Day Trips from Houmt Souk, Djerba

October 31, 2026

Houmt Souk sits on Djerba’s north coast, so the best day trips are the island villages within 20 km, a boat out to the flamingo flats and, with an early start, the mainland to the south. Distances below are approximate road figures.

Erriadh, about 8 km

Erriadh is the village known for Djerbahood, an open-air collection of about 250 murals by more than 150 artists, with editions in 2014 and 2021. The murals are free to see on foot at any time of year, though some have weathered. The village is also home to El Ghriba, an active synagogue and pilgrimage site. Expect checkpoints and ID checks, dress modestly and bring your own head covering. Visiting arrangements change, so check locally. A taxi takes about 10 minutes.

Midoun, about 15 km

Midoun has a market and gives access to the east-coast beaches. If you swim, look for flags, ask locally about conditions and keep children within reach, even where a lifeguard is on duty.

Guellala, about 20 km

Guellala is Djerba’s pottery village. Clay from quarries below the village has supplied potters for centuries, and workshops along the main street fire jars, cooking vessels and decorative plates. The village museum shows dioramas of weddings, circumcision ceremonies and olive oil pressing. Guellala is not a walk from the market, so go by taxi or bicycle.

Ras Rmel by boat

Boats leave the Houmt Souk port or marina for the Ras Rmel sandspit. The sail takes 30 to 60 minutes and a package lasts about six hours, usually with lunch. Flamingos are around from October to May but are never guaranteed. Take sun protection, and treat swimming as your own decision, since calm water and lifeguards are not on offer.

Zarzis, about 50 km

Zarzis lies on the mainland to the south. You can cross by the El Kantara causeway, which is about 7 km long, or by the Ajim-Jorf ferry. In rough weather the ferry queues lengthen, so leave margin on the way back. Louages, the shared minibuses, run from the Houmt Souk station to Zarzis, Medenine, Gabes and Tataouine.

Tataouine and the ksour, 130 to 145 km each way

A long day takes you to the fortified granaries of the south, such as Ksar Hadada and the hilltop villages of Chenini and Douiret, with their stacked storage cells called ghorfas. Use a licensed operator, start early and keep the route away from Ben Guerdane, Remada and Dehiba, which fall inside the UK FCDO warning zones near the Libya border.

Places that are too far

El Djem is roughly 300 km away. Sousse, Monastir, Hammamet and Cap Bon are much farther north on the mainland. None of them works as a day trip from Djerba.

Practical tips

Carry water. Summer heat is severe.
Carry cash in Tunisian dinars (TND), since small cafes and souks rarely take cards.
Agree taxi rates before you set off, or check the meter is running.

Compare organised excursions on Viator . The FCDO advice for Tunisia has the regional map, and the Djerbahood site covers the murals.