EASTERN MAURITANIA

Day 1: departure from major Italian cities and flight with layover to Nouakchott

Day 2

Morning: breakfast and departure by 4×4 towards the east along the Route de l’Espoir, the artery connecting the capital with the heart of the country. Small dusty villages and rural markets are crossed, where the last camel caravans are encountered

Afternoon: entry into the mountainous region of Tagant. The track climbs through canyons and plateaus until reaching Matmata, a guelta area where some desert crocodiles survive

Evening: wild camping on the edge of the plateau, among rocks and dunes

Morning: breakfast and departure along a mixed stretch of asphalt and track. Sandy plains alternate with rocky formations and salt flats

Afternoon: arrival in Tichit, one of the four historic cities of Mauritania, an ancient caravan stop founded in the 13th century. Walk among sandstone houses and Quranic libraries, testimonies of a cultured and cosmopolitan past

Evening: wild camping set up near the oasis

Morning and afternoon: breakfast and departure along desert tracks crossing rocky plateaus and vast expanses of fine sand, arriving in the Mahkrougat area, where the “Elephant Stone” emerges, a huge rock formation shaped by the wind. Along the route, camel caravans loaded with salt heading north are often encountered

Evening: wild camping among rock and sand formations, under an extraordinarily clear sky

Morning and afternoon: breakfast and departure eastward, following sandy tracks crossing almost uninhabited territories, arriving in Oualata, one of the oldest historic cities in Mauritania. A maze of mud and stone alleys, houses decorated with geometric paintings and ancient Islamic libraries. Oualata is one of the capitals of Saharan culture, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site

Evening: set up wild camping near the oasis

Morning: breakfast and in-depth visit of the old city. Meeting with families who preserve ancient Quranic manuscripts and decorate their homes with traditional motifs

Afternoon: free time to explore the village or observe daily life in the sandy streets. Excursions in the surrounding area towards small Afar settlements (to be confirmed locally)

Evening: wild camping set up

Morning and afternoon: breakfast and departure towards Néma, the easternmost city in the country and the starting point of the paved section of the Route de l’Espoir. Stop in Néma for supplies and a short visit to the market, then continue towards Tamchakett along a sandy track through plateaus and dry wadis

Evening: wild camping in the Tagant desert

Morning and afternoon: breakfast and departure towards one of the most spectacular areas of the Mauritanian Sahara: the great dunes of Tichit Angona. Arrival in the afternoon and walk among the golden dunes to reach panoramic viewpoints overlooking the entire erg. The area is completely isolated, accessible only by 4×4 or small aircraft in case of emergency

Evening: wild camping in the heart of the desert, between absolute silence and starry skies

Morning: breakfast and departure heading northwest. The landscape gradually changes, with the Tagant plateau re-emerging from the sands

Afternoon: arrival in Rachid, a small village located on a rocky promontory. Short visit to the village and surrounding landscapes

Evening: wild camping near the oasis

Morning: breakfast and departure for the long return journey to the capital, crossing the Tagant region and the western desert plain

Afternoon: arrival in Nouakchott in the afternoon.

Evening: dinner and transfer to the airport. Departure with evening flight and layover to Italy. Arrival on day 11… and see you on the next adventure!