Day 1 – Noaukchott
Arrive in Nouakchott and transfer to your hotel. Depending on when you arrive there may be time to explore the city. Overnight Sunset Hotel or similar.
Day 2 - Iwik – Banc d’Arguin National Park
Our adventure starts as we leave the city behind and head to the world-renowned Banc d’Arguin National Park. On the way, we stop at the fishing village of Iwik, inhabited by the Imragen people. Banc d’Arguin is home to a huge variety of birdlife and we spend time exploring before heading to our camp for the night. Overnight in haima (Moorish tents). (BLD)
Day 3 - Nouadhibou – Cap Blanc
Drive to Nouadhibou, Mauritania’s second city and an important fishing port. From here we head to nearby Cap Blanc with its pristine beaches and great views over the Atlantic. Overnight Hotel Sahel or similar. (BLD)
Day 4 - Ben Amera
Drive through the desert to the huge monolith of Ben Amera, the second largest in the world after Australia’s Ayer’s Rock and a rather spectacular site. This region is also crossed by the ‘train of the desert’, the longest train in the world and up to 3km in length, transporting iron ore from Zouerat to Nouadhibou – we hope to see one if we are lucky. Overnight camping. (BLD)
Day 5 - Atar
Head into the Adrar, Mauritania’s most beautiful region with the country’s most impressive dunes, rock paintings, stunning oases and nomadic culture at its best. We continue to Atar, the main town here and explore its traditional quarter and market. Overnight Hotel Caravannes or similar. (BLD)
Day 6 - Guelb er Richat - Ouadane
On our way to Ouadane we visit the Guelb er Richat, an interesting crater-like structure also known as the ‘eye of the Sahara’ and 40km wide. Founded in the 12th century Ouadane is a fascinating collection of old houses and mosques and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We have plenty of time to explore the historic quarter. Overnight local guesthouse. (BLD)
Day 7 - Tenewchert – Chinguetti
Drive to the picturesque oasis of Tenewchert located amidst the dunes, then continue to Chinguetti, one of Islam’s holiest cities and a real gem of Mauritania. With its collection of historic buildings, this is one of the Sahara’s most interesting towns, with a sense of history that is almost tangible. We drive through the desert, then have the remainder of the time in Chinguetti to savour its very special atmosphere. Overnight local guesthouse. (BLD)
Day 8 - Mheirith – Timinit
Spend today discovering the stunning scenery of the Adrar, driving to the pretty oasis of Mheirith. From here we continue to Timinit, a seasonally inhabited oasis known for its large date plantations. Overnight camping. (BLD)
Day 9 - White Valley – Tergit
Visit the White Valley, named for its striking light sand which contrasts with the dark surrounding rocks, then continue to the oasis of Tergit, stopping to meet local people along the way. We explore the oasis with its lush palm groves, streams and ‘hot’ springs, and spend our last night in Mauritania at a tented camp, amidst beautiful surroundings. Overnight tented camp. (BLD)
Day 10 - Nouakchott
After breakfast, we drive back to the capital. There will be time to explore the fishermen’s beach and market, a vibrant area with boats landing on the beach with their catches, before transferring to the airport for your flight home. (BL)
What’s included:
Airport transfers – We include arrival and departure transfers regardless of whether you book flights yourself, or we book them for you. If you’re booking them yourself, then please let us know the details so that we can arrange the transfers.
Accommodation – Accommodation as listed in the dossier. The nature of the destinations that we operate may sometimes mean that we need to change hotels, but we’ll always endeavour to keep the same standards. Please be aware that as we operate in many countries where tourism is in its infancy, hotel standards may not be the same as you’re used to elsewhere.
Guides – In most cases you will be accompanied by one guide from start to finish. However there may be occasions when this is not practical, for example if your trip covers a number of different countries. In these cases it often makes more sense to include different guides for each place, to take advantage of their specific knowledge of the destination.
Meals – As listed within the itinerary / dossier (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner). These will vary from trip to trip – in some areas it makes sense to include all meals while in others there is a good choice of restaurants and we feel people might like to ‘do their own thing’ now and again.
Entrance fees – Entrance fees are listed for those sites that we mention within the itinerary. If there are any other sites that you’d like to see, these would be at your own expense.
Not included:
- Visas
- Airport taxes
- International flights
- Travel Insurance
