Tunisia: The Power of Deep Silence

A Somatic Walking & Saharan Journey

2027 Autumn Dates to be Determined

16 Days / 15 Nights (Tunis to Djerba)

(Draft Itinerary — Official Coming Soon. Contact me to join the priority notification list.)

In a world of perpetual digital noise and constant cognitive demand, uninterrupted silence is a biological necessity.

Tunisia is a land of dramatic contrast. Here, you will explore the layered stone antiquities of Phoenician and Roman civilizations, hike ancient Amazigh mountain ridges, and step into the vast, untouched stillness of the Sahara’s Grand Erg dunes.

This is a journey of intentional subtraction. We traverse this country not to check sights off a list or rush through itineraries, but to subtly remove modern distractions. When the hustled pace of the modern world falls away, your nervous system finally receives full permission to drop its guard.

Your internal rhythm begins to reset through daily qigong and intentional somatic movement, facilitated conversations about compassion, and physical walking across open landscapes. You will return home not just rested, but deeply settled—grounded, revitalized, and reconnected to your own sustainable natural pace.

Why Experience Tunisia as an Unhurried Somatic Journey?

• Walk Through Centuries of History: Explore the exceptionally preserved ruins of Carthage, Dougga, and the Roman Amphitheater of El Jem. Walking through these monumental stone sites invites a shift in perspective, contrasting modern daily stressors with the vast backdrop of human history and resilience.

• Immerse Yourself in Living Amazigh & Bedouin Culture: Experience genuine hospitality through shared regional meals, conversations with local villagers in the Dahar Mountains, traditional troglodyte cave homes, and evening campfire bread-baking under vast starry skies.

• Trek the Grand Erg Dunes on Foot & Camel: Immerse yourself in an authentic 4-day, 3-night nomadic camel caravan deep in the Saharan dunes. Travel at the unhurried rhythm of our Bedouin hosts, alternating between walking in the sand and camel riding. Participate in the simple daily rhythms of camp life—meal preparation, fire-building, and sleeping under the stars. Disconnecting from technology allows your neural networks to settle into the present moment. As twilight settles over the sand, gather around the crackling fire to share freshly baked sand-bread (taguella), listen to timeless desert songs, and connect with the rhythm and energy of the earth.

• Harmonize with the Landscape: Practice qigong daily, integrating present-moment awareness, intentional breathing, and mindful movement. Whenever possible, we practice outdoors in nature—on clifftops overlooking ancient valleys, in quiet courtyard gardens, and on the crests of golden dunes.
• Return Restored: Throughout the journey, we’ll have grounded conversations about self-acceptance, compassion, and joy. You will return home not just rested, but with a new, embodied way to maintain vitality, clarity, and ease in a busy world.

Your Adventure Day by Day:

Day 1 ~ : Board your overnight international flight from North America to Tunis, Tunisia (TUN).

Day 2 ~ : Arrive at Tunis–Carthage International Airport (TUN), where a private transfer will meet you and take you to our boutique hotel in Sidi Bou Said or Tunis, our home for two nights. Settle in, unpack, and enjoy your surroundings. Dinner is on your own this evening to allow for rest after a long journey. Overnight: Sidi Bou Said (Dar Said or similar) / Tunis (Hotel Belvedere Fourati or similar) 

Day 3 ~  (B/D): After breakfast, we meet our local tour leader and begin exploring ancient Carthage, the historic maritime hub of the Phoenician and Roman empires. Walk Byrsa Hill and the Antonine Baths, followed by a stroll through the whitewashed, bougainvillea-lined cobblestone streets of Sidi Bou Said. Enjoy lunch on your own at one of the village’s cliffside open-air cafes or bistros overlooking the Gulf of Tunis. In the afternoon, we explore the world-renowned Roman mosaic collections at the Bardo National Museum. After returning to our accommodation, we’ll gather for our first group welcome dinner. Overnight: Sidi Bou Said (Dar Said or similar) / Tunis (Hotel Belvedere Fourati or similar)

