MAURITANIA
Highlights
Under the stars of the Sahara in the open-air wagon of the desert train
Guelb el Richat, the Eye of the Sahara visible from the Moon
Migratory birds and the turquoise ocean of Banc d’Arguin
A tea at any time, like true Mauritanians
Where we sleep
Berber tented camps, local hotels in Nouakchott and Chinguetti
How we move
4×4 with driver and Italian-speaking local guide, freight train
TYPE OF TRIP
For more information about our trips, please consult the FAQ section.
Departure from Italy in the afternoon and flight with a layover to Mauritania
Arrival at night and transfer to a campsite by the sea for the first night
Morning: wake-up, breakfast on the beach prepared by our cook, swim and departure for Banc d’Arguin National Park with our 4×4 Jeeps. Arrival in the late morning
Afternoon: excursion by pinasse in Banc d’Arguin National Park, lunch and transfer towards Cap Tafarit
Evening: arrival at the camp before sunset, swim in the sea, dinner and overnight in Berber tents
Morning: wake-up, breakfast on the beach, and departure for Nouadhibou. Arrival in the late morning, lunch and waiting for the «Train du Desert». The train, operated by the mining company SNIM for transporting iron ore dust between the Zouerat mine and the port of Nouadhibou, does not have a fixed schedule. It may therefore be necessary to wait from 3 to 8 hours before departure
Afternoon: climbing aboard the freight car of the longest train in the world (up to 3 kilometers of wagons!), which takes about 12 hours to cover the 420 kilometers deep into the Sahara up to Choum. Afternoon and evening aboard the train car, for the sunset and the most unforgettable travel experience of your lives!
Evening: overnight in the open air aboard the train car
Morning: arrival of the train in Choum, during the night or at first light of dawn. Transfer to the village for a shower and breakfast, hosted by a local family
Afternoon: continuation of the journey by 4×4 through the desert towards Atar, the main town of the Adrar region. Stop along the way for an on-the-road lunch. Visit to the fascinating market of Atar, an authentic mosaic of Saharan colors and traditions. Transfer into the desert on the outskirts of Atar for the night
Evening: setting up the tented camp, dinner under the stars and overnight in the desert
Morning: a day entirely dedicated to the Sahara, following an itinerary of over 12 hours immersed in the desert. The terrain and landscapes will not be monotonous: well-traveled tracks, soft sand dunes and rugged rocky areas will alternate along the route.
Afternoon: visit to the Desert Museum of El Beyedh, a project conceived by the NGO Bambini nel Deserto.
Evening: arrival and setup of the tented camp, dinner and overnight stay in El Beyedh.
Morning: visit to the Richat Structure, also known as the «Eye of the Sahara», an impressive and mysterious circular geological formation of uncertain origin, measuring about 40 km in diameter. Continuation to the old town of Ouadane, founded in 1147 by the Berber tribe Idalwa el Hadji, once an important stop along caravan routes, now almost completely swallowed by the desert.
Afternoon: Departure for Chinguetti, arrival in the late afternoon, check-in and dinner at the hotel, relaxation at the hotel and through the streets of Chinguetti. The seventh holy city of Islam, formerly a ksar and an important center along the Sahara caravan routes between Marrakech and Timbuktu, it is famous for its 24 libraries, where it is possible to admire some of the oldest manuscripts of Islamic culture
Evening: return to the hotel, dinner and evening with dancing
Morning: early wake-up, breakfast and departure for the Mhairith oasis, with a stop to admire the fantastic panorama from above. Continuation to the Terjit oasis, inhabited by some local herder families, with the possibility of taking a bath in the cool waters in the shade of a fascinating date palm grove
Afternoon: lunch in Terjit and transfer to Azouega to begin the climb on the Amatlich dunes and watch the sunset
Evening: setting up the tented camp around Azouega, dinner and overnight in the desert
Morning: very early wake-up, breakfast and departure for Nouakchott. Arrival in the capital and lunch at a restaurant along the very long beach of Nouakchott
Afternoon: in the early afternoon, walk on the beach during the fishermen’s return, when hundreds of crews and colorful wooden boats crowd the shore, unloading tons of very fresh fish. Visit to the nearby fish market, one of the largest and most photogenic in all of Africa. Arrival at the hotel, check-in and relaxation in the garden
Evening: dinner and overnight in Nouakchott
Morning: transfer to the airport and return to Italy
Afternoon: flight
Evening: arrival in Italy
