Experience an unforgettable motorcycle journey through the Sahara in Tunisia over New Year's organized by OVERCROSS. This unique Enduro tour takes you on your own or on a rental bike through stunning landscapes, from rocky and sandy tracks to impressive mountain ranges and endless dunes. The adventure is centered around teamwork as we tackle challenging sand sections together and spend nights in remote oases under the starry sky.
Designed specifically for a small group of Enduro enthusiasts, this trip offers a truly unique motorcycle experience. Camping under the open sky enhances the adventure, making it an unforgettable experience. The spirit of "one for all, all for one" drives us as we navigate the desert and overcome the challenges of the Sahara together.
Ready for an unforgettable New Year's adventure? Join us in December and escape the winter to the vast expanses of the Tunisian Sahara!
The touoperator OVERCROSS invites you on an unforgettable Enduro desert tour over New Year's in the Tunisian Sahara. Our route will take you through diverse landscapes, including rocky and sandy tracks as well as impressive mountain scenery. We will explore the vast expanses of the Grand Erg Oriental and spend our nights in remote oases of the desert, in exciting wild camps in the "no man's land."
At OVER-CROSS motorcycle tours, we emphasize teamwork, and this principle is also at the forefront of this tour. Together, we will tackle challenging sand passages, and in the evenings, we will enjoy cooking and cleaning together. "One for all, all for one"—this motto accompanies us throughout the entire tour. We place great value on interaction, creating a unique experience on the motorcycle. The travel description below is only a rough suggestion and tour itinerary because who wants a standard adventure trip?
This Enduro tour over New Year's in the Sahara is specially designed for a small group of endurists who have always wanted to experience the adventure of the Sahara on two wheels. You can expect one of the best motorcycle tours to the Sahara, carefully planned to satisfy your thirst for adventure.
*Camel in the sand on the Tunisia Enduro tour through the Sahara*
Not only our Enduros feel at home in the sands of the Sahara.
**Travel Preparation: Delivery and Loading of Motorcycles**
To ensure that your motorcycle is taken to Tunisia in time for the tour start, we ask that you deliver it to us early. It is best to deliver it between a week and two days before departure to allow sufficient time for loading.
We still have two free spots for participants in our support vehicle if you prefer not to fly and instead travel with us by road. Alternatively, you can also independently ride your motorcycle to the second meeting point at the ferry port in Genoa. There, we will load your motorcycle onto our trailer for the crossing over the Mediterranean to Tunisia. A relaxed option is to simply fly to Tunis and leave the travel and entry formalities to us.
Please note that after the tour and the return journey, it may take some time for your motorcycle to arrive back in Tübingen. Depending on the booking situation, our guides may have another tour afterward, so the return of your motorcycle could be delayed by up to 14 days.
**Tour Itinerary of the Enduro Desert Tour over New Year's**
**DAY BY DAY...**
*Arrival Days 1 & 2: Tübingen - Genoa - Ferry*
On the first day, we set off from Tübingen towards the ferry port in Genoa. There, we will meet the participants who have brought their motorcycles to the port on their own.
At 3:00 PM (two hours before departure), we will gather at the ferry terminal. Each participant will receive prepared entry and customs forms from us, as well as tickets for the ferry and cabins. We have plenty of time to load the remaining motorcycles onto the trailer for the crossing and store the luggage in the support vehicle. The scheduled departure of the ferry is always at 5:00 PM, although we also account for Tunisian time, so it is more likely around 7:00 PM when the ferry departs. Nevertheless, we recommend all participants be at the ferry terminal at least two hours before departure (i.e., at 3:00 PM) to complete all formalities smoothly. After settling into our cabins, we will meet for dinner and discuss the plans for the next day and the upcoming stages.
