EASTERN MAURITANIA

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

Day 2

Morning: Breakfast and departure by 4×4 towards the east along the Route de l’Espoir, the main artery linking the capital to the heart of the country. Crossing small dusty villages and rural markets, where the last camel caravans can still be encountered.

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

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

Morning: Breakfast and departure along a route alterning between paved roads and desert tracks. Sandy plains give way to rocky formations and vast salt flats.

Afternoon: Arrival in Tichit, one of Mauritania’s four historic ksour, an ancient caravan town founded in the 13th century. Walk through sandstone houses and Quranic libraries, traces of a refined and cosmopolitan past

Evening: Setup of the wild camp near the oasis.

Morning and afternoon: Breakfast and departure along desert tracks crossing rocky plateaus and vast expanses of fine sand. Arrival in the Mahkrougat area, where the “Elephant Stone” rises from the desert, a huge rock formation sculpted by wind and time. Along the route, it is still possible to encounter camel caravans loaded with salt heading north.

Evening: Wild camp among rocks and dunes beneath an extraordinarily clear sky.

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

Evening: Set up wild camping near the oasis.

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

Afternoon: free time to explore the village or observe daily life along the sandy streets. Possibility of excursions in the surrounding area toward small Afar settlements (subject to local confirmation).

Evening: setup of the wild camp and overnight under the stars.

Morning and afternoon: breakfast and departure toward Néma, the easternmost city in the country and gateway to the paved section of the Route de l’Espoir. Stop in Néma for supplies and a short visit to the local market before continuing toward Tamchakett along sandy tracks crossing plateaus and dry wadis.

Evening: wild camping in the Tagant desert

Morning and afternoon: breakfast and departure toward one of the most spectacular regions of the Mauritanian Sahara: the great dunes of Tichit Angona. Arrival in the afternoon and walk among golden dunes leading to panoramic viewpoints overlooking the vast erg. The area is completely isolated, accessible only by 4×4 vehicles or, in emergencies, by small aircraft.

Evening: wild camping in the heart of the desert, surrounded by absolute silence beneath star-filled skies.

Morning: breakfast and departure heading northwest. The landscape gradually transforms as the Tagant Plateau slowly re-emerges from the sands.

Afternoon: arrival in Rachid, a small village perched on a rocky promontory. Short exploration of the village and its surrounding desert landscapes.

Evening: wild camping near the oasis

Morning: breakfast and departure for the long return journey to the capital, crossing the landscapes of the Tagant region and the vast western desert plains.

Afternoon: arrival in Nouakchott and time to relax before the final departure.

Evening: farewell dinner and transfer to the airport. Evening flight to Italy with layover. Arrival on day 11… until the next adventure!