Totality over Djerba
More than four minutes, from a specially selected viewing site on the island.
Djerba Island, Tunisia
The 2027 Total Solar Eclipse in Tunisia: Four Minutes of Darkness Over Djerba.
On 2 August 2027 the moon's shadow crosses North Africa and passes over an island in the Mediterranean. Ten days of Roman amphitheatres, Saharan oases and Star Wars deserts, ending with more than four minutes of totality from a specially selected viewing site on Djerba.
Eclipse Day
2 Aug 2027
Location
Djerba, Tunisia
Duration
10 Days / 9 Nights
Group Size
Max 20 Guests
Guides
Local Guides Throughout
One Group Departure Only. 26 July to 4 August 2027.
Why This Tour
Why you will never forget the 2027 eclipse in Tunisia
Tunisia sits on the same eclipse path as Egypt, roughly three hours from most of Europe rather than six, and at well under half the fare.
Djerba gets more than four minutes of totality over the Mediterranean, in August, on an island where clear sky is close to a given.
We are running one departure and no more.
Ten days, nine nights of deluxe 5 star hotels, and an itinerary that works south through El Jem, Kairouan, the Sahara and the troglodyte villages of Matmata before it reaches the island and the eclipse.
Small Groups
One departure only, minimum 10 and maximum 20
Deluxe 5 Star Hotels
Nine nights, from The Residence in Tunis to the Radisson Blu on Djerba
What You Will See
Totality over Djerba, Roman ruins, and a week in the Sahara first
The eclipse is on day eight. The seven days before it run the length of the country, from the coast to the desert and back out to the Mediterranean.
El Jem
One of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres anywhere, standing in a small Tunisian town.
Ong Jemel and Matmata
Two Star Wars filming locations: a desert rock formation and the troglodyte Hotel Sidi Idriss.
Chott el Jerid
Tunisia's vast salt lake, crossed by a single road, with mirages shimmering either side.
Carthage
The Antonine Baths and the remains of the Punic and Roman city, on the coast outside Tunis.
Plus the unmissable moments
- The Great Mosque of Kairouan, among the oldest Islamic monuments in North Africa
- A 4x4 circuit through the mountain oases of Chebika, Tamerza and Mides
- The Douz souk, on the edge of the Sahara
- El Ghriba Synagogue and the street art of Djerbahood
- A hands-on Tunisian cooking class in the capital
- A domestic flight from Djerba back to Tunis on day 9
The Tour
10 days. 9 nights. One afternoon on an island.
Tunis to Tunis, 26 July to 4 August 2027. One group departure only, deluxe 5 star hotels throughout, and a maximum of 20 travellers.
Day by day itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Tunis
Met at the airport and transferred into the capital, with the rest of the day free to recover from the flight.
Day 2
El Jem and Kairouan
South to the Roman amphitheatre at El Jem, then on to Kairouan for the medina and the Great Mosque.
Day 3
Kairouan to Tozeur
Time at the Great Mosque, then a long drive west as the plains give way to desert and the oasis city of Tozeur.
Day 4
Mountain oases by 4x4
Chebika, the waterfalls at Tamerza and the canyon at Mides, then Ong Jemel and the Star Wars set before returning to Tozeur.
Day 5
Chott el Jerid to Douz
Across the salt flats on the causeway road to the gateway of the Sahara, with time in the Douz souk.
Day 6
Matmata, then on to Djerba
The Berber Museum at Tamezret, the troglodyte houses of Matmata and Hotel Sidi Idriss, the viewpoint above Toujane, then out to the island.
Day 7
Djerba
Guellala Museum, El Ghriba Synagogue, the painted walls of Djerbahood and the stalls of Houmt Souk.
Day 8
Eclipse day
Totality from a specially selected viewing site on Djerba, more than four minutes of it, and the rest of the day free on the island.
Day 9
Djerba to Tunis
Fly north to the capital for a hands-on cooking class, then out to the ruins of Carthage on the coast.
Day 10
Farewell to Tunis
Free time in the city before your transfer to the airport.
The Residence, Tunis, and the Mediterranean it looks out over.
Where You Stay
Deluxe the whole way, and a seaside resort for the eclipse.
Nine nights of 5 star hotels, with The Residence in Tunis setting the standard: a Mediterranean property built around Arab-Andalusian design, with a thalasso spa and a private beach. Inland you stay at La Kasbah in Kairouan and The Mora Sahara in Tozeur, and on the island it is the Radisson Blu Palace Resort and Thalasso in Djerba. Rooms are en suite and air conditioned throughout, and couples always receive a private double. Demand across these dates is unprecedented, so properties of an equivalent standard may have to be substituted.
- Deluxe 5 star hotels for all nine nights
- The Residence in Tunis and the Radisson Blu Palace on Djerba
- Single rooms available, and room share requests for solo travellers
- Equivalent properties may be substituted given demand on these dates
Traveller Reviews
What travellers say about Encounters Travel
This eclipse departure is brand new, so here is what travellers say about exploring the world with Encounters Travel, from reviews posted on TripAdvisor and TourRadar.
4.7 out of 5 from over 1,700 traveller reviews of Encounters Travel tours
Absolutely fantastic
“It was awhile ago that I took this tour but it was absolutely fantastic! Wonderful guide and driver. It was very well organized and I can't say anything but great things about it.”