*Day 1: Tunis - Hammamet*
After a leisurely breakfast, we gather for the tour briefing and a little surprise that your tour guide has prepared for you! During the briefing, we will discuss riding techniques, the tour's itinerary, and the participants' individual skills. Often, some may have concerns about slowing down the group due to their riding abilities. But usually, it’s these participants who end up leading the pack ;-) On this journey, you, like all the other participants, will learn a lot about Enduro riding and traveling. The theory already begins with the crossing of the Mediterranean!
In the afternoon, we reach Tunis. After quickly clearing customs and the ferry, we head to our accommodation in Hammamet (about 70 km away). There, we will meet the participants who flew in on Saturday or Sunday and were brought to our hotel by the airport shuttle.
After a hearty dinner at the hotel, we will hold the tour briefing, coordinate equipment, and provide the participants with all the necessary information for the next tour day.
*Day 2: Hammamet - Tozeur*
Today, we leave luxury behind. The motorcycle group rides on a connecting stage over paved roads past the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to Tozeur. After a long day of riding, we set up our first camp in a beautiful palm grove above Tozeur, where we can enjoy a fantastic view of the Chott el Jerid. As we will arrive in Tozeur late in the afternoon, we will have just enough time to cook together and enjoy a beer or two before crawling into our tents, exhausted and dreaming of the first time we will ride through the sand tomorrow.
*Day 3: Tozeur - Round trip via Mos Espa - Tozeur*
Today's stage is relatively short, covering about 60-70 km, but it’s perfect for getting a first feel for riding in the Tunisian sand. The sandy route takes us to the old Star Wars filming location Mos Espa and offers a moderate level of difficulty, giving us a taste of the days to come in the desert. Here, we will conduct a small sand training to prepare ourselves for the most challenging dune sections of the Sahara. Couch potatoes are yesterday's news; the adventure begins now!
On our way back to Tozeur, we ride along a fascinating and scenic route that runs along Chott Er Rahim, a lake that lies 17 meters below sea level. Back in Tozeur, we will have plenty of time to enjoy a coffee or tea in town before returning to camp. As every evening, we will cook together and build a campfire to end the day in a relaxed atmosphere.
*Day 4: Tozeur - Chott el Jerid - Douz*
Today we have another long ride ahead of us, reaching the beautiful oasis town of Douz in the afternoon, also known as the Gateway to the Desert. We ride on an 80 km long sandy track along the Chott el Jerid. However, we cross the salt lake on the road, as a crossing would be too strenuous and could cause damage to our motorcycles.
Upon arrival in Douz, we set up our camp at the most beautiful campsite in Tunisia, where we will stay for two nights. A perfect vacation day awaits us with showers, camping under palm trees, and a sumptuous dinner by the campfire.
*Day 5: Douz - Rest Day at Your Leisure*
Today you have a rest day at your leisure. You can use this day to visit the traditional market in Douz, which takes place every Thursday, or simply relax and recharge your energy for the coming days in the desert.
We will use the day to stock up on supplies and fill the motorcycles and spare fuel cans with gasoline to be ready for the next day when we head towards Tembaine.
*Days 6 - 10: Douz - Tembaine - Dekanis - el Mida - Ksar Ghilane - Douz*
Today we begin our five-day expedition into the Sahara, where we will be completely self-sufficient. Depending on the group size, the motorcycle size, weather conditions, and the participants' riding abilities, we will adjust the exact itinerary for the upcoming days. If the group's riding skills are sufficient, there is a possibility of riding to the lost lake, Lac Houidhat Erreched. This complex of thermal springs lies about 90 km as the crow flies from Douz and is not easy to reach.
The days in the desert will bring us closer together as a group: shoveling, riding, tipping over, picking up, accelerating, and experiencing the vastness of the Sahara. These days will undoubtedly offer the most impressive experiences, which we can reflect on in the evenings at our "1000-star hotel" under the open sky. This is pure freedom and an adventure for every endurist.
*Douz - Tembaine:*
Our first destination in the desert will be the distinctive table mountain Tembaine. It serves as a point of orientation and offers the opportunity to enjoy a magnificent view of the entire region and the surrounding table mountains like the large and small Dekanis, el Mida, or Gour Kleb from above. For those who are keen and have enough energy, there is the option to climb Tembaine.
