Description
Hello there,
It’s Kala Jarda and Dianne Chikhaoui here, and we are the team behind the D&H Technique and boutique ‘Taste of Tunisia’ tours. After the outstanding success of our first tour in 2024, we would like to warmly invite you to our second annual ‘Taste of Tunisia in 2025’ workshop, tour and holiday!
About this trip
The tour and workshop begins on September 10 and concludes on September 20, 2025.
We have designed an immersive experience, where you delve into the history, architecture, gastronomy and culture of this exotic country. It is one of the most visited countries in Africa. From its souks (markets) to its golden beaches, its monuments and its excellent cuisine, everything here is tradition, history, light, and harmony. The country is famous for beautiful pottery, ceramics, ironwork and mosaics. As this is Kala’s birthplace, he has an intimate knowledge of the language, traditions, culture and special places. Kala and I spend 3 months in Tunisia every year, and are excited to share with you the special towns and villages of this fascinating country. All this will be at your reach while you stay with us in a beautiful, all inclusive 4 star hotel in Hammamet, Tunisia. There are pools and the beach at your disposal, air conditioning and very comfortable beds in the rooms. The autumn weather in September will be warm to very warm, but not as hot as summer. We will have the services of a professional guide for our trips. Remember however, that Tunisia has had a very turbulent and rich history, and while it has preserved more than its fair share of treasures and incredible places to visit, you will find that there is still much more to do to improve the living standards of many of the locals. Tunisians are renowned for their conviviality and easygoing approach to daily life. This warmth, joined with the country’s renowned hospitality and cuisine, as well as its beautiful beaches, has contributed greatly to Tunisia’s growing popularity as a destination for tourists from throughout Europe, America and Canada. It is a particularly safe country to visit, and tourists are welcomed. Sellers may be at times enthusiastic when selling their wares, but are not usually persistent. A simple ‘no’ suffices if you are not interested. Please visit this incredible country with an open heart and mind, as it is truly an experience like no other!
The first three days
We have chosen the town of Hammamet as a base, as it is very central to all the interesting coastal tourist areas of Tunisia. The hotel has provided the use of a workshop area, where for the first 3 days of the trip, we will be having a private masterclass of mosaics between 9 am and 1pm where we will practise our unique D&H Technique for creating realism in mosaic. We will also offer a class in classical Roman mosaics in marble (with marble provided for you) during the afternoons, between 2pm and 5pm. We will coach you individually so that you can learn cutting, movement, use of colour, and observation of detail. Dianne and Kala will be there to offer suggestions and feedback in order to improve your technique to a very high level. We will prepare you for these classes before the tour with Zoom meetings, so that you are well organised and can bring some tools and materials with you. We will outline what you need in the Zooms well before the tour begins. These meetings also help you make connections with the other people joining us on the tour.
Joining Kala and I on the trip will be Kala’s brother Hamza, who is the mayor of his town in Tunisia, and his wife, Marwa, our lovely sister-in-law, so we have English, French and Arabic covered. There is nothing as good as travelling in a foreign country with locals who speak the language and understand the culture!
About the hotel
The hotel reservation in Hammamet made on your behalf, and included for the trip price, is for check in on September 10 and check out September 20.
The hotel we have reserved is a four star hotel which is bright and modern, and with a Tunisian touch. The staff are particularly friendly and helpful. The Animation Team are excellent at this hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are inclusive at the hotel, as well as all drinks. There are some days where you may need to pay for lunch when we are not at the hotel. However, prices in Tunisia for food are generally very cheap.
The Cost
The package of hotel, all meals at the hotel, drinks, workshop, and transportation is $4150USD = 6470 AUD per participant, double occupancy. Please note that single rooms cannot always be guaranteed. There is a new Tunisian government tax for 2024 that is charged for each night in a hotel now, but this is included in our tour price. Admittance fees, professional guide and transport to sites are also included. The D&H Technique Workshop is included. Food and drinks outside the hotel are not included. Optional rug-making workshop for $100 is not included. Roman mosaic workshop for $450 is not included (may cost less depending on the number of participants). Airfares and airport transfers to and from your country of origin are not included. Tips are also not included.
