Category: General

It would be fair to say that the Tunisian tourism industry has stuttered immensely over the last few years. Once upon a time, it was one of the tourist hotspots for Europeans. After all, this was a place that was just three hours away from the UK, yet offered everything from immense cultural experiences, right the way to the typical beach activities that so many Britons love on a sunshine holiday.

Suddenly, this was all to stop. It wasn’t because of a downturn in economy, or one of the “usual” reasons behind a decline in tourism popularity. Instead, this setback came in the form of terrorism. A terror attack on one of the country’s popular beaches resulted in the death of 38 people, and since then its tourism industry has struggled to recover.

Unsurprisingly, the UK Foreign Office strongly advised against travel there, and this meant that a nation which was once accepting hundreds of thousands of UK tourists every year was now limited to a paltry few thousand.

 

The 2015 terror attack

The terror attack that changed everything occurred in 2015. An ISIS gunman strolled onto a popular stretch of the beach in Sousse, which is surrounded by hotels which were commonly frequented tourists. Upon opening fire, 38 people died. 30 of these were from Britain.

The police were eventually able to stop the man, going by the name of Sifeddine Rezgui, but the damage was done. This was an attack that effectively killed the tourism industry, even though it wasn’t the only one over that period. For example, just several months before 22 people were slaughtered at the Bardo Museum in nearby Tunis.

 

The Tunisian response

As you might expect, a lot of questions were raised about the Tunisian security services.

These questions have led to aid from other nations. For example, Britain has helped the country to overhaul all of its security at leading airports including the likes of Djerba, Monastir and Tunis. This overhaul has included all of the latest security systems, including explosive detection.

It’s not just airports which have benefited from changes though. For example, the National Guard, which operates the country’s port security, has been helped by the Ministry of Defense to enhance this.

From a more general point of view, MI6 has now got a much better relationship with the Tunisian authorities and will pass on any information in relation to intelligence.

While Britain has provided great assistance to Tunisian recovery efforts, other countries have also played a part. One of the big problems of Tunisia is actually the close proximity of other countries, such as Libya. This is where America and Germany have come into play, with both of these nations helping build a 120km wall to run along the Libyan frontier. Not only this, drone patrols are just around the corner, in a bid to further enhance the security of this area.

The Americans have had an impact with other borders as well. If we turn to Ras Ajdir, the Americans have installed x-ray scanners which will profile 10% of vehicles that pass through the border. These scanners are regarded as some of the best in the business, and can immediately see straight into a vehicle.

As you can see, from an official point of view the security in the country has progressed significantly. However, it’s not just the police and airports which have been aided from an international perspective. Counter-terrorism detectives from the Metropolitan Police have trained hotel staff in the main tourist areas to look out for suspicious activities. Then, in relation to the beach where the terror attack occurred, this is now armed with more than 60 CCTV cameras and a police presence on standby.

 

Is 2018 the year where things start to get back to normal?

Following all of the work which has been outlined above, it probably won’t come as a surprise to see that Tunisia is on the verge of kick starting its tourism industry again. Of course, it’s not going to get to the heights of pre-2015, but the signs are there that small steps are at least being made.

For example, one of the biggest tourism operators in the UK, Thomas Cook, is set to launch direct flights to Tunisia from some of its major airports such as Birmingham, Manchester and Gatwick. These flights haven’t just been launched, but they are actually fully-booked. In other words, tourists really want to visit Tunisia again.

If we turn our attention to another big player, TUI, they are set to launch flights in May this year.

Admittedly, the numbers are still low. If we turn to the example of Thomas Cook, they will still be transporting just a quarter of people who visited the country back in 2014.

Nevertheless, it’s baby steps, and for a country that has experienced the amount of turmoil that Tunisia has, it’s all steps that will hopefully result in a full recovery in the long-term.

Renowned for its glorious beaches, it can be easy to forget some of the finer details of Tunisia. As the title of this article may have given away, today’s advice is going to surround horse riding in the country and exactly what you can get out of it.

If you’re something of a casual rider, it could probably be argued that you can simply pick up a leaflet and find a local provider. However, anything more than this requires a degree of planning. Firstly, there’s your own preparation – this is a surprisingly strenuous activity that can be made even more difficult courtesy of the potentially challenging weather.

