| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 28/08/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 55 |
| Copyright: Other |
Product round-up by Jane Archer
Visit the Sahara and see the stars
Aside from its sandy beaches, Tunisia also offers sports, spas and desert safaris
TUNISIA has more than 700 miles of sandy coast and its biggest selling point is its beach resorts, especially in summer when temperatures are pushing 30C and clients want to relax round a pool, soaking up the sun.But the destination also has a lot of history and culture, not to mention the Sahara Desert around Tozeur and Douz, and the troglodyte village of Matmata. Several operators also offer day trips or overnight excursions into the desert. Our guide will help you to offer clients the best of what Tunisia has to offer, from beaches to spas:
Golf
Tunisia might not seem an obvious choice for golfers but it has some good courses and green fees – from £19 a round at the Golf de Carthage near Tunis – that are nearly half the price of those in Spain.
Panorama Holidays sales and marketing director Martin Young said: “The courses are not international standard but they are ideal for amateurs.”
The Golf Citrus course, in the resort of Hammamet Yasmine, is designed around six lakes and 430 acres of olive trees and forest, and provides two 18-hole, 72-par championship courses.
Next to Golf Citrus is the Yasmine. It has an 18-hole, 72-par course with twin lakes and enough rough to test experienced golfers.
Panorama features seven 18-hole courses in El Kantaoui, Hammamet, Tabarka and Tunis with packages at £115 for three days and £179 for five days. The price includes two hours’ tuition per day, free club hire and balls.
Cadogan also offers golf packages. Managing director Gary David said: “It’s a small market for us but once people have tried it once, they return.”
Desert safaris
The Sahara desert covers nearly all of the southern half of the country and is a great place to spend a few days.
The landscape is famous as the film set for the Oscar-winning movie The English Patient, while the troglodyte village of Matmata was last seen in Star Wars, the Phantom Menace.
The ‘capital’ of the desert is Tozeur, which is famous for its dates and fancy brickwork. It is here that desert safari operators overnight their guests as it is a good base from which to explore the oases and crystallised salt lakes. Hotels tend to be around the three-star level but are comfortable.
While visitors can explore on their own, it is not advisable to for them to try to navigate the Sahara alone. Four-wheel-drive vehicles and guides can be hired; alternatively, several operators offer four-day excursions similar to the itinerary Airtours will be offering next summer, priced at from £150 per person.
Day one on the Airtours’ excursion will visit the city of Kairouan in the morning, moving to the spectacular Roman amphitheatre El Djem – which is better preserved than the Colosseum in Rome and where gladiators once battled to the death – and Sfax in the afternoon. The overnight stop is in Gabes.
Day two will include the cave dwellings at Matmata, lunch at Douz, where a camel market is held every Thursday, and the shimmering Chott El Jerid salt lake. The night is spent in Tozeur.
Day three includes the Tozeur oasis and the Red Lizard tourist train through the Seldja Gorges. Day four allows time in Tozeur before returning to the hotel. Travel throughout is in four-wheel-drive land cruisers.
Panorama includes a camel ride in its four-day desert safari, which costs £139 per person in its winter programme, while Cadogan has a three-day itinerary for about £129.
Spa hotels
Tunisia has a number of thalassotherapy centres which use hot saltwater treatments combined with mud or seaweed, massage and physiotherapy to relieve the stresses and strains of everyday life, and also help sufferers of rheumatism and arthritis.
The largest, Bio Azur, in the five-star Royal Azur Hotel in Hammamet, has two saltwater pools together with Turkish baths and also a general fitness centre.
It also offers anti-stress treatments, shiatsu massage and a beauty centre.
There is also a thalassotherapy centre at The Residence in the upmarket Tunis suburb of Gammarth, and the Hasdrubal Thalassa Hotel in the new Yasmine Hammamet resort.
Both the Royal Azur and Hasdrubal Thalassa hotels feature in Sovereign’s new Tunisia programme from £439 and £729 per person respectively for seven nights’ bed-and- breakfast accommodation.
The Abou Nawas Boujaafar Hotel in Sousse specialises in anti-stress and slimming treatments. The hotel offers vitality weekends, golf and thalassotherapy packages.
Beach resorts
Most UK operators focus on the resorts of Hammamet, Port El Kantaoui – these two are the most popular with families – Sousse and Skanes.
All have long beaches and resort-style accommodation to cater for every taste and budget. They are all within easy reach of Monastir Airport – Hammamet is the furthest away, with an 80-minute transfer.
Most of the hotels are typical resort-style three and four-star properties but there is also a growing selection of all-inclusives.
These feature in summer and winter sun programmes but also in dedicated all-inclusive brochures from operators including Thomson and JMC.
JMC offers the three-star Hotel Dar Khayam from £369 per person for seven nights next April. The price includes meals, wine, local beer, soft drinks, water sports, land-based sports and entertainment.
Panorama has four properties in an all-inclusive section in its Tunisia brochure. Each page states clearly what is included.
Sales and marketing director Martin Young said: “The standard of Tunisia’s all-inclusive hotels is improving all the time but some are more inclusive than others.”
Panorama offers the three-star-plus Caribbean Village Abou Sofiane in Port El Kantaoui this winter from £335 each for seven nights with meals, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, activities and the Little Village Club for children aged four-12 years.
First Choice offers the three-star all-inclusive Hotel Houda Beach Club in Skanes next summer from £445 per person for seven nights.
Other beach resorts in Tunisia include Mahdia, less than an hour from Monastir Airport, and the island of Djerba, featured by Panorama Holidays.
Diving
Scuba diving is available at the resort of Tabarka, located on the northwest coast, about three hours’ drive from the city of Tunis.
Diving schools have qualified instructors offering beginners courses and equipment for hire.
Beginners start scuba diving in the swimming pool and then move to the sea where shoals of grouper fish are the main attraction.
Experienced divers can explore tunnels, caves and wrecks. Visitors are recommended to pre-book scuba diving excursions in high season as the schools get busy.
Diving packages are offered by Aquatours (020-8398 0505).
Health drive:many hotels in Tunisia offer spa treatments
Ticket to ride: Airtours will feature a camel market in its desert excursion, which is new for next year
Golf
Tunisia might not seem an obvious choice for golfers but it has some good courses and green fees – from £19 a round at the Golf de Carthage near Tunis – that are nearly half the price of those in Spain.
Panorama Holidays sales and marketing director Martin Young said: “The courses are not international standard but they are ideal for amateurs.”
The Golf Citrus course, in the resort of Hammamet Yasmine, is designed around six lakes and 430 acres of olive trees and forest, and provides two 18-hole, 72-par championship courses.
Next to Golf Citrus is the Yasmine. It has an 18-hole, 72-par course with twin lakes and enough rough to test experienced golfers.
Panorama features seven 18-hole courses in El Kantaoui, Hammamet, Tabarka and Tunis with packages at £115 for three days and £179 for five days. The price includes two hours’ tuition per day, free club hire and balls.
Cadogan also offers golf packages. Managing director Gary David said: “It’s a small market for us but once people have tried it once, they return.”
Learn to play: amateurs will enjoy the courses offered in Tunisia
Sousse:renowned for its beaches and resort accommodation