Mauritanian Highlights
9 Days / 15 Attractions
Tour the famous Adrar region (including 2 UNESCO World Heritage cities), ride on top of the iron ore train to Nouadhibou, visit Banc D’Arguin, massive dunes, geological structures and so much more. This itinerary covers all the most popular attractions in Mauritania over a relaxed schedule.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 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 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 A Return to Relaxation
Depart Ouadane for Atar, a newer city filled with markets, then head back to the nearby Terjit Oasis for lunch. Enjoy a second visit to this beautiful lush oasis, then set up a campsite nearby for the night. Dinner and camping under the stars.
Day 6 All Aboard
After breakfast, head to Choum for a visit. Then turn west along the railroad tracks until reaching Ben Amera Monolith. Enjoy lunch and a visit at the monolith. Then move along to T'mimichet where you'll board the train at night. Sleeping on the open train cars overnight.
Day 7 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 (if it is open to tourists). Night in a luxurious hotel.
Day 8 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 9 Back to Nouakchott
Catch a morning sail off the coast of Iwik. Embark back to Nouakchott to finish the tour. Depending on time, visit the fish market in the evening at sunset to watch the fishermen haul in.
Upcoming Trip Departures
Add your party to a scheduled group trip
Group tours are fun and comfortable tours made up of individual travelers and small groups. This allows travelers to meet and share stories over the course of the tour, while benefiting from the lower pricing that a larger group would have if booked privately.
How Group Tours Work
- Group Tours are guaranteed to depart with at least 1 guest (except for tours going into the Tagant region which require 3 guests minimum)
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included for all tours from the time you leave Nouakchott until you return
- Meals on the designated arrival day, and dinner on final day not included (see exclusions)
- Transportation, guide, and driver are all included with the list price
- No more than 3 guests per vehicle, so all guests have a window seat
- All nights in hotels and guest houses are included
- We arrange 2 guests per room at hotel and guest house bookings, but guests can receive their own single room for a €160 supplement (this covers all nights of the tour)
- Once you've made your booking request, we request a 50% deposit of the trip price to officially confirm your spot--deposits can be via bank transfer to our bank account. Please read our payment and cancellation policies.
Private Booking
Want to book this itinerary for your private group?
See our base rates below.
Private tours can be customised to your group's liking. The tour includes everything from your departure from Nouakchott until your return—but the rates below do not include any hotel nights in Nouakchott (please read our inclusions carefully). Custom destination points can also be coordinated—like terminating in Senegal, or Nouadhibou, but these changes will affect our pricing.
| Tier | Starting Price (EUR) |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | €2,400/pax |
| 2-4 Persons | €2,020/pax |
| 5+ Persons | €1,910/pax |
Tour Attractions
Agrour
Agrour is the site of of ancient history, dating back to before the days of agriculture and even the Sahara. Rock paintings, protected from sunlight in a geological formation, depict a time when the are was lush with water and grasses, and teeming with wildlife like giraffes, and water buffalo. The paintings have survived thousands of years in the desert Sahara, and tell stories of an immensely different time in Africa.
Atar
The Capital of the Adrar Atar is the commerce center of the Adrar region, and is well-known for its market. It has an iconic rotary in the center, and also has a museum for the region. Visitors will enjoy the local shops, and find that it is a great place to buy a djellaba or […]
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
Cap Blanc is a beautiful attraction featuring large schools of fish, sea birds, seasonal monk seals, and an excellent view of the Atlantic Ocean.
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 single-rail train in the world! It carries mostly iron on a daily basis, and travels between Zouérat (where the mine is) to Nouadhibou, our commerce capital.
Nouakchott Fish Market
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.
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.