Six years after the opening of the HI hotel in Nice, Philippe Chapelet and Patrick Elouarghi invite you in Nefta, south of Tunisia, for new experience. They once again chose the designer matali crasset to conceive and create the project. DARHI is the fruit of this collaboration, a contemporary accommodation between guest house and charm hotel, at the frontier of the desert and close to the city.

A trip there is all about initiation, discovery. It allows to be isolated, to take care of your body and mind, as well as exchanging and opening one’s self to the other in an exceptional natural and human environment.

DAR HI’s layout is one of a village in harmony with Nefta’s landscape. Surrounded by a wall like all local architectures, DAR HI follows the landscape’s shape and emerges from the ground.

DAR HI is not accessible by car so you will arrive on foot and once you are welcomed in you will take off your shoes and will be wearing local Tunisian slippers called babouches, your journey may begin...

Your wellbeing at DAR HI: massages, hammam, essential oils baths in the HI body and soul SPA, organic food and products served in a contemporary, ecological and sustainable surrounding created by matali crasset.

DAR HI is located in the historic centre of Nefta town, south of Tunisia at the frontier of the desert between Chott El Jerid and dunes of sand.

Nefta is famous for its location in a natural geological site and also for the thousands of palm trees with dates that are appreciated worldwide: the Deglet Nour dates.
The architecture of the houses is typical with walls made of whole bricks that have a distinctive ochre colour. Roofs and house doors are made of palm wood.
It is not surprising that this particular location has inspired a large number of movie directors, for example: Star Wars and the English Patient were filmed in the Nefta desert.
The number of inhabitants hasn’t increased for the last century and amounts to 22000 people.

The site facing South and West has an exceptional view upon the oasis, the village and the dry salted lake Chott El Djerid known for its mysterious and amazing sunsets.

Everything is conceived to enhance Nefta’s charm. DARHI is a protective haven, a retreat from the world’s hassle but also open to local life, landscape, natural rhythm.

Dar HI offer you the opportunity of acquiring a pilotis.

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For more information, click here: invest@dar-hi.net.

DAR HI is a guest house dedicated to well being to your body and mind.
A spiritual thalassotherapy.

Like the Hi hotel, DAR HI follows an ecological approach. From the beginning the construction site was lead respecting the environment and in collaboration with the local craftsmen using only local materials for the furniture, decoration, insulation.

DAR HI was developed in harmony with local life and its natural environment. It will also contribute to the preservation of Nefta’s oasis.

Ecology and fair trade are the foundations of Dar HI:

• The water is provided by a hot natural source that comes from the desert and that supplies the hammam as well as the swimming pool with hot water using geothermal energy.
• This hot water source also irrigates the oasis.
• In order to respect the environment, paint was replaced by construction lime from Théla using natural colorings.
• Food is provided by the organic vegetable garden that is within the oasis (no fertilizers are used).
• DAR HI’s project has no imported materials and only uses local products for example the palm tree wood.

These houses have exceptional views that are all different. Some have a panorama overlooking the horizon of the salted lake, others have a view of the palm grove and its very diverse landscape.

Both are very different, one is more intimate being high above the ground with a panoramic view and the other on the lower ground so more amongst the communal area.

High above the ground the room is structured around a bow window, as if the view was integrated in the room. A small table to nibble or work, a large bed that hides part of the shower and toilets compose the room.

Down below it is like a small village square. Everyone has a space that is protected from the sun. The square, the bar, the water point and small fountains are all places to be easily together.

Three areas called troglodytes with small bricks from Nefta are completely independent with their own private terraces but also linked together by a circular area from one to the other. Collective life is articulated around a small square with a small water cascade and a bread oven. These rooms can be rented entirely for a stay with friends or family. The freshness reminds of the typical troglodytes houses of Matmata.

The three areas called dunes are at sand level. They are like open spaces that the wind would have sculpted. The inspiration was the bivouac that allows you to modulate your comfort as you wish. It’s an incredible experience living within the dunes, creating your own nest, feeling closer to the desert. They are all different, one has a loggia with a natural light and an indoor garden, the other very spacious has an external terrace and a large window with a view of Nefta, the third one also very spacious and fresh. It offers a view on the date grove with an independent room and an alcove wooden terrace.

DAR HI has a natural source of hot water flowing under its basement.
A natural geothermic principal, the hammam will not need any other generator to stay warm. The pool also has natural warm water.

In the heart of DAR HI, the HI body and soul is dedicated to well being for body and spirit. It has several massage and body care areas, a bathtub with oriental relaxing essential oils, a meditation room, and a very spacious traditional hammam. In the pure oriental tradition the hammam is heated with steamed hot water that comes from the desert. You can change in the entrance, then discover a room for body care (soap, scrubbing …) and a room that is warmer. The sinks are in Foussana marble and the wall covered of faience designed by matali that use a combination of colours from turquoise blue, light blue, acid green and orange.

DAR HI proposes various types of body care within the house. The traditional essences that have therapeutic virtues from the region of Djerid are associated to the natural cosmetic products of REN (English brand) to guaranty a high quality of body care. Some specific body care will be available with clay and salt based products, thanks to the proximity of the Choot-El-Jerid but also with warm sand. The benefits of massage are the high priority of DAR HI with traditional Arab massage, scrubbing within the hammam and different oriental techniques (thaï, ayurvedic…) that will be put in place by Bertrand Poncet who is our well being partner at the HI Hotel. The masseurs are all local and will be trained by several techniques by Bertrand Poncet’s team.

The meals are prepared by local cooks. They will cook traditional dishes from the region ‘as if you were home’ and will go pick every morning vegetables from our garden.
Everyday the dishes will be prepared and served throughout the house even in the oasis under the palm trees shadow.

The vegetable of the garden will all be organic and DAR HI will encourage the villagers to reuse the forgotten agricultural lands.
DAR HI has committed to buy other villagers production to encourage the cooperative system.

The shop selection created by Frédérick.e Grasser Hermé will allow you to discover typical products and aromas.
This boutique as a food bazaar will be full of local products but also other objects, books, cooking utensils...

FeGH has an amazing personality and has a pronounced taste for extravaganza and out of the ordinary.

www.superettefegh.com

> Go to HI Bookings website !

ALL INCLUSIVE Price includes airport transfer return, the full board, soft drinks and local beverages, access to traditional hammam, heated swimming pool with jets massaging and laundry.

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Many worldwide airlines distribute the international airport Tozeur-Nefta*
Daily worldwide flights via Tunis with Sevenair
Weekly direct flights with TunisAir directs from Paris, Lyon, Nice, Milan et Madrid
Weekly direct flights low cost Transavia from Paris

EASY FLIGHT
We can help you schedule your flights send your request to info@dar-hi.net


  *DAR HI is 15 minutes drive from the airport (18 kms)

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HI life HI LIFE est né de la rencontre fusionnelle entre des autodidactes passionnés par l’hôtellerie, Philippe Chapelet et Patrick Elouarghi, et une designer visionnaire tournée vers les autres, matali Crasset. HI LIFE décline une nouvelle façon d’appréhender un projet hôtelier en introduisant des nouveaux codes hôteliers dans des typologies de lieux totalement différents. HI LIFE se manifeste par un besoin d’empathie et de recherche du détail tout au long du process du projet de création mais se poursuit aussi dans la gestion au quotidien de l’activité. HI LIFE se caractérise par son attachement aux valeurs actuelles de contemporain, de design, de musique, d’écologie et de commerce équitable. HI LIFE devient la base identitaire d’un projet ayant pour objectif de développer cette idée nouvelle du tourisme contemporain et environnemental.

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