Sahara & Nature

Lézard Rouge and the Selja Gorges

اللزار الأحمر

Gafsa

The Bey’s train through a canyon

No ratings yet

Give your rating

Le lézard rouge (11)
Le lézard rouge (11) · L’auteur n’a pas pu être identifié automatiquement. Il est supposé qu'il s'agit de : Elcèd77 (étant donné la revendication de droit d’auteur). · CC BY-SA 3.0

From Metlaoui, an old train built for the Bey of Tunis runs into the Selja Gorges, a canyon otherwise almost impossible to reach. The round trip takes under two hours, with stops for photos above the wadi.

History
The line was laid for the phosphate trains, which still use it. The tourist service has been suspended several times.
Customs
Check that the train is running and the departure time before you go, at Metlaoui station or with a Tozeur agency.
Food
Eat in Tozeur, an hour away.
Best time
October to April.
The carriages were built in 1910 and reserved for the Bey and his court, with a restaurant car.

Page updated October 2026. Read more : Wikipedia. Photos: Wikimedia Commons.