Tunisia is a beautiful country with picturesque beaches and many places of interest. As with any country you have areas that are wealthy and other areas that are poor. The houses are mostly traditional white buildings typical of a North African desert nation. However, as with books, the cover can be deceiving and the outside of the houses often hide a very luxurious inside with floors decorated with marble and many more modern luxuries.

Tunisia is a treasure trove of ancient empires and has a rich cultural history. The Phoenicians were the first visitors to the Barbary Coast, home of the Berbers, the indigenous people of Tunisia where they began establishing trading posts in 1200BC.

It is of no surprise that Tunisia is home to some of the worlds finest Roman sites and ruins as it was once the heartland of Roman Africa. In its recent history Tunisia was occupied by France until the late 1960’s and consequently has strong French and Western influences. Arabic and French are the main language spoken in Tunisia with many locals speaking English as a third language.

Tunisia is a true shopper’s paradise, if you love to haggle, you'll adore the souks where almost any price goes. The medina's or old towns, which are home to the souks, are real lively places where craftsmen can still be found practising their trade on the streets, and where each street represents a different craft. The nobler trades, such as jewellers, silk merchants, perfumers and booksellers are normally located centrally around the mosque, and the practical trades, such as pottery, can be found towards the outskirts of the town.

The climate of northern Tunisia is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild winters. Temperatures in July and August can reach 35ºC+, with up to twelve hours of sunshine per day. Please note that due to high temperatures at this time we recommend that no major surgeries are undertaken during this period.