Oasis Ksar Gilan in Tunisia
Oasis Ksar Gilan (or "Kehenchir Taburnuk") is located in the south of Tunisia and is the most southernmost point in the course of tourist excursions in Sahara.
Oasis small – approximately 700 x 1200 meters. It looks like the Oasis tourists represent – Fennik Palm, Berber Awnings, in the center of the reservoir.
Now there are several hundred people here, they are engaged in servicing tourists, the dates are growing, diluted goats and sheep.
In Oasis, Xar Gilan tourists spend the night in local hotels, swim in the local hot spring, watch the ancient Roman fort. The most interesting entertainment is walking in the desert on camels, jeeps, quad bikes or buggia, because it is in Ksar Gilan a desert begins "with a capital letter"!
Big East Erg
Through Oasis Ksar Gilvan passes the border of the Big Eastern Erga. It is here that the real sugar begins.
The word "erg" is translated from Arabic as the "sandy sea", and this is really a sea of sand, where there is no vegetation at all. Big East Erg is the largest in sugar, the area is 100,000 square meters. kilometers. The verakhans here reach a height of 300 meters.
And really looks like the sea, only orange. Watch the photo below, click on the photo to enlarge.
Lovers of Frank Herbert and a series of books "Dune" to look at it must necessarily. This should look like Planet Arrakis.
How to get
In Oasis, Ksar Gilan does not go public transport. You can get to a taxi, or on a rented car, or with a tussing.
Taxi
Getting to the taxi – it is expensive. In the counter on such a distance, no taxi driver will go, to negotiate the fixed amount.
From the island of Djerba for 250 dinars will go any, for 120 dinars few people agree to go. Travel within these numbers. From the Zarzisa can be reached for 100-200 dinars. Current course National Currency See our page "Tunisian Dinar".
Waiting for the rest of the resorts of Tunisia, we recommend rearing the train to Gabes and from there you can already take a taxi for 100-200 dinars. Naturally, a trip by train and a taxis is long, and in this case, come to Ksar Gilan, you need to minimum for 2 days.
By car
Those times have passed those times when Ksar Gilan could only be reached by dirt roads on an SUV or take a camel. Now the asphalt road is laid here.
On the rented car from Jerb Island, go south through the Roman Road, then south by C115, fold on C118 in the Western direction and follow the Medelenina. Next to the west of C113 and C114 before the intersection with the road C211, turn to the left (southern direction). 1 kilometers turn on the road to the oasis Ksar Gilan, focus on the pointer on the road.
On the rented car from other resorts go to Gabes. Next to south of C107, turn right on C104, then before intersection with C211 and left on C211. 1 kilometers turn on the road to the oasis Ksar Gilan, focus on the pointer on the road.
As part of the excursion
To try all entertainment in Ksar Gilan, you need to go here on a separate excursion. Now (approx.: This article is updated in early 2020) such excursions to the oasis offers Russian tour operator Pegas Touristik and local excursion agencies. Excursions for 1 full day spend only for guests of the Zarzist and Djerba. Price – 80-100 USD.
In Oasis, Ksar Gilan stop and even spend the night spent the sightseeing groups during the tour "Excursion to Sahara". Recall that there are dozens of different excursion programs under this title.
Important Council! If you want to get to the oasis of Ksar Gilan, then when buying an excursion to sugar, you will definitely ask whether the excursion comes here. It happens that the oasis is passing by.
In most cases, during the stop in the oasis of tourists only ride camels and show the sands of the Big Eastern Erga. Even on swimming in the source does not remain.
Important Council! If the excursion provides overnight stay in Ksar Gilan, then definitely check in which hotel you will spend the night. Here are two hotels, and the difference in their gigantic.
Where to spend the night – hotels, awnings, camping
Campement Yadis Ksar Ghilane – This is an excellent hotel, the rooms in which are spacious and beautiful awnings. Watch the photo near, click on the photo to enlarge.
In the awning there is air conditioning and heater, TV, separate bathroom. If such a hotel could be assigned the stars, he would be a "five". Tents are located around the thermal source, sun beds and umbrellas are provided.
If we are going on your own, it is almost impossible to book a room in Campement Yadis. Most often, the hotel is "scored under the urban" by guests from excursion groups. If still it turns out to find a free number, then the price is from 200 USD per night.
Residence La Source Ksar Ghilane – This is a mini-hotel in the north of oasis. Reviews of tourists about it only negative. Bathrooms in terms of rooms joint, bed linen is rarely erased, uncomfortable beds.
If you drive yourself, you can book a room in Residence La Source through many hotel sites. Price – from 60 USD per night.
Private awnings Associated by agreement with local owners. Prices – from 30 USD, quality – from SMARD to acceptable.
Entertainment – on a camel in the desert
For an additional fee from 20 dinars, you can ride through the expanses of the Big Eastern Erga on the camel, buggy or quad bike. In some excursions, camel riding included in the price.
Entertainment – thermal source
A small pond, powered by a thermal source, is located in the center of the oasis. And although it is located on the territory of the Hotel Campement Yadis, the passage to it is free, swimming for free. Guests of the hotel can take advantage of sun beds and umbrellas.
Water is rich in gray and is considered healthy.
Interesting fact how this hot spring was formed. After the Second World War, oil was looking for oil, they drilled a well, and water was poured out of it, and not oil.
What to see – Fort Tisavar
This Fort gave the name of the terrain and an oasis. The word "KSAR" translates from Arabic as a "fortress".
This fort built the Romans as part of the defensive line Limes Tripolitanus, guarding coastal cities from Berber tribes. Fort built around 184. Soldiers from the III of August of the Legion served here. Presumably, by 314, the Romans left the fort.
After the Romans, it was used by Berbers as a grain storage, so it was relatively well preserved.
Fort dimensions – 25×34 meters. At first glance, nothing special in it, but when you look at it, look back around. What you see? Only sand! Think about how much the stone and for what distance I had to transport the Romans to build this fort! Titanic work.
At the entrance you will see the inscription ov_opt_max_vic, part of the letters. The inscription states: "Jupiter Almighty Winner".
All archaeological finds from Fort can now be viewed at the Bardo Museum in the capital.
What to see – stele in memory of the battle of Ksar Gilan
From November 19 to March 10, 1943, a battle of Ksar Gilane took place here. Forces L (Force L) as part of the 8th British army (parts of the French fought as part of the British army) under the command of Philippe leaktells fought with parts of the Wehrmacht.
The French are very proud of that company. Already on April 12, the lecturer entered Kairuan, later on May 7, the allies entered the city of Tunisia (the capital), and on May 13, the Germans and Italians fully capitulated at Cape Cap Bon.
Battle of Ksar Gilan is considered the initial point of the victorious company. Not far from Oasis Ksar Gilan installed a memorable stele in honor of the battle.
Important advice
– Do not miss the opportunity to buy dates from Oasis Ksar-Gilan. These are very rare dates, which can hardly somewhere else can buy. Date is one of the most popular gifts, and read the full list in our article "16 of the best ideas – what to bring from Tunisa";
– Ksar Gilan is a very hot place. Therefore, in no case, do not forget about the safety of the sun. You need to close your shoulders, the headdress is required. About the wardrobe and precautionary measures, read in our articles "Havings for tourists in Tunisia" and "What to take with you to Tunisia".
Interesting excursions in Tunisia, and read interesting and cognitive articles about this country on our website (Links below).
