Carthage — Dido's Lost Trick
Uncover the hidden truth behind Dido's legendary oxhide ruse. Was it genius or a veiled conspiracy? Decode ancient clues across Carthage's ruins to reveal the founding secret before it vanishes forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 814 BC, Didon, the cunning Phoenician queen fleeing Tyr, arrived on these Tunisian shores
Carthage — Dido's Lost Trick
You are a trusted agent of Queen Dido, tasked with uncovering the true secret behind her legendary 'oxhide trick' as Carthage rises in 814 BC.
Dido, the cunning Phoenician
Dido's Trick: The Founding Myth of Carthage
« Tantum quantum unius bovis tergus possit amplecti. »— Justin, Epitome de Trogue Pompée, XVIII, 5.12-14
The Birth of an Empire: The Story of Dido and Carthage
Dido, or Elissa, was the princess of Tyre, a prosperous Phoenician city. After the assassination of her husband Sychaeus by her brother Pygmalion, King of Tyre, Dido fled with loyal followers and a large part of the royal fortune. She crossed the Mediterranean, seeking a new home for her people. Her journey led her to the shores of present-day Tunisia, where she met the Berber King Iarbas. The latter, distrustful and greedy, offered to sell her land no larger than what an oxhide could cover. Dido, a woman of strong character and rare intelligence, accepted the proposal, not without already having a plan in mind.
Legend has it that Dido then had the oxhide cut into extremely thin and long strips, which she assembled to delineate a vast perimeter, encompassing the Byrsa hill and part of the coast. On this territory, marked by her clever trick, she founded Qart-ḥadašt, the 'New City,' known as Carthage. This city would become one of the greatest maritime and commercial powers of the ancient world, rivalling Rome for centuries before its destruction in 146 BCE. The legend of Dido is a fascinating testament to the ingenuity and determination of a mythical founder.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Ancient Strategy
Uncover the secrets of the geographical trick that founded Carthage.
In Dido's Footsteps
Relive the epic journey of an exiled queen, founder of a legendary empire.
Myths and Realities
Unravel the thread between legend and historical facts that shaped Carthage.
Dido's ingenuity charted Carthage's destiny. Will you retrace her secret plan?
Uncover the oxhide legend and reveal the borders of a nascent empire.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
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Your turn to play
Walk through the emblematic sites of Carthage to solve the riddles and reconstruct Dido's legendary outline. Will your cunning be equal to that of the queen to unlock the secret of the New City's foundation?
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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