I am a 4 wheel driver, not a 2 wheel. However, I am looking for information on Tunisia and am hoping to find some answers here.

We are thinking of traveling from Sicily to Tunisia with our U.S. made Toyota 4Runner. Note: we have taken our 4Runner to Australia (5 months), Singapore (1 month), Malaysia (2 months), India/Nepal/India (5.5 months), and Italy 2+ months. I have also driven from U.S. to Panama (5 months), Japan (rental car), Trinidad (work truck), etc.

Questions for those who have traveled with a car to Tunisia:

1) It is my understanding that a carnet is not required for Tunisia. Is this correct?

2) It is my understanding that my U.S. driver's license is useable in Tunisia. Is this correct?

3) Should we stay only at airbnb, hotels, etc. that have secure parking or is street parking safe for our 4Runner?

4) Are gas stations easy to find or should we carry extra gasoline? (We have 40 liter spare container capacity with our 4Runner.)

5) Anything else we should know about taking a vehicle into and out of Tunisia?

1. Carnet is not required.
2. I dont know (IMO getting an international driving licence is a good idea).
3. During the day you can park everywhere. During the night it is like everywhere in the world: some places are safe and some are not.
3. Gas stations are everywhere except the desert but even there you should be ok with your spare container.
4. If you are going in 4x4, you can not miss to drive across the Grand Erg Oriental and its dunes (https://youtu.be/zXEqSr2ZeVM) Just hire a guide to get authorisation for the desert and some support.

__________________
www.globerider.pl

Is insurance required and if yes, where does one obtain car insurance?

There will be an office in the port as you get off the boat.
Queue > Police > Customs (TVIP) > change money > buy insurance > drive out.

Send us an update as I've not done it for years.

Tom:

Yes, your American driver licence will be sufficient to allow you to drive in Tunisia, but don't expect to find anyone there who is familiar with a Texas DL, or knows how to read the (English language) fine print on it. Hence, you need an IDP.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a translation of your home driver licence into numerous different languages, including French and Arabic, both of which are spoken in Tunisia.

For sure, spend the $20 at an AAA office (or via their website) to get an IDP. You can get away without it in places like Canada, the UK, maybe even Germany or Switzerland, but it would be imprudent to visit "lesser developed countries" such as Tunisia without an official translation of your home driver licence - and that is exactly what an IDP is, it is an internationally recognized and accepted translation of your home driver licence.

Michael

Little to be lost getting an IDP I suppose (I'd get one for trans-continental), but in all my years of travel in North Africa no cop/etc has ever asked to see my driving license like they do when hiring a vehicle or back home when you get pulled.

In North Africa your passport's entry stamp + temporary vehicle import permit (TVIP) and maybe border insurance are what counts, and are all recognised by locals.

you are good to go with your Texas DL, cops in Tunisia have seen it many times as a lot of Tunisians living in the US and holding a US DL are coming back every summer and they do drive with it.

have a nice trip

Very interesting thread!
I often take vacation around Christmas/New year and looking for interesting places where to I can bring and ride my motorcycle in nice weather for 2-3 weeks without spending a fortune. I have been in southern Spain a few times and to Morocco two times with beautiful riding weather so far. I love Morocco! Now I am thinking about Tunisia next Christmas if it is safe enough. Is Tunisia similar to Morocco or does it have their own culture and traditions?
I really hope that more of North Africa will open up for motorcycle vacations.

Anders.J

Hi,

"Now I am thinking about Tunisia next Christmas if it is safe enough. Is Tunisia similar to Morocco or does it have their own culture and traditions? "

Yes Tunisia is safe enough to travel, just don't go near Algerian border near Kasserine (se map: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/co...isie/#securite)
I've been there October 2016 without any problem and since the situation had improved.
Tunisia is different than Morocco but both are North Africa countries!
Have a nice trip,
RR.

Remember Ben Guerdane just before the Libyan border?

Interesting article

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ben-g...-moncef-kartas

Hi Anders:

Your thoughts - and your travel experiences in Morocco - are identical to mine. I just finished a month in Morocco in February 2019, and would like to go to Tunisia during the 2019 - 2020 winter.

I've spent a lot of time in Algeria and Libya for work, back in the early 2000s. From that experience I can say that Tunisian culture (and North African culture in general) is similar to Moroccan culture to the same extent that (for example) Swedish culture is similar to Norwegian or Finnish culture, or Canadian culture is similar to American culture. There are broad similarities, but also nuanced differences.

Personally, I suspect that Tunisia is a safe place to visit as a solo rider as long as one exercises good judgement. That's not unlike saying that New York City is a safe place to visit as long as one exercises good judgement.

As you know, Morocco is pretty well policed - the government there is very stable, and the national police and military do a heck of a good job of keeping the place secure for visitors. Tunisia is still in flux, and not as well organized or policed as Morocco - but I believe the Tunisians are trying their best to keep the country secure.

Both the UK and USA foreign offices publish periodically updated maps showing where it is and is not recommended to visit in Tunisia. I think that the USA also publishes maps showing where it is and is not recommended to visit in the cities of New York and Los Angeles as well, if you get my drift.

Maybe our paths might cross next winter.

Michael