Optional Room Extras: Room with sea view – $100USD per person for the 10 nights.
Single room with sea view supplement – $600USD for the 10 nights.
Luxury swim up rooms with pool – $400USD per person for the 10 nights.
Single room supplement in swim up room – $600USD for the 10 nights.
Places for this tour are limited. Before you book any flights, please confirm with Kala. Please let us know if you are interested in any of these optional extras ASAP, as they may become booked out fairly quickly in September.
OPTIONAL HOLIDAY EXTRAS:
There may be another 5 day tour (20-25 September) organised for those people that are interested in visiting the south of Tunisia. We plan to visit Tozeur and Djerba, as well as villages between those regions. There needs to be a minimum of 6 participants on this tour for it to go ahead. The cost will be $2300USD. Alternatively, we can organise an extra 4 nights in another all inclusive hotel (Nozha Beach Hotel) in Hammamet where we can rest and relax together, or you can take a taxi to visit other areas of interest. The cost will be $650USD per person all inclusive. If either of these options interest you, please register your interest with Kala.
Payment and Cancellation Policy
An $800AUD deposit per person is required by February 20, 2025 to secure your place. We have had to move this date forward due to great interest in this tour. Note that while the cost of the deposit on our website is $800AUD, it automatically converts to around $500USD, depending on the exchange rate the day. All other currencies will also automatically convert. Full payment is due by July 1, 2025. There will be a link on our site for payment.
Refund or Cancellation Policy:
90 days notice or more we will refund 100% of your payment to date, less a $400USD admin fee.
89-45 days notice of cancellation we will refund 100% of your payment less $500USD admin fee.
Less than 45 days, no refunds, no exceptions, UNLESS there is a government travel ban OR the minimum number of participants is not reached, and the tour cannot go ahead. We urge you to purchase travel insurance that can protect you against any necessary last minute cancellations.
Travel Insurance
It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Please do research to find the coverage that suits you and check out their reviews. We recommend you purchase Trip Cancellation, Medical Evacuation, Baggage, Accident, and Emergency Medical Insurance. There are many insurance companies out there, and it is your responsibility to ask any questions to these operators. Please contact them directly. CF Travel Insured International is one of the largest, with a good reputation. But please find a policy that suits your particular needs. We will not be liable for any additional costs or fees related to the issuance and/or cancellation of airline tickets or other travel arrangements.
Itinerary-Please note: Minor changes may be made to the times and itinerary as necessary.
Day 1, September 10:
Arrive at Tunis-Carthage Airport, then transfer to the Phenicia Hotel, Hammamet. We will give you more information on transfers later. Ideally try and time your flight to arrive after midday. Upon settling in, this will be a leisurely day connecting with Dianne, Kala and other participants. The pools and beach are right there for you to enjoy, with refreshing drinks. Dinner is included and the animation team at the hotel will be there to entertain you.
Day 2, September 11:
7.30am-8.30am: Buffet breakfast
9am-1pm: Workshop (D&H Technique)
1pm-2pm: Buffet lunch
2pm-5pm: Workshop (Roman mosaics)
Snacks and drinks are available all day. The entertainment team provides various activities each day for those not participating in the workshops, or there are the pools and beach to enjoy.
8pm-9pm: Buffet dinner
Evening entertainment
Day 3, September 12:
Same program as Day 2.
Day 4, September 13:
Same program as Day 2.
Day 5, September 14:
7.30am-8.30am: Buffet breakfast
8.45-9.45am: Travel by coach to Sidi Bou Said, the hugely picturesque ‘blue and white town’ with its rustic doors and magenta bougainvillea everywhere. The views in this town are just amazing, overlooking the sea, and it’s worth exploring the main street and some of the surrounding streets to discover its special charm.
