Tunisia 4x4 Offroad Family & Friends Sahara Adventure
OVERVIEW
While winter gray still prevails in Europe, the warm desert season is already awakening in Tunisia, and this is exactly where this 4x4 off-road adventure for families and friends begins.
Between golden dunes, quiet salt lakes, and millennia-old caravan routes, you’ll experience the Sahara as close as hardly anywhere during the Easter holidays. This tour combines real off-road stages with relaxed daily distances, wild camping under the stars with family-friendly accommodations, and the secure feeling of traveling together as a convoy.
For over two decades, this route has been regarded as the original Family & Friends concept of Overcross: a guided 4x4 adventure that gives children space to marvel and adults the freedom to rediscover what real travel feels like.
From the ferry in Genoa through the oases of the south deep into the Sahara, our experienced team accompanies you - with clear navigation, professional off-road guidance, and the calmness that only comes from knowing the desert through many years of experience.
This trip is for everyone who wants more than just a beach holiday: families, groups of friends, beginners in the terrain, but also experienced off-roaders who wish to experience the magic of the Tunisian Sahara in its most original form.
Moderate driving times, regular breaks, shared campfires, and the special Easter moment in the middle of the desert make this tour an experience that will not be forgotten in any stage of life - especially not in childhood.
This family journey combines the lightness of spring in Tunisia with real 4x4 off-road adventure - a tour that gives parents and children space to marvel and has been an integral part of our Sahara program for over 20 years.
What to expect
15-day 4x4 off-road trip from Genoa via Tunis deep into the Sahara
Ferry crossing Genoa-Tunis: approx. 22-27 hrs. (depending on ship & weather)
Family-friendly route with moderate stages of approx. 4-5 hrs. driving time
Terrain mix of asphalt, oasis tracks, salt lake tracks, fine sand & first dunes
Safe introduction to dune driving under the guidance of an experienced guide
Travel time in spring: approx. 22-30 °C during the day, 10-16 °C at night
Accommodation combination of hotels, campsites & wild camps
Wild camping under the Sahara starry sky & relaxed evenings around the campfire
Basic sanitary facilities: simple installations in camps, nature toilet in wild camp
Water & food supply organized through local markets & team logistics
Oasis region Tozeur & visit to the Star Wars filming locations as a tour highlight
Crossing the Chott el Djerid, the largest salt lake in North Africa
Off-road stages around Douz, the "Gateway to the Sahara"
Final days on Kerkennah Island directly by the sea
Convoy safety: radio communication, clear navigation & daily briefing
Medical care reachable depending on the stage approx. 1-4 hrs.
Suitable for beginners, families & light off-road drivers
Minimum requirement: All-wheel drive vehicle, low range recommended (if available)
Original Overcross "Family & Friends" route for over 20 years
After this overview, you will now get a clear impression day by day of how the journey through Tunisia, the oases of the south, and the great dune fields of the Sahara unfolds.
The kickoff begins in the port of Genoa, where all participants meet and the first vehicles roll into the convoy. While the children buzz around the off-road vehicles, the crew ensures a smooth check-in. Once the ferry departs, the adventure officially begins: a first look at the open sea, initial conversations with other families, and the good feeling of embarking on a big journey together.
Facts: Ferry crossing Genoa-Tunis (approx. 22-27 hrs). First night on board in outside or inside cabins. Dinner individually on the ship.
In the morning, the ferry approaches the port of La Goulette - Africa is in front of you. After disembarkation and border formalities, the convoy heads towards Hammamet. The first hotel close to the beach offers everyone the chance to arrive, enjoy the sun, and toast to the coming days together - with refreshing drinks and great anticipation for the desert.
Facts: Asphalt stage Tunis -> Hammamet. Overnight stay at the hotel by the sea.
Today, Tunisia shows itself from its diverse side: coastal region, steppe, mountain ranges. The route leads through historic cities and fertile valleys before the landscape becomes more barren. In Gafsa, we set up our first camp and feel how the pace slows down - a perfect gentle start to the tour.
Facts: Asphalt & trails combined. Campsite Gafsa. Driving time approx. 4-5 hours.
Between mountains, small riverbeds, and green palm fields, we continue south. The region feels like its own microcosm: cool shadow oases amidst dry rocky landscapes. Our destination is Tozeur, one of the most famous oasis cities in Tunisia. Under date palms, we set up our camp and enjoy the special atmosphere of the south.
Facts: Oasis tracks & asphalt. Campsite in Tozeur. Palm grove landscape.
Today it will be movie-worthy: We visit a famous Star Wars set in the desert near Tozeur - a highlight for children, film fans, and photographers. Afterwards, the first 4x4 sand training begins. The guides show step by step how to use tire pressure, maintain momentum, and safely master the first dunes. In the evening, we set up our first wild camp - stars included.
Facts: Sand training & light dune passages. Visit to the filming location. First wild camp night.