Day 4 ~ (B/L/D): After breakfast, we drive west into the Medjerda Valley, stopping in the 17th-century Andalusian town of Testour to visit its historic Great Mosque and famous counter-clockwise clock. We continue to ancient Dougga (UNESCO), widely recognized as the best-preserved Roman small town in North Africa. We take an unhurried walking exploration through its ancient Theater, Forum, subterranean baths, and iconic Capitol. Enjoy an included lunch at a local countryside restaurant, followed by a scenic afternoon drive through rolling olive groves to the holy city of Kairouan, where you’ll stay for two nights. Overnight: Kairouan (Hotel La Kasbah or similar)

Day 5 ~  (B/D): Today we explore Kairouan on foot, visiting the Great Mosque of Sidi Uqba (founded in 670 AD) and the ornate tilework of the Barber’s Mausoleum (Abou Zamaa al-Balawi). We walk the winding, whitewashed alleys of the UNESCO-listed Kairouan Medina, watch a traditional makroud pastry demonstration, and visit a local carpet-weaving guild. Lunch is on your own in the medina with recommendations from our guide. The afternoon is open for personal reflection, rest, or a visit to a traditional hammam. Before dinner, we’ll gather in the courtyard for grounding movement to revitalize our feet after walking the stone alleys, followed by unhurried observations of the tour so far. Overnight: Kairouan (Hotel La Kasbah or similar)

Day 6 ~  (B/L/D): We travel south toward the arid plains to explore the monumental Roman Amphitheater of El Jem, walking the high arched galleries and subterranean staging chambers of this ancient Colosseum. After an included lunch at a local restaurant en route, we journey inland into the Dahar Mountains. We visit the subterranean troglodyte cave dwellings of Matmata—including Hotel Sidi Driss—before ascending to the authentic Amazigh stone village of Tamezret for a sunset ridge walk and a traditional dinner. We’ll stay in this village for two nights. Overnight: Tamezret (Dar Ayed Stone Lodge or similar)

Day 7 ~  (B/L/D): After an early breakfast, we set off on the premier walk of the Dahar region: an active 4.5-mile ridge hike connecting the clifftop citadel of Chenini to the rock-hewn village of Douiret. Winding along the sun-bleached crest of the Dahar range, this trail threads past ancient olive terraces, abandoned stone dwellings, and sweeping canyon vistas, offering a spectacular location for qigong. After our hike and an included traditional lunch, we explore the multi-story vaulted adobe granary chambers of Ksar Haddada. We return to Tamezret for an unhurried late afternoon of conversation before enjoying an authentic Amazigh dinner. Overnight: Tamezret (Dar Ayed Stone Lodge or similar)

Day 8 ~  (B/L/D): After an early breakfast, we depart Tamezret and travel across the arid southern plains toward Tozeur, where we transfer into dedicated 4×4 vehicles for the rugged mountain oases near the Algerian border. We descend into the towering limestone walls of Midès Canyon, trading the desert sun for the cool shelter of the palm gorge as we explore the canyon floor on foot. We continue by 4×4 to Tamerza, walk to its natural waterfalls, and explore the historic abandoned mud-brick village before gathering for an included lunch. In the afternoon, we explore the lush springs and date palms of Chebika Oasis. In the late afternoon, we return to the oasis city of Tozeur, check into our boutique property, and gather for dinner. Overnight: Tozeur (Diar Abou Habibi / Dar Nejma or similar)

Day 9 ~ (B/D): We begin the morning practicing qigong in the dappled shade of towering date palms, alongside quiet, spring-fed irrigation channels, harmonizing our bodies’ energy with that of the lushness around us. An unhurried walking exploration leads us deeper into the 2,600-acre Tozeur Oasis and through the geometric, sun-baked brickwork of the 14th-century Ouled el Hadef Quarter. After lunch on your own in the medina, we cross the vast Chott el Djerid salt flat, pausing on the crystalline crust for wide-horizon mirage photography and quiet expanse walks. In the late afternoon, we reach Douz, the gateway to the Sahara, for an expedition briefing and gear pack-down with our desert crew before dinner. Overnight: Douz (Hotel Méhari Douz or similar)

