Wander Across Mauritania

January 15th – 28th, 2025

Final Details

Important Details

Tourist Visas

Airport Arrival Instructions

Upon arrival at the airport, please follow these instructions:

• Once your plane lands, you will either walk to the arrival building or take a bus from the plane
• Inside the arrival building, you will find tables with small visa on arrival forms. Please take a form and fill it out completely
• To your left, you will see a row of small offices with a sign that says “Visa on Arrival”
• Join the line next to these offices until a staff member calls you into one of them
• Inside the office, you will pay for your visa and provide your passport-style headshot photo, the completed arrival form, proof of your onward ticket, and your original yellow fever vaccination certificate (copies are not accepted)
• In a few minutes, you will receive your visa
• Proceed to the immigration line, where an officer will provide an entry stamp on your visa.
• Go to the luggage carousel in front of you and pick up your luggage.
• Head through the customs inspection and enter the Arrivals Hall.
• Your driver will be waiting for you right as you enter the Arrivals Hall with a sign that says “Wandering Earl Tours”.

For the arrival form you may need to put the address of our accommodation in Nouakchott. The information is: Nouakchott Hotel, Tevragh Zeina, Nouakchott, Mauritania

If there are any issues, either you or the airport staff can contact our tour leader, Derek, at +1 912 289-5602, or our local transportation coordinator, Baba, at +222 37 78 75 28

WhatsApp Group

We will set up a WhatsApp chat 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants as well as your tour leader. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance, ask questions and communicate with your tour leader both before and during the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.

Tour Leader

Your tour leader for this trip will be none other than Derek Baron, the founder of Wandering Earl Tours. His journey in the world of travel began in 1999, and since then, he has led many successful tours across the globe. His extensive knowledge and experience will ensure you’re in the best hands for this adventure.

He will introduce himself and share more details when we create the group WhatsApp chat.

Staying Connected

Given the remote nature of this trip, you may not be connected to the internet as much as you would be at home. Wi-Fi will be available at the hotel in the capital city and at some of the other guesthouse style accommodations. However, the connection can be significantly slower than you’re used to, especially the farther we go from the capital city. During our camping experiences, there will be no Wi-Fi available. Data connections on your phone will be available when in or near cities and larger towns but may be limited otherwise. If you require a more consistent connection throughout the trip, we recommend purchasing a local SIM card once in Mauritania. We can assist with this and it will ensure that you have a 4G connection wherever it is possible in the country.

Itinerary

January 15th: Nouakchott / Arrival Day 

• Arrival at the Nouakchott International Airport and transfer to our hotel in the city center
• Orientation meeting
• Welcome dinner featuring our first taste of Mauritanian cuisine

➜ Accommodation: Nouakchott Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast (for those who booked pre-trip accommodations), Dinner

January 16th: Nouakchott  

• Morning guided tour of Nouakchott’s lively local markets and bustling business district. We’ll visit the country’s largest camel market, admire the impressive main mosque, and explore workshops where artisans skillfully preserve traditional crafts
• Group lunch
• Free time to relax and unwind at the hotel or to explore the city at your own pace
• Group dinner

➜ Accommodation: Nouakchott Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

January 17th: Nouakchott / Azouega Dunes

• Scenic 6-hour drive towards the mesmerizing Azouega Dunes, passing through charming towns and traditional villages, with a lunch stop along the way
• Arrival at the highest dunes in Mauritania’s Sahara Desert
• Settle into our canvas tents, providing a unique overnight experience
• Sunset from the top of the highest dune, watching the sky transform into night
• Dinner prepared by our local hosts around a cozy campfire, enjoying the tranquil desert ambience

➜ Accommodation: Camping Canvas Tents
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

January 18th: Azouega Dunes / Terjit Oasis

• 3.5-hour drive towards Terjit Oasis, journeying through rocky deserts, sweeping dunes, majestic mountains, and picturesque valleys
• Arrive at the oasis, a lush sanctuary within Mauritania’s Sahara Desert
• Explore the oasis, admiring its clear streams, cascading waterfalls, swaying palm trees, and dramatic rocky cliffs
• Free time to wander through the charming village, interact with the locals, or simply relax
• Group dinner

➜ Accommodation: Chez Jemal
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

January 19th: Terjit Oasis / Mheireth Oasis

• 2-hour drive towards Mheireth Oasis, one of the largest and most stunning oases in the region
• Interactions with the welcoming Bedouin community, learning about their traditions
• Continue to our unique camping spot located in a meteor crater
• Group dinner under a star-filled sky

➜ Accommodation: Camping 
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

January 20th: Mheireth Oasis / Chinguetti

• Drive across the stunning dunes towards Chinguetti, a UNESCO World Heritage medieval village celebrated for its remarkable ancient libraries
• Explore the old town, visit historic libraries, and listen to engaging stories from locals who preserve their treasured collection of ancient books
• Check into our welcoming guesthouse, where we’ll experience the authentic Mauritanian hospitality
• Home-cooked dinner at our guesthouse