Then, there are the routes itself. Some are a joy to behold and while the main image in your head might be a horse galloping across the Sahara – this isn’t where it stops. Tunisia is home to some of the most stunning attractions, and through the course of this guide we will talk through some of them.

Following on from the above, let’s find out the best ways to take on horse riding in Tunisia.

 

An overview of the horse riding experience in Tunisia

Perhaps the best thing about horse riding in Tunisia is the sheer variety that you have available. If you happen to be a complete and utter novice you can be catered for, while experienced riders who want to gallop across the Sahara are also in luck.

In relation to the beginners, there are umpteen schools across the country which can help you out in this regard. One of the most popular comes in the form of the Royal Carriage Club Riding School and while this does attract riders of all abilities, some of their most popular experiences are short rides across the beach. The best part of this is that it is completely suitable for the family, and includes activities such as BBQ and other social activities.

Some of the more advanced rides take on a much different turn. While horse riding is of course the principle attraction – it’s not the only element of your trip. The tour operators are keen to take you to as many attractions as possible – and the fact that it’s all done on horseback simply adds to the charm.

For example, if you were to ride through Southern Tunisia, you might be taken to cave houses or an attraction like El Ksour – which is an old fort disguised in the mountains. Even if you have something of a short ride in the Sahara, there are countless oasis’ and hot baths to see and again, it means that you’re not going to be sat on the saddle all day, every day. Variety in these trips is pretty key.

If you do opt for a longer trip, it goes without saying that you will need some form of accommodation as well. All of the tour operators will look after this for you, with some providing an “under the stars” camping experience while others may provide a hotel. In the case of the hotel, even though you are venturing into the unknown somewhat you don’t need to worry about staying in style. Some of these hotels are luxurious to say the least, and it’s not unheard of to have spa facilities amongst other things to do. Admittedly, this will vary depending on the tour you choose – but what we’re trying to say is that horse riding in Tunisia can be luxurious if that’s your preference.

 

What are the best ways to lose weight and prepare for horseback riding in Tunisia?

This next section of the article might come as a surprise – most probably because it’s so long.

Admittedly, if you’re heading off into the sunset on horseback for an hour or so, the amount of preparation is going to be minimal. In fact, we’d suggest that you only need to take care from a clothing perspective, with a scarf being the principle item that you take along with you. If you are out in the Sahara, or even riding along the beach, the chance of sand flying into your face is naturally high and a scarf can guard against this (as well as providing protection for your head if the temperature rises).

It’s when that you start to consider longer rides that you have to take into account more advanced preparation though. A huge misconception is that it’s just the horse’s physical condition that needs to be acceptable and while this is naturally the case, you really shouldn’t forget your own general health.

Firstly, there will be times that you go off on-foot. This might be to lead the horse over rocky terrain, or just to explore the nearby area. What we’re trying to explain is that this isn’t an experience where you will be seated for the entire duration.

On the subject of seating, it’s not like lying back in an armchair either. Your horse will be galloping at pace, and you will be leaning forward. This can have really tough effects on your body and you will start to feel the strain if you’re not in optimum fitness condition.

It’s because of this that you will need to prepare your body. Having general fitness is a given, but you should also consider building up your core strength and the strength in your hips and legs.

In relation to the former, you should be turning to exercises like sit ups and yoga poses. Additionally, simply sitting down with good posture is an excellent exercise to prepare for horse riding – and can start to prepare your body for the strain. By having a solid core, your balance will improve significantly and this will just make things a whole lot easier when you have to stay on the saddle for long periods.

When it comes to your hips and legs, exercises such as ball hip adductor exercises are perfect for this. One of the best is sitting on a chair with a hard ball between your knees – before edging forward so you are on the edge of the chair. By doing this, you will be practicing “hanging onto the horse” with your thighs – which you will obviously be doing for hours on end if it’s a long ride.

 

Summarizing horse riding in Tunisia

Hopefully, we have provided a good indication on what horse riding in Tunisia entails. If you are looking for a serious ride, there are umpteen treks to choose from and you can actually fill out your entire vacation through them.

At the same time, failing to plan for an experience like this is asking for trouble. The trails are by no means easy on your body – and you should make sure you prepare accordingly before even attempting a ride of more than a few hours.

