What makes the Dahar so mysterious? What magic does it exude that enchants so many of its visitors?

It is perhaps the region’s unusual character and enveloping serenity that charm the visitor and invite him for further exploration. Nestled near the mythical beaches of the Island of Jerba and the magnificent dunes of the Sahara Desert, the mountainous region of Jebel Dahar offers a curious mixture of arid lunar landscapes, a magnificent plateau, and tiny fertile valleys.

Steeped into three thousand years of human history, the Dahar was the sanctuary of the Amazigh Berber tribes of Tunisia who knew how to profit from the region’s strategic location smack in the middle of the caravan roads through the desert. Over the years the indigenous people of Dahar have, with a great deal of ingenuity, built a proud civilization perfectly in harmony with the region’s austere nature. With patience and perseverance, they’ve literally melted into the rocky landscape while learning and borrowing from the many people and civilizations that came through the region.

Despite the profound changes in their way of life and widespread mixing with other populations, the Dahar inhabitants have remained remarkably attached to their traditions. They have above all remained hospitable and warm with interested visitors. Endowed with an exceptionally rich geography and paleontology, and blessed with a unique historical and cultural heritage, the Dahar region still enchants travelers in search of discoveries: hikers and trekkers, culture aficionados, scientists, or just plain visitors seeking peace of mind and a change of scenery amidst family and friends.

Nature and trekking

The best way to discover the region and appreciate its unique scenery is by foot.

It is also the best way to make contact with the locals, whether sheepherders in the barren plains or mountain dwellers who will be happy to show you ancestral foot paths. Whether in « Beni Khadeche » or « Matmata » or high on the hill crests of « Toujène », you can choose among several available footpaths adapted to your physical capacities or desires. There are half-day treks up all the way to ten-day treks. You can go by foot or on all-terrain bikes, all part of the “smart trekking” possibilities in Dahar.

Many foot paths in « Beni-Khadeche », « Zammour », and « Chenini » are marked.

You can discover them on your own with no need for a guide or simply take walks with your host near your guesthouse.

Your travel agent can arrange for you guided hiking tours of several days or you can even try traversing the entire region of Dahar in the company of your guide and a donkey for your luggage.