Tozeur

An oasis city on the edge of the Sahara: cross the Chott el Djerid salt lake, explore the mountain oases and visit the Star Wars Tatooine filming locations.

Tozeur lies in southwestern Tunisia on the northern edge of the Sahara. It is the centre of the Djerid region, set between the Chott el Djerid and Chott el Gharsa salt lakes, where hundreds of springs nourish vast palm groves famous for the "finger of light" (deglet nour) dates. The climate is dry and hot. October–April is the best season, with daytime highs around 20°C and cool mornings and evenings; from May to September daytime temperatures often exceed 40°C, so schedule summer activities for early morning and evening. Sightseeing falls into four parts: within Tozeur itself, the brick-built Ouled el Hadef old quarter, the Dar Cherait Museum, the palm oasis and the Belvedere Rocks; to the west, the Nefta oasis and its Sufi old town; to the north, the three mountain oases of Chebika, Tamerza and Mides (a 4WD day trip); and the Star Wars locations in the surrounding desert, including Mos Espa, Ong Jemel, the Lars Homestead and the Star Wars Canyon, plus the road across the Chott el Djerid to the east and the Lézard Rouge train at Metlaoui. Getting there: flights to Tozeur–Nefta Airport are limited, so most visitors come from Tunis by night train or long-distance bus, or drive, which takes about 7 hours; you can also drive from Djerba or Douz. Plan on 2–3 days. The mountain oases are close to the Algerian border, so carry your passport. On desert stretches, hire an experienced 4WD driver and bring plenty of water and sun protection.

Top sights

• Chott el Djerid – North Africa's largest seasonal salt lake. Along the causeway that crosses the lake, white salt crusts and pink brine pools stretch into th…
• Chebika Oasis – A mountain oasis at the foot of the Chott el Djerid hills. Springs form small streams and waterfalls among the rocks, and an abandoned mud-…
• Mos Espa Star Wars Set – The filming set of Mos Espa, Tatooine, from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Its domed mud-brick buildings still stand among the dunes.
• Medina of Tozeur (Ouled El Hadef) – A 14th-century old quarter, with geometric reliefs such as diamonds and stars made from tawny handmade brick. It is Tozeur's most recogniza…
• Dar Cherait Museum – A private museum built in the style of a traditional palace. It displays Tunisian aristocratic life, costumes, jewelry and folk traditions…
• Tozeur Palmeraie – A palm grove of about 1,000 hectares south of the city, with 400,000 date palms and fruit trees and vegetables growing beneath them. Visito…
• Belvédère Rocks & Ras El Ain – A sandstone ridge on the western edge of the oasis, with steps to the top. It offers views over the palm groves, Chott el Djerid salt lake…
• Chak Wak Park – An open-air park on the history of civilization and religion, featuring dinosaur models and scale replicas of ancient buildings, including…
• Eden Palm – A small date-themed eco-museum and garden that explains date palm cultivation, pollination and processing, with a tasting of several date v…
• Nefta Oasis & La Corbeille – A Sufi holy city about 25 km west of Tozeur. Date palm groves fill a huge basket-shaped valley, ringed by mosques and white shrines.
• Tamerza Waterfall & Old Village – The largest mountain oasis in Tunisia. It has a rare desert waterfall, and across the gorge lies a mud-brick village abandoned after floods.
• Midès Canyon – A layered sandstone canyon close to the Algerian border, with cliffs that look like a layer cake. The English Patient and other films were…
• Ong Jemel (Camel's Neck) – A wind-eroded rock in the desert shaped like a camel's neck, surrounded by rolling dunes and yardangs. It was also a filming site for The E…
• Lars Homestead Exterior – A solitary domed hut beside Chott el Djerid, serving as the above-ground entrance to the Lars homestead, the home of Luke Skywalker's uncle…
• Sidi Bouhlel Canyon (Star Wars Canyon) – A dry canyon northeast of Tozeur where Star Wars scenes, including R2-D2 being captured by Sand People, were filmed. Fans call it the 'Star…
• Selja Gorge & Lézard Rouge Train – Ride the Red Lizard, an antique train from the late 19th-century Bey's royal household, through the deep Selja Gorge. It is a classic day t…
• Chott el Gharsa – A salt-lake depression northwest of Tozeur, below sea level. Salt crust, mirages and distant mountains create a surreal landscape, and the…
• Abou El Kacem Chebbi House & Memorial – A memorial to Abou el-Kacem Chebbi, the national poet and author of the lyrics to the Tunisian national anthem. It displays his life story…

Where to eat

• Le Minaret Ferkous – Courtyard restaurant beside the Ferkous Mosque, known for lamb dishes and chakhchoukha. It ranks near the top of Tozeur…
• Restaurant Le Soleil – Affordable long-standing restaurant on Avenue Chebbi, famous for Berber camel couscous and clay-pot stews.
• Tizouros Oasis Restaurant – Community-cooperative restaurant that opened in 2023, using oasis produce to prepare traditional and creative dishes. I…
• Les Arcades – Courtyard restaurant on Habib Bourguiba Avenue with a quiet, romantic atmosphere. Its lamb and camel meat are well rega…

Itineraries

• Tunisia Classic North-South Loop – Head south from Tunis to the oases and the Sahara, then return north via El Jem, connecting major World Heritage sites.
• Southern Fortresses & Sahara 7-Day Itinerary from Djerba – Starting and ending in Djerba, explore fortified granaries, Ksar Ghilane desert camp, Douz, and Tozeur Oasis.
• In-Depth Tunisia: From the Mediterranean to the Sahara – Explore the north and the Sahel by train, rent a car to head south, and finish with a flight out of Djerba Island.