There are many different museums in Tunisia, and each one has something interesting and unique to offer. The more you learn about these places, the more you will want to visit them while you are in this country. These museums are a great place to go if you want to learn more about Tunisia’s rich culture and history.

 

Dar Am Taieb

Dar Am Taieb is an art museum filled with all kinds of contemporary and surrealist pieces that you will be sure to love. This is truly one of the hidden gems on Tunisia, and it’s a great attraction that you’ll definitely want to make your way around to. While this museum is not widely advertised like some of the others, it is well worth going to see. There is a little gift shop in this museum where you can pick yourself up a souvenir so you’ll always remember your visit.

 

Bardo National Museum

The Bardo National Museum is another place that you will want to make a point of visiting while you are in Tunisia. This museum has an extensive collection of Punic jewelry as well as a number of Roman mosaics that are stunningly breathtaking. As one of the oldest historic monuments in the country, this museum is filled with all kinds of interesting art pieces and historical artifacts that will teach you a lot about this country.

 

Carthage National Museum

The Carthage National Museum can be found on Byrsa Hill. It has a wide range of important and fascinating archaeological pieces on display that are quite impressive. There is a lot of research that takes place here, though there are a lot of exhibits open to visitors. The visually stunning mosaics, statues, ceramics and metal objects that this museum has to offer make it well worth the trip, regardless of where in Tunisia you are staying. This is definitely one of the more interesting and historically important museums in Tunisia.

 

Djerba Traditional Heritage Museum

Located in Houmt Souk you will find the Djerba Traditional Heritage Museum. It is widely regarded as having some of the most interesting and impressive collections of historical artifacts in the country. This is by far the best place to visit if you have a desire to learn more about the rich heritage of Tunisia and its people. When your visit this museum you will get all kinds of information on local traditions and customs, including pottery, agriculture and fishing.

 

Chemtou Archaeological Museum

The Chemtou Archaeological Museum was originally built on what was a gold marble quarry at the time. It is a great place to learn about the history of Tunisia and how it has grown and changed over many years. You will be able to learn a great deal about the ancient Numidian City of Simithus as well as regional geology and other things. If you are a history buff and interested in how Tunisia has become what it is today, this museum is a great place to visit during your trip.

 

Sousse Archaeological Museum

The Sousse Archeological Museum has lots of important and interesting things to see inside its towering walls. This museum has the second-largest collection of Roman mosaics in the country. Some of the mosaics that are on display in this museum can be traced back to 500 BC. The tombstones, frescoes and ceramics that you will also find in this museum will provide you with a fun and educational visit. It too is a wonderful place to go when you want to learn more about the fascinating country of Tunisia.

 

Musee du Patrimoine Traditionnel Djerbien

This is one of the more famous museums in Djerba, and it’s the perfect place to go when you want to learn more about the region as a whole. Everything about this museum is unique and interesting, including the material it is made of.

This museum is made of a rare white stone that is only found in Africa. There are all sorts of old and important artifacts on display, and they will teach you more about Tunisia. When you go to this museum you will also learn about the habits of locals and see some of the traditional crafts they have made over the years. If you are curious about Tunisia’s culture and traditions, this museum will provide you with plenty of information in a visually stunning way.

 

El Jem Museum

The breathtaking mosaics that can be found inside the El Jem Museum are an amazing sight to behold, and they attract people from all over on a regular basis. While this particular museum may be located in a very rural area, it still has a lot to offer its visitors. You will see some of the oldest pieces of Roman ruins as well as other artifacts from ancient dig sites throughout the country, including heads of statues and much more. There is a very impressive jewelry collection that you will not want to miss as well. If you thought the Bardo Museum was impressive, just wait until you set foot in this one.

 

Lalla Hadria Museum

The Lalla Hadria Museum is located on Djerba Island, and it will provide you with a plethora of information on local traditions and culture. This is one of the best museums in the country to visit if you want to get to know its native people a lot better. The variety of handcrafted pieces that are on display are quite remarkable to say the least. The extensive collection of furniture, carpets, jewelry and clothing will provide you with a very pleasant visit. The craftsmanship of the art pieces that are on display is incredibly impressive. One of the great things about this particular museum is the fact that it has both older and contemporary pieces of all kinds.

 

These museums are excellent places to visit when you are looking for a fun way to spend your days while visiting Tunisia. You will get the chance to learn a lot about this country’s history and culture in a visually interesting way.