A private compound of cabins built on stilts in the middle of a Saharan oasis, Diar Abou Habibi is a unique place to stay in Tunisia, one of the most fascinating travel destinations in the world. The property sits amidst more than 200,000 palm trees, providing summer shade and a delightful play of light throughout the year.

This unique accommodation is the result of efforts by the visionary Cheraït family, who have taken on a mission to increase awareness of the world around us.  The palm grove’s robust appearance belies the desert environment’s fragility.   The units on the Diar Abou Habibi property were constructed in a manner that had a low impact on the site; building materials, resource management, and the other aspects of the compound’s construction and operation place great importance on environmental friendliness.

Though only 17, the various cabins offer diverse options ranging from one room to a house-like, three-bedroom lodge (on the ground) with a kitchenette. All have outdoor decks to provide space for enjoying the scenery, the climate, the fresh air, and the night stars. Unexpectedly, fine French furniture is mixed with the works of local artisans to provide a unique decor that is as eclectic as it is comfortable. Not luxurious in the sense of a five-star urban hotel, Diar Abou Habibi nevertheless offers a relaxing sanctuary that reminds us it is possible to pare down the complexities of life without sacrificing the quality of rich experiences.

Next door to Diar Abou Habibi is the Chak Wak cultural park, an unusual attraction owned by the Cheraït family that provides an educational walk through history encompassing various topics ranging from dinosaurs and Emperor Hadrian to world religions. Though its units are equipped with microwave ovens, Diar Abou Habibi has no restaurant of its own; the restaurant at Chak Wak serves as the de facto restaurant for guests, who will undoubtedly be eating for the first time in an open-air restaurant with walls adorned with quotations from famous philosophers.

Visitors coming to the town of Tozeur toward the end of the calendar year will enjoy the annual harvest of Tunisia’s most prized dates, the fingers of light (so named for their translucent flesh), which at Diar Abou Habibi hang from the trees in abundance, ripe for the picking. The northern autumn is also the start of the Sahara safari season when Diar Abou Habibi, whose name means ‘houses of the sparrows’ for the birds flitting between the trees, serves as an ideal base for exploring the dunes of the Sahara and the surprising sights of the Tunisian desert. These include an ancient Roman fort and several sets constructed for the 1977 film Star Wars, which remain remarkably intact and popular with visitors. The management of Diar Abou Habibi can easily arrange day trips or overnight excursions.

 

 

 

Written by: Robert La Bua – Global Travel Connoisseur

 

 

 

 

 

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