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Witness / Attend in Douz
Festival International du Sahara de Douz
Douz, the palm-fringed oasis on the northern edge of the Grand Erg Oriental in Kebili governorate, is Tunisia's gateway to the Sahara, the launch point for camel treks and 4x4 expeditions into the dunes and the home of the country's oldest desert festival each December.
Run by Association du Festival International du Sahara de Douz, with published dates and a real program.
Dates & details verified against: National tourism board ↗
Why here
The Festival International du Sahara de Douz is Tunisia's oldest and best-known desert festival, held every December on the sand-rimmed arena at the edge of Douz where the palm grove meets the dunes. Over four days it gathers Saharan communities from across the Maghreb for camel and saluki racing, mounted Bedouin displays and traditional games, alongside poetry, music, a craft market and a re-enacted desert wedding. It grew out of the old camel market of the Mrazig nomads and took its modern form in 1967, and it is as much a real gathering of southern tribes as a show for visitors. Coming for the festival pairs naturally with a few days in the surrounding erg, and it is the busiest and most atmospheric time to be in Douz.
Best months
The festival runs for about four days at the end of December each year, usually in the last week, with a build-up of events in the days before. Late December in the Sahara is cool by day and cold at night, so warm layers matter. Exact dates are often confirmed only a month or so ahead and can shift. The main events take place in the festival arena on the edge of town, with free and ticketed elements.
Getting there & around
Douz is reached by road, roughly two hours from Tozeur and four to five hours from Djerba, and the festival arena is on the edge of town. Rooms in Douz and nearby Kebili fill up well ahead of the festival week, so book early or stay in a desert camp. Dates are announced late and can change, so confirm before fixing travel. Keep to the town and the established desert circuits rather than the remote border areas.
Skill levels: beginner
Schools & guides (1)
Festival International du Sahara de Douz
OrganizerThe Association du Festival International du Sahara de Douz runs the town's Sahara festival, one of Tunisia's oldest, each December in the arena at the edge of the dunes. Over four days it stages camel and saluki racing, mounted Bedouin displays, poetry, music and a craft and book fair celebrating the Mrazig tribe and Saharan nomad culture. The event grew from the old camel market and took its modern form in 1967; the 57th edition ran in December 2025.