Motorcycle trips through Tunisia: New Year's Eve in the Sahara

On the first day, we set off from Tübingen towards the ferry port in Genoa. There we meet the participants who have brought their motorcycles to the port independently. At 15:00 (two hours before departure), we gather at the ferry terminal. Each participant receives prepared entry and customs forms from us, as well as tickets for the ferry and the cabins. We have plenty of time to load the remaining motorcycles onto the trailer for the crossing and store the luggage in the support vehicle. The scheduled departure of the ferry is always set for 17:00, however, we also take into account Tunisian time, so it is rather around 19:00 when the ferry departs. Nevertheless, we recommend all participants to be at the ferry port at least two hours before departure (i.e. at 15:00) to leisurely complete all formalities. After we settle into our cabins, we meet for dinner and discuss plans for the next day as well as the further stages.

After a cozy breakfast, we come together for the tour briefing and a small surprise that your tour guide has prepared for you! During the briefing, we will talk about riding techniques, the course of the tour, and the individual capabilities of the participants. Often, some have concerns that due to their riding skills, they might hold up the group. But usually, it is exactly these participants who end up riding at the front ;-) On this trip, you, like all the other participants, will learn a lot about enduro riding and traveling. The theory begins right at the crossing of the Mediterranean! In the afternoon, we reach Tunis. After a swift processing at the ferry and customs, we make our way to our accommodation in Hammamet (about 70 km). There we will meet the participants who flew in on Saturday or Sunday and were brought from the airport shuttle to our hotel. After a hearty dinner at the hotel, we will conduct the tour briefing, match the equipment, and provide participants with all further information for the upcoming tour day.

Today we leave luxury behind. The motorcycle group travels on a connecting stage on paved roads past the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to Tozeur. There, after a long day of riding, we set up our first campsite. Our camp is located in the middle of a beautiful palm grove above Tozeur, from where we can enjoy a fantastic view over the Chott el Jerid. Since we arrive in Tozeur only in the late afternoon, we have just enough time to cook together and enjoy a beer or two before we crawl exhausted into our tents and dream of tomorrow when we will ride through the sand for the first time.

Today's route is rather short at about 60-70 km, but perfect for getting a first feel for riding in Tunisian sand. The sand loop takes us to the old Star Wars filming location Mos Espa and offers a moderate level of difficulty that gives us a taste of the coming days in the desert. Here we do a small sand training session to prepare for the most challenging dune passages of the Sahara. Couch potato was yesterday, adventure starts now! On our way back to Tozeur, we ride along a fascinating and scenic route that follows the Chott Er Rahim, a lake that lies 17 meters below sea level. Back in Tozeur, we still have enough time to enjoy a coffee or tea in town before returning to camp. As every evening, we cook together and make a campfire to relax and end the day peacefully.

Today we have a longer route ahead to reach the oasis town known as the gateway to the Sahara in the afternoon. We ride on an approximately 80 km long sandy track at the edge of Chott el Jérid. And we cross the approximately 7000 m² salt flat depending on the season and rainfall. Upon arriving at camp, we set up our tents at the edge of a palm grove, where we will spend two nights. A perfect vacation day awaits us with showers, camping under palm trees, and a hearty dinner by the campfire.

Today you have a free day. You can use this day to visit the traditional market that takes place on this day or simply vegetate in the hammock and gather strength for the coming days. We use this rest day to stock up on supplies and fill the motorcycles and reserve cans with fuel. Ready for race, ready for the next days, to survive independently in the desert!

Today we begin our five-day expedition into the Sahara and will be completely autonomous. Depending on the size of the group, the motorcycle size, weather conditions, and the riding skills of the participants, we will adjust the exact course of the coming days. If the group’s riding skills are sufficient, there is the possibility to ride to the Lost Lake, Lac Houidhat Erreched. This complex of thermal springs is about 90 km in straight line from Douz and is not easy to reach. The days in the Tunisian desert will bring us closer together as a group: shoveling, riding, tipping over, getting up, accelerating, and experiencing the vastness of the Sahara. These days will certainly offer the most impressive experiences that we can reflect on in the evening at the “1000 Star Hotel” under the open sky. This is pure freedom and an adventure for every enduro rider.

Depending on how well we have progressed in the previous days, we have planned this day as a buffer. If everything goes according to plan, we will ride today on sandy rocky tracks to Matmata and spend our last night in this beautiful mountain village. In the nearby restaurant, we can enjoy the eastern Tunisian specialties once more before we have to start our long journey back to Hammamet tomorrow.

Today we set off to make our way back north. The long connecting stage leads us towards Hammamet. Although the route is paved and can be monotonous, we are fortunately accompanied by the wonderful memories of the past days that keep our spirits up. In the afternoon, we reach our hotel in Hammamet, where we can enjoy the contrasting program between palm trees, pool, and sea. It is a welcome change from the adventures in the desert and gives us the opportunity to relax and reflect on the journey.

Every adventure eventually comes to an end, and so today we sadly make our way back to Tunis to say goodbye to this versatile country at the La Goulette ferry port. For the participants who are flying back from the New Year's tour, an airport shuttle will be organized. For those who continue by ferry, it’s “Board the ferry” and off to the bar :) Au revoir Tunisie et à la prochaine!