Port el-Kantaoui is on Tunisia's central coast, in the region known as the Sahel. It lies about 10km (6 miles) north of Sousse and 130km (80 miles) south of Tunis.
Port el-Kantaoui is on
Tunisia's central coast, in the region known as the Sahel. It lies about 10km
(6 miles) north of Sousse and 130km (80 miles) south of Tunis.
Established in 1977, Port
el-Kantaoui was Tunisia's first purpose-built tourist resort. Today it is one
of the country's most popular destinations. Its chic exterior owes nothing to
history. Rather, this report has been built to cater for up-market tourists who
are looking for luxury in and stunning surroundings. It is modelled on the
French Riviera's Port-Grimaud and built in an Andalucian-Moorish style around a
huge marina. Its complex of hotels is surrounded by the cobblestone streets of
the perfectly replicated medieval medina.
It has very little to
do with Tunisia; you would be hard pushed to find any of the traditional
trappings that you find in other resorts. However, it is that particular
feature that attracts many people every year.
To the north of the marina is a beautiful wide stretch of
beach. Lined with hotels, most of the beach is private however there are some
good public stretches too offering a wide range of water sports.
Overlooking the waters of the Gulf of Hammamet, the town and
beach are backed by acres and acres of orchards and olive groves. Ancient it may not be, but Port El Kantaoui is
still a stunning place to stay.
Port El Kantaoui is a
fantastic all year round destination. Basking in over 300 days of sunshine and
very little rain, it is little wonder it such a popular resort. Temperatures in
the main summer season, April to October, average from 23°C to 33°C.
The average monthly
temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
16 |
18 |
19 |
22 |
25 |
30 |
33 |
33 |
30 |
26 |
21 |
18 |
|
Night |
7 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
15 |
19 |
22 |
22 |
21 |
17 |
12 |
9 |
The water front and
‘medina’ both have numerous stores selling souvenirs such as bird cages, toy
camels, potter, jewellery and carpets. However these do tend to be rather
over-priced. There is a large supermarket – Magasin General – which is good for
clothes and food. The town also has several small boutiques for swimwear.
If you are looking for
a real Tunisian bazaar experience then you should make the shot trip to Sousse.
If you are looking for a resort with
a buzzing nightlife, then Port el Kantaoui isn’t for you. If you are looking
for clubs and discos then you will have to look to the in-house entertainment
in the resort’s hotels. This is where most of the entertainment can be found.
The other main source of nightlife is
the bars and restaurants around the marina area where you can enjoy a fabulous
meal and indulge in a drink or to while watching the world go by.
Alternatively, about the only non-hotel place to hang out is the club Rediguana
on the route Touristique which has international DJs performing in the main summer
season. The other option is the Casino Caraibe in Sousse.
If you want to get away from the
beach for a while to see what else this beautiful area of Tunisia has to offer,
here are a few suggestions of nearby excursions you can take:
Crime isn’t a big
concern in Port el Kantaoui, however you are still advised to take the usual
precautions with your valuables when out and about, especially in crowded
areas.
You are advised not to
drink the tap water and you should always ensure you have comprehensive medical
cover in place before travelling.
