Desert Adventure

This majestic mausoleum dedicated to the 'Father of Modern Tunisia' Habib Bourguiba is decked out from top to bottom with white marble and decorative touches of emerald green, making it gleam in the hot sun of Monastir. The two towers poised on either side of the entrance to the tomb resemble the minarets of a typical Maghreb mosque. Indeed, most of the architecture that was designed by French architect Olivier Clement Cacoub bears a strong resemblance to traditional Islamic places of worship. Inside the mausoleum lies the Tunisian president of the 1960s, encased in an ornate marble sarcophagus which can be viewed up close on the ground floor or from above by accessing the balcony through an unassuming door to the right of the main entrance. Although it is free to enter the mausoleum, some may prefer to gain further insight into the history of the building by booking a tour from one of the licensed tour operators in the main city. It is inadvisable to hire the services of those guides operating within or beside the grounds of the mausoleum as most are unqualified. Opening times may vary and if the main entrance is closed, visitors can enter through a separate entrance on the other side of the building.

Built in 1963 to commemorate Tunisia's first president Habib Bourguiba, this colourful mosque demonstrates typical Tunisian religious architecture complete with pink marble pillars and golden mosaics which are exquisitely preserved. The impressive prayer room which is the focal point of the mosque can take up to one thousand visitors and is often busy with locals and tourists meandering through. It is worth noting that, although admittance to the mosque is free of charge, opening times may vary. To get the most out of the experience a guided tour from one of the private tour operators in the area might be helpful.

In case there wasn't enough to do in Monastir, the next port up has plenty to offer in the way of rare archaeological finds and exciting history which can be discovered in the Sousse Archaeological Museum or the Museum Dar Essid. The city of Sousse, similar to Monastir, exhibits some important ancient structures that remain intact today. The Ribat in Sousse is a bit smaller than that of Monastir and perhaps not as impressive, but it is inexpensive to enter and visitors can climb the tower right to the top to appreciate the expansive views of the city from above. The Medina is nearby and contains the main Mosque of the city as well as a bustling souk complete with passionate traders who will test your haggling skills. Be careful of rogue traders and pickpockets in busy areas such as these and be mindful of offers made by unlicensed operators. Getting to Sousse from Monastir is very easy to do, just hop on the bus or train from the city centre and in about half an hour you'll be there.

Once a prayer hall, the Ribat Museum showcases a varied collection of traditional fabrics and objects such as coins, jewellery and pottery that will transport visitors back to a time when Islamic art was highly coveted the world over. It also displays an astrolabe (a device which measures the distance between stars) dating all the way back to the year 927, right at the time when pivotal discoveries in astronomy and mathematics were taking place. The museum is accessible from the south wing of the Ribat.

To really get a deeper understanding of the area, head inland towards the golden sand dunes that are home to a myriad of hidden treasures. One not-so-hidden treasure is the amphitheatre of El Jem which was a set for the film Gladiator and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site owing to its size and importance during the Roman Empire. Due to the drifting sands of the desert, archaeologists periodically make discoveries here, the most recent of which is a large racetrack that had gone unnoticed for centuries. A private tour, which can last anywhere between four hours and three days, will take adventurers from Monastir through the surrounding Bedouin villages, past Kairouan to El Jem.