not sure if the star wars set is on a stand alone trip but it is on the 2 day sahara safari which costs about 90 pounds. but the star wars is very dissapointing just one small room with faded pictures, we went 19-07-08

Hi Sarah - must agree with rovert here. The Star Wars part of the Sahara Trip is frankly pathetic and I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone going on the Sahara Trip just to see that part. Years ago, part of the 3 day 4 wheel Sahara Trip also included a very very very long trip into the middle of nowhere to see the Star Wars set, which consisted of a few ramshackle buildings that were apparently Princess some thing of other's home. It was such a disaster that we four thought it hilarious - but not quite so funny during the very very very long trip back!! Jenny x

There are two places in Tunisia where you can visit sets from the Star Wars Movies.
The first one is I believe near Matmata and is where some scenes for the origional 1977 Star Wars Movies were shot. It's one of the buildings that provides underground homes for the people of that area, at the time of my visit it was being used as a hotel, very shabby with a few Star Wars Posters spread around. It was used in the film I think as the home of Luke Skywalker or a bar where loads of ET's met.
The second one is in the desert near Chot El Jerid, it's out in the desert and has buildings and mock weapons and has a much more sci fi feel, this site was used in the first prequel as the home of Anakin Skywalker.
I believe that the two day desert tour only visits the first site and it's certainly a disappointment, the normal troglodyte homes and the town of Matmata are far more interesting.
The second one Mos Espa I don't think is on the normal tourists excursion route as it is a long way from the coastal resorts, it's actually not far from the Algerian border. I got to see it because I was staying in the town of Tozeur and had gone out into the desert to do some 4W drive dune bashing and just had a short break to walk around the set..It all looked a bit amateurish.

Well .. we have stayed in Skanes there are as the others have said,i cant remember there being a specific star wars trip...we have friends who offered to take us to Matmata in a old merc ,what a day...we took the scenic route right down the coast we left about 5am and got back at midnight...but we did allot of sight seeing..have some great picks of Luke's home ....oh and some rock ....but from what i can remember the sites are quite spread out....we wouldnt have been able to get to others in one day....but all in all i have some brilliant memories and some top bragging !! have fun...

sounds fantastic we go to tunisia two weeks today, we are staying at marhaba palace in port el kantoui can anyone tell us if we can do the trip to the stars wars set as we plan to do the 2 day safari also what clothes is best to wear for this trip any help will be gratefuln as our first time to tunisia.
thanks phil and jacquie

Thanks for your replies everyone. All in all, sounnds a bit disappointing. Wwe are only visiting for a week so was hoping for a day trip, but it sounds so dire i think we will spend the time on the beach!

Cheers again,
Sarah

Don't let the reports put you off seeing something more than just the beaches of Tunisia. Even if the Star Wars part of the trip is a bit disappointing the desert, some of the towns and the roman ruins are definitely worth seeing. Most people who take the two day Sahara trip say that although it's tiring it's worth doing. I would think there are also a few one day tours to interesting places..
I have only visited Tunisia once, I went on a last minute holiday because the trip I was planning to Libya had fallen through and I wasn't expecting much ( I hadn't had time to do much research) but I really enjoyed my holiday and will go back in the not too distant future.

Presty 1967
I'm pretty sure you will be able to do the tour from PEK but from what I understand it's more than just a visit to the 1977 Star Wars Set, as most previous posters have said that's a bit of a disappointment. I don't know whether any tours go to the set out in the desert where parts of the prequel was filmed.
If you do decide to go it will be very hot in the desert at this time of year, wear very loose clothing possibly cotton. It can cool down rapidly at night so you may want to pack a cardigan. Take plenty of water and maybe some toilet tissues (I often find a lack of it in public toilets).

Hi Judeth - the trip to Cot el Jarid is included in the 3 day 4 wheel drive Sahara tour, but it is a heck of a long journey to see very little. I have been on both tours in the past and prefered the 4 wheel tour - mainly because there were only 4 of us and 2 quides. Jenny x

The desert is a long way from most of the resorts. A good trip to go on would be El Jem, Sfax and/or Matmata, Tataouine. El jem has a very well preserved Colliseum (spelling?), Sfax a lovely medina where tourists do not get hassle and Matmata/Tataouine underground dwellings and Star Wars. I have to admit that the Star Wars set was not particularly impressive. Another Star Wars set is, as mentioned, near Tozeur but that is a long journey.
There are many interesting things to do in Tunisia if you don't want to spend the whole time on the beach, but if you try to travel too far it will never feel like it was worth it. The desert is best done over two days, believe me, I go there for 18 days at a time, although I don't wish to take anything away from those that have been on the desert trip, you cannot see much in that short time. A pirate ship would be a good excursion, no doubt, and not too hot.

I've been out to Matmata etc. a couple of times. The first time was by car with Tunisian friends and we actually stayed a couple of nights as the car broke down. We were invited to dinner by the family of the man who had shown us round his cave home earlier in the day and managed to get a real feel of the place, even running a young lad to school who we'd passed on the road the next morning. The second time I booked a proper tour with Saphir Voyages. The guide was excellent and we covered a lot more sites, but rather superficially. It was well worth the money however and I wouldn't have missed either experience.