Mauritania · Desert Adventure

10-Day Desert Expedition in Mauritania with Iron Ore Train and Cap Blanc

10 Days Round trip from Nouakchott Moderate pace
Palm Desert
The Mauritanian society

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore Nouakchott's landmarks, including the Saudi mosque, camel market, and Gallery Zein Arts
  • 02 Travel through Azouega, Tivoujar, and Tarjit amid enormous dunes, rocky formations, canyons, and oases
  • 03 Discover Chinguity's ancient libraries and manuscripts before a sunset camel trek to the Guity sand dune
  • 04 Visit Guelb Richat, the Eye of Sahara, a vast circular formation that has long puzzled scientists
  • 05 Ride the iron ore train, the longest train in the world, on a demanding desert journey to Nouadhibou

Embark on a journey through Mauritania from Nouakchott to Cap Blanc, combining city discoveries, desert landscapes, ancient caravan towns, and geological wonders. Explore Nouakchott's landmarks before heading into the Adrar region to see vast dunes, oases, canyons, prehistoric rock paintings, and the historic cities of Chinguity and Ouadane. Experience camel trekking at sunset, visit ancient libraries filled with manuscripts, and ride the iron ore train, the longest train in the world. The adventure ends in Nouadhibou with Cap Blanc and a final return to Nouakchott.

Experience camel trekking at sunset, visit ancient libraries filled with manuscripts, and ride the iron ore train, the longest train in the world.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 10 Days
Tour type Shared
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
Cities Atar, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Zuwarat
Languages Arabic, English, French

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrival and Rest in Nouakchott

  • Pick up from the airport, then transfer to the hotel to have some rest.
2
Day 02

Nouakchott City Tour and Drive to Akjoujout

  • After breakfast, you will go on a city tour.
  • You will also visit the Saudi mosque.
  • Not only that, but you will also visit the camel market and Gallery Zein Arts.
  • Then, after lunch, you will drive to Akjoujout, 250 km from Nouakchott, to spend the night.
  • End of day 2.
3
Day 03

Azouega Dunes, Tivoujar Canyon, and Tarjit

  • You will drive from Akjoujout to Azouega, one of Mauritania's most enormous dunes, surrounded by beautiful oases.
  • The views never cease to amaze you.
  • Sometimes, you drive through sand dunes, and other times, you drive through rocky formations.
  • You also pass by the Bedouins, have tea, and converse with them.
  • After Azouega, you will pass Tivoujar, a breathtaking canyon where you will have a break for lunch and some rest.
  • After that, drive through the White Valley towards Tarjit, where you will stay for the night.
4
Day 04

Terjit Oasis, Mherith, and Arrival in Chinguity

  • After breakfast, you will go to see the oasis.
  • After you finish the 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 Chinguity.
  • On the way to Chinguity, you will pass by Amogjar, where you will see the prehistoric rock paintings and Fort Sagana, an old citadel that was built to film a movie about colonialism in Mauritania.
  • Then you continue to Chinguity. You will arrive by nightfall.
5
Day 05

Ancient Chinguity and Sunset Camel Trek

  • After breakfast, you will go to discover the city of Chinguity.
  • You will visit two of the oldest libraries in Mauritania. The libraries contain a treasure of knowledge and manuscripts. After visiting the libraries, you will go to Temkemket oasis to freshen up and have lunch.
  • After having lunch and rest, you will do some camel trekking.
  • Camels will be waiting for you to ride on; the camels will take you to the Guity sand dune, where you will have an overview over the city and behold the beauty of the sunset over the city.
  • Then you will go back to the guest house for dinner.
  • After dinner, you will go to a small Mauritanian music ceremony.
6
Day 06

Ouadane and the Eye of Sahara

  • After breakfast, you will drive towards Ouadane.
  • Passing by Tenouchert, an oasis in the middle of the desert, for a tea break.
  • Then you continue driving towards Ouadane.
  • Then you will visit Guelb Richat. It's also known as the Eye of Sahara or the Eye of Africa. The site, with its prominent circular shape, has puzzled scientists. 40 km (about 25 miles) is the circumference of the largest of three concentric circles, with a dome in the center.
  • The most recent theory believes that it was a giant volcano that collapsed and eroded.

You will spend the night in Ouadane.

7
Day 07

Scenic Drive to Zouerat via Atar

  • This day is full of driving. Early departure is recommended.
  • After breakfast, you will drive to Atar.
  • On the way, you will pass by the painting cave and see the dazzling canyon of Amogjar.
  • Then continue to Atar.
  • After lunch, you will drive to Zouerat.
  • You will arrive by nightfall.
  • To have a good rest and get ready for the train the next day.
8
Day 08

Iron Ore Train Adventure

  • Full-day ride on the iron ore train, the longest train in the world.
  • Unfortunately, there is no fixed schedule for the train.
  • It may leave at 14:00, or it may leave later.
  • The ride is estimated to last for 20 hours.
9
Day 09

Nouadhibou Arrival, Cap Blanc, and City Tour

  • Arrive in Nouadhibou after a long ride on the train.
  • The best thing to start with is a warm shower and some deserved rest.
  • In the evening, you will go to see the White Cape, known as Cap Blanc or Ras Nouadhibou.
  • After that, you will have a city tour if time allows.
  • Then you will go for dinner at a Spanish restaurant that is recommended by most travelers.
10
Day 10

Return to Nouakchott and Departure

  • After breakfast, you will drive towards Nouakchott.
  • Once you arrive, you will go for lunch.
  • After lunch, you will drive straight to the port.
  • You will hopefully arrive in good time to see the fishermen coming back from the sea with their catch of the day.
  • After that, you will go to the hotel for some time to shower and get some rest.
  • Then you go to a local restaurant to have dinner.
  • After dinner, you will be dropped at the airport.
  • End of tour.
Azouega dunes, Guelb Richat, Cap Blanc, iron ore train

Where this trip takes you

Azouega dunes, Guelb Richat, Cap Blanc, iron ore train

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Nouakchott 4 cities · 10 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • Food
  • Water
  • Fees for visits
  • English-speaking guide

What's Not Included

  • What is not included is excluded.

What to bring

  • Goggles
  • Sleeping bag for the train
  • Any medications that you use

Know before you go

  • The weather may not be very comfortable. The ride on the iron ore train is very rough and demanding.
  • No drone is allowed.
  • Always ask permission before you take people's photos.
  • Nouakchott is the capital and the biggest city in Mauritania. On this tour, you will visit the national museum, which displays archaeology, artifacts, customs, and textiles from prehistory to the present day in Mauritania.
  • 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. Its charm, fresh water, and shade will blow you away.
  • Chinguity was an ancient caravan terminal and a significant 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.
  • Built on a rocky hill, Ouadane is the most remote oasis of Mauritania. It is an outpost facing the immensity of the desert and was founded in 1147. Although mainly in ruins, some of its houses are still inhabited.
  • Cap Blanc (the White Cape) is located at the edge of the peninsula of the economic capital, Nouadhibou. This place is home to a large colony of monk seals, which are a rare species and are threatened with extinction.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Tour start
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 10 days finish where they began, in Nouakchott.

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Starting from

EUR 1,400 /person
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Estimated room rates

Single Room €1,400.00 — €1,800.00
Double Sharing €1,400.00 — €1,800.00

When

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