10am- 11am: Visit Dar el Annabi. Originally an elegant house built near the end of the 18th century, it was redeveloped as a summer resort for Taib el Annabi. It is now a museum showing the typical Islamic architecture on the outside, and the atmosphere and lifestyle of a traditional Tunisian family on the inside. You will explore the private library, prayer hall, lounges, bedrooms, the Andalusian gardens, and the terraces that offer amazing views of the surrounding landscape and villas.
11.15-12 noon Visit Palais du Baron d’Erlanger. This palace was built on a hill overlookingthe sea in Sidi Bou Said. Built between 1912 and 1922, the palace is notable for for its interesting architecture, inspired by Tunisian traditions with elements of Andalusian, Venetian and Arabic ornamentation. Baron d’Erlanger dedicated his life to preserve Tunisia’s architectural, cultural and musical heritage.
12 noon- 12.45: Walk through the main street of Sidi Bou Said and taste its famous ‘Bambalouni’ (Tunisian donuts)
12.45pm-2pm: Lunch at the most well known cafe in the Mediterranean, Cafe des Delices. Enjoy the stunning views!
2.15pm-4.30: Visit the archaeological site at Carthage, a swanky suburb of Tunis. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. It was once a cosmopolitan trading hub and a key Mediterranean maritime power. Carthage was one of the wealthiest cities in the ancient world. and it inspired poetry, mythology and the envy of the Roman empire. Carthage existed for more than 500 years before the Romans eventually brutally destroyed and torched it in 146BC. They rebuilt it to their own specifications, and enslaved the local population. We will visit the Antonine Baths, the largest baths outside Rome in ancient times, and the most impressive ruin in Carthage, where you can imagine the luxuries enjoyed by the ancient community. We will also start a climb up to Byrsa Hill to get a vantage point of the land and views to the Gulf of Tunis and the circular-shaped Punic Ports, whose ingenious designs meant that the Carthaginian navy could see out to sea but were hidden from approaching enemy ships. Also at the top of Byrsa Hill is the Carthage Museum, which is worth a visit for its mosaics, sarcophagi (coffins) and archaeological fragments.
4.45pm-5.45pm: Coach return to the hotel
Rest, swim, relax and cocktails at the hotel
8pm-9pm: Buffet dinner.
Evening entertainment (dress in white for ‘White Night’)
Day 6, September 15:
7.45am-8.45: Buffet breakfast
9am-10am: We will take the coach to Tunisia’s capital, Tunis, today.
10am-12 noon: Visit the Bardo Museum, which is a jewel of Tunisian heritage. This is the largest Roman mosaic museum in the world and is a paradise for mosaic nerds! It only reopened at the end of 2023, after being closed for a few years, and it is even bigger and better. We also have access to the private restoration workshop within the museum, which is not normally open to the public. The opulent interior retraces, through its collections, a big part of Tunisia’s history (from Prehistory to the contemporary epoch) and contains the largest collection of mosaics in the world including the famous mosaic representing Virgil, the poet. There an abundant collection of Punic jewels as well as a gallery of Roman sarcophaguses and Christian baptisteries. One of the high points of the visit to Bardo is a Roman ship’s cargo wrecked off the coast of Cape Africa, facing the town of Mahdia, with its Hellenistic Greek art master pieces: bronze pieces, marble sculptures, and furniture. This was the result of underwater excavations undertaken during the first part of the 20th Century with the participation of Commander Jacques Cousteau.
12.15pm-1.30pm: Enter the Tunis Medina (old town) and have lunch in the garden area.
1.30pm-4.30pm: Explore the Tunis Medina. A lot of this Medina remains the same as in medieval times and almost 2,000 people call it home. It is an incredible sprawling maze of ancient streets and alleyways. Numerous covered souks are located inside the Medina and they sell everything from shoes, clothes, fabrics, leather goods, homewares, chechia hats and carpets, to shisha pipes. Try your hand at bargaining with the locals for ‘treasures’. The back lanes are home to many artisans’ workshops, and the residential sections are marked with grand brightly painted doorways. Tunis Medina is studded with historic palaces, mosques, hamams, and madrassas, many of which are beautifully decorated with tiles, carved columns, and wooden latticework.
