Tunisia - Oasis to Oasis

Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.

Review received from TM of Wadhurst on 02/04/2011

Day 1
Arrive at Monastir airport where you will be transferred to the palm grove at Nefta (5 hours from Monastir). You will be served a welcome dinner around the campfire before your first night in a Bedouin tent in the palm grove. Riders should arrive before 6pm otherwise there will be an extra transfer charge for the transfer into camp.

Day 2
After breakfast under the palm trees you set out across the palm grove of Nefta; 152 springs and 400,000 date palms and the so-called "deglet ennour" (light's fingers). You will return to the camp for lunch and then enjoy some faster riding across the Chott, a salt lake lying below sea level which creates mirages in the sunlight. You will reach camp in the sand dunes and take a camel ride at sunset. Around 5-6 hours riding.

Day 3
Today you continue through the beautiful dune landscape of Ongl Jemel which was a filming location for the original ‘Star Wars’ films. You can stop here to look around and have some lunch before remounting. In the afternoon you continue riding on the Chott with long gallops to a lake near the Chemsa oasis where you will spend the night. Around 7 hours riding.

Day 4
The terrain is more varied today, passing hills, canyons and dry salt lakes, looking out for tracks of wild boars and maybe the boars themselves. You will also see herds of camels and sheep in the dunes. After lunch in the sand dunes you ride towards the distant mountains and oasis of "Chebika" with lots of opportunities to trot and canter. You will stop and make camp in the hills near Sac Dut. Around 6.5 hours riding.

Day 5
Today you will ride to the mountains of El Djebel Negueb at the foot of which you stop for lunch. In the afternoon you will visit the Chebika oasis. Around 3 hours riding.

Day 6
After breakfast you set out on an adventurous canyon ride to Tamerza and the old city ruins. You can explore these a little over lunch before visiting the oasis with its waterfall and gorge. In the afternoon you take a short walk to a reservoir in the mountains. There is also sometimes the option to spend more time at Tamerza and stay in the new city overnight.

Day 7
The route today takes you back towards civilization, fitting in one last gallop along a dry river to Mides, the most beautiful mountain oasis in Tunisia. After lunch, you say goodbye to the horses and local guides to drive back to Monastir. Farewell dinner and overnight in a hotel. Around 2.5 hours riding.

Day 8
Breakfast, then time to leave Tunisia. Transfer to airport and departure.

Single tents are available at no extra charge.

Hotel Option as above itinerary but returning to the hotel each evening. 
 

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

The horses are Barb and ArabXBarb ranging between 14.2hh - 16.2hh. They are very willing, sure footed and perfectly adapted to the pace and terrain. Their temperaments vary from steady to more lively. They are ridden English style with a loose contact as is common on long distance rides. A choice of trail or English saddles is available. A fast pace is maintained when the countryside opens up.

Riders must be secure at all paces as long distances need to be covered. Riding times of up to 7 hours are encountered on some days. Riders are encouraged to groom and saddle the horses as part of the bonding process. A reasonable level of fitness and the ability to mount and dismount unaided is required. There may not be convenient mounting blocks in all parts of the desert!
This trail is not suitable for chldren under 15 years due to the strenuous nature of the trek.

The weight limit for this ride is 198 lb/90 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

The camping portion of the ride uses small dome tents. The camp is prepared by the camp staff and single tents can be requested for no extra cost. Facilities available while camping include a long drop toilet.

In the desert the main purpose of bathing is to remove dust, not sweat, due to the dry climate. Warm water can be requested for washing every evening. Halfway through the week a traditional hamman (bathhouse) is visited giving you the opportunity for a good soak.

The hotel used for the hotel option for this trail is the Hotel Ksar Rouge in Tozeur, or similar. It features double/twin rooms with private bathrooms, air conditioning/heating, a swimming pool, spa and wellness centre, restaurant, tennis, billiards, mini golf and bike rental.

