The Ancient Cities
11 Days / 15 Attractions
See all four UNESCO World Heritage cities in Mauritania, and tons of other gems along the way! This is a longer tour that will cover a lot of Mauritania, sprinkling in many phenomenal landscapes and geological wonders.
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 Straight to Kiffa
Depart Nouakchott after hotel breakfast, head to Kiffa. Stop for lunch along the way, and then stay in a guest house in Kiffa where dinner will be served.
Day 3 On to Nema
After breakfast in the guest house, leave Kiffa and head to Nema. Take lunch on the way. Arrive in Nema, take a quick visit, then drive past and setup dinner at a campsite under the stars.
Day 4 First Ancient City
Depart Nema area after breakfast, head towards Oualata. Stop in the city and take a tour. Have lunch, then depart for Makhrougat. Campsite is set up at the Elephant Mountains where dinner is served and guests spend the night.
Day 5 Second Ancient City
After breakfast, depart Makhrougat and head to Tichit. Lunch is served along the way. We set up a campsite outside the city where dinner is prepared by our team.
Day 6 Tichit to Tijigja
Guests take breakfast, then tour Tichit first thing in the morning. Depart Tichit for Tijigja, lunch is served along the route. Guest spend the night in Tijigja where dinner is served and we camp under the stars.
Day 7 From Ruins to Oasis
After breakfast, depart Tijigja and head to Rachid. Stop and tour the ruins. Lunch is taken in a nomadic village along the way. Arrive at Terjit Oasis where dinner is served at a guest house. Spend the night in the oasis.
Day 8 Third Ancient City
Guest have breakfast at the guest house in Terjit. Leave the oasis and head pass by the Canyon of Amogjare, also stop to see the famous rock paintings. Then visit the Richat Structure. Lunch is served along this route. Arrive in Ouadane and tour the ancient city before dark. Dinner at a guest house in Ouadane. where guests spend the night.
Day 9 Fourth Ancient City
After breakfast at the guest house in Ouadane, depart for the last ancient city of Chinguetti. Drive the ancient caravan route, have lunch outside Chinguetti. Tour the famous ancient city, and then relax in a guest house for the evening. Dinner is served by the guest house.
Day 10 Ride the Desert Train
Breakfast is served by the guest house in Chinguetti. We depart for Fderik where travelers can board the famous iron ore train. Ride the train through a stretch of the desert until Choum (about 4 hours). Exit the train, then have dinner and camp outside of Choum in the desert under the stars.
Day 11 Back to Nouakchott
Leave Choum early in the morning after breakfast. Head back to Nouakchott. Lunch is served by our team along the way. Arrive in Nouakchott in the early evening. Guests can visit the fish market and watch the fisherman pull in the painted boats. This marks the end of the tour. Day use in the hotel (for showering/changing) and airport transfer is handled by our team. Guests who choose to stay another night will be responsible for their own arrangements, but our team will still be able to assist for airport drop-off when they leave.
Upcoming Trips
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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 | €2,640/pax |
| 2-4 Persons | €2,200/pax |
| 5+ Persons | €2,090/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.
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.
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.
Elephant Mountains
A group of small mountains on the route from Tichit to Oualata that resemble elephants with outstretched trunks and pillar-like legs.
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.
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.
Oualata
An UNESCO World Heritage Site, Oualata is one of the four ancient Mauritanian cities, and was once a cornerstone in the trans-Saharan Trade Route as the southern terminus.
Rachid
A Lesser-Known Caravan Town Little is known about this town, but it was used to be a stop on the Saharan trade routes. This little place has some preserved ruins next to Wadis. Coming Soon! We’re working on gathering more images of this attraction.
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.
Tichit
Tichit is one of the four ancient Mauritanian cities and is located in the Tagant region. It is rich with vernacular architecture and is known for its date farms.