4.30pm-5pm: Refreshment break
5.15pm-6pm: Visit the Catholic St Vincent de Paul Cathedral in Tunis.
6pm-7pm: Return by coach to hotel
8pm-9pm: Buffet dinner at the hotel.
Day 7, September 16:
7.45am-8.45am: Buffet breakfast
9am-10am: Travel by coach to Sousse. Tunisia’s third-biggest city has three major drawcards: long sandy beaches, the UNESCO-protected 9th century medina and the small but superb Sousse Archaeological Museum, which houses incredible mosaics. Sousse is also known for its restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
10am-11am: Visit the Sousse Museum, with its stunning mosaics.
11.15-12.15: Visit the medina and souk in Sousse.
12.30pm-1.30pm: Lunch at a local restaurant in Sousse.
1.45pm-4.30pm: Travel to El Jem and check out the stunning mosaics in the El Jem museum. Then visit the incredible Roman amphitheatre of El Jem, another UESCO World Heritage site from the 3rd century, and the third largest colosseum in the world. It is a rare monument, slightly smaller than the colosseum in Rome, but much better preserved. Its capacity was said to be 35,000 people. The film ‘Gladiator’ was filmed here, as well as episodes of the reality TV show ‘The Amazing Race’.
4.30pm-5.30pm: Return by coach to the hotel
Rest, swim, relax and cocktails at the hotel.
8pm-9pm: Buffet dinner at the hotel (or choose the 6.30pm sitting if you need an early night!)
Day 8, September 17:
7.45am-8.45am: Buffet breakfast.
9am-9.20am: Coach to Nabeul. Formerly a Phoenician settlement, it was destroyed by the Romans in 146BC and later rebuilt as a Roman colony called Neapolis. It is a traditional craft centre which dates back to Neolithic man. When Islam came to Tunisia in the 6th century AD, the craft of ceramics evolved. After the 17th century, the arrival of skilled earthenware craftsmen brought with them the distinctive swirling designs which are now integral to the craft. Then around the late 1980’s, a number of French ceramists opened factories in Nabeul using a fusion of European techniques with the expertise of the potters in Nabeul. It has now become a famous pottery and ceramics handicraft centre, with the most eye-watering handpainted ceramics you have ever seen. It may be a good idea to pack some bubble wrap, because we can assure you, you will want to buy!
9.30am-11.30am: Explore the largest ceramics shop in Nabeul, and we hope to visit a ceramics factory in the industrial neighbourhood (not open to the public). We may have the opportunity to watch artisans hand painting pottery, and even paint a piece of pottery of our own! We will also explore the souk in Nabeul, where there will be more beautiful souvenirs to entice you!
12noon-1.15pm: Lunch in Hammamet.
1.15pm-2.15pm: Coach trip to Tunis.
2.15pm-4pm: Another opportunity to shop at the Tunis souk for gifts or souvenirs (our group last year wanted more time here!) Visit the Zitouna Mosque (bring a scarf, or buy at the market). Located in the heart of Tunis’ medina, this important mosque was founded in 734 and built on a site once occupied by a church. It was totally rebuilt in the 9th century and restored many times over the centuries, and its huge prayer hall incorporates more than 200 columns scrounged from Roman Carthage.
4.15pm-6.15pm: Visit the palace Ksar Ezzahraa Tunis Lemdina. This is a strange, unique and bewitching palace that was closed for many years for renovations. It has now been completely restored into the original Tunisian architectural style and has been converted into a cafe/restaurant, and venue for various functions.
6.30pm-7.30pm: Return to the hotel by coach.
8pm-9pm: Buffet dinner at the hotel (or if everyone agrees, we can have dinner at Ksar Ezzahraa Tunis Lemdina in the Guru Restaurant for a special Tunisian culinary experience!)