Days 10, 11, 12 ~ (B/L/D): We leave roads and mechanical transport behind to venture deep into the golden rolling dunes of the Sahara’s Grand Erg. We travel in an authentic nomadic camel caravan, alternating between walking in the sand and riding alongside our gentle camels (covering 6–9 miles daily at an unhurried pace). We pause for shaded lunches prepared by our Bedouin camp chef. In the afternoons, we pitch our mobile wild camp in private dune valleys and practice qigong. Evenings feature campfires, freshly baked sand-bread (taguella), stargazing under unpolluted skies, and heartfelt conversations. Sleep in traditional Bedouin tents or under the stars. Overnight: 3 Nights in Mobile Bedouin Wild Camps

Day 13 ~ (B/L/D): We share a final sunrise walk in the dunes before concluding our desert trek, taking in the quiet expanse of the sand one last time. We meet our private air-conditioned coach, reunite with our main luggage, and take a scenic drive across the historic Roman Causeway onto Djerba Island. Leaving the arid desert behind, the air softens with the scent of salt air as the Mediterranean comes into view. We enjoy an included seaside lunch en route. After checking into our boutique coastal property, our home for three nights, enjoy an unhurried afternoon to wash off the sand, swim, and settle in before we gather for a group discussion of our observations from the journey so far, then head to dinner. Overnight: Djerba Island (Dar Dhiafa in Erriadh or Hasdrubal Thalassa Djerba)

Day 14 ~  (B/L/D): The morning begins with qigong on the beach followed by breakfast. We then take an unhurried walking tour through Djerbahood in the village of Erriadh, an open-air museum where over 250 curated street art murals blend into traditional whitewashed architecture and bougainvillea-filled courtyards. We gather for an included lunch at a shaded garden café. The afternoon is completely free for beach strolls, swimming, hammam treatments, or resting in a quiet courtyard. We’ll gather together again for dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Djerba Island (Dar Dhiafa or similar)

Day 15 ~  (B/D): We spend our final full day discovering Djerba’s multifaceted cultural roots. We visit the historic 2,500-year-old El Ghriba Synagogue, one of the oldest in the world, and explore the island’s unique Jewish-Muslim heritage. We wander through the covered spice, textile, and artisan stalls of the Houmt Souk Medina, where you’ll have lunch on your own. In the afternoon, we visit the cliffside pottery village of Guellala to see traditional underground kilns and the local heritage museum. In the evening, we gather for our celebratory group farewell dinner. Overnight: Djerba Island (Dar Dhiafa or similar)

Day 16 ~  (B):Following breakfast at the hotel, scheduled private group and individual transfers will take you to Djerba–Zarzis International Airport (DJE) for your connecting flights home. 

Included in Your Tunisian Somatic Tour:

• Daily Qigong: We’ll practice qigong daily and, on many days, have conversations about self-acceptance, compassion, and joy. If you are looking for a fast-paced tourist sprint, or you’re not interested in intentional movement or self-inquiry, this journey may not be the right fit.

• Small Group Size: Guaranteed cap of 12 participants to ensure a quiet, personalized group dynamic.
• 4-Day / 3-Night Saharan Nomadic Expedition: Fully supported mobile camel caravan with private Bedouin team, camp chef, riding/pack camels, mobile tents, sleeping mats, and all desert meals.
• Hand-Selected Accommodations (11 Nights): Character-rich boutique Dars, restored stone lodges, and heritage hotels chosen for charm, comfort, and quiet courtyard spaces. Please note rooms may be smaller than what you’re accustomed to in North America.
• Expert Local Guiding: Accompanied throughout by a licensed, English-speaking Tunisian National Tour Guide dedicated to active walking and cultural storytelling.
• All Ground Transport: Private executive mini-coach with dual-zone air conditioning, professional driver, and private 4×4 vehicles for mountain canyon excursions.
• Airport Transfers: Included arrival transfer from Tunis (TUN) and departure transfer to Djerba (DJE).
• Comprehensive Admissions: All entry fees for UNESCO sites, Roman ruins, museums, and village cooperatives.
• Pre-Arranged Ground Gratuities: All customary tips for our coach and 4×4 drivers, hotel porters, group meals, and the entire Saharan mobile camel expedition crew are fully covered and handled directly on your behalf.
• Most Meals: Daily breakfasts, all desert meals, and curated regional lunches and group dinners highlighting authentic Tunisian cuisine (dietary restrictions accommodated).
• The itinerary is subject to modification based on the weather, site opening hours, and the needs of the group.

