4-Day Adrar Desert Tour in Mauritania with Chinguetti and Richat

4 Days Hotel to Airport Moderate pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore Terjit oasis, a shaded gorge with fresh water and palm groves
02 Discover ancient Chinguetti and its renowned manuscript libraries
03 Visit Ouadane, a remote Saharan town founded in 1147 and partly in ruins
04 See Guelb Richat, the remarkable "Eye of the Sahara" formation

Discover the raw beauty and deep history of Mauritania's Adrar region on this immersive 4-day journey. From airport pickup in Nouakchott, travel through dramatic desert landscapes to palm-fringed oases, ancient caravan towns, and remote settlements perched on rocky hills. Explore the shaded gorge oasis of Terjit, the historic atmosphere of Chinguetti, and the ruins of Ouadane before visiting Guelb Richat, famously known as the Eye of the Sahara. This tour blends nature, culture, archaeology, and unforgettable Saharan scenery.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Atar, Nouakchott

Languages Arabic, English, French

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival and Airport Pickup

Arrival and pickup from the airport.

Day 02

Terjit Oasis, Mherith, and Chinguetti

After breakfast, you will go to see the oasis.

Terjit oasis nestles in a gorge on the western edge of the Adrar plateau, with the palm grove stretching a few hundred meters alongside a stream that emerges from a spring. With its charm, fresh water, and shade, you will be blown away. After your visit, you will drive to Mherith, one of the biggest oases in the Adrar region, where you will have lunch.

After lunch, you will drive towards Chinguetti. On the way, you will pass by Amogjar, where you will see prehistoric rock paintings and Fort Sagana, an old citadel built for a film about colonialism in Mauritania. Then you will continue to Chinguetti and arrive by nightfall.

Day 03

Chinguetti, Tenouchert, Ouadane, and Guelb Richat

After breakfast, you will go to discover the city of Chinguetti.

Chinguetti was an ancient caravan terminal and a major trading point between North and sub-Saharan Africa. This ancient village dates back to the 11th century and contains old manuscripts and the second-oldest mosque in Africa. You will visit two of the oldest libraries in Mauritania. These libraries contain a treasure of knowledge and manuscripts. After visiting them, you will drive towards Ouadane.

Passing by Tenouchert, an oasis in the middle of the desert, you will have a tea break with the Bedouins.

Then continue to Ouadane.

Ouadane, built on a rocky hill, is the remotest oasis of Mauritania, an outpost facing the immensity of the desert, and was founded in 1147. Mainly in ruins, some of its old houses are still inhabited. Then you will visit Guelb Richat.

It is also known as the Eye of the Sahara or the Eye of Africa. The site's prominent circular shape has long puzzled scientists. Forty kilometers (about 25 miles) is the circumference of the largest of the three concentric circles, with a dome in the center. The most recent theory suggests that it was a giant volcano that collapsed and eroded.

Overnight in Ouadane.

Day 04