Adrar & Banc d'Arguin
10 Days / 15 Attractions
Tour the famous Adrar region (including 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites), visit Nouadhibou, the Banc D’Arguin, and so much more.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Nouakchott
Travelers arrive in Nouakchott and spend the night in a hotel. There are several attractions available in the city of Nouakchott which can be seen on the first day, depending on the flight arrival time.
Day 2 Depart for the Desert
Depart Nouakchott for Azoueiga. Many people enjoy climbing the Big Dunes. There will be plenty of water to keep hydrated in any case. Night camping under the stars.
Day 3 Through the Valley
Leave Azoueiga towards the White Valley. Stop at the Terjit Oasis. Short 1-hour hike from Terjit to the wadi in Ichive Valley. Camping up the stars.
Day 4 Nomad Paintings and World Heritage
Stop at the Mhairith Oasis for fresh dates. See the Canyon of Amogjar and the famous Fort Sagan. See the ancient rock paintings near the canyon. Arrive in Chinguetti in the evening, explore the UNESCO ancient city. Stay in a guesthouse.
Day 5 Between Ancient Cities
Leave Chinguetti for the Richat Structure (Gelb Richat), then the UNESCO heritage city of Ouadane. Stay the night in a guest house.
Day 6 Granite Giants
Depart Ouadane for Atar, a newer city filled with markets, then head for the Ben Amera monolith. Arrive before dusk to explore the area and set up camp. Camping under the stars.
Day 7 All Aboard
Sunrise at Ben Amera. Drive out to meet the iron ore train. Board the train in Choum and spend the night riding with the iron ore under open sky. Open air camping on the train.
Day 8 Spanish City, White Cape
Arrive in Nouadhibou mid-morning. After lunch, check into the hotel (and have a long shower!). Visit Cap Blanc in the afternoon. Night in a luxurious hotel.
Day 9 Beach Day
Depart Nouadhibou for Banc d'Arguin. Stop in the gold miner's town and Cape Tafarit on the beach. Arrive in Iwik in the evening at beach-side cottages. Spend the night in cottages.
Day 10 Back to Nouakchott
Catch a morning sail off the coast of Iwik. Embark back to Nouakchott to finish the tour. Depending on time, visit additional destinations in the capital city.
Upcoming Trips
Add your party to a scheduled group trip
Private Booking
Want to book this itinerary for your private group?
See our base rates below.
Private tours do not include hotel accommodation or meals in Nouakchott, but they can be customised to your group's liking. The tour includes everything from your departure from Nouakchott until your return. Custom destination points can also be coordinated—like terminating in Senegal, or Nouadhibou.
| Tier | Starting Price (EUR) |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | €2,400/pax |
| 2-4 Persons | €2,000/pax |
| 5+ Persons | €1,900/pax |
Tour Attractions
Al Khaima City Center
Visit the tallest building in Nouakchott and overlook all the details of the city. Watch the sun set over the horizon from here for a beautiful urban experience.
Banc d’Arguin National Park
Parc Banck D’Arguin is a coastal region inhabited by traditional fishermen, the Imraguen. It is the nesting grounds for tens of thousands of migratory sea birds, and a preserved, pristine coastline along the Atlantic.
Ben Amera Monolith
The World’s Second-Largest Stone The Ben Amera Monolith is the second largest solid stone in the world, rising 633m (2027ft) above the desert plane (Uluru in Australia being the first). It is a popular destination for photographers and artists, due to its unannounced eruption from the horizon from an otherwise flat area. This giant stone […]
Big Dunes of Azoueiga
Large dunes tower over the desert floor in a nomadic area. There is an oasis nearby which makes it a scenic area to visit.
Canyon of Amogjare
The canyon is home to a couple different points of interest, including ancient rock paintings from nomadic tribes of the past, and an cinema relic from the French film “Fort Saganne” created in the 80’s.
Cap Blanc
The White Cape Cap Blanc, or Ras Nouadhibou, is the ending point of the cape on which the city of Nouadhibou is located. This is a unique place because it is the only place in the world where monk seals form a large colony. These are otherwise a rare species to find. A View of […]
Cape Tafarit
Cap Tafarit, part of the Banc d’Arguin National Park is a great place to soak up some sun and swim in pristine Atlantic ocean water.
Chinguetti
Chinguetti is an ancient medieval trading center just east of Atar, in the heart of the Adrar region. It is one of four ancient Mauritanian cities, and easily accessible.
Iron Ore Desert Train
The longest train in the world! It carried mostly iron on a daily basis, and travels between Zouérat (where the mine is) to Nouadhibou, our commerce capital.
Marché du Poisson
Visit the colorful fishing boats of Nouakchott’s fish markets, with a bustling atmosphere and the freshest fish from the Atlantic.
Oasis of Mhairith
A large producer of dates, the Oasis of M’hereth is the residence of many Mauritania villagers who have access to its fresh water and lush fruits.
Ouadane
Nestled in the Adrar Plateau, Ouadane is one of the four ancient Mauritanian cities. It was a destination on the trans-Saharan trade route and the closest city to the Richat Structure.
Richat Structure
The Richat Structure is a prominent geological formation in the Adrar region northwest of Ouadane. It is often used as a frame of reference for astronauts in orbit.
Souvenir Markets
There are many places to buy unique takeaways from your trip to Mauritania. Find unique treasures that you won’t find anywhere else in the world at these rare markets.
Terjit Oasis
The Oasis of Terjit was rejuvenated in the 1970’s and serves as a great place for respite from the desert. Fresh mineral water drips from the plateau edges here, and a swimming pool welcomes visitors.