Super knowledgeable, capable, and friendly
“Our guide was super knowledgeable, capable, and friendly. Everything ran to time and we were never left wondering what was happening next.”
The tour staff were so helpful
“The tour staff were so helpful from the first enquiry through to the last transfer. Nothing was too much trouble and everything was organised exactly as promised.”
Very organized trip
“A very organized trip with excellent guides. Transfers were on time, the hotels were comfortable and the itinerary was well paced.”
Amazing service
“Amazing service from start to finish. The team answered every question quickly and the trip itself was better than we had hoped.”
Absolutely incredible
“Absolutely incredible. Well organised, great guides and a group that got on from the first day. I would travel with them again without hesitating.”
“Tunisia is the value pick on this eclipse. Same event, same day, three hours from Europe, and you spend the week before it in the Sahara rather than in transit.”
Mariska Knoesen, Sales Manager at Encounters Travel
Call or email me and I will talk you through how Tunisia compares with our Egypt and Morocco departures on the same eclipse, what the payment schedule looks like, and whether the five day extension afterwards is worth adding.
Houmt Souk, Djerba, the morning before.
Practical Details
Everything you need to know.
- Event
- Total solar eclipse over Djerba, 2 August 2027
- Tour
- Tunisia Eclipse Adventure 2027, Deluxe B
- Departure
- 26 July to 4 August 2027, one group departure only
- Duration
- 10 days and 9 nights
- Start and End
- Tunis to Tunis
- Group Size
- Small group, minimum 10 and maximum 20
- Accommodation
- Deluxe 5 star hotels throughout
- Deposit
- US$1,100 at booking, US$1,350 on 31 Oct 2026, balance by 31 Mar 2027
- Region
- Tunisia: Tunis, Kairouan, Tozeur, Douz, Matmata and Djerba
About the 2027 Total Solar Eclipse
The mechanics behind the 2027 eclipse, and where Tunisia sits on the path.
The Science
A large moon, a small sun, and a shadow moving slowly enough to linger.
A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes exactly between earth and sun and covers the disc completely. How long totality lasts comes down to two things: how large the moon appears from the ground, and how fast its shadow travels across the surface.
On 2 August 2027 the moon is near the closest point of its orbit and looks unusually large, while the earth is near its furthest point from the sun, which makes the sun look unusually small. The shadow also falls close to the equator, where it sweeps across the ground more slowly.
The result is a band of totality roughly 250km wide, running from the Atlantic across southern Spain and North Africa to the Red Sea and beyond. It crosses Tunisia on its way east, and Djerba sits inside it, with more than four minutes of darkness over the island.
2 Aug 2027
a Monday, with totality in the early afternoon
4 minutes +
of totality over Djerba
Why Djerba
An open horizon, dependable summer skies, and a short flight from Europe.
☀
An island inside the path
The band of totality crosses southern Tunisia and Djerba sits within it, out in the Mediterranean with an open horizon in every direction.
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Closer than the alternatives
Tunis is roughly three hours from most of western Europe. Our Egypt departure on the same eclipse is a longer journey and considerably more expensive.
★
August weather on the coast
High summer on the Tunisian coast is hot, dry and reliably clear. Haze coming off the sea is the main variable rather than cloud.
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Heat, and how to handle it
Southern Tunisia in early August is severe. Water, a hat, sunscreen and shade all matter, which is why the afternoon after totality is deliberately left free.
Good To Know
Your 2027 eclipse questions, answered
How long will totality actually last?
More than four minutes over Djerba. We do not quote a precise figure because the exact duration shifts with the viewing point, and the site is chosen to make the most of it. Totality falls in the early afternoon on Monday 2 August 2027.
Where will we watch the eclipse from?
From a specially selected viewing site on Djerba. The island sits inside the path of totality out in the Mediterranean, which gives an open horizon in every direction. The rest of eclipse day is deliberately left free.
Why Tunisia rather than Egypt or Morocco?
All three sit on the same 2 August 2027 path and Encounters Travel runs a departure on each. Tunisia is roughly three hours from most of western Europe rather than six, and costs considerably less than the Egypt departure. The week before totality is spent in the Sahara rather than in transit.
How hot will it be?
Southern Tunisia in early August is severe, and the coast is hot and dry. Bring a wide brimmed hat, high factor sunscreen, loose light clothing and more water than you think you need. The afternoon after totality is left free partly for this reason.
What does the payment schedule look like?
US$1,100 per person at the time of booking, a second payment of US$1,350 on 31 October 2026, and the balance by 31 March 2027.
How many places are there?
This is a single group departure with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 travellers, running 26 July to 4 August 2027. There is no second Tunisia departure timed to the eclipse.
What is not included in the price?
International flights, visa fees, compulsory travel insurance, drinks and personal expenses, and tipping. Tipping is not covered by a kitty on this tour, so allow roughly USD 5 to 10 per person per day for guides.
Can I extend the trip?
Yes. The Tunisia Eclipse Extension runs immediately after this tour and adds five days. Ask Mariska whether it suits your plans when you enquire.
Still have a question? Our travel specialists are happy to help.