Our group had been hoping for a return to Tunisia in Oct 2021. The only reason we have put it off until next year is due to UK putting Tunisia on its 'red' list, meaning two weeks mandatory lock down on return. You will be fine in Tunisia. Many more Tunisians speak decent English than you would expect. Head to Douz which is the gateway to the Grand Erg and very traveller friendly. Even better is Ksar Ghilane oasis. Tiny place but cheap accommodations, swimming in the spring pool and even cold at the cafe. If you want some local support, speak to Ilyes at SaharanSky.

Before you get too far along making plans to visit Tunisia, let me tell you about my experience there last week - it was not at all pleasant.

I entered Tunisia with my Canadian-registered motorcycle, by ferry in March of 2020, before the COVID pandemic began. By April of 2020, COVID had been declared a pandemic, all ferry services to or from Tunisia had been cancelled, and air services had been severely curtailed.

I left Tunisia on April 5 2020, on the one and only repatriation flight that ever operated between Tunisia and Canada. I left my motorcycle in storage in Tunisia - there was no way to export it from Tunisia for any price. The Tunisian government announced that it would grant exceptions to its normal policy that tourists had to take their vehicle out with them when they left.

I returned to Tunisia September 9th 2021 to pick up the motorcycle. Tunisian Customs advised me that I had to pay a penalty of 1,700 dinars (€520, USD $600) because I had left the motorcycle in the country for 17 months. The customs officials were very polite and courteous, and almost apologetic about this... they said that I could appeal the fine, but that the appeal would take several weeks, and I could not take the motorcycle out of the country prior to the appeal. So, I paid the 1,700 dinar fine.

I arrived at the Tunis ferry terminal the next day to catch a ferry from Tunis to Italy. The Customs officials at the port told me that I had to pay an additional fine of 2,200 dinars (€700, USD $800) before I could leave, because my 'circulation permit' that allowed operation of the Canadian-plated motorcycle in Tunisia had expired in May 2020. I explained that the motorcycle had not been used since I left in April of 2020, it had been in storage until yesterday, and I also explained that I had already paid a fine to Customs of 1,700 dinars.

That made no difference, I was told - the 1,700 dinar fine was for a different form of customs violation than the 2,200 dinar fine. I had no choice but to pay the 2,200 dinar fine because the ferry was leaving in 2 hours, and Customs advised me that they would be obliged to seize the motorcycle if I did not pay. So I paid up, getting the money from an ATM that was conveniently located right beside the customs office.

I have no doubt that in each case, the fine was paid to the government, there was no hanky-panky on the part of any of the Customs officials - numerous forms were filled out, official receipts were computer-generated, etc.

So, in short, it cost me 3,900 dinars - about €1,220 or USD $1,400 - to buy back my own motorcycle from the Tunisian government, even though it was impossible for me to have exported it when I left in April 2020, and impossible for me to return to Tunisia prior to September 2021 (the latter being because of Tunisian regulations about entry into the country during the COVID pandemic).

I am very sad and disappointed about the above fines. I'm not the only person who had to leave a vehicle behind when they evacuated at the start of the pandemic - the Customs people told me that there were over 1,000 vehicles left behind in similar circumstances, mostly by French citizens. The government of Tunisia could easily have issued instructions to Customs to waive penalties for people who left during the first stages of the pandemic, but instead, the government has chosen to extract as much money as possible from those visitors.

For the above reasons, I don't recommend that fellow travelers visit Tunisia. The government will simply treat you as a cash dispenser if they have the opportunity to do so.

Michael

You left one letter off a word in the above sentence - it should read "You will be fined in Tunisia."

Go to Morocco instead - the Moroccans know the value of the tourist industry to their country.

Michael

Sorry to hear that retrieving your bike from Tunisia was so costly.
But at least you have it back now and can put it behind you.
The Tunisian economy hit dire straits following the self-immolation which kicked off the Arab Spring. Add terrorist attacks on ‘costa’ tourist resorts and now Covid, and I suppose the government is looking at any means to rake in some money.

For me Tunisia was never the jewel in the North African crown but – same as anywhere – as long as one doesn’t break the rules (or be forced to do so, as you were) a visit ought to be trouble-free.

I agree, Morocco has so much more to offer, but if you’re from central or Eastern Europe, Tunisia looks nearer for a bit of desert sun.

__________________
Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

Hello everyone.

New to the forum and very happy to have found a current ( somewhat ) thread on Tunisia. A small group of friends are planning a trip to Tunisia in late March 2022. We will be travelling across from the Port of Marseille to Tunis.

I have been to Tunisia by motorcycle twice both times being in the Optic Rally and Oil Libya Rally, so all formalities were carried out by organizers. We were originally planning to head to Morocco however its closure doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.

I wondered if anyone had any recent information on the vehicle insurance offices in Tunisia or any changes in general procedures for the Ferry document processing?

We are all aware of the Covid requirements and we meet those requirements, all bikes are European registered and carry European licenses. We are all experienced off road ( desert motorcyclists) and we all have international exposure and experience.

Any pertinent information would be greatly appreciated.

See this post, which provides details about how I obtained insurance in Tunis to cover me when I was riding in Tunisia in 2019: Tunisia vehicle insurance?.

The port authorities were not at all concerned that I didn't have insurance when I arrived at the port - in fact, the officer in charge told me to just ride downtown and buy the insurance the next day. I did just that, and it took several hours at the big insurance company office to get the insurance... I think that not too many visitors actually buy insurance. I think that there might be an insurance booth at the port, but it was not open when I arrived on the ferry.

Be aware that the premium you pay will be based on the value of the motorcycle you declare, even though the insurance you get is (for the most part) liability only. So don't overstate the value of your motorcycle.

Lastly, you might want to read my post earlier in this same thread about the customs penalties that I had to pay when I returned to pick my motorcycle up. Here's the link: post #30, above. I won't ever be returning to Tunisia.

Michael

Hi Michael, Thanks so much for your reply, I had indeed read both your posts in regard to you experience gaining insurance and paying fees for your impounded bike prior to Posting my request. Your reply is greatly appreciated. Wish you the best travels.

Don't know the context but there it is.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail