Houmt Souk — Secret of the Skull Tower
Houmt Souk, 1560: Uncover Dragut's hidden code in the Skull Tower massacre. Decode clues across souks and forts to expose the corsair's final secret before it vanishes forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1560, the infamous Ottoman corsair Dragut stormed Houmt Souk on Djerba, annihilating a Christian alliance of Spanish, French, and Maltese knights
Houmt Souk — Secret of the Skull Tower
You are an Ottoman scout, dispatched in 1560 by Ghazi Mustapha to the strategic port of Houmt Souk, Djerba.
Your mission is to thwart Spanish plans and
Delve into the intrigues and bloody battles of the 16th century in Houmt Souk, following the footsteps of Ottoman corsairs and the fortresses that shaped Djerba's history.
The story that haunts this land
Your journey begins at Borj Ghazi Mustapha, the Ottoman fort built in the 16th century to defend the port of Houmt Souk against Spanish invasions. Also known as Borj El Kebir, this imposing edifice with its ramparts and Ottoman-era cannons is the historical starting point for themed treasure hunts about Dragut and the Skull Tower. It was here that Commander Ghazi Mustapha organized the defense of Djerba, making this place a symbol of the resistance of southeastern Tunisia.
Just 500 meters away, the Port of Houmt Souk awaits you. A strategic corsair port in the 16th century, it was the scene of many of Dragut's maneuvers. This location is an alternative starting point for the 'Houmt Souk Harbour' routes for odyssey-themed puzzles. Now a peaceful marina, it maintains a direct link with the history of the surrounding fortifications and offers an exploration of the historic district on foot, where every alley tells a part of Djerba's maritime history.
The Souk of Houmt Souk, a labyrinthine central market, is a must-visit for treasure hunts. Its narrow streets, about 3 km from the port in total, offer an authentic atmosphere with colorful souks. This commercial nerve center for centuries is immediately adjacent to Borj Ghazi Mustapha. By traversing this market, you follow typical outdoor escape game routes, navigating among the stalls that have seen generations of merchants and sailors pass through.
Your itinerary then leads you via Avenue Habib Bourguiba, the main artery connecting the central market to the Skull Tower, 800 meters away on foot to the southeast. This avenue, named after the father of Tunisian independence (1903-2000), is a lively heart of Houmt Souk and a mandatory passage for corsair-themed escape games. You follow the precise guided tour route: Avenue Habib Bourguiba, then Rue de la République, and finally Rue de la Liberté, before reaching your final destination.
The journey culminates at the Skull Tower (Tour des Crânes), a historical monument in Houmt Souk, located at VVM5+X2C. This site is linked to the tragic massacre of 1560, a major event in the campaigns of the corsair Dragut. Accessible on foot from the central market, a visit to this place is recommended early in the morning to avoid crowds. The Skull Tower is an explicit reference in local escape games as a 2h30-3h historical route, and its proximity to the adjacent souk makes it easy to combine discoveries. It is here that Djerba's secret is revealed, anchoring your experience in the Ottoman heritage of Djerba and the history of the Skull Tower Dragut massacre 1560.
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.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
5-10 curated sites across the territory
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 · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
A decisive victory
Relive the naval and land strategies that led to one of the greatest Ottoman victories in the Mediterranean.
The macabre memorial
Explore the history of the Skull Tower, a unique monument of its kind, and its unsettling legacy.
A hidden legacy
Decipher the clues left by a witness to reveal a forgotten secret at the heart of the Ottoman victory.
History is written by the victors. But sometimes, the vanquished leave a final truth.
Unravel a survivor's logbook and reveal the nuance of the Ottoman victory.
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
Q01Is Houmt Souk — Secret of the Skull Tower similar to a treasure hunt?
Same spirit: search, deduce, find. But here the "treasure" is a full story to piece together in eight stops. Each stop gives you a fragment of the final code. Eight fragments later, you've cracked it.
Q02How many stops are in Houmt Souk — Secret of the Skull Tower?
Eight stops total. At each stop you find a camera clue, solve the puzzle, collect a fragment of the final code. With all eight, you've got the answer.
Q03Can we play Houmt Souk — Secret of the Skull Tower as a couple?
Great two-person format. Narration is dramatic without overdoing it, puzzles are designed to spark conversation. Ideal for new relationships or anniversaries — you discover the city and coordinate on puzzles simultaneously.
Q04Do we need 4G data to play?
Intermittent 4G is plenty. Maps are cached at startup. Narration and clues load per stop, so a so-so signal between stops is fine. GPS itself uses no data.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Delve into the intrigues and bloody battles of the 16th century in Houmt Souk, following the footsteps of Ottoman corsairs and the fortresses that shaped Djerba's history.
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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