Day 9, September 18:
7.30am-8.30am: Buffet breakfast.
8.45am-10.15am: Travel by coach to Kairouan.
10.15am-12.15pm: Visit Kairouan. Kairouan is one of the most celebrated cities of the Islamic world. It also is a popular place to buy beautifully crafted Tunisian rugs. We can organise to have a rug-making workshop there as an option (Cost is $100USD for the 2 hour workshop at your own expense). Or, if people prefer, we can visit the charming medina and the Great Mosque, which is a universal architectural masterpiece. If there is time, we will visit the Zawiya of Sidi Sahib, or Mosque of the Barber. According to tradition, Sidi Sahib, a barber and companion of the prophet Muhammad, was buried here with 3 hairs from Muhammad’s beard after dying in battle in 654. It has been restored, expanded and rebuilt over the years, and covers a range of styles and has beautiful tiles. Another visit may possibly be made to Bir Barouta, where a camel walks in a circle, drawing water up from a 20metre deep 17th century holy well that legend says is connected to the Zamzam spring in Mecca.
12.30pm-2pm Return by coach to Yasmine Hammamet.
2pm-5pm Visit Yasmine Hammamet, and have a coffee/lunch at one of the classy cafes or restaurants. Check out the expensive yachts and boats, and the fresh Mediterranean atmosphere. Move on to Hammamet itself and explore the Medina. Wander around the neighboorhood and laneways and check out the variety of quaint and rustic doors on white houses in the old town that are quintessentially Tunisian. Have a rereshing tea or coffee at the famous Sidi Bouhadid Cafe.
Rest, swim, relax and cocktails at the hotel.
8pm-9pm: Buffet dinner at the hotel.
Day 10, September 19:
8am-9am: Buffet breakfast.
As we have had a very full tour, this will be rest day at the hotel, or you can choose to take a taxi and do your own excursion.
9am-12noon: Free time to spend at the pool or beach. Take a camel ride or check out the equestrian centre near the hotel.
12noon-1.30pm: Buffet lunch
1.30pm-3.00pm: Free time to spend at the pool or beach.
3.00pm-4.30pm: Cooking demonstrations of Tunisian specialties, ‘bambalouni’ and ‘brik’ for our group at the hotel (with your participation!)
Rest, swim, relax and cocktails at the hotel.
8pm-9pm: Buffet dinner
NOTE: Up to two dinners at the hotel can be in the Chinese restaurant, which is normally an extra cost for hotel guests, but for you is included in the price of the tour.
Day 11, September 20:
8.30am-9.30am: Buffet breakfast.
Goodbyes, and transfers to the airport.
Some participants may be continuing on with us on a tour to the south of Tunisia, which is a totally different experience! Talk to us about it ASAP if you think you might be interested.
PLEASE NOTE: We require a minimum of 6 people in order to take a tour to the south of Tunisia.
Atlternatively, we can spend 4 nights in another hotel to rest, relax and revitalise!
We are hoping that you will join us and enjoy a ‘Taste of Tunisia’‘!
About D&H Fine Art Mosaics
Kala and Dianne established D&H Fine Art Mosaics only in January, 2021 as a team. Kala has spent his whole adult life (27 years) studying mosaics at university, making mosaics, exhibiting mosaics all over Europe, creating mosaic commissions and teaching mosaics while running his own mosaic business in Tunisia, overseeing 11 employees. Kala is an expert in creating Roman mosaics, and is highly experienced in working with marble and smalti, and only changed to glass after meeting Dianne. Until the end of 2022, Dianne worked full time as a teacher, and has since retired to focus on making and teaching mosaics, which is her passion. She has sold her work both in Australia and overseas, and has successfully exhibited and received prizes, including in art shows where she has been the only participant exhibiting mosaics (alongside paintings and sculptures.) Both Kala and Dianne have made a name for themselves creating beautiful mosaics with the highest possible level of realism, by using a technique that Kala spent many months developing and perfecting. They have been teaching their unique technique online and their participants have achieved remarkable success.
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