Tabarka & Aïn Draham Private Day Trip
From $115, a private day trip to the coral coast of Tabarka and the forests of Aïn Draham. The trip starts at your hotel, at a fixed price per vehicle.
Private Day Trip from Your Hotel to Tabarka and Aïn Draham
This private day trip shows a side of Tunisia that surprises many visitors: green hills and forests. In Tabarka, you see the Genoese fort on its rock, the harbor and the rock needles by the sea. In Aïn Draham, you drive up into the Kroumirie mountains and their oak forests. The driver collects you at your hotel, and the vehicle has one fixed price.
Tabarka and Aïn Draham: Coral, Genoese Traders and Forests
This corner of Tunisia lived from the sea and the forest. Coral brought traders from Genoa, and the mountains later drew settlers looking for cool air.
Thabraca and Its Marble
In Roman times, Tabarka was Thabraca, a colony and a busy port. Its ships carried the yellow marble of Simitthu, brought by road from the quarries inland. That marble decorated buildings as far away as Rome. Simitthu is now Chemtou, in the valley near Jendouba. Today the harbor holds fishing boats and yachts below the old fort.
The Genoese Island
In 1540, the island facing the town was granted to the Lomellini, a family from Genoa. They came for the red coral of these waters and kept a garrison here until 1742. In 1738, many islanders left for San Pietro, off Sardinia, where they founded Carloforte. Their fort still crowns the rock. A causeway now links it to the shore.
The Needles
West of the town, wind and waves have carved tall needles of rock along the shore. People here call them Les Aiguilles. A path runs between them, with views of the fort across the water. Below the surface, the same coast hides the red coral that made Tabarka's fortune. Divers still come for those reefs today.
Exile and Jazz
In 1952, the French authorities sent Habib Bourguiba into exile at Tabarka. He later became the first president of the country. In 1973, the town launched the Tabarka Jazz Festival, which has drawn musicians from many countries. The coral of the coast is still worked here. Shops near the port sell red coral jewelry made by local craftsmen.
A Town in the Mountains
Aïn Draham sits at about 800 meters in the Kroumirie mountains, below Djebel Bir. The French first used it as a military post. In 1930, it became a mountain resort for settlers looking for cool summer air. The red tile roofs of that period still give the town its look. In winter, it sometimes snows here.
Cork Oaks and Wild Boar
Around the town grow forests of cork oak and zeen oak, some of the finest in North Africa. Cork is stripped from the trunks by hand, about once every ten years. Wild boar live in the woods, and hunters come for them in season. Farther south, at El Feija, the Barbary stag has made a comeback.
The Wettest Corner of Tunisia
Aïn Draham holds the rainfall record of Tunisia, with more than 1,500 millimeters a year. That water feeds streams that drop through the hills in small waterfalls, above all in winter and spring. It also explains the green slopes, so unlike the rest of the country. Bring a light jacket, even in summer.
The Khmir Mountains
The mountains take their name from the Khmir, the tribes who lived in these forests. In 1881, France used their raids into Algeria as a pretext to send troops into Tunisia. The Treaty of Bardo followed in May, and the protectorate began. Today the hill villages live from the forest, farming and summer visitors.
Your Day on the Coral Coast and in the Hills
This is a long trip from most hotels, so the day starts early. The roads climb through the hills, with views over the forests.
- An early start from your hotel, at the time we agree together.
- Tabarka: the harbor, the Genoese fort seen from the causeway and the rock needles.
- Lunch break in Tabarka, paid on the spot.
- The road up into the Kroumirie mountains and their oak forests.
- Aïn Draham: a walk in the town and a stop at a viewpoint over the hills.
- The drive home to your hotel in the evening.
Price from Your Departure City
Bizerte is the closest departure city, with a price of $115 for the whole vehicle. From Tunis and the coast resorts, the drive is longer, and the price follows. It covers the driver, fuel and tolls, with nothing added later. A certified guide costs $50 for the day.
Price per private vehicle, in US dollars
| Departure city | Price |
|---|---|
| Departure from Tunis or Gammarth | $130 |
| Departure from Hammamet | $155 |
| Departure from Nabeul | $165 |
| Departure from Sousse | $180 |
| Departure city | Price |
|---|---|
| Departure from Monastir | $190 |
| Departure from Mahdia | $210 |
| Departure from Bizerte | $115 |
| Departure from Djerba | $280 |
What Is in the Price
The price is for the vehicle and the driver over this long day. Any visits with tickets, and your lunch, are paid on the spot.
Included
This is one of our longest day trips, and the whole drive, there and back, is in the price.
- Private vehicle, air conditioning, driver, fuel and tolls
- Pickup at your hotel and return there
Not Included
Most stops on this day are free, so your main extra is a fish lunch by the port.
- Entrance tickets, if any
- Lunch and drinks
- On request: a certified guide at $50 for the day
Write to us with your hotel, the date and the number of people. Our team confirms the trip and its fixed price. We are on WhatsApp 24/7.
Questions About Tabarka and Aïn Draham
Is it cold in Aïn Draham?
It is cooler than the coast all year. In winter, bring a warm layer, as the town sits high in the mountains.
Is this trip too long from Hammamet or Sousse?
It is a long day, with much of the time on the road. If you stay in the north, Tunis or Bizerte make it much shorter.
Can we see the coral of Tabarka?
Coral jewelry is sold in the town shops. To see live coral, you need a diving trip, which is not part of this tour.
Can we walk in the forest?
Yes. Tell your driver, and the driver stops near a trail around Aïn Draham for a short walk.
Is the trip private?
Yes. The vehicle and the driver are for your group only, all day long.
Other Trips in Northern Tunisia
On the way back east, Bizerte and Lake Ichkeul make another good day. Inland, Testour and Bulla Regia, with its houses under the ground, are close to Aïn Draham.
