Arrive at Tunis airport and transfer to your hotel. Tunis is the modern capital of Tunisa, well-connected with flights from Europe and the Gulf.

Morning visit Carthage, once a rival to the Romans until their ultimate defeat in the Punic Wars. Continue to Sidi Bou Said, for a stroll through narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses with blue shutters and doors. Visit the National Museum, and free time at the Old Medina, then drive to Hammamet for check-in to your hotel.

Morning drive to Kairouan, a purely Arab city filled with outstanding examples of Islamic architecture. Continue to Sbeitla, site of the Roman City of Sufetula, and then on to Gafsa for check-in to your hotel.

Morning at leisure, or optional 4WD excursion. Then drive south into spectacular mountain scenery, visiting the mountain oasis of Tamerza, along with Mides and Chebika, an ancient village called Ad Speculum by the Romans. Continue to Nefta, a small remote oasis town crowned with the white domes of Zaouias sanctuaries. Continue to Tozeur for dinner and overnight.

Morning visit the old town of Tozeur, little changed since the 14th century. Then cross the Chott El Jerid, the largest of the dry salt lakes in Tunisia, which become inland seas during the winter rains. Arrive in Douz, a typical desert village of sand-coloured homes, a narrow maze of streets and palm-filled oases. Optional camel ride in the sand dunes. Overnight Douz.

Depart for Matmata, where the Berbers have dwellings built like craters in the middle of the desert, designed to maintain moderate temperatures throughout the year. Proceed on to Medenine, a Berber village famed for its Ghorfas, ancient wheat granaries built in the rocks. Depart by the Roman road to Djerba Island, a beautiful scene of white menzels. Visit traditional pottery makers. Dinner and overnight.

Depart by ferry to Gabes, and visit Souk Jara, its famous market. Continue to El Jem - ancient Thysdrus - to see the largest and most spectacular Roman amphitheatre in North Africa, a UNESCO World Heritage. Continue to Monastir and along the coast to Port El Kantaoui, a modern seaside resort, for dinner and overnight.

Morning drive to Tunis airport for your onward flight.