We couldn’t find an English or Italian-speaking TUI tour for the date we wanted (only French or Polish were available), so we decided to try a private option and booked with Didon Tours. Communication was super fast — they replied on WhatsApp within hours with all the details, which was really convenient.
The price was only slightly higher than a big group tour (around 20 euros:), but the experience was on another level. We were picked up right from our hotel in Hammamet by a clean, comfortable Suzuki with air conditioning. Our driver was calm and careful, and our guide Ammar met us at the hotel entrance.
Ammar looked like a university professor — very elegant, very knowledgeable, and his Italian was great. During the drive to Tunis, he told us many interesting things about Tunisia: history, education, traditions, and modern life.
Our first stop was the central Medina in Tunis. We walked along and then entered a huge covered market. Being two women with a local guide made the visit stress-free — nobody bothered us, and we could just enjoy the atmosphere. Ammar seemed to know everyone there; he’s clearly been doing this for decades. He showed us where gold, carpets, and oils were sold, introduced us to craftsmen, and even stopped by a workshop where we saw how traditional hats are made by hand. When we said we wanted to buy oils, he took us to a calm, beautiful shop where we could smell and choose what we liked.
After that, we headed towards Carthage and Sidi Bou Said, stopping first for lunch. The restaurant was nice — clearly a place used to hosting tourists (there were even some Americans from a cruise). Lunch was tasty, and Ammar handled all the logistics — we just sat and enjoyed our meal.
In Carthage, we visited the panoramic view of the ancient port, then the archaeological site with the Roman baths and museum — entrance tickets were already. Then we stopped at the ancient water reservoirs before heading to the Blue City, Sidi Bou Said.
Having our own car was a big advantage — the driver dropped us off at the top of the hill, so we could walk down at our own pace and enjoy the views. Ammar even bought us local doughnuts (thank you, Ammar!) and showed us a few good souvenir shops. My mother-in-law, who speaks Italian, was especially happy — she said it was one of the few times on our trip she understood everything perfectly.
The ride back was smooth and quick. Highly recommended)
Chaouki was a great guide. He is a very knowledgeable man regarding history and even learned Latin in Rome! His energy was boundless in showing us his country and the sights we asked to see. He worked tirelessly to give us the time and space to appreciate the various sights we visited, answering questions with humour and perfect English! He was very hospitable in ensuring our comfort and suggested lots of good photo spots. The communication from this company was excellent. If you want to learn more about Tunisia, i would have no hesitation in recommending Chaouki!