The Star Wars filming locations around Tozeur can be visited by car in one or two days: the Mos Espa set near Ong Jmel, the Sidi Bouhlel canyon and the Chott el-Jérid, where the very first footage of the saga was shot in March 1976. Tozeur is the ideal base — its airport is 4 km from the centre — on one condition: knowing where a rental car can go, and where it is better to hand over to a local 4×4.
Mos Espa and Ong Jmel: the most complete set
Mos Espa, young Anakin Skywalker's home town in The Phantom Menace, was built from scratch in 1997 in the desert north-west of Tozeur and never taken down. Around twenty domed buildings are still standing, under constant threat from the advancing dunes.
Right next to it, Ong Jmel — "the camel's neck" — is a rock formation overlooking the flats of the Chott el-Gharsa. It is the most photographed viewpoint in the area, at sunrise as at sunset.
With a rental car: the last part of the approach is a track, often sandy. The rental conditions require you to drive on roads open to traffic and exclude from the insurance any damage on private or closed roads, as well as damage to tyres and wheel rims. The safest plan is to drive to the start of the track, then book a short 4×4 excursion on the spot with a local driver who knows the state of the sand that day.
The Sidi Bouhlel canyon
Nicknamed the "Star Wars canyon", this gorge near Tozeur appears in A New Hope: it is where the Jawas capture R2-D2 and where Obi-Wan Kenobi comes to Luke's rescue when he is attacked by Tusken Raiders. The site was also used for Raiders of the Lost Ark.
As with Mos Espa, the final approach is not paved: ask in Tozeur about the state of the track before taking a city car down it, or combine both sites in the same 4×4 excursion.
The Chott el-Jérid, where it all began
The great salt lake between Tozeur and Kébili is crossed by a paved road, which makes it the easiest Star Wars site to reach in a rental car. It was on its shores, in late March 1976, that the crew shot the first scenes of the saga — the exterior of the Lars homestead, Luke's home on Tatooine.
Stop at the lay-bys along the road to walk on the salt crust, but never drive onto it: under a surface that looks solid, the ground can be waterlogged.
Planning the day
- Morning: Mos Espa and Ong Jmel at sunrise, on a 4×4 excursion from Tozeur.
- Late morning: the Sidi Bouhlel canyon, in the same excursion if possible.
- Afternoon: rest through the hottest hours, then Nefta, 25 km from Tozeur, and its palm-filled corbeille.
- Late afternoon: the Chott el-Jérid road, for the low light across the salt.
With an extra day, the mountain oases of Chebika, Tamerza and Midès round off the stay; the whole route is set out in our southern Tunisia road trip.
Going on to Matmata and Tataouine
The other famous sets are further away. In Matmata, 221 km from Tozeur, the troglodyte Hotel Sidi Driss was used for the interior of the Lars homestead. Further south-east, Ksar Ouled Soltane near Tataouine — the town that gave Tatooine its name — was used for young Anakin's quarters in The Phantom Menace.
These stops are easier to reach from Djerba, 134 km from Matmata. If your trip includes the island, read our route for driving round Djerba.
Which car to rent in Tozeur
To link Tozeur, Nefta, the Chott el-Jérid and the mountain oases, an air-conditioned city car is enough: all these roads are paved. The Suzuki Jimny, the only 4×4 in the catalogue, adds useful ground clearance on rough roads, but the same rules apply: no off-road driving.
Flying in? Collect the car at Tozeur-Nefta Airport. To start from the town centre, see the car rental in Tozeur page.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Mos Espa set?
In the desert north-west of Tozeur, near the Ong Jmel rock formation. The set was built in 1997 for The Phantom Menace and can still be visited.
Can you get to Mos Espa in a rental car?
Only as far as the start of the track. The end of the route is an often sandy track, outside the roads covered by the insurance: a 4×4 excursion with a local driver is the safest option.
How long do you need to see the Star Wars sites around Tozeur?
One day covers Mos Espa, Ong Jmel, the Sidi Bouhlel canyon and the Chott el-Jérid. Allow one or two more days for Matmata and Ksar Ouled Soltane.
Which Star Wars site can you reach on a paved road?
The Chott el-Jérid, crossed by the road between Tozeur and Kébili, and the Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata, which is in the village.
