. The canyon was also used for Raiders of the Lost Ark and The English Patient.
Evening Coucher de soleil dans l'oasis de Tozeur
Explore the Tozeur palm grove, one of the Sahara's largest oases with over 400,000 date palms. This lush setting in the middle of the desert recalls the oases seen in the saga. Walk through gardens irrigated by the ancestral seguia system (irrigation channels). Watch the sunset from the Ras El Ain viewpoint overlooking the oasis — a light show worthy of the planet with two suns. Finish with a traditional dinner at a palm grove restaurant.
Day 3 Nefta & Luke Skywalker's Home (Episode IV)
Morning La Corbeille de Nefta — L'igloo de Lars
Drive to Nefta (30 min from Tozeur), a sacred city of Tunisian Sufism. Outside town, in the desert, stands the 'Lars Homestead Exterior' — the outside of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru's farm, where Luke Skywalker grew up. The characteristic igloo (the white dome of the farm entrance) was rebuilt in 2012 by a passionate fan and has become a pilgrimage site for fans worldwide. The surrounding desert view is exactly the Tatooine sunset backdrop.
Afternoon La Corbeille de Nefta & Médina
Discover the Corbeille de Nefta, a spectacular natural depression in the heart of the city, lined with palm trees and marabouts (Sufi shrines). This unique geological site inspired George Lucas for Tatooine's canyons. Then explore Nefta's medina, quieter and more authentic than Tozeur's. Visit the zaouïas (Sufi brotherhoods) with their white domes and colorful mosaics. Nefta has over 100 marabouts — making it one of North Africa's most sacred cities.
Evening Coucher de soleil dans le désert de Nefta
End the day with an excursion to the dunes around Nefta for a memorable sunset. The golden sand dunes recall Tatooine's Dune Sea (the Grand Erg Oriental). This is the perfect moment to recreate the iconic double sunset scene from Episode IV. Some tours offer a Bedouin dinner under the stars in the desert — an unforgettable experience with a night sky free from light pollution.
Day 4 Matmata — Inside the Lars Farm
Morning Route vers Matmata — Paysages lunaires
Leave Tozeur and drive to Matmata (about 3h via Gafsa and Gabès). The journey crosses varied landscapes: the arid plateaus of central Tunisia, the Gafsa mountain range, and finally the troglodyte hills of Matmata. Matmata is a unique Berber village where inhabitants live in troglodyte dwellings dug into the ground — underground homes organized around an open-air central courtyard, designed to protect against extreme heat.
Afternoon Hôtel Sidi Driss — L'Intérieur de la ferme des Lars
Visit Hotel Sidi Driss, the most famous filming location of the entire saga in Tunisia. This authentic troglodyte house served as the interior of the Lars farm in Episode IV (1977) and was reused for Episode II (2002). You'll still see the painted sets from Episode II on the walls — the dining room murals are still visible! The hotel still operates as a real hotel — you can even sleep there for the ultimate experience. The open-air central courtyard is exactly as seen in the films.
Evening Maisons troglodytes de Matmata & vie berbère
Explore Matmata village and its traditional troglodyte houses. Several Berber families open their homes to visitors, explaining their underground lifestyle: how these dwellings maintain a constant 20°C temperature summer and winter, how rooms are dug and furnished, and Berber culinary traditions. The sunset from the heights of Matmata offers a panoramic view over the hollowed hills — a truly extraterrestrial landscape.
Day 5 Tataouine & The Ksour — Tatooine's Architecture
Morning Route vers Tataouine & Ksar Ouled Soltane
Drive to Tataouine (2h from Matmata), the city that literally gave its name to the planet Tatooine! George Lucas was inspired by this city's name for Luke Skywalker's desert planet. Visit the spectacular Ksar Ouled Soltane, one of Tunisia's most beautiful fortified granaries (ksour). This 4-level ksar served as the backdrop for the Mos Espa slave quarters in Episode I. Its hundreds of stacked ghorfas (vaulted storage cells) create a fascinating architecture that's immediately recognizable.
