A Romantic Desert Stay in Douz

Check the current US State Department and UK FCDO advice before booking. Some border and military areas in the south of Tunisia are closed to tourists, so go into the dunes only with a licensed local operator.

Douz is a working oasis and market town, not a resort. It has no boutique riads, no waterfront and no spa district. What it offers couples is the desert itself: a camel ride at sunset, a night in a camp under a sky free of city light, and slow evenings by a hotel pool. Visit from October to April, when the evenings are comfortable.

Sunset on a camel

Rides leave from the dune fringe south of town. A one-hour ride costs about 30 TND per person and two hours about 60 TND, and prices vary by provider. Go at dusk, when the sand turns orange and the heat eases, and bring a scarf against blowing sand. Ask for a private ride if you want to avoid a group. Look at the camels first, and choose an operator whose animals have water, shade and rest.

A night in the desert

Camps south of Douz and at Ksar Ghilane offer tented stays with a campfire dinner and clear stargazing. Book through a licensed local operator, because deep desert trips pass military zones and checkpoints. Ksar Ghilane has a warm spring you can bathe in, at about 29 C according to operator listings, and it is about 130 to 145 km from Douz, about 2 hours each way. The Ksar Ghilane article lists three campsites, a luxury tented hotel and a guest house, and Campement Yadis is listed on booking sites. Compare desert camps near Ksar Ghilane for prices and reviews.

A slow evening in town

Sun Palm Douz is a hotel with a pool, which is a comfortable place to rest after a day in the dunes. A carriage ride through the palm grove costs about 25 to 35 TND per carriage for 60 to 90 minutes, and the shaded paths beside the irrigation channels are quiet at the end of the day. Public hammams keep separate hours for women and men, and some hotels run a private hammam with massage.

What to skip

There are no sunset dinner cruises, because the salt pan of Chott el Djerid has no water to float a boat. Douz also has no beach. The nearest sea is on Djerba, about 240 km away. Do not pay for a photo with a captive fennec fox, which touts sometimes offer. Captive fennecs are sold to tourists, and keeping one is illegal.

Practical tips

  • Carry cash in Tunisian dinars, since cards work only at larger hotels.
  • Wear closed shoes after dark. Scorpions and horned vipers live in the sand.
  • In summer the heat is extreme, so keep outdoor plans to dawn and dusk.
  • If a sandstorm blows, stay indoors.

Compare hotels in Douz before you choose. The FCDO safety page covers checkpoints and summer heat.

Read more: multi-day trips from Douz and activities in Douz .