Star Wars fans may be more familiar with the planet Tatooine than the country of Tunisia. In reality, they are one and the same. Tatooine was the first planet introduced in the original movie, “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope,” and of the ten Star Wars movies made to date, four were partially filmed in southern Tunisia. Many of the sets are well-preserved and open to visitors, who will recognize them as iconic Star Wars locations, including the Lars Homestead and Mos Espa, where Anakin Skywalker lived before being discovered by Qui-Gon Jinn.

Matmata: The Lars Homestead

The Berber town of Matmata features several underground troglodyte dwellings, one of which served as the Lars Homestead in “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope,” where Luke was raised by his aunt and uncle. This same dwelling also appeared in “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.” Today, the homestead has been transformed into the Hotel Sidi Driss, an affordable option beloved by Star Wars enthusiasts. It offers 20 basic rooms and a restaurant, where fans can mingle and admire props taken directly from the movie sets.

Tataouine: Mos Espa Slave Quarters

The Tunisian town of Tataouine, while not a Star Wars set, inspired George Lucas in naming the Skywalkers’ home planet. It serves as a fantastic base for a full day of Star Wars sightseeing, being close to Ksar Ouled Soltane and Ksar Hadada. A Ksar is a fortified Berber village, with both Ouled Soltane and Hadada used to film scenes in the slave quarters of Mos Espa. Anakin Skywalker resided in these slave quarters with his mother, Shmi, in “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.”

Tozeur: Mos Espa, Jedi Duel & the Star Wars Canyon

Tozeur is another excellent destination with numerous Star Wars locations nearby. The Sidi Bouhlel ravine appeared in several scenes from the original Star Wars movie, including the abduction of R2D2 by the Jawas and the Tusken Raider attack on Luke Skywalker. Moreover, the vast salt pan of Chott el Djerid served as the exterior for the Lars Homestead, and was also featured in the final shot of “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.”

Additionally, fans will recognize the area’s dramatic desert ridges (known as the Yardangs) as the backdrop for the duel between Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul in “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.” West of the Yardangs lies the abandoned Mos Espa set, where Lucasfilm crews built much of the spaceport from scratch for “The Phantom Menace.” The advancing desert sands give it an eerie atmosphere of abandonment, with landmarks such as Watto’s shop, Sebulba’s Café, and the pod-racing arena still clearly visible.

Djerba Island: Mos Eisley Cantina, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s House

Situated just off Tunisia’s southern coast, Djerba Island boasts several Star Wars locations. Visit the coastal town of Ajim to see the buildings used for the exterior shots of the Mos Eisley Cantina, where Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi ventured in “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.” Just outside this town, an old mosque served as the house for Obi-Wan Kenobi during his exile. Additionally, other Djerba Island buildings were featured in deleted scenes, specifically Anchorhead’s Tosche Station.

Star Wars Tours

While it’s possible to rent a 4×4 vehicle to seek out the locations mentioned above independently, many are located deep in the desert and can be challenging to find. One of the optimal ways for Star Wars aficionados to explore Tunisia’s iconic film locations is by joining a dedicated tour like this one offered by Tunisia Tours. Spanning seven days, the tour covers all the most significant sets and comes with an expert guide and driver. In addition to visiting Star Wars sites, participants have the chance to experience other enchanting Tunisian attractions, including the historic medinas of Tunis and Kairouan.