Visiting Tozeur: Tunisia’s Stunning Desert Oasis

Tozeur is a charming little town in southern Tunisia, on the edge of the Sahara desert. Thanks to a large oasis and successful date palm cultivation, Tozeur was an important stop of the camel caravans of the late Middle Ages. The town’s beautiful medina was built during this era of prosperity. In the 1970s and ’80s, Tozeur was rediscovered by Hollywood directors and became a popular filming location. Here are the major attractions you’ll want to see when visiting Tozeur.

“In the vast silence of Tunisia’s Sahara, time slows down, and the desert reveals its timeless beauty—where golden dunes meet the horizon, and every grain of sand whispers ancient stories of nomads, adventure, and the boundless sky.”

Aymen Grira

Star Wars Film Sites

The bleak southern Tunisian landscape is a perfect stand-in for Tatooine, the fictional planet baked by two suns. Scenes from four Star Wars movies were shot around Tunisia, and I visited two of the film sites near Tozeur.

Is visiting Tozeur on your Tunisia wish list?

There is a small airport in Tozeur with direct flights from Tunis and Paris. I flew from Tunis with Tunisair Express and it was a relatively easy experience, though my return flight was unexpectedly moved up five hours early. Schedule changes are common for this route, and you’ll definitely need to be prepared for last minute notifications.