Meals are prepared by the chef and are typically North African: lamb dishes, couscous, tagines, salads and traditional sweets with fresh fruit. Vegetarian food is available on request, however it is not possible to accommodate other dietary requirements at this time. Please check with your travel advisor if you have any questions regarding this.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements can be accommodated with advanced notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. If Visa’s are required the requirements can change from year to year depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate on request.

General information:

UK citizens require a passport valid for 6 months after date of return and must be in a possession of a return ticket.
UK citizens do not need a visa but are required to fill in a form (inbound given on the aeroplane) for length of stay and destination. This is required both inbound and outbound and you will not be allowed to leave the airport without filling it in.
Non-UK citizens should contact the local Tunisian embassy / consulate for clarification.
The Tunisian Embassy in the UK can be found at:
29 Prince's Gate, London SW7 1QG Telephone: (020) 7584 8117

The address of the British Embassy in Tunisia is:
Rue du Lac Windermere, Les Berges du Lac, Tunis 1053. Telephone: (216) 71 108 700
Email: TunisConsular.tunis@fco.gov.uk

Desert climates frequently feature large temperature changes from day to night. At the times this ride is offered the days will be sunny and warm to hot while the nights can be very cold. Temperature changes quickly, as soon as the sun comes up the air warms almost within minutes. Likewise at night, as soon as the sun sets, the air temperature drops quickly.

You are advised to contact your local GP surgery for up-to-date advice on vaccinations required for this area of North Africa. Currently, vaccination is advised against Hepatitis A, Tetanus and poliomyelitis.

Tunisia has a well-developed, if somewhat limited, public health service. There are a few private ’polyclinics’ available in the larger towns, which function as hospitals and provide a range of procedures. Some doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payments before treatment. Insurance to cover hospital bills is recommended.

Riding is 5-7 hours per day so riders need to be fairly fit. Please don't forget your sun block!

Electricity: 220V, 50Hz. Electric Plug Details: European plug with 2 circular metal pins. Voltage is similar to the UK and most appliances such as battery chargers for videos, hair dryers etc. can be plugged in with appropriate adapters. These are available for purchase at most airports and travel shops.

Bear in mind this is a camping trip so electricity will not be available on the camping nights. Mobile phone reception is not available on most parts of the trail but usually available in the towns.

The riding holiday involves long hours in the saddle so clothing should be comfortable and well-tested. A broad-brimmed hat is a useful addition and high-factor suncream is essential. Boots suitable for riding and walking are advised. Temperatures can drop at night in the desert so a sleeping bag is required if you are camping but unfortunately it is not possible to hire these, you must provide your own. Blankets can be provided and are used in addition to a sleeping bag.

A few saddlebags are available but it is recommended that you take your own. The evenings are informal round the campfire, no change of clothing is required, just the addition of a few layers.

Suggested:
Short boots and half-chaps
Jods/breeches
T-shirts
Fleece tops
Long-sleeved shirt
Warm loose clothing for sleeping in
Sleeping bag and liner
Socks and underwear
Torch (essential for ablutions)
Wet Wipes
Small towel
Swimsuit
Toiletries
Small mirror
Camera
Bumbag
Saddlebags
Water bottle

This is an 8 day/7 night programme with 6 days riding available on set dates.

2020: 7, 21 Mar; 31 Oct; 14 Nov.
2021: 6, 20 Mar; 13 Nov; 25 Dec*
* 2021 Christmas rates TBC
Other dates on request for groups of 4 or more.

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For the equestrian traveller who would like to see what is possible on horseback visit www.thelongridersguild.com also a fantastic place to acquire your equestrian travel books is www.horsetravelbooks.com

Large herds of wild camels roam the desert and will be frequently encountered. Birds of prey such as eagles and hawks can also be spotted.

Languages spoken - Arabic, French widely spoken, English only in tourist areas. Muslim festivals (eg Ramadan) are observed. Theft is rare. The time zone for Tunisia is GMT/UTC +1 and the dialling code is +216