Tunisia

Despite a manageable size of 500km², Djerba is North Africa’s largest island. It’s just a few kilometres off Tunisia in the Gulf of Gabès, a good 400km south of Sicily and about 100km from the Libyan border. Typical of the Mediterranean, Djerba remembers a tumultuous history: a revolving door of Greeks, Romans, Normans, Spaniards and Ottomans – it’s even alleged to have been a pirate hideout for a while. These days, Djerba is primarily an affordable package tour destination for sun-starved Europeans – it’s ‘Middle East lite’ just a 2.5-hour flight away. Its moderate conditions meant windsurfers never fell for the place, yet kiters now appreciate the island as an excellent learning and training area.