MAURITANIA
Mauritania is the Sahara at its purest
Endless dunes, ancient caravan towns, and oases where time seems to stand still. With almost no tourist infrastructure, it offers a rare chance to travel like the desert nomads — across golden sands, through palm-fringed valleys, and along an Atlantic coastline alive with birds and tradition. Remote, raw, and authentic — Mauritania is a journey into the soul of the Sahara.
Explorer
Journey
simple accomodations
flexible departure dates
8 days
for 2 or more gueststrip intensity: moderate
Explorer
Journey
Mauritania is the Sahara as it once was – remote, authentic, unforgettable.
This is one of marktravelz’s most adventurous journeys — into a country with almost no tourist infrastructure, but with all the authenticity of nomadic life in the Sahara. For eight days, we travel across golden dunes, oases, and caravan towns, experiencing Mauritania much as the Moors and desert nomads have for centuries. Nights are spent in simple lodges, desert bivouacs, or traditional tents under star-filled skies — an adventure as raw, real, and rewarding as travel can be.
The highlights at a glance:
- Erg Amatlich & Oasis of Azoiga – cross vast dunes to reach a hidden green refuge
- Tifoujar Pass & Terjit – breathtaking canyon views and a refreshing spring dip
- Chinguetti & Ouadane – sacred desert cities and UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Guelb Errichât – the surreal “Eye of the Sahara,” a geological marvel
- Amogjar Canyon – prehistoric rock art and film history in dramatic cliffs
- Ben Amira Monolith – Africa’s largest granite giant rising from the desert floor
- Banc d’Arguin Coastline – flamingos, pelicans, and wild Atlantic beauty
- Markets & Oases – vibrant encounters from Akjoujt to Nouakchott
- Nomadic Tents – sleep under star-filled Saharan skies
Day 1: Arrival in Nouakchott – Gateway to the Sahara
Touch down at Nouakchott International Airport, where our local team welcomes you and transfers you to your hotel.
First impressions: a coastal capital with Saharan soul—low-slung streets, ocean breeze, warm West African hospitality. Depending on arrival time, take it easy or wander for a first glimpse of the city (the lively fishing port at sunset is a favorite).
Accomodation:
modest local hotel
Dinner
Day 2: Nouakchott – Akjoujt – Amatlich Dunes – Oasis of Azoiga
Heading north, we first reach Akjoujt, a historic mining town once rich in copper and gold. From here, the road gives way to sand, and we enter the sweeping Erg Amatlich — a breathtaking dune sea with razor-sharp ridges and sculpted curves. Silence reigns in this surreal landscape.
Our route continues to the remote Oasis of Azoiga, a lush pocket of palms and gardens framed by golden sands. Along the way, we pass the small oasis village of Graritte Livrasse, tucked between dunes and rocky plateaus.
Tonight, experience nomadic life, sleeping under a vast star-filled sky.
Accomodation:
traditional tent or desert bivouac
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 3: Tifoujar Pass – Terjit – N’Tourvine – Mhaireth – Chinguetti
We venture deeper into Mauritania’s most striking desert scenery. From the top of Tifoujar Pass, a dramatic 200-meter sandy drop leads into Wadi el Abiod, a pale riverbed snaking through a golden valley.
Our journey takes us to Terjit, a hidden oasis of palms and natural springs, perfect for a shaded rest or a cooling dip. Crossing N’Tourvine Pass, we reach Mhaireth, the region’s largest oasis, where countless date palms thrive.
By late afternoon, we arrive in Chinguetti — a timeworn desert town steeped in history and soul.
Accomodation:
local auberge
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 4: Chinguetti – Tanouchert – Guelb Errichat – Portuguese Fort – Ouadane
We start with an exploration of Chinguetti, the 7th holiest city in Islam and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its stone mosque, medieval libraries, and evocative desert architecture.
Continuing deeper into the Sahara, we pass Tanouchert and the mystical Guelb Errichât — the “Eye of the Sahara,” a massive circular rock formation visible from space.
After a picnic in the dunes, we visit the ruins of the Portuguese fort of Aguadir before reaching Ouadane, another UNESCO-listed caravan town. Wander its crumbling ksar, visit the small museum, and see rare manuscripts in its historic library.
Accomodation:
local inn
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 5: Canyon of Amogjar – Atar – Azougui
After breakfast, we explore the dramatic Amogjar Canyon, home to prehistoric rock paintings and a filming site for Fort Saganne. These cliffs tell stories from early hunter-gatherers to colonial times.
We continue to Atar, capital of the Adrar, where the lively market overflows with spices, indigo cloth, Saharan jewelry, and colorful baskets.
By evening, we reach Azougui, former Almoravid capital that once spread Islam across North Africa and into Spain.
Accomodation:
desert bivouac under the stars
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 6: Azougui – Choum – Ben Amira Monolith
After breakfast, we visit the historic Almoravid citadel, once a center of power and faith. Passing through Choum, a small town on the world’s longest iron ore railway, we continue into the desert.
Our destination is the awe-inspiring Ben Amira, Africa’s largest monolith and the world’s third largest. Rising dramatically from the sands, it is flanked by smaller outcrops like Aïsha, tied to local legend. The area also features sculptures by international artists, turning the desert into an open-air gallery.
Accomodation:
desert bivouac under the stars
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 7: Journey to Banc d’Arguin – Atlantic Nomad Camp
We head west to the Banc d’Arguin National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most important bird sanctuaries. At Cap Tavarit (Arkéss), we settle into our nomad camp on the wild Atlantic coast.
The afternoon is yours: relax on a secluded beach, watch the sun sink into the ocean, and enjoy fresh fish grilled over open fire. Overnight in a traditional Mauritanian nomad tent, just steps from the surf.
Accomodation:
traditional Mauritanian nomad tent
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 8: Banc d’Arguin Birdlife – Return to Nouakchott – Cultural Farewell
In the morning, we visit an ornithological post where flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, and countless migratory birds gather in the shallow waters. With luck, we may witness the Imraguen fishermen, who uniquely work alongside dolphins to catch fish — a tradition found nowhere else on Earth.
We then return to Nouakchott, stopping at the vibrant fabric market, famed for its bold wax prints, and the colorful fishing village where hundreds of painted pirogues line the shore.
After an optional farewell dinner, transfer to the airport for your international departure — carrying home memories of desert, ocean, and timeless traditions.
Breakfast / Lunch / (optional Dinner)
What is included?
- Return transfers to/from Nouakchott international airport
- Private English-speaking guide for 8 days
- Private transport for 8 days using a 4x4WD
- Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- All enroute meals & bottled water throughout the tour
- All government applicable taxes
- All park entrance and activities
What is not included?
- International flights
- Country entry visa
- Personal travel insurance
- Souvenirs / gifts and tips
- Items of personal nature / laundry / telephone charges
- Extra meals and activities
- Alcoholic and soft drinks (sodas, juices, wines)
Important information
If any accomodation should be fully booked at your travel time, we will reserve an equivalent alternative – this does not constitute a deficiency and does not entitle to a price reduction.
The order in which the activities and tours take place might vary, depending on the best day to travel.
If the route is not passable due to unforeseeable circumstances such as weather conditions, political events or similar, the program will be adjusted accordingly. In doing so, we aim to stay as close as possible to the planned itinerary. This does not constitute a defect and does not entitle you to a reduction in the tour price.
Mauritania Explorer Journey – from € 1,899
Price per person / group rates available on request
Trip Intensity: Moderate – light activities, short hikes, some uneven ground