The perfect combination: the golden dunes and UNESCO cities of the Adrar, a wild night aboard the legendary iron ore train, and a spectacular return along the Atlantic coast of the Banc d'Arguin, where the desert meets the ocean. Itinerary: Nouakchott — the Great Dune of Azoueiga — Chinguetti — Ouadane and the Eye of the Sahara (Richat Structure) — Agrour, Fort Saganne and the Amogjar Pass — Atar and the Oasis of Azougui — Choum and its famous tunnel — a night on the iron ore train — Nouadhibou and Cap Blanc — Chami — Arkeiss — Iwik — Cap Timiris — Nouamghar and the Imraguen fishing villages — back to Nouakchott. Transport in a convoy of 4x4s with professional drivers and expert local guides; overnights in hotels, desert camps, auberges and guest houses; all meals with an accompanying cook, water and camping equipment throughout. Best season: October to March. The Mauritanian visa is applied for online before arrival (e-visa) and issued at Nouakchott–Oum Tounsi airport; we assist with the process. Highlights: climbing the Great Dune of Azoueiga, the UNESCO cities of Chinguetti and Ouadane, the Eye of the Sahara visible from space, the rock paintings of Agrour and Fort Saganne, a night aboard one of the longest trains in the world, the cliffs of Cap Blanc, and the Banc d'Arguin National Park (UNESCO) with an optional traditional sailing trip among the Imraguen fishermen.
Itinerary
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1
Arrival — Nouakchott Oum Tounsi International Airport
Nouakchott →Welcome to Mauritania! Upon your arrival at Nouakchott–Oum Tounsi International Airport, our team will be waiting to greet you with a warm Mauritanian welcome and the traditional three glasses of tea. Transfer to your hotel, time to rest after your flight, and a first briefing about the adventure ahead.
Overnight: Hotel in Nouakchott.
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2
Discovering Nouakchott
Nouakchott →A full day to explore the capital and its most iconic places: the famous Port de Pêche (fishing port), where hundreds of colorful pirogues land their catch in one of West Africa's most vibrant scenes; the bustling Marché Capitale with its fabrics, silverwork and crafts; the Saudi Mosque, landmark of the city center; the National Museum for a first insight into Moorish culture; and the Atlantic seafront. In the evening, a welcome dinner with the crew.
Overnight: Hotel in Nouakchott.
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3
Nouakchott → The Great Dune of Azoueiga
The Great Dune of Azoueïga →We set off in the morning in our convoy of 4x4s, leaving Nouakchott and passing through Oum Tounsi, El Asma and the mining town of Akjoujt, gateway to the Adrar, before heading into the open desert. Our target: the Great Dune of Azoueiga. We climb the towering dune step by step to watch the sunset from the summit over an endless sea of golden sand, then set up camp at its foot: a traditional dinner around the fire under a sky bursting with stars.
Overnight: Desert camp at the Dune of Azoueiga.
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4
Chinguetti — The Seventh Holy City of Islam (UNESCO)
Chinguetti →A spectacular day through the very best of the Adrar: from Azoueiga we pass through Irich and the village of El Meddah, then cross the majestic Tifoujar Pass with its breathtaking panoramas before descending into the White Valley (Oued El Abiod) with its brilliant white sands. We pause at the enchanting Oasis of Terjit, where fresh springs flow between narrow canyon walls, and at the vast Oasis of M'Haireth with its thousands of palm trees, before reaching the venerable city of Chinguetti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a visit to the ancient libraries guarding rare centuries-old manuscripts, the Old Mosque with its famous stone minaret, and the alleyways of the old town resisting the advancing sands. At sunset, we climb the high dune overlooking the city.
Overnight: Auberge in Chinguetti.
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5
Ouadane & The Eye of the Sahara (UNESCO)
Ouadane →We leave Chinguetti across the sands, passing through Abeir and stopping at the peaceful Oasis of Tanouchert for authentic Mauritanian tea among the palms, before reaching the historic city of Ouadane, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. We continue to one of Earth's greatest mysteries: the Eye of the Sahara (Richat Structure) — a giant circular formation about 40 km in diameter, visible from space. Back in Ouadane, an evening tour of the old city: majestic stone ruins cascading down the mountainside, silent witnesses to the golden age of the caravans.
