THE ISLAND OF DJERBA

Located in the gulf of Gabes , Djerba is also called the Island of Lotus-Eaters . In Homer's Odyssey, Ulysses recounts how his seafaring warriors were driven by winds to the shores of the land of the Lotus-Eaters. There, the locals fed them lotus flowers and they became addicted, forgetting all thoughts of returning home.

The Size of Djerba is about 500 km² and the highest point does not exceed 52 meters. Well known for its white sanded beaches, the Island had a big tourist boom. With more than 100 hotels you will surely find one for happy holidays.

Houmt-Souk is the capital of the Island . Known for the typical markets (Monday and Thursday) you will find in the middle of this little town the covered souks (market) with various souvenir like leather, pottery or old silver jewellery

Don't miss to visit the harbour in Houmt-Souk and take time to enjoy a traditional tea, Turk coffee and smoke a hookah in a typical « café maure ».

Next to the harbour in Houm-Souk you will sea the fortress “Ghazi Mustapha” also named the Spanish or Turkish Fortress. This little castle testifies of the bloody fights between the Spaniard and the Turks. In 1560 the privateer DRAGUT surprised the Spanish troops and dismissed them out of Djerba.

The legend says that Dragut killed 5000 Spanish soldiers and build a tower with their skulls and bones. This tower called by the insulars “Borj Erous” was destroyed in 1848.

 

The village of Guellala is the pottery centre of the island. The main street of the present-day village is still lined with potters' shops offering their wares to tourists. The museum of Art and Tradition was built on the highest hill of Djerba in Guellala. You will discover the traditional houses from the Island called “Menzels” and the ancestral habits of the population.

Thanks to some reserves of water, the village of Mahboubine is the only oasis on the Island . In those private gardens with luxury vegetation, you will find thousands of date palms, lots of olive-trees, pomegranate-trees and citrus fruits. The rest of the Island has a half-desert climate and the water is coming in pipelines from the continent along the “Roman causeway”.

In the South the Roman causeway connect the Island to the continent. Ajim situated in the West is a fishing port and a ferry joins the continent.

Midoun is the second biggest town on Djerba and very close to the hotels zone. Every Friday the big traditional market is an attraction for every one.

Djerba is also home to one of the largest Jewish populations in North Africa , and thousands visit each year on pilgrimage. The island's synagogue, the El Ghriba in Erriadh, is one of the oldest in the world, dating back over 2,000 years.

MEANS OF TRANSPORT

Taxi is the easiest mean of transportation and they are very cheap. Every cab has a taximeter and fix prices. The inconvenient is that they are not allowed to leave the Island .

You will also find car rentals in Houmt-Souk and Midoun.

In each hotel you can hire bikes or vespas.

SPORTS

If you want action during your holidays you will have lots of possibilities :

     Scuba diving

     Kite surfing

     Wind surfing

     Catamaran

     Golf

     Horse riding

     Quad                

TOURS IN THE SOUTH OF TUNISIA

The Island is a starting point for many tours in the South. If you are an adventurer so take a tour in 4X4 and spend the night in the Sahara in a nomad tent.

On the other hand if you want more comfort you will have the opportunity to reach the beginning of the Sahara in one day by bus.