Tunisia in September

[R1200GSA]

Going to Tunisia in late September this year for 3-4days as thats all the time I will have once I have got down to the Med and back from the UK. Just me on the GSA and my camping gear.

Main point is to visit the grave of my Uncle who lies in the Military War Grave at Medjez-el-Bab which is about 45k outside Tunis and to have a look around the nearby area, see if I can find the battlefield where he fell and maybe have a day on the coast as well.

So, any info anyone can give me about ferries, Tunisian customs, bike insurance, campsites etc would be extremely helpful,

I have been searching the internet and it looks like Marseille or Genoa are the best ferry points but I am certainly open to advice.

Regards Dave

[strimstrum]

Dave

Posted an answer to your thread on UKGSER site Tunisia in September - ::. UKGSer.com .::

[Chris Scott]

Hi Dave, you're right about ferry points. Book with Southern Ferries in SW1.

Some immigration info here: Sahara Overland ~ Tunisia travel information

Chris

[R1200GSA]

Many Thanks to you both

It's much appreciated

[kevinrbeech]

Hi Dave,
There's not many campsites in the north, there is one in Nebeul, not a long trip from the ferry. Don't display a GPS on the way in, just stick it in your pocket. Roads are fine, towns are a bit risky in the centre, out of town just be aware, but then a biker is normally pretty switched on anyhow.
Navigation is easy, so is getting on with people, most signs are in English, many people speak it.
I've travelled from both Genoa andf Marsielle (in a 4x4) from UK Genoa was a long-haul, for me it wasn't worth the money that I saved.
I guess you'll have a cabin (24 hours on board). If you like to eat three meals in the day go up to the waiter restaurant, and book complete, you'll get three relaxed meals, served, and cheaper than the self-serve without the half-hour of queuing. You can do the temp vehicle import and immigration on the boat, speeds it all up when you get ashore.
You may find some more of interest on my site Home page please ask if you want more specific question answered.
Kevin

[POB/London]

Pan-Med 2004

Some old info there.
Sorry, links are a little unreliable but I have no time to fix, for now.
Main site Pan-Med 2004

HTH, enjoy your trip, Tunisia is a lovely place on a bike...
If a little small.

[R1200GSA]

Thanks for all the hints and tips guys. these are the things that make a difference.

Had a few changes since my original post, main one being that my 14yr old son will now be coming along. This is good as his school have given authorised absence for 2 weeks and I will spend more time on our visit.

Booked up with Southern Ferries as advised. Going out from Genoa on 28th Sept and back to Marseille on 7th Oct. Got a cabin too for the two of us. I must say that this is not the cheapest ferry crossing I have ever had but with the fixed two weeks off school I need to maximise our time in Tunisia.

After going to the cemetary at Medjez we are planning on getting down to the Sahara edges and visiting Ksar Ghilane via the so-called pipeline road. Sounds interesting. Will end up doing a big loop back to Tunis along the coastal roads visiting places like Matmata and El Jem on the way.

So, it should be a great mixture of family history, modern history and Roman
history plus some spectacular scenery and experiences.

Roll on September !

Any more info still gratefully received though........

Dave

[GavinF]

Plenty to see and do in Tunisia, great little country.
Good first stop is Camping Samaris. Across the roundabout when you come off the motorway at Hammamet (not H Nord, the next one). Hard ground for camping, but cheap rooms.
Routable map from Free Tunisia Garmin Map is really brilliant.
Pipeline road is all tar, but there is a couple of hundred metres across sand into Ksar Ghilane. There are various pistes off the road, so you can try some desert travel (especially if you have the map). It's a small country so no real fear of being seriously lost.
Try a night in a troglodyte hotel in Matmata. You'll get a Star Wars tour for a few dinkums, but you'll have to pay extra for the museum entry. Not worth the money, but has to be done. You'll enjoy the road up.
A night in the ksour courtyard at Metamur is an experience. Food at the cafe is great (and it has better toilets - still not good, just better).
Then there's Chott el Jerid, Tozeur and the red train and the area near Algeria, Jugartha, El Jem and other Roman and earlier ruins. And the whole of the north which is quiet and scenic.
You'll need weeks and weeks.

[R1200GSA]

Thanks Gavin,

Will have a go at getting the map into my Zumo when I get home this evening, that should keep me out of trouble for a few hours,

Best regards
David

[cecca]

Hi,


I was in Tunisia last spring, no custom problem but the procedures take 2/3 hours.



Mountain oases (Tameghza, Mides, Chebika) are other places that worth a visit along with Rommel piste where you can have a great view.


Good food, good people, small country but a lot of places that "must" be seen.

[R1200GSA]

Thanks for the advice Cecca, I am going on CTN lines from Genoa and understand that clearance is done on board the vessel whilst in transit.

Was this your experience?

Gavin - got the map into my Zumo last night - Cheers

Regards Dave

[cecca]

Hi,

I am sorry but I have no experience with CTN lines.

I was on Grimaldi and back on GNV lines, and no clearance on board.

CTN, as Tunisian line, it's likely clearance is done on board.

Regards Fabrizio

[kevinrbeech]

CTN - clearance is done on board, make sure that you have all your documents on you, I guess, if you're on a bike then you will anyhow, I've known people to leave them in the car though.
You may have to queue for a couple of hours but as you're on the boat for many hours it'll keep you occupied for a while.
Booking to eat "complete" at the table service restaurant is a good deal, basically it is Full Board. The food is very Tunisian but last time I went (2006/7) it was 24.5 euros per person, the same is easily spent in the self service, however, the quality and quantity are nothing likethe same.
If you or the lad are fussy eaters then stick with the self-service. If you do go for complete then get there early to make the reservation or you'll be on the second sitting.
Places not to overlook, Dougga, El Kef, Termersa (fantastic waterfall) Douz, the market square has a good atmosphere (Hotel March 20 is excellent and cheap).
For a good ride - winding roads, from the coast road which is generally heavy with lorries going to Libya, head for Matmata then Beni Kedech, from Beni Kedesh there is a piste (unsurfaced) which joins the Pipeline piste (now surfaced) to Ksar Ghilane. If you don't want to take the coast road that far south, then Head for El Hamma, the pipeline piste starts there and is not surfaced until it crosses the Matmata to Douz road. From Douz you can take a piste, completely unsurfaced and with fresh dunes almost daily, to Ksar Ghilane, it starts at the new (in 2008) camel station to the right of the showground, passes through a small village and then into the dunes, it is well used so you'll not be alone for too long.
Kevin
Oh, don't have the GPS visible on the bike on entry, if you have it stamped into the passport this can take some time, if you don't declare it and they see it, it will cost money. Best bet is to hide it from view, once out of the port there is a rought bit of land on the right, where you can stop and set it all up.

[tunisiano23]

I am tunisian, I can help you before or when you came here, for any information contact me on msn : tunisiano23@hotmail.com