Afternoon Ksar Hadada — Le quartier des esclaves d'Anakin
Visit Ksar Hadada (45 min north of Tataouine), another fortified granary used in Episode I for the Mos Espa slave quarters. This ksar has been partially converted into a hotel (Ksar Hadada Hotel) but retains its authentic architecture. The vaulted ghorfas and covered passages are directly recognizable in scenes from Anakin's hometown. Then continue to Ksar Medenine (30 min), an impressive urban ksar in the heart of Medenine whose remaining ghorfas recall Mos Espa's architecture.
Evening Tataouine — Dîner dans la ville qui a inspiré la planète
Return to Tataouine for the evening. Stroll through the city that gave its name to science fiction's most famous planet. Visit the covered market and downtown alleys. Tataouine is a former French garrison town with colonial architecture blended with Berber traditions. Dine at a local restaurant — southern Tunisian cuisine is generous: méchouia (grilled salad), lamb couscous, and brik au thon. The peaceful night atmosphere of this small town contrasts with the surrounding desert.
Day 6 Djerba Island — The Mos Eisley Cantina & Relaxation
Morning Route vers Djerba & Ajim — La Cantina de Mos Eisley
Leave Tataouine and drive to Djerba island (2h30 via the Roman causeway or Jorf ferry). Head directly to Ajim, a small fishing village on Djerba's west coast. This is where George Lucas filmed the exterior scenes of Mos Eisley for Episode IV in 1976. The building that served as the Mos Eisley Cantina (the famous bar where Han Solo shoots Greedo) is still standing — it's a former bakery. The nearby Fadhloun mosque served as backdrop for Mos Eisley's streets.
Afternoon Houmt Souk & Synagogue de la Ghriba
Explore Houmt Souk, Djerba's capital, with its lively medina, fondouks (caravanserais) and colorful spice market. Visit the El Ghriba Synagogue, one of the world's oldest synagogues (6th century BC according to tradition), testament to Djerba's historic religious cohabitation. The synagogue is an architectural gem with its blue and white mosaics and ornate columns. Djerba itself, with its Mediterranean island landscapes, offers a striking contrast with the desert of previous days.
Evening Plage de Djerba & Dîner de fruits de mer
Enjoy the late afternoon on one of Djerba's beautiful beaches — Sidi Mahrez or Seguia — for well-deserved relaxation after days in the desert. Djerba's turquoise waters and white sand are a seaside paradise. End with a seafood dinner at a restaurant facing the sea in Houmt Souk. Grilled fish, chili prawns and Djerba's seafood are renowned throughout Tunisia.
Day 7 Return to Tunis — El Jem & Departure
Morning Route Djerba → El Jem — Le Colisée de Tunisie
Leave Djerba early morning and drive towards Tunis (about 5h30 total). Make an essential stop at El Jem (El Djem), halfway, to visit its Roman amphitheater — the 3rd largest in the world after Rome and Capua. While not a Star Wars filming location, this 3rd-century colosseum is one of North Africa's most impressive monuments and a UNESCO site. Its imposing silhouette rising from the Tunisian plain is a striking sight. The acoustics are remarkable — test them by standing in the arena's center.
Afternoon Route vers Tunis & Visite de Carthage
Continue to Tunis (2h30 from El Jem). If time permits, detour to the ruins of Carthage, 15 min from central Tunis. This UNESCO site includes the Baths of Antoninus (among the Roman world's largest), the Tophet (Punic sanctuary), and the Punic ports. Carthage offers panoramic views over the Gulf of Tunis and the modern city. An interesting Star Wars parallel: just as Carthage was a power that challenged Rome, Tatooine was a remote planet that saw the birth of the one who would challenge the Empire.
Evening Médina de Tunis & Dîner d'adieu
End your Star Wars adventure with an exploration of the Medina of Tunis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This labyrinth of covered alleys, souks and mosques dates from the 7th century. Visit the Great Zitouna Mosque (courtyard only for non-Muslims), the perfumers' and goldsmiths' souks, and the beylical palaces. Dine at a medina restaurant — Dar El Jeld or Fondouk El Attarine offer refined Tunisian cuisine in a magnificent historic setting. Return your car and head to the airport for your return flight.