Tunisia
Tunisia is a North African country, which is situated in the heart of the Mediterranean and nestled between Algeria and Libya. A diverse country of old and new, Tunisia offers the world's travellers some sumptuous modern seaside resorts set side by side with a treasure trove of ancient Roman, Arab, Berber and Phoenician sites.
The legendary and ancient city of Carthage was built in the eighth century BC and is situated just a few miles north of the capital of Tunisia. By contrast Tunis is a hustling, bustling modern metropole where steel, glass and palm trees form the backdrop to streets filled with fast-moving yellow taxis. In the heart of this surprisingly pristine city, however, the centuries slip away in the medieval Medina, a haven for souvenir hunters with hundreds of narrow streets crammed with vendors of antiques, jewellery, pottery, carpets, perfumes, dried fruit, books, spices and many other delights. Also, no tourist should miss a visit to the Bardo Museum in the city for the joy of viewing one of the world's greatest collections of Roman mosaics.
Luxury Tunisia holiday resorts include Nabeul and Hammamet which are situated amidst citrus orchards on the thousand miles of coastline in the north. Vacationers relish the sandy beaches and crystalline waters along the waterfront, where the only alternative to lazy bronzing is to indulge in a round of golf or take the plunge with some water sports.
The Sahara desert begins in the south of Tunisia and boasts some interesting geographical features like the 'forest in the desert' at Ramada, the dry salt lake at Chott el Jerid, or the remote 'end of the road' oasis at Ksar Ghilane.
The exceptionally well-priced tropical holiday resorts in Tunisia also offer a warm and friendly welcome from the Tunisian inhabitants. This is evidenced in even the smallest of villages, where if you happen to pass through during one of the numerous summer festivals you will be welcomed, urged to join in and find yourself dancing and sharing a cup of tea.
Tunisia offers sun kissed beach holidays, an array of archaeological gems, lazy days and balmy nights. The burgeoning of Tunisia's holiday resorts is a consequence of European sun-seekers having tired of the crowded beaches on the northern Mediterranean coast and islands. Just two and a half hours' flying time from the UK, holidaymakers have discovered that Tunisia, the little North African country with a big heart, is blessed with a stunning coastline where wide sandy beaches are gently lapped by the Mediterranean. To add to the charm the country also boasts the mysterious and magical Sahara desert, an abundance of historical sites, intriguing cuisine, and a modern infrastructure providing all the comforts of home and then some.
The Tunisian Riviera is about eight hundred miles to the south of Tunisia's capital city of Tunis and is home to many luxury resort towns, including Hammamet, Port El Kantaoui, Sousse and Monastri (Skanes). The strip is bursting with attractive hotels and apartment blocks, and is fast becoming known as one of the best value destinations in the Mediterranean.
