discovertunisia .com WHITE SANDS and Blue Skies TUNISIA reasons to choose a SEASIDE holiday 5 in TUNISIA p.2 The beaches on the North Coast .........16 Beaches of Tunis From one and Coasts of Carthage ..........................20 BEACH Hammamet and Cap Bon.......................24 to another Sousse, Port El Kantaoui and Monastir .....28 p.14 From Mahdia to Gabès ............................32 Djerba and Zarzis ......................................36 With its fabulous coastline, its 575 kilometres of white sand beaches – several of which have been granted Blue Flag status – and its string of idyllic islands, Tunisia is one of the best-reputed destinations in the Mediterranean for holidays by the sea. From Tabarka to Djerba, hotels with luxurious gardens lie one after the other all along the coast. The sea stretches out like a splendid blue mirror; children play in the surf, the multicoloured domes of parasailers rise up into the sky, windsurfers crisscross the waves, jet skis whizz past… The large choice of hotels, holiday clubs, activities and attractions promise a jam-packed summer holiday. Not as publicised, is the fact that Tunisia also has a number of charming beaches off the beaten track, dotted with unusual rock formations, or fringed with palm trees and golden dunes. Korbous inspiring TUNISIA reasons5 to choose a SEASIDE HOLIDAY In TUNISIA 2 3 Les plages de Tunisie comptent parmi les plus belles de Méditerranée, et de magnifiques hôtels vous en feront pleinement profiter. Dès le matin, lézardez sur le sable fin, faites la planche dans l’eau tiède, ou bronzez au solarium de la piscine. Réservez votre table pour un déjeuner au bord de l’eau ou un dîner romantique au soleil couchant. L’après-midi, peut-être aurez-vous envie d’une longue marche sur la plage, ou d’un Themassage beaches délassant in Tunisia au spaare de votre amonghôtel. the most beautiful in the Mediterranean, and magnificent hotels will help you take full advantage. In the morning, bask on the white sand, float in the warm water, or work on your tan by the pool. Reserve your table for a seaside lunch or a romantic dinner watching the sunset. In the afternoon, maybe you will choose a long walk on the beach, or a relaxing massage in the spa of your hotel. Heavenly1 BEACHES to relax on 4 5 WIDE2 OPEN SPACES for sport Between aqua gym, 6 aerobics and beach- 7 soccer matches, the entertainment team of your hotel won’t take any time off. Whether in the calm waters of Djerba or in the more active spots of the North Coast, you can practice windsurfing, catamaran and a host of other water activities such as jet ski and kitesurfing. If you like to play tennis, ride horses or even play golf, you won’t run out of opportunities to wear yourself out. Everything3 family FRIENDLY 8 9 The Tunisians adore children and it really shows! The hotels are specially prepared for them: special rates/prices and menus, shows aimed for children, family rooms, baby- clubs, mini-clubs and teen clubs. Med warm sea and fine sand: the beaches are perfect for the little ones. They can play in secure pools under the watchful gaze of the lifeguards. A sea cruise, a ride on a banana-boat in a big spray of foam, a quad bike excursion or a day spent in the wildlife park will leave unforgettable memories for the whole family. For thrill seekers, try fly fishing, parasailing or giant slides. Defy gravity in an amusement park, or take part in friendly furious battles with messy paint bullets in one of the paintball clubs. Trust the entertainment team at your hotel to always come up with new games and new shows. In the evening, keep the party going in a nightclub with the best local and international DJs. Playing4 and PARTYING 10 11 Nightclub in Hammamet Tunisia is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, original historical traditions, exceptional museums… To keep your holiday enriching, you can also try out new activities: catamaran, scuba diving, golf, kitesurfing… And because there is much more to life than sport, why not try a course in pottery, the Tunisian language or Oriental dance. Amphitheatre of Oudhna Enriching5 HOLIDAYS Archaeological site 12 of Dougga 13 Mediterranean Sea Mer Méditerranée THE BEACHES on BEACHES OF TUNIS Beach of the North Coast and Coasts of Kelibia p.16 Carthage p.20 Bizerte Raf-Raf El Haouaria Sejnane Utique HAMMAMET Tabarka Sidi Bou Saïd Kerkouane Carthage and Cap Ain Draham Tunis Korbous Kelibia Bon Beja CAP BON p.24 KHROUMIRIEBulla Chemtou Regia Thuburbo Oudhna Nabeul Dougga Majus Zaghouan Hammamet SOUSSE, PORT Le Kef EL KANTAOUI Enfidha and Hergla DORSALE El Kantaoui Monastir Makthar Sousse Monastir p.28 Thala Kairouan Haïdra Mahdia Sbeïtla FROM El Jem MAHDIA Kasserine to Gabès Sidi Bouzid p.32 Sfax Iles Kerkennah Midès Tamerza Chebika Gafsa A Metlaoui GOLFE DE GABES DJERBA Chott Gharsa Degache