Short private day
Zaghouan Day Trip: Zriba Olia Berber Village and Temple of Waters
This Zaghouan day trip stays inside one mountain range, just 45 minutes from Hammamet. You climb to Zriba Olia, an abandoned Berber village, lunch in the old Andalusian town of Zaghouan and end at the Roman Temple of Waters. A private driver collects you from your hotel, and you pay for the car, not per person.
- Duration
- 6h15
- From
- €70 per car, 1 to 4 people
- Pickup
- Your hotel, 08:00 or 09:00
- Best-value day
- Hotel pickup
- No deposit
- Free cancellation 48 h before
Your day
- 1Zriba Olia
- 2Zaghouan
- 3Temple of Waters
How the Zaghouan Day Trip Runs
The three stops of the Zaghouan day trip sit within 20 km of each other, so the day has plenty of slack. You climb Zriba Olia while the morning is cool, have lunch in Zaghouan and reach the shaded Temple of Waters in the afternoon. Because the drives are short, you can linger in the village without putting the rest of the day at risk.
- 09:00
Pickup at your hotel
About 45 minutes from Hammamet or Tunis, 1 h 15 from Sousse.
- 09:45
Zriba Olia
A 15-minute climb, then free time among the stone houses. About 1 h 30.
- 11:30
Zaghouan
Andalusian quarter, fountains and lunch on the main square. About 1 h 30.
- 13:30
Temple of Waters
The Roman spring temple above the town, in the shade. About 1 hour.
- 15:15
Back at your hotel
Mid-afternoon return, with the evening free.
Stop 1: Zriba Olia, the Abandoned Berber Village
Zriba Olia, also written Zriba El Alia or Zriba Loulia, sits on a rocky spur above the Hammam Zriba gorge. Its people left in the 1960s for the new village below and left their dry-stone houses standing. The walls, lintels and small white mosque are still there. There is no ticket office and no barrier: you climb for 15 minutes and wander freely.
- Time here
- About 1 h 30
- Entry
- Free, no ticket office
- Climb
- 15 min on a stony path
- Shoes
- Closed, with grip
What you see
- Dry-stone houses, untouched since the 1960s
- The white mosque and shrine at the top of the village
- Steep views into the Hammam Zriba gorge
Stop 2: Zaghouan Town and Its Andalusian Quarter
Zaghouan sits at the foot of a 1,295 m peak, so it is 5 to 7 °C cooler than the coast in summer. Families from Andalusia settled here in the 17th century and left a quarter of porched houses, fountains and a mosque. This is the lunch stop, at one of the simple restaurants on the main square, for about 15 dinars a meal.
- Time here
- About 1 h 30
- Entry
- Free
- Lunch
- About 15 TND, cash
- Air
- Cooler than the coast
What you see
- The Andalusian quarter and its 17th-century fountains
- Views up to Jebel Zaghouan from the streets
- Simple Tunisian restaurants around the main square
Stop 3: The Temple of Waters and the Carthage Aqueduct
Built in the 2nd century under Emperor Hadrian, the Temple of Waters wraps the Zaghouan spring in a half-circle of niches that once held statues. From here, an aqueduct carried water 132 km to Carthage, one of the longest in the Roman Empire. You can still see its arches across the plain on the way back. The site is shaded, the spring still runs, and an hour is enough.
- Time here
- About 1 hour
- Ticket
- About 8 TND
- Shade
- Yes, under trees
- Built
- 2nd century AD
What you see
- The Roman nymphaeum and its half-circle of niches
- The start of the 132 km aqueduct to Carthage
- A wide view over the plain from the temple terrace
Zaghouan Day Trip Price per Vehicle
The Zaghouan day trip is one of our lowest prices, because the drives are short and only the temple charges entry. It costs €70 per car from Hammamet, or €17.50 each for four people. From Sousse or Tunis it costs €100. You pay for the vehicle, not per seat, and there is no deposit.
| Pickup from | Car · 1 to 4 | Van · 5 to 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Hammamet | €70€17.50 each for 4 | €105 |
| Sousse / Port El Kantaoui | €100€25 each for 4 | €135 |
| Tunis | €100€25 each for 4 | €135 |
Included
- Private air-conditioned car or van, never shared
- A driver who knows the three sites, all day
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel
Not included
- Temple of Waters ticket, about 8 TND
- Lunch and drinks
- A licensed guide (we can add one for a fee)
Tips Before You Go
Zriba Olia is not a managed site, so a little care goes a long way. Here is what to know.
Wear closed shoes
The 15-minute path is stony, with no handrail, and slippery after rain.
Stay on the paths
The houses are open, but some floors and lintels are fragile. There are no barriers.
Bring cash
The temple and the restaurants take dinars only. About 20 dinars each covers the day.
Watch young children
From about age 6 the day is great fun. Younger ones need a hand on the climb.
More Day Trips From Your Hotel
Liked the Temple of Waters? The Carthage and Sidi Bou Said tour shows where its aqueduct ended. For a longer day of Roman ruins, try the Dougga and Bulla Regia tour. See every route on our Tunisia private tours page.
Zaghouan, Zriba Olia and the Temple of Waters: Common Questions
The climb, the price, lunch and children.
What does the Zaghouan day trip include?
Three stops in the Zaghouan mountains: the abandoned Berber village of Zriba Olia, the town of Zaghouan and the Roman Temple of Waters. It takes about 6 h 15 from Hammamet.
How much does a Zaghouan day trip cost?
€70 per car for 1 to 4 people from Hammamet, and €100 from Sousse or Tunis. The price is for the vehicle, not per person. Only the temple ticket, about 8 dinars, and lunch are extra.
Is the climb to Zriba Olia hard?
It is a steady 15-minute walk on a stony path, with no steep drops on the path itself. You need closed shoes and normal fitness. From the car park you already see much of the village.
What is the Temple of Waters?
A Roman spring temple built in the 2nd century under Hadrian. It marks the start of the 132 km aqueduct that supplied Carthage. The spring still runs into its basin.
Is there a guide on site?
Your driver knows the three sites well and talks you through them, but is not a licensed guide. We can add one for a fee: ask us before you book.
Where do we have lunch?
In Zaghouan, between the second and third stops. Simple restaurants on the main square serve Tunisian food for about 15 dinars a meal. Lunch is not included, so you choose.
Book Your Zaghouan Day Trip
Send us your hotel, your date and the number of travellers. We confirm by email within two hours with a fixed price for the car and no deposit. Pick your date and book your Zaghouan day trip.
from €70 per vehicle
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