Overnight: Auberge / guest house in Ouadane.
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6
Agrour → Fort Saganne → Amogjar Pass → Atar & Azougui
Atar and the Adrar →A day rich in history on the road from Ouadane to Atar: we stop at Agrour to admire its prehistoric rock paintings, left in the mountain thousands of years ago, then discover Fort Saganne, the legendary desert fort built for the famous French film, before crossing the spectacular Amogjar Pass with its dizzying views. We then reach Atar, the lively capital of the Adrar, to explore its bustling market — and buy supplies for tomorrow's great adventure (blankets, scarves, provisions…). In the late afternoon we discover the nearby Oasis of Azougui, cradle of the Almoravid empire, nestled among the palm trees at the foot of the cliffs.
Overnight: Auberge in Atar.
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7
Choum — A Night Aboard the Iron Ore Train
The Desert Train and Choum Station →The big moment is here! We drive to the desert town of Choum, where we visit the famous Choum Tunnel — a two-kilometer tunnel carved by hand through the mountain in colonial times, one of the region's great curiosities. Then we board the legendary iron ore train — one of the longest trains in the world, stretching over two kilometers. We climb atop an iron ore carriage and settle in for a wild night under the stars, rolling through the Sahara toward the Atlantic coast. Raw, unforgettable — the ride adventurers around the world dream of.
Overnight: Aboard the iron ore train.
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8
Nouadhibou & Cap Blanc
Nouadhibou →We roll into Nouadhibou in the early morning after our epic night on the train. Time to freshen up and rest, then discover this fascinating port city on the Ras Nouadhibou peninsula, long one of the great fishing centres of the Atlantic. After lunch, we head to Cap Blanc (Cape Blanco) at the tip of the peninsula — dramatic white cliffs facing the ocean, famous as a refuge of the rare Mediterranean monk seal.
Overnight: Hotel in Nouadhibou.
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9
Chami → Arkeiss — Into the Banc d'Arguin
Banc d'Arguin →We drive south along the coast via the young mining town of Chami, then enter the Banc d'Arguin National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Sahara plunges straight into the ocean, and one of the most important bird sanctuaries on the planet. We reach the fishing village of Arkeiss, with its turquoise waters, white sands and the traditional life of the Imraguen fishermen.
Overnight: Arkeiss (camp / fishermen's village).
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10
Arkeiss → Iwik → Cap Timiris
Banc d'Arguin →We continue through the heart of the park to the village of Iwik, facing the islands and sandbanks where thousands of migratory birds gather — pelicans, flamingos, terns and more. Optional: a traditional sailing trip aboard an Imraguen lanche among the sandbanks and bird colonies — arranged on request (not included in the price). We then continue to Cap Timiris, where golden dunes roll straight into the turquoise ocean.
Overnight: Cap Timiris (camp).
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11
Nouamghar & the Fishermen's Villages → Nouakchott — Departure
Nouakchott →We pass through Nouamghar and the small fishing villages scattered along the shore, for a last glimpse of the Imraguen way of life between desert and ocean. We then drive back down the coast to Nouakchott — time to freshen up and share a farewell meal — before the transfer to Nouakchott–Oum Tounsi International Airport and a warm goodbye, carrying with you the sands, the stars and the ocean winds of Mauritania.
Price includes
- Airport welcome and transfers (arrival and departure); transport for the full circuit in a convoy of 4x4s with professional drivers; expert local guides; all entrance fees to the tourist sites (libraries, national park, historic sites…) paid by us on your behalf; all overnight stays (hotels, desert camps, auberges, guest houses); all meals, with an accompanying cook; full camping equipment and water throughout the trip.
Not included
- Travel, medical, cancellation and repatriation insurance — not provided, each traveler's own responsibility; the optional boat trip (Imraguen lanche) at Iwik — arranged on request, paid locally; drinks other than water and tea, and personal expenses.
