Preparations in Tunis 🇹🇳

As we continue with the crazy times of 2025, I am concluding my preparations for a type of journey I’ve had on my to-do list for quite some time – a bike tour. Having been inspired by YouTubers dating back to 2019, I’ve been waiting for the right time to take a bike trip. Over the years I’ve found a series of excuses to delay it and the idea has evolved from an idealistic year-long trip along the Silk Road to this shorter trip, which will start and finish with good friends in familiar places.

The goal is to get from Tunis to Sarajevo, using only a bike and ferries. The ferry rides make the route considerably shorter, but not necessarily a walk in the park. The bulk of the ride will cross Sicily and Southern Italy from Palermo to Bari. I’m excited to return to Italy and visit the less touristy side of the country, however I’m also considering the potential challenges of crossing this particular region. The regions we will be riding through are not touristic hubs and lack the typical amenities you can find in many other parts of Italy. We will likely have to spend nights camping. Also, bike shops may be few and far between so hopefully we are able to manage any issues with our basic tools and repair kits.

In order to prepare, I’ve returned to Tunis, to visit some good friends and set up my bike-touring rig. My plan is to meet up with another friend in Palermo before the ride, so while we coordinate, I’m taking some extra days to relax in Tunis and settle myself before what is likely to be a month on the road. Over the years, Tunisia has become my most-visited country, which is ironic because at one point I swore I would never return. I guess that is proof that it is usually the people that can make a place great.

While in Tunis, I’ve taken my bike out for some rides around the area to get used to the new setup and to enjoy the view of the city via bike. I am not located downtown, but traffic can still get hectic at times, and biking in the street isn’t super common.

You can see what it’s like in this video:

In addition to getting in some rides, I’ve been hanging out, and even took a short trip with friends up to the northern coast of Tunisia to enjoy a weekend out of the city. For anyone dreaming of a nice Mediterranean vacation, I advise them to consider Tunisia before Italy or Greece, because you can find amazing beaches, towns and nature, without all the tourists and at a fraction of the cost. In the evenings you can also head into town and find some locally-caught seafood for dinner. It was my first time visiting this area of Tunisia in four years, but I was surprised to find that it still was relatively calm as the locals don’t start having weekend beach holidays until June.

With my departure fast approaching, I’m excited to embark on a new kind of trip and also have it book-ended by visits with great friends. It also feels like a good time of year to get out there before it gets too hot, but I’m sure there are some interesting days ahead. My hope is for this trip to push me out of my comfort zone a bit and provide me opportunities to experience travel in a new way. We shall see!

You can follow the progress of the tour here!