Berber villages Zaghouan excursion: Zriba Olia and the Temple of Waters

Our Berber villages Zaghouan excursion climbs to the abandoned stone village of Zriba Olia, stops for lunch in the mountain town of Zaghouan and ends at the Temple of Waters, where the Roman aqueduct to Carthage began. Pickup is at 08:00, and you are back at your hotel by 18:00 at the latest, often much earlier.

Duration: Day trip, 6 h 15 min
Price: from €70 per car
Pickup: At your hotel, 08:00 to 18:00
Stops: Zriba Olia, Zaghouan, Temple of Waters

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Why take the Berber villages Zaghouan excursion

Less than an hour from Hammamet, the Zaghouan massif feels a world away from the coast. On the Berber villages Zaghouan excursion, the three stops lie within twenty kilometres of each other, so the day is short on driving and long on time. You walk the lanes of a stone village, eat in a cool mountain town and stand where Carthage drew its water two thousand years ago.

the summit of Jebel Zaghouan above the town: 1,295 m
the length of the Roman aqueduct to Carthage: 132 km
door to door from Hammamet: 6 h 15 min
per car from Hammamet, up to four people: €70

How the day runs

Zriba Olia comes in the morning while the climb is cool, Zaghouan at lunch, and the Temple of Waters in the afternoon, in the shade of its trees. The usual pace takes 6 h 15 min door to door from Hammamet, with pickup at 08:00. Linger as long as you like: the driver waits, and the price stays the same as long as you are back at your hotel by 18:00.

Times from

08:00
Pickup at your hotel in Hammamet
45 min drive to Zriba Olia
1
Arrival around 08:45
Zriba Olia
Abandoned Berber village, about 1 h 30
The village clings to a rocky spur above a gorge. Its families moved to the new village below during the twentieth century, leaving the dry-stone houses, the lanes cut into the rock and the small white-domed zaouia as they were. Nothing has been restored: you climb up, walk between the walls and take in the view.
- Dry-stone houses on the rock
- The white zaouia at the top
- Views over the valley
2
Zaghouan
Mountain town, about 1 h 30
Zaghouan sits at the foot of a mountain that keeps it cooler than the coast. Andalusian families settled here in the seventeenth century and left a quarter of arched streets, fountains and a mosque. It is the place for lunch, in a simple restaurant on the main square.
- The Andalusian quarter
- Fountains and arched lanes
- Lunch on the main square
3
Temple of Waters
Roman nymphaeum, about 1 h
Above the town, a semicircle of niches surrounds the spring that once fed Carthage. Built in the 2nd century under Emperor Hadrian, it marks the start of the aqueduct that carried water 132 kilometres to the capital. The spring still runs, and the trees give welcome shade.
- The 2nd-century nymphaeum
- The start of the aqueduct to Carthage
- The view over the plain
18:00
Back at your hotel in Hammamet, at the latest
The usual pace takes about 6 h 15 min, so you have time to stay longer at any site

The route on the map

Zriba Olia, Zaghouan and the Temple of Waters lie within twenty kilometres of each other. Choose your pickup city, or a stop to see it up close.

Driving times on the map are Google estimates. Your driver knows the quicker roads.

Worth knowing about this day

This is a quiet, unpolished day in the mountains, far from the coach routes. Three things help set expectations.

An unmanaged site: Zriba Olia has no ticket office, lighting or safety barriers. The houses are open, but some walls and lintels are fragile, so stay on the visible paths.
The aqueduct on the way back: On the drive back towards the coast you pass sections of the Roman aqueduct crossing the plain. Ask the driver to stop for a photo.
A short, easy day: Little driving and plenty of time make this a relaxed outing. Many travellers are back at the hotel by mid-afternoon, with the rest of the day free.

Berber villages Zaghouan excursion prices

From Hammamet the day costs €70 for up to four people, and from Sousse, Port El Kantaoui or Tunis, €100. It is one of our least expensive full days, with a fixed price per car and no deposit. Only the Temple of Waters charges a small entrance fee.

Prices for the Berber villages & Zaghouan excursion, per car, by group size and pickup city
Travellers
1–4 people	€70	€100	€100	€100
4–6 people	€95	€125	€125	€125
5–8 people	€105	€135	€135	€135
8–12 people	€140	€170	€170	€170

Prices are per car, in euros, for the whole day, and they do not change with the season. Tap a city to update the timetable and the booking card.

What’s included

The price is per car, so it stays the same for one to four people. There is no deposit and no hotel markup.

Included

Private air-conditioned car, never shared
A driver who knows the three sites well
Fuel, motorway tolls and parking
Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or address
Stops for the aqueduct on request

Not included

Entrance to the Temple of Waters (around 8 dinars)
Lunch and drinks
A licensed guide, available on request at extra cost

Good to know

The village is a ruin on a rocky spur, and the mountain air is cooler than on the coast. Pack with that in mind.

A 15-minute climb
The path up to Zriba Olia is stony, with no handrail. Wear closed shoes, and take care after rain.
Bring cash
The entrance fee and the restaurants in Zaghouan take dinars in cash only. Allow around 20 dinars per person.
Cooler than the coast
The mountain air is fresher than in Hammamet. In spring and autumn, bring a light jacket.

Berber villages Zaghouan excursion: questions and answers

These are the questions travellers ask most about this mountain day. Each answer gives the short version first.

How long is the day?

The usual pace takes about 6 h 15 min door to door from Hammamet, with pickup at 08:00. Drives are short, so many travellers are back by mid-afternoon. You can stay longer anywhere you like, and the price does not change as long as you are back at your hotel by 18:00.

How much does the Berber villages Zaghouan excursion cost?

€70 per car from Hammamet for one to four people, and €100 from Sousse, Port El Kantaoui or Tunis. Only the Temple of Waters entrance and lunch are extra.

Is Zriba Olia worth visiting?

Yes, if you like quiet places with a story. Its families left in the twentieth century and nothing was restored, so you explore real stone houses on a rock with wide valley views. It sees few visitors, even in summer.

Is the climb to Zriba Olia difficult?

About fifteen minutes of steady walking on a stony path, with no exposed sections. Ordinary fitness and closed shoes are enough. From the car park you already see much of the village.

What is the Temple of Waters?

A Roman nymphaeum built in the 2nd century around the Zaghouan spring. It marks the start of the 132-kilometre aqueduct that supplied Carthage.

How far is Zaghouan from Hammamet?

Less than an hour by road, through farmland and olive groves. The three stops then lie within twenty kilometres of each other.

Is it suitable for children?

From about six or seven, yes: the day is short and exploring the village is fun. With younger children, the stony climb and the lack of barriers need constant attention.

Where do we have lunch?

In Zaghouan, between the second and third stops. Simple restaurants around the main square serve everyday Tunisian food for around fifteen dinars.

Plan your trip

Before you book, read our guides: day trips from Hammamet and the best time to visit Tunisia. They answer the questions most travellers ask about a day like this.

Every day trip below is private, priced per car and leaves from your hotel. Pick one to see its route, times and prices.

Book your Berber villages Zaghouan excursion

Tell us your hotel, your date and how many of you are travelling. You get written confirmation within two hours, with a fixed price per car and nothing to pay until the end of the day. Send your details now and we will arrange your Berber villages Zaghouan excursion.