shelleyk

There are buses from Tunis to most big cities in Tunisia. Once you get to the cities, there are smaller van type vehicles (I think called louages, but I am not sure of that) that go to smaller towns, but they usually stop running at around 7PM. I understand you had a bad experience with OAT, but I have to say that this trip was very well run. But if you want to do it on your own, it is certainly doable by public transportation, and after reading your past trip reports, and about the trip you are currently planning for the fall, I think you'd probably be happier doing it on your own.

shelleyk

I should have said there are buses from Tunis to most big cities and from one big city to another. I noticed when researching my trip that there was good information on buses and some schedules in Lonely Planet and Rough Guide.

thursdaysd

Thanks shellyk - I don't want to travel later than 7:00pm, and while I suspect the Sahara may be difficult without your own transport, I think I'll skip the desert this time. I'm looking for mosaics and markets rather than sand and camels.

You're right, I'll likely be happier on my own - I'm thinking 10 days or so before taking the ferry for a return visit to Sicily and another to Genoa for Nice.

shelleyk

You'll find fabulous mosaics in northern and central Tunisia. There's a wonderful mosaic museum near El Jem where we saw finer and more mosaics than the Bardo Museum in Tunis. Your trip sounds wonderful. I really liked Genoa and would like to go back some day.

thursdaysd

Thanks for the recommendation for El Jem. Interested that you liked Genoa - it's not a place that gets much coverage.