Chebika, Tamerza & Mides
★★★ The Mountain Gorges — Tunisia's Grand Canyon
North of Tozeur, on the edge of the Atlas foothills, lie three spectacular mountain oases that are among Tunisia's scenic highlights. Waterfalls in the middle of the desert, deep gorges, abandoned Berber villages on the edge — a half-day excursion from Tozeur that should not be missed.
★★★ Chebika
The most impressive of the three oases: An old Berber village (abandoned after a flood in 1969) clings to a steep rock face above a deep gorge. Below, a stream flows through a lush palm oasis. A narrow hiking trail leads through the gorge to a hidden waterfall and a natural pool — swimming possible!
On top of the rock: the ruins of the old village and a panoramic view that takes your breath away. The flat plain of the Chott el-Gharsa stretches to the horizon, beyond which lies the Sahara.
68 km north of Tozeur. Entrance: 5 TND. Parking with souvenir stands. Hike to the waterfall: 30 min., easy to moderate.
★★★ Tamerza
The largest mountain oasis in Tunisia offers two attractions: the abandoned old village (Tamerza el-Kedima) and the great waterfall (Grande Cascade). The waterfall plunges 20 meters over rock steps into a basin — not Niagara, but in the middle of the desert, an almost unreal sight.
The old village of Tamerza, also abandoned in 1969, is a ghost town of mud bricks slowly returning to the rock. Scenes from "The English Patient" (1996) were filmed here. On the opposite slope stands the luxurious Tamerza Palace Hotel — a 4-star hotel with a pool and views of the ruins. Surreal and beautiful.
50 km north of Tozeur. Entrance: 5 TND. Hike to the waterfall: 15 min., easy.
★★ Mides
The northernmost and wildest of the three oases lies directly on the Algerian border. The gorge of Mides (Canyon de Mides) is Tunisia's deepest canyon: hundreds of meters deep, with vertical walls in all shades of red. The view from the bridge over the canyon is dizzying. The abandoned old village on the edge of the gorge is the most atmospheric of the three.
60 km northwest of Tozeur. No entrance fee. Less visited than Chebika and Tamerza.
💡 Tipp
Book a half-day excursion from Tozeur (by 4x4, approx. 50–70 TND per person) for all three oases. With your own rental car (a regular car is sufficient, the road is paved), you are more flexible. Start early in the morning — it gets brutally hot at noon, and the light is most beautiful in the morning.
