Djerba Island Things To Do
Djerba offers miles of unspolit Mediterranean coastline. Most hotels have their own stretches of beach and they are clean and well looked after, with plenty of water sports including water-skiing, wind-surfing and jet-skiing. It’s also possible to take a camel or canter on horseback along the sand.
Nightlife
The island of the Lotus Eaters, where Ulysses’ men were tempted to stay forever, is more associated with peace and tranquillity than roaring nightlife, but most hotels offer entertainment and there is Casino Djerba, where visitors can dine, relax in the Moorish café, enjoy a show or gamble all night long.
Golf
Djerba Golf Course features an 18-hole links course, a 9-hole course, a practice green and a golf academy with an air-conditioned video salon to help golfers improve their technique.
Thalassotherapy Treatments
The healing properties of Djerba’s water have long been recognised and there are a number of spas and thalassotherapy centres. As well as massages, luxury hot seawater, mud and seaweed treatments, there are fitness suites, saunas, whirlpool baths and pools, and help for a range of ailments ranging from arthritis to cellulitus. Although most visitors go just to relax and be pampered.
There’s plenty to see away from the Zone Touristique: traditional architecture, small whitewashed houses, olive groves, lemons, apricots, figs and thousands of palm trees. The island’s capital, Houmt Souk, is the only real town and the markets offer a chance to look for a bargain amongst the excellent filigree silver and pottery, as well as leather goods, baskets and much more. The fort, Borj el-Kebir, was occupied by Berbers, Spanish, Turks and pirates, and affords excellent views over the town and sea. A few miles south the beautiful El Ghriba Synagogue is the oldest in North Africa – there used to be a sizeable Jewish community on the island – and the Torah is said to be the oldest in the world. The tiny town of Guellala is famous for its pottery and has workshops where you can see craftsmen in action, an excellent museum and a Pottery Festival each August.
Djerba For Families
If children don’t find pottery particularly exciting, there’s plenty for them around Djerba too, including Midoun’s weekly show, with trick horse riding, and the Djerba Explore Park - home to Nile River crocodiles up to 6 metres in length. Star Wars’ fans may find the island’s scenery familiar. Locations include Ajim, south of Houmt Souk, which became Mos Eisley in the original film.
Mainland Tunisia
Mainland Tunisia is just a three-mile causeway or a short ferry ride away and a holiday in Djerba could be combined with a trip into the Sahara taking in the hill villages and Bedouin cave settlements. In addition, air-conditioned busses run from the island to Tunis, Sousse, Gabés and other mainland destinations.
