Tunisia and it's Jewish communities

Jewish Travel
Division of EMCO Travel, LLC

Since 1993

Toll-free 877-466-2934. Phone 727-254-4373
Fax: 203-653-5586
email: info@JewishTravelAgency.com

Due to the nature of this deluxe tour and some of the venues visited, space is limited!

Wednesday May 6-Tunis arrival
Upon your arrival, mid-day arrival in Tunis from your European gateway, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the suburbs of Tunis. The remainder of the afternoon is free for rest and relaxation from your flight. A pre-sundown rendezvous at the hotel will be arranged, before driving to the synagogue in La Goulette, where there will be an opportunity to join some of the members of the Jewish community for the mincha/m'erev service in this Tunis suburb, once home to a sizeable Jewish community. Dinner this evening will be at a restaurant specializing in Tunisian Jewish style cuisine. Overnight in Tunis. (D)

Thursday May 7- Tunis environs
This morning, you start your day with a visit to the Bardo Museum, a former Ottoman palace housing one of the finest collections of Roman and Carthaginian mosaics in the world. This will help set the stage in learning about Tunisia's history during Roman times. From the Bardo, you drive to the suburbs of Tunis where you will visit Carthage, the most famous (though by no means the largest) of the ancient sites in Tunisia, but one which historians find traces of Jewish presence. Following your visit to the ruins of this ancient Phoenician city, you continue to the nearby picturesque village of Sidi Bou Said, whose architecture was inspired by its Andalusian settlers. Lunch will be near the seaside. Following lunch, you drive into the heart of old Tunis for a walking tour of the medina. We will also make time for a visit to some of the remaining Jewish sites within Tunis, including the Grand Synagogue in the center of Tunis. Overnight in Tunis. (B,L,D)

Friday May 8-Jerba
This morning you depart on a one hour flight to the island of Jerba. Immediately upon arrival, you embark on an island tour of Jerba. The island has a special character. You will have a walking tour of the village of Hara Kabira, the largest of the island's two Jewish villages. Your visit to the "hara" will include seeing some of the village's synagogues. Hara Kabira has nearly a dozen synagogues, most of which are still in use today. You will have the opportunity to visit the communal oven of the Jewish community and hear about the role it plays in the holiday and Shabbat meals, as well as hearing about the active role of Jewish education in Jerba, today. Your island tour eventually brings you to Houmt Souk, Jerba's main market town and the location of many of Jerba's Jewish merchants. After having a walking orientation of Houmt Souk and its souk, you may choose to spend some time exploring Houmt

Souk independently, along with the option of enjoying lunch at one of the many seafood restaurants or you may return to our hotel to relax by the pool or ocean. The remainder of the afternoon is unstructured. Dinner and overnight at your hotel. Overnight in Jerba. (B, D)

Saturday May 9-Jerba
Today, being Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, no touring is scheduled. The day is unstructured for you to enjoy the amenities of your hotel. Meals will be available at your hotel. Overnight in Jerba. (B, L, D)

Sunday May 10-ksour region
This morning, you depart Jerba island and head to the region of Matmata. This region's crater like topography is dotted with troglodyte dwellings. Its exotic settings provided some of the film locations for the movie, Star Wars. You will have an opportunity to explore some of these dwellings and the region, as well as have lunch in a troglodyte restaurant. From Matmata, you drive further south into the ksour, visiting the ksour villages of Ksar Haddada and Chenini, the later being a rather remote hilltop town that is the largest Berber speaking community remaining in Tunisia. From Chenini you head back to Jerba with stops en route. Overnight in Jerba. (B, L, D)

Monday May 11-Jerba
Today you visit the southern portion of the island and the village of Guellela. Guellela is an ancient pottery village and you will have the opportunity to see a brief demonstration of old pottery making techniques. But more importantly Guellela has an ethnographic museum that is dedicated to life on Jerba island, its customs, traditions and costumes. Today is the 18th of Iyar in the Jewish calendar, the festival of Lag B'omer. Jerba has a tradition that dates back hundreds of years of the pilgrimage to the Ghriba synagogue. This afternoon you will have an opportunity to participate and observe this very unusual gathering of Jews from France, Israel and Tunisia, primarily Jews of Tunisian origin and enjoy the festivities that take place this afternoon and early evening. Evening return to your hotel, where dinner will be offered. Overnight in Jerba. (B, D)

Tuesday May 12-Gabes/Sfax/El Jem/Sousse
This morning you depart early from Jerba with your first stop on the mainland being Gabes, an oasis town that today, is primarily industrial. Your stop in Gabes will be brief, providing an opportunity to visit the oasis and learn a bit about life in an oasis. From Gabes, you continue along the coast to Sfax, Tunisia's second largest city. You will have an opportunity to learn about the Sfax Jewish community which today, numbers less than twenty people. From Sfax, you continue some sixty-five kilometers to El Jem to see the Roman coliseum, the largest of its kind in North Africa. El Jem also has a wonderful museum of mosaics. From El Jem, you drive north to Sousse, where there is a small Jewish community remaining, as well as a synagogue that has recently gone through renovations. Your base in Sousse is a seaside, spa hotel, approximately ten minutes out of the Sousse city center. Overnight in Sousse. (B, L, D)

Wednesday May 13-Kairouan/El Kef/Bulla Regia
This morning you depart south from Tunis, with your first primary stop being Kairouan. Kairouan is today, a rather provincial town. The city was founded and subsequently developed during early Islamic times, with Kairouan's Great Mosque, dating from -the 7th century, reputed to be the oldest mosque in the Islamic world, making Kairouan the fourth holiest city, following Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. During medieval times, it also had a Jewish community whose scholars nearly rivaled those of Babylonia. Kairouan's location along the caravan routes also provided a base for a flourishing crafts industry. The region still provides the base for much of Tunisia's craft industry, particularly rugs and textiles. From Kairouan, you drive to El Kef. El Kef (known under the French as "Le Kef"), you will get to see some of the historic aspects of El Kef, including a visit to a restored synagogue where you will hear about the former Jewish community of the town. Lunch will be in the region, followed by your departure to Bulla Regia. This well-preserved site has numerous examples of underground architecture, as well as well-preserved mosaics, in situ. From Bulla Regia, you drive north into the cork forests of the Khoumerie Mountains, the most eastern sector of the Atlas Mountain range. Overnight in Hammam Bourguiba. (B,L,D)

Thursday May 14-Dougga/Tunis
This morning you drive through scenic country roads to Dougga. Dougga is Tunisia's largest Roman site. Covering some sixty acres, Dougga was known as the city of temples and its existence is thought to date back to the 4th century B.C. Following your visit to Dougga, you head back toward Tunis, passing through Testour, which also had a small Jewish community and a special lunch stop in the region of the Medjerda Valley. Late afternoon arrival in Tunis. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. Should you wish to return to the medina for any last minute shopping or explore other parts of the city, you are free to do so. We will rendezvous in the evening for our very special farewell dinner. Overnight in Tunis. (B, L, D)

Friday May 15-Tunis departure
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to the U.S. (B)

Pricing details:

Price is based on double occupancy in deluxe/first class hotels.
All touring, entrance fees, baggage handling and all meals as indicated.
NOTE: This is not a KOSHER tour. If KOSHER meals are required, there will be an additional supplement.

Cost per person: $3,800. Single supplement is $495.

EMCO Travel LLC, DBA Jewish Travel Agency is registered with State of Florida as Seller of Travel Registration No. ST36902
California Travel Seller # 2079011-40
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