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Visiting the Ancient Sites of Tunisia from El Kef

​Posted: February 2, 2020 | Tagged: Tunisia

​​Using El Kef as a base to visit the ancient sites of Makthar, Bulla Regia and Dougga.
Panorama shot of El Kef in Tunisia
​El Kef is the perfect place to use as a base for visiting the surrounding area. It is a small city perched on the edge of a hillside and is 900m asl so walk up through the medina to the fortress for awesome views across the city.
Backpacking in El Kef
Backpacking in El Kef
Backpacking in El Kef
Makthar with the Archaeological site of Mactaris is 70km away, Bulla Regia is 68km away and Dougga is 60km away.

I stayed at the Hotel Ramzi. Single rooms with either shared or private toilet/washroom (no showers) as of January 2020 were priced at just 25 Dinar, including a breakfast of the usual bread, butter and jam, coffee and an egg. No WIFI was available. The heating in the winter months was switched on at just after 7 pm and went off around midnight. It's quiet and very clean though a bit chilly inside. I guess it would be nice in summer.
Hotel Ramzi in El Kef
Sleeping in El Kef Hotel Ramzi
1 block away next to the STB bank is a café which has WIFI. Diagonally to the left from the hotel is La Poste where you can exchange money. Guichet no.11. No need to get a ticket. There's a well-stocked mini supermarket, "Drug Store" along the road heading east after Café Pyramide.
Backpacking in El Kef

Location of the Station Louages de Transport, El Kef

Visiting Mactaris as a day trip from El Kef

Louages from El Kef to Makthar cost 5 Dinar. Journey time is 1hr 20 +/-. It's a pleasant ride. The archaeological site of Mactaris is just on the edge of town, coming from El Kef.

Entrance fee is 8 Dinar. Coming back there is a through bus from Kairouan at around 3 pm. A bus going the other way also comes through at around the same time so make sure you get on the right one.

The stop is where the El Kef louages go from and across the road from the only hotel in town, the Hotel Makthar. Singles cost 60 Dinar and doubles, 90 Dinar.
Ancient ruins of Makthar in Tunisia

Visiting Bulla Regia as a day trip from El Kef

Louages from El Kef to Jendouba cost 4,300Dinar. Journey time is 45 minutes. Then it takes a bit more effort to get to the archaeological site of Bulla Regia.

You need to go North West up the P17 towards Firnanah but turn off right down the C59. Or take the smaller road.

It's all on Google Maps.

There are regional buses. SRT JENDOUBA but I don't know where you would catch them from. Bulla Regia is the name of the small village next to the ruins.

There is a boring looking Hotel right by the bus station. 35 Dinar for a single room, if you really need to stay the night. But Jendouba is a very dusty town with minimal charm.
​
I walked from Jendouba, which took 90 minutes including the stops to buy some bread and cheese and a(nother) bottle of cola. I gotta stop drinking this shit.

Entrance fee is 8 Dinar.

Coming back, just wait for the bus back to Jendouba.
ruins of Bulla Regia in Tunisia

How to visit Dougga from El Kef:

Dougga is one of the most beautiful historical landmarks in Tunisia.

Louages to Teboursouk cost 5 Dinar and the journey time is about 1hr. The trick here us to get off at Nouvelle Dougga, a few k's before (west) of Teboursouk.

This will put you 3km from the southern entrance to Dougga. Then after visiting Dougga, you can leave by the northern entrance, hit the main road and turn right and head into Teboursouk. Then you just have to find a the louage station for a ride back to El Kef. Or even onto Tunis.

Related Posts:

  • Northernmost Point of Africa
  • Visiting Kairouan, the 4th Holiest City in Islam
  • Visiting the UNESCO Roman Amphitheatre of El Jem
  • Driving across the Chott el Djerid Salt Lake
  • Visiting The Archaeological Site of Sbeitla
  • How to get from Sbeitla to El Kef
  • Visiting the The Makthar Archaeological Site​
  • Visiting the Historical Ruins of Bella Regia
  • Mini Guide to Tunisia
  • Tunisia Quick Index​

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