Not Included:

• Discretionary gratuity for our licensed Tunisian National Tour Guide (suggested guidelines provided in your Travel Handbook) and personal hotel housekeeping.

• International airfare (into Tunis TUN, out of Djerba DJE).

• Personal travel insurance (mandatory, covering emergency medical and evacuation).

• Alcoholic beverages and discretionary personal snacks/drinks.

• Customary gratuities for local guide, coach driver, and desert support team.

Somatic Tour Facilitator Amy Pattee Colvin:

I have spent more than 30 years practicing meditation and 15 years teaching qigong, helping people step off the striving treadmill and settle their nervous systems through body-centered awareness.

Traveling with me is entirely different from a standard vacation or an exhausting sprint across the savannah. We don’t just observe the landscape; we harmonize with it. I guide these journeys with a toolkit built from two worlds: the practical lineage of Taoist philosophy and qigong, combined with the science-backed protocols of Stanford University’s Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT).

My role is to handle every logistical detail so you can drop your shoulders, quiet your analytical mind, and let the deep quiet and vast desert expanses restore your natural vitality.

Investment & Registration

• • Double Occupancy: $TBD per person

  • Single Supplement: $TBD (strictly limited based on boutique lodge allocations)

  • Deposit: A $1,000 deposit is required to reserve your space.

  • Final Balance Due: July 1, 2027 (Flexible installment plans available upon request).

  • Group Limit: Strictly capped at 12 travelers.

Registration Process

Spaces are reserved on a first-confirmed, deposit-received basis:

1. Email Directly: Contact me at confirming your interest and lodging preference (single room or shared). If you register as an individual traveler desiring a double room, I will match you with a roommate of the same gender.
2. Secure Your Space: Once room availability is confirmed, you will receive payment instructions for your $1,000 deposit.
   1. Preferred Fee-Free Methods: Zelle, Venmo, ACH Bank Transfer, or Personal Check.
   2. Credit Card / PayPal: Major credit cards and PayPal are accepted (a 3% merchant processing fee applies).
3. Welcome Packet & Preparation: Upon deposit receipt, you will receive the official Tunisia Travel Handbook containing gear and packing checklists, visa guidelines, and other helpful information.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Planning an international expedition of this standard requires early financial commitments to our boutique lodgings, transport fleet, and local Bedouin crew:

• Until 6 Months Prior to Departure: Your $1,000 deposit is 100% refundable.

• Between 6 Months and 90 Days Prior: Your deposit is non-refundable, but 100% transferable to any future journey led by Amy Pattee Colvin.

• Within 90 Days of Departure: All payments (deposits and final balance) become 100% non-refundable and non-transferable due to committed in-country vendor contracts.

Mandatory Travel Insurance

To protect your safety and financial investment, travel insurance is mandatory for all participants.

Your policy must include at least $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $250,000 in Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation (specifically valid for remote desert travel and walking activities). I also strongly  suggest comprehensive Trip Cancellation & Interruption coverage to protect against unexpected life events, medical emergencies, or flight disruptions. Proof of active policy coverage is collected 60 days prior to departure.

I recommend the independent comparison marketplace Squaremouth. This website lets you compare dozens of vetted providers side by side based on your age and travel dates.

Food budget is roughly $550 per person