Today's stage is sandy, but the dunes are still small and easy to ride. Small dune fields alternate with stony plains. More challenging sections await us tomorrow.
*Tembaine - Dekanis:*
The dunes gradually become higher, and we encounter the first challenging passages that we must overcome. Passing the table mountain of the small Dekanis, we continue to the large Dekanis. This area, consisting of several table mountains, is our destination today. In the late afternoon, we set up our tents between the dunes, make a fire, cook, and discuss together whether we can tackle the route to the lost lake with the group or not.
*Dekanis - (Lac Houidhat?) - el Mida:*
Depending on our progress over the past few days, we will either make a detour to Lac Houidhat, about 25-30 km away, or head directly to el Mida. Both routes offer scenic beauty but with different levels of difficulty. We will choose the option that best suits the group's capabilities and ensures an exciting riding experience.
*el Mida - Ksar Ghilane:*
Today's ride will bring us more challenges. We leave the table mountain area and continue
towards Ksar Ghilane. The dunes become higher and more numerous, but as our riding skills have improved over the past days, we should be able to handle these challenges.
Ksar Ghilane is a beautiful oasis that invites you to relax. Here, we will rest, enjoy a hot bath, and share the stories of our adventure with other travelers.
*Ksar Ghilane - Douz:*
Our desert adventure comes to an end. We will ride back to Douz via sandy tracks, crossing some more dunes before we arrive at our familiar campsite. There, we will set up our tents, enjoy a well-deserved shower, and have a last shared dinner under the stars.
*Day 11: Douz - Kairouan*
Today, we leave the desert behind and ride back towards civilization. Our destination is Kairouan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important cities in Islam. The city is known for its impressive mosques and vibrant old town, where we can explore the narrow alleys and visit traditional craft workshops.
We will stay overnight in a comfortable hotel and enjoy the last night of our adventure.
*Day 12: Kairouan - Tunis - Ferry*
After breakfast, we head towards Tunis, where our ferry awaits us for the crossing back to Europe. Upon arrival in Genoa, the participants will pick up their motorcycles, and we will say goodbye, taking with us unforgettable memories of our adventure in the Sahara.
**End of the Adventure**
Included services:
- Support vehicle for baggage, spare parts, gasoline, drinking water, etc.
- All entry fees and tickets (ferry, campgrounds, etc.)
- German-speaking tour guide (long-standing Enduro rider with Sahara experience)
- Accommodation in twin rooms in hotels and in the Sahara in two-person tents or similar
- Support vehicle: Land Rover with 4x4 off-road capability
- Roadbook for all stages of the tour
- Return transport of motorcycles to Tübingen
- Entry and customs formalities in Tunisia
- Mechanics and support service
Additional services:
- Motorcycle transportation Germany - Tunisia - Germany, from/to Tübingen or Genoa
- Overnight stay on the ferry from Genoa to Tunis, in an outside cabin with breakfast
- Ferry crossing, fees, and customs formalities in Tunisia
- Double cabin on the ferry (4-bed cabin for single travelers)
Not included:
- Flight tickets
- Travel and accident insurance
- Gasoline, food, drinks, and souvenirs
**Packing list:**
Since the days in the Sahara can be very warm, but the nights can be very cold, we recommend a layered clothing system. You should also bring the following items with you:
- Motorcycle gear: helmet, boots, gloves, etc.
- Warm sleeping bag (for temperatures down to 0°C)
- Lightweight tent
- Travel mattress
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Personal medication
- Enough drinking water
- Camera or GoPro for capturing unforgettable moments
- Spare parts for your motorcycle (spark plugs, air filters, etc.)
**Further information:**
If you are interested in participating in this Enduro tour, please contact us as soon as possible to secure your spot. This tour offers a unique opportunity to experience the Sahara on two wheels and promises memories that will last a lifetime.