The day begins with the crossing of the Chott el Djerid, the largest salt lake in North Africa. White surfaces, reflections, and seemingly endless horizons accompany the journey. Douz, "The Gateway to the Sahara," welcomes us with market stalls, Berber culture, and a quiet camp atmosphere. An ideal place to stock up on supplies and already feel the desert.
Facts: Salt lake track, light off-road passages. Camping site Douz.
After the first intense days, today is deliberately planned as a space to catch your breath. Douz is known for its cleanliness, its quiet town center, and the dunes right at the city limits. Families can take excursions, play in the sand hills, or simply enjoy the oasis air. In the evening, there is enough time to prepare the vehicle for the upcoming Sahara stages.
Facts: Rest day without convoy route. Douz campsite. Restock supplies.
The convoy today is moving deeper into the desert. The reddish-golden dunes around Tembaine are among the most beautiful landscapes in southern Tunisia. With every kilometer, the silence, the air, the light changes. Tembaine itself is a remote place, perfect for stargazing. We set up our wild camp in the midst of this vastness.
Facts: Sand & dunes, off-road level increasing. Wild camp Tembaine.
The morning begins with a small tradition: the search for the desert Easter bunny - for children, one of the unforgettable moments. Afterwards, the route leads through softer sand to the oasis of Ksar Ghilane. There, warm springs, palm trees, and a relaxed camp await for two nights.
Facts: Sand tracks & oasis passages. Camping in Ksar Ghilane. Spring bathing opportunity.
Around Ksar Ghilane, several exciting dune fields await drivers. We explore the surroundings, visit Roman fortress ruins, and test our skills in the sand. The combination of history, desert, and off-road makes this day a true highlight of the trip.
Facts: Dune rounds & historical spots. Camping in Ksar Ghilane.
The convoy leaves the southern dune fields and heads north. Sand and tracks alternate, and the landscape is slowly becoming more open again. The stage is characterized by long sightlines and quiet moments - a transition from the deep Sahara back to the Tunisian steppe.
Facts: Sand & tracks. Wild camping or camp depending on the route. Moderate daily distance.
Today we head towards the coast. The transition from the desert to the sea is one of the most beautiful contrasts of the journey. We take the ferry to Kerkennah Island - a quiet, almost timeless island. The salty sea air feels like a complete scene change after the days in the sand. We set up our camp on the beach.
Facts: Asphalt track + island ferry. Beach wild camping or simple camp on Kerkennah.
A day to enjoy: walks on the beach, small villages, fishing boats, and shallow lagoons characterize the day. The children can play by the water while the adults take in the tranquility of the island. The evening by the sea is one of the most relaxing moments of the entire tour.
Facts: Island stay. Camp/beach camp. No off-road sections.
We leave Kerkennah and head back to the Tunisian mainland. The destination is again Hammamet, where we will spend the last night in a hotel. One more sea view, one more shared meal before returning to Europe the next day.
Facts: Asphalt stage heading north. Hotel stay in Hammamet.
The convoy makes its way to the port of Tunis-La Goulette. After checking in on the ferry, the return journey across the Mediterranean begins. The last night on board offers space for reflection, photos, small farewell conversations, and the good feeling of having experienced a real family adventure.
Facts: Ferry Tunis-Genoa. Return to Italy the following day.
You have the option to rent a 4x4 off-road vehicle directly from us for your Offroad 4x4 trip. Information on costs, equipment, and all other rental terms can be found in our rental conditions .
OVERCROSS has been conducting tours in Tunisia since 2000, the first Family & Friends in Tunisia took place in 2005, and since 2010 (except for the Covid time) we have been in Tunisia every year to conduct our tours there. In individual cases, it may happen that not enough registrations come together for a tour, in which case the tour must be canceled at least four to six weeks before the start of the trip. Since it is important to us that your vacation is a complete success, we are always in regular contact with you in this regard. If a tour has to be canceled, you will of course be refunded the full price.
For an additional charge of around 400€ (including vehicle and cabin on the ferry) per ferry trip, we can book you an individual ferry ticket at your desired time.
We have had children as young as 4-5 years old with us. You know your children best. Some are very travel-friendly, others less so. You know that best. Basically, the parents' adventurous spirit also rubs off on the children.
It’s best if you send us an email with the details about your vehicle. Basically, all-wheel drive is a must! A low-range gearbox and differential locks are not a strict requirement for this tour.
That varies quite a bit, our youngest adventurers were 4-5 years old, the older ones are already in their teenage years. And then there are the big kids behind the wheel - in terms of age, there is no upper limit. 😉
On the ferry, we are accommodated in cabins. We spend the first and last night in Tunisia in a hotel by the sea. During the tour, we will visit various campsites, where there will also be sanitary facilities. We will also be wild camping for a few nights in the desert.
The ferry costs about 1000 euros for a TOYO LC with a rooftop tent; a "height surcharge" is likely to be added. The price includes people and a private cabin.
No, we do not want to offer any "bargain" deals! Customs/harbor fees/tolls in Tunisia, as well as dinners and breakfasts, are all included, so you only need money for the fuel of the off-road vehicle and its driver ;-)
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