Living in a tent in Tunisia is an experience. We spent a night in a tent just outside Douz in Tunisia, at the gateway to the Sahara. Here is our story!
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Living in tents in Tunisia - in the Sahara desert
Living in tents in Tunisia, in the desert, is a way to experience the magnificent nature that can only be found in this part of the world. Even though nature is barren here, it's very special. If you want to watch the stars in the night sky in peace and quiet - this is perhaps the best place to do it.

If you want to spend a night in a tent in Tunisia, there are several places to choose from. We stayed with Abdelati outside Douz, where the Swedish Marianne is also involved. We didn't get to meet Marianne, but you can read about life in the desert at Living in the moment and you can also read her fascinating story of how she ended up in the Sahara on the Zitouna Magazine.

Sahara sunset - at our tents in Tunisia
We arrived at "our" tents in Tunisia just before sunset. The first thing we did, of course, was to take our phones and photograph the sunset over the sand. So beautiful!



It is a special feeling to experience the sunset over the Sahara desert. You can't really put it into words, but the experience is magical.


Our guide also made us do some jumps in front of the sunset. Haha, so difficult to jump at the same time. Have you ever tried it?

What is Peter doing in the picture below? He is photographing the sunset I think ...! It was nice!

Bread by the fire
When the sun went down, a fire was lit and we were welcomed to sit down. It was our group (five people), the guys from the camp and a French father and his daughter. Here we got to see how to bake bread - by digging the dough straight into the embers! It's very tasty!

Dinner in the desert
After the good bread, it was time for dinner. The picture shows the waiter and the French girl, who was here with her father.

As often in Tunisia, a whole range of starters were served. First we had cold snacks, including tuna, olives and spicy sauces. This was followed by soup and a classic Tunisian "brick", a small fried pirogue.



The main course was lamb and root vegetables. This also tasted very good!

Evening by the fire - with music and singing
After dinner, we were again welcomed to the bonfire. Now there was not only a fire, but also singing and music. "What are the songs about?", we asked. Well, most of them are about unhappy love and about women who do not want to live with the men in the desert, we were told.

A night in a tent in Tunisia
As night approached, we watched the amazing starry sky. Then it was time to crawl into our tent.

Our tent was wonderfully cosy, yet simple. We had soft carpets, one bed each and a relatively dim light source between the beds.

Toilets were a short walk away, with nice sinks and lighting.

Sunrise in the desert
How we slept in our tent in Tunisia? I (Helena) slept very well, but Peter thought it was cold (as he does quite often). The next morning we woke up early, and went out to see the sunrise. It was a bit cloudy this morning, so we didn't get the best sunrise, but still it was beautiful.

Breakfast at our tent in Tunisia
After the morning photo session, it was time for breakfast. They set the table for us outdoors and the breakfast was actually, despite being relatively simple, the best breakfast during our trip in Tunisia!

We were offered bread baked under the embers, along with butter, soft cheese, marmalade and halva (confectionery eaten in Asia and the Mediterranean region). We were also offered tea, coffee, boiled eggs and dates and fresh fruit. So good!


Departure from our tent in Tunisia - towards new adventures
After breakfast, it was time to leave for new adventures. We were here on a press trip with a guide, a driver and a Finnish travel blogger, and of course we had a programme to follow.
What happened in the picture? Well, the car first got stuck in the Sahara sand, and in order to free it, some air had to be deflated. Then, in order to get going again, the tyres had to be re-inflated!

Film about living in tents in Tunisia
Camping or tenting in Tunisia - another option
Before we end this report, we also want to tell you that there are other options for camping or living in a tent in Tunisia. We looked at a campsite in Douz where you can come with your motorhome or caravan, or car or motorbike with a tent. It is also possible to rent tents, if you book this in advance.

We got a small tour of Camping Desert Club, which looked incredibly nice and well maintained. Here is everything you need as a camper, in the form of water, electricity, the possibility of emptying grey and black water, washing machines and more. The campsite is also within walking distance of the centre of Douz.



More to see and do in the neighbourhood
There's a lot to see and do near Douz! In addition to staying in tents in Tunisia, you can ride a camel or driving a quad bike. It is also great to experience Tozeur, with oases and filming locations for Star Wars. If you want to travel further, we can recommend both Djerba and Tunis. Also, don't miss to try the delicious food of Tunisia!

Have you spent the night in a tent in Tunisia? Or perhaps in another desert destination? Tell us about it!
Daniela | Discovering The Planet says:
Oh how cosy. Being in the desert is a special experience. You seem to have had a fantastic trip with many experiences.
10 November 2021 - 14:17
Helena says:
Agree, the desert is something special!!!
And yes, a nice and memorable journey!
12 November 2021 - 19:34
BP says:
It just gets better and better - your adventure in Tunisia and the Sahara. Absolutely marvellous! The tents are there permanently I guess and you can rent them if needed or? Then you were very lucky - no sandstorm. Oh that bread makes my mouth water.
10 November 2021 - 17:58
Helena says:
We had really great experiences in Tunisia and the Sahara! Yes, the tents are there permanently and you can rent them. I think they are mostly rented through guides. So far I'm not sure what the best contact details are (might update later!), but if nothing else you can contact Marianne who I linked to at the beginning of the post. The bread ... crazy good!!!
10 November 2021 - 19:13
bmlarstravellingblog says:
What a great press trip you have experienced. This is exactly how you want to experience Tunisia. Read about Marianne in the link: what lovely, fascinating people there are!
10 November 2021 - 22:48
Helena says:
Glad you read about Marianne too! Yes, we liked to experience Tunisia this way!

12 November 2021 - 19:36
Lena - good for the soul says:
Wow, what an experience! Great to eat with the natives and hear their music!
We stayed at two tent camps on our last trip. Not in desert landscapes but the savannah though. A real experience too!
Hug Lena
04 April 2022 - 18:23