and Zarzis Houmt-Souk Nefta Tozeur Ile de p.36 Gabès Djerba CHOTT EL-JERID Kebili Matmata Douz Gightis Zarzis Tamezret ALGERIE Zaafrane ALGERI Sabria Medenine Ksar Haddada Ghomrassen Ksar Ghilane Tataouine Chenini Remada El Borma MOTORWAY RAILWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE Borj el Khadhra INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OASIS inspiring TUNISIA From one BEACH to another From the luxurious bay of Tunis to the forest hills of Tabarka, the peaceful charm of Mahdia and Monastir to the luxury of Yasmine Hammamet, the serene landscapes of Djerba to the hustle and bustle of Sousse, each coastal resort has its own particular attractions. Their beaches are monitored, and the bathing recommendations are indicated by flags 14 according to the weather, the wind direction and the 15 strength of the currents. But alongside the major resorts, Tunisia is full of lesser known beaches and wild coves with idyllic scenery: Korbous, cap Serrat, Sidi Jemour, El Hamra… Discovering them and experiencing unforgettable moments there, is down to you. BIZERTE TABARKA THE BEACHES on the North Coast Beaches around Bizerte Facing the open sea, Tabarka and Bizerte have marvellous beaches of GOLDEN SAND, broken up by rocky faces or cliffs to give picturesque landscapes. The sea, crystal clear, hides all manner of marine life in its depths: the precious red coral can still be found there. Less developed than other Tunisian resorts, these two destinations still each have their own particular charm. In TABARKA, the hotels are livened up in the summer by a succession of musical events focusing on jazz and world music; the mountainous backcountry holds the promise of fantastic excursions and hiking around the village of Ain Draham, entry point to the vast forested mountain range. In BIZERTE, a luxurious marina and a modern town centre rub shoulders with the old harbour and medina, evidence of a rich historical past. 1 Raf-Raf. 2 The old harbour of Bizerte. 1 2 inspiring TUNISIA Tabarka THE BEACHES on the North Coast 16 17 THE BEACHES on the North Coast AS a family FOR sporty people Balmy climate, white sand… children will love their Tabarka has an exceptional golf course, between sea stay in Tabarka or Bizerte. Take a sea cruise to reach an and forest hills (18 hole, Par 72). For experienced islet or have a picnic on a deserted beach. If they are windsurfers, the area has some well-reputed spots interested in scuba diving, several clubs can get them such as Melloula, close to Tabarka, or Ras Jebel close to started discovering the watery depths, some of the Bizerte. The North Coast is particularly known for its most beautiful in the Mediterranean. In the hotel, they extraordinary diving sites such as the Tunnels of Tabarka will of course enjoy swimming pools and all sorts of fun and the shipwrecks of Bizerte. and games. 1 2 3 1 Scuba diving. 2 Tabarka Golf Course. WHERE to swim? WHAT to do? The luxurious beaches of Tabarka and Bizerte are Go hiking on the paths that follow the seafront, plunge fringed with large holiday hotels. But really, the whole into the forests of Tabarka, visit the natural reserve of coast conceals true jewels with fine golden sand, framed Ichkeul close to Bizerte: the most beautiful landscapes by rocky spurs and wild nature. Discover the little known await you in these regions that still receive few visitors. beaches such as Melloula, Barkoukech, cap Serrat, cap Admire the fort of Tabarka or those of Ghar el-Melh, Angela, cap Blanc… To the southeast of Bizerte, Raf-Raf explore the medina of Bizerte. Discover the world-class and Ghar el-Melh, located on either side of a peninsula, archaeological sites such as Chemtou (marble extraction, are favourites amongst Tunisians. Numidian civilisation), Bulla Regia (underground Roman dwellings), Utica (Phoenician city, later Roman). inspiring TUNISIA SCUBA diving 18 19 iving in Tunisia means discovering has 20 diving clubs affiliated with the World Dastonishing underwater landscapes, caves Federation of Underwater Activities (CMAS); and trenches, impressive tunnels, mysterious they will be with you during your first strokes wrecks from the Second World War, vast in your flippers and guide you on memorable meadows of seagrass! The Tunisian shores offer excursions. The North Coast of Tunisia is a a face of the Mediterranean that remains well- favourite destination for divers. There are four preserved. Still rarely visited by divers, it retains clubs in Tabarka and two in Bizerte. In Tabarka, many surprises for visitors: nudibranch sea slugs experienced divers can visit the spectacular with strange shapes, cuttlefish with scintillating Tunnels; in Bizerte, the numerous shipwrecks colouring, bream and grouper by the dozens, which lie at depths of over 40 metres. But other bushes of brightly coloured sea fans.