Matmata lies in the dry hills south of Gabès, roughly three hours by road from Djerba. Its Berber inhabitants long lived underground: each home was built around a large circular pit dug into the soft rock, with rooms, storerooms and stables tunnelled into its walls. The design kept families cool in summer and warm in winter.
Many families have moved to the new town, but some troglodyte houses are still lived in and a few welcome visitors for a small fee, usually with tea and bread. The best known, now the Hotel Sidi Driss, was used in 1976 as the interior of the Lars family homestead — Luke Skywalker’s childhood home — in the first Star Wars film, and some of the set decoration remains.
Most visitors reach Matmata on a full-day 4x4 tour from Djerba that also includes Tataouine, Ksar Ghilane or the dunes.
Top things to do: Matmata
Visit a troglodyte home
Families open their homes to visitors, showing the courtyard, kitchen and bedrooms. A tip or small fee is expected.
See the Star Wars hotel
Hotel Sidi Driss welcomes visitors to the courtyard where Luke’s home was filmed. Fans can even stay the night — rooms are basic.
Look out over the landscape
The pits look like craters from the hills around the village — a strange, lunar view.
How to get to Matmata
- From Djerba: around 3 hours by road via the Ajim–Jorf ferry or the causeway and Gabès.
- With a tour: 4x4 day trips from Djerba combine Matmata with Tataouine or Ksar Ghilane.
Insider tips
- Day trips are long — 7 to 12 hours. Bring water, sunscreen and a scarf.
- Ask before photographing residents and their homes.
- Combine with an overnight Sahara trip if you have time.
Best tours for Matmata
These well-reviewed experiences are the easiest way to see Matmata:
Day trip from €65 From Djerba: Matmata, Tataouine & Star Wars Sites by 4x4, with Sunset
A long day by 4x4 that combines Matmata and Tataouine with Star Wars filming locations and finishes with sunset in the desert.
- Matmata’s underground houses
- Tataouine and Star Wars locations
- Desert sunset by 4x4
Day trip from €59 Sahara Dunes, Matmata Caves & Star Wars Set by 4x4 (Small Group)
A small-group 4x4 day from Djerba or Zarzis combining Matmata’s pit homes, a Star Wars set and the dunes and spring of Ksar Ghilane.
- Small group by 4x4
- Matmata troglodyte homes
- Ksar Ghilane oasis and dunes
Overnight safari from €42 Sahara 2-Day 4x4 Tour with a Night in a Desert Camp
Two days by 4x4 that take in the south’s greatest hits — the granaries of Tataouine, the pit homes of Matmata and the dunes and warm spring of Ksar Ghilane — with a night in a desert camp.
- Tataouine and its ksour
- Ksar Ghilane and its warm spring
- Matmata’s underground houses and a night under the stars
