Djerba Island & Zarzis Private Day Trip
From $65, a private day around Djerba, with Erriadh, Guellala and Houmt Souk, then the coast of Zarzis. Your own driver takes you from your hotel and back.
Private Day Trip from Your Hotel Around Djerba and Zarzis
This private day trip takes you around Djerba and across to Zarzis on the mainland. You see the painted walls of Erriadh, the potters of Guellala and the market town of Houmt Souk. Then you follow the olive groves to the port of Zarzis. Your driver picks you up at your hotel and drives you back at the end. One fixed price covers the vehicle for the day.
Djerba and Zarzis: An Island Shaped by Its People
Djerba has been settled since ancient times, and every group that lived here left a trace. Zarzis, on the mainland, shares the same olive trees and the same sea.
El Ghriba
El Ghriba, in the village of Erriadh, is one of the oldest synagogues in Africa. It is said to have been in use for more than 2,000 years. Each spring, around the feast of Lag BaOmer, pilgrims come from Tunisia and abroad. Security is strict, and visits depend on the day, so we check before you go.
Djerbahood
In 2014, about 150 street artists from 30 countries came to Erriadh. They painted some 250 murals on the walls of the village, which earned the name Djerbahood. Many works are still there, some faded by the sun. In its lanes, old wooden doors stand next to huge painted faces and letters.
The Potters of Guellala
Guellala, in the south of the island, is the pottery village of Djerba. Its potters have worked the local clay for centuries, making large jars for oil, water and grain. Many workshops still open their doors to visitors, who can watch a jar take shape on the wheel. Near the village, a heritage museum presents the customs of the island.
An Island on the UNESCO List
In 2023, UNESCO listed Djerba for the way its people settled the island. Families lived apart, each in its menzel, a farm house among olive trees and gardens. Small mosques, many built like forts, stood across the land with wells and cisterns. This spread-out way of life still shapes the island today.
Gergis
In ancient times, Zarzis was Gergis, a port of the Roman province of Tripolitania. It was also the seat of a Christian bishop. The town is thought to have faded after the Arab conquest of the 7th century. Its modern life grew back around olive oil, fishing and tourism. Long sandy beaches run north of the town, lined with palm trees and hotels.
A Million Olive Trees
Olive groves cover much of the land around Zarzis, with more than a million trees. The harvest runs from late autumn into winter, and the mills then work day and night. Many families still pick their own trees by hand. The oil of the region is sold across Tunisia and abroad.
The Fishing Port
The port of Zarzis mattered to the Phoenicians, then to the Romans and the Berbers. Today it is a major fishing port of the south, with trawlers and small wooden boats side by side. Come in the morning to see the catch brought ashore. Around the port, workshops repair nets and hulls.
The Roman Causeway
To reach Zarzis from Djerba, the road crosses the sea on the causeway of El Kantara. The Romans first built it in the 2nd century, heaping loose rocks across the shallow water. It has been repaired and widened since, and it is still in use. From the car, you may see flamingos in the shallows.
Your Day Around the Island
The island is flat and the roads are short, so the day has many stops and little driving. The order changes with your hotel's location.
- Pickup at your hotel door, at the time you choose.
- Erriadh: the street art of Djerbahood, and El Ghriba if visits are open that day.
- Guellala: the potters' workshops and the views over the sea.
- Houmt Souk: the souks and lunch in town, paid on the spot.
- Across the El Kantara causeway to Zarzis, its olive groves and fishing port.
- Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Price from Your Departure City
If you stay on Djerba, the price is $65 for the whole private vehicle. Guests from the north pay more because of the long drive south, as the table shows. Each price covers the driver, fuel and tolls. A certified guide costs $50 for the day, for your group.
Price per private vehicle, in US dollars
| Departure city | Price |
|---|---|
| Departure from Tunis or Gammarth | $220 |
| Departure from Hammamet | $195 |
| Departure from Nabeul | $195 |
| Departure from Sousse | $170 |
| Departure city | Price |
|---|---|
| Departure from Monastir | $165 |
| Departure from Mahdia | $155 |
| Departure from Bizerte | $240 |
| Departure from Djerba | $65 |
What the Price Covers
The vehicle and the driver are in the price for the whole day. Entry tickets, if any, and your lunch are paid on the spot.
Included
From Erriadh to the port of Zarzis, your car and driver are booked for you alone.
- Air-conditioned vehicle, driver, fuel and tolls, all private
- Pickup and return at your hotel
Not Included
At El Ghriba and the museums, entry and donations are paid on the spot.
- Entry tickets and donations at religious sites
- Meals, drinks and shopping
- On request: certified guide, $50 per day
Write to us with the name of your hotel, the date and your group size. We reply with the plan for your day and its fixed price. We answer 24/7 on WhatsApp.
Questions About Djerba and Zarzis
Can we visit the El Ghriba synagogue?
Access to El Ghriba follows strict security rules and can change. Your driver checks before you go, and the rest of the day stays the same.
What is Djerbahood?
It is the open-air street art of Erriadh, created in 2014 by about 150 artists from 30 countries. The murals cover the village walls.
Can we buy pottery in Guellala?
Yes. The workshops sell their pieces directly, and you can watch the potters at work before you choose.
Is the trip suitable for children?
Yes. The drives are short and the stops are easy to walk. Tell us their ages when you book.
Do we cross to the mainland?
Yes, for Zarzis. The road crosses the El Kantara causeway, so there is no ferry to wait for.
Going Further from Djerba
Djerba is our closest departure city for the Sahara. Our circuits of two, three and four days leave from your hotel and go to Douz, Matmata, Ksar Ghilane and Tozeur.