➜ Accommodation: Caravan Hotel 
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

January 21st: Chinguetti / Oudane

• Begin the day with a morning drive towards the enchanting Tenewchert Oasis, where you’ll have the chance to meet and connect with friendly local villagers
• Continue over the golden dunes to Oudane, a historic 1,100-year-old caravan town nestled at the edge of the stunning Adrar Plateau
• Group lunch
• Leisurely walk through Oudane, exploring its ancient streets and historic architecture
• Free evening at leisure to enjoy Oudane

➜ Accommodation: Vasque Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

January 22nd: Oudane / Richard Structure / Oudane 

• Hop into our SUVs for a 1-hour drive to the enigmatic Richard Structure, also known as the Eye of the Sahara, one of the world’s most mysterious geological formations
• Stops at several breathtaking locations on our return journey, perfect for capturing stunning photos and soaking in the unique desert landscapes
• Group lunch
• Free afternoon exploring Oudane at your leisure, with options such as visiting local markets, hiking nearby trails or relaxing at our guesthouse
• Group dinner

➜ Accommodation: Vasque Hotel 
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

January 23rd: Oudane / Atar

• Drive through the stunning canyons of the Adrar Plateau, experiencing the dramatic beauty of Mauritania’s landscape
• Visit ancient caves adorned with rock paintings, offering a glimpse into the region’s rich history
• Upon arrival in Atar, wander through the bustling ancient market to pick up some supplies
• Settle into our guesthouse, proudly owned by one of the area’s most entrepreneurial women
• Sunset walk around town interacting with the community
• Amazing home-cooked meal prepared with local ingredients

➜ Accommodation: Hotel Étoile du Nord
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

January 24th: Atar / Ben Amera / Choum / Nouadhibou / Optional Iron Ore Train

• Drive north to the Ben Amera Monolith, the largest monolith in Africa
• Continue for 1.5 hours to the town of Choum, where we’ll explore the historic Choum Tunnel, a fascinating relic built by the French and often referred to as a monument to “European stupidity” in Africa
• Group lunch at a local restaurant
• Head to the train station to witness the arrival of the mighty iron ore train
• For those adventurous enough, we’ll embark on a unique 10-hour train ride under the star-filled Sahara sky (OPTIONAL). Please be aware that the train does not have passenger cars, so you’ll be riding in the open cargo cars, a thrilling yet rustic experience
• Alternatively, those who chose to skip the train will drive to the coastal city of Nouadhibou and stay overnight at our hotel

*Please note that the train ride is subject to local regulations and may not be allowed at the time of our visit

➜ Accommodation: Valancia Hotel (or the optional Iron Ore Train)
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

January 25th: Nouadhibou 

• Those who took the train will reunite and enjoy a relaxed breakfast, sharing stories from their unique journey
• Afternoon exploring Nouadhibou, Mauritania’s second-largest city, visiting historical landmarks and bustling fish markets where Senegalese and Mauritanian boats come to dock
• Optional group dinner and night out in town

➜ Accommodation: Valancia Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

January 26th: Nouadhibou / Banc d’Arguin National Park / Nouakchott

• Drive south to the breathtaking Banc d’Arguin National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site located along Mauritania’s stunning Atlantic coastline
• Explore the park’s diverse ecosystems, including expansive sand dunes, peaceful swamps, and picturesque small islands, while spotting an array of birds, sea turtles, and dolphins
• Journey back to Nouakchott in the evening
• Optional group dinner

➜ Accommodation: Nouakchott Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

January 27th: Nouakchott

• Free morning at leisure, with options such as visiting local art galleries, taking  relaxing walk along the scenic beaches or exploring nearby parks
• Afternoon visit to the fish market to savor a delicious lunch at one of Nouakchott’s beachside restaurants,
• Free afternoon, with an optional visit to a local hammam (SPA), picking up any last-minute souvenirs, or taking one final stroll through the lively streets of Nouakchott
• Farewell dinner at one of the city’s top restaurants

➜ Accommodation: Nouakchott Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

January 28th: Nouakchott / Departure Day 

• Airport transfers for your departing flight

➜ Included meals: Breakfast

*Please note: While we do our best to follow the above itinerary, changes may be made to any aspect of the tour due to a variety of potential situations or unforeseen circumstances.

What’s Included?

• Wandering Earl Tours group leader
• Small group (maximum 12 participants)
• 13 nights (3*/4* hotels, local guesthouses, camping and optional overnight train)
• All transportation within Mauritania (private vans, SUVs and optional overnight train)
• Local English-speaking guide
• All mentioned activities and entrance fees
• Breakfast every day, 12 lunches and 12 dinners
• Water throughout the trip
• Gratuities at hotels/included meals
• All airport transfers

What’s Not Included?

• Flights to/from Mauritania
• Passport/visa fees
• Optional meals and activities
• Travel insurance (mandatory)
• Gratuities

To read the previous information that we sent out, please click here: What to Expect

That’s all for now! If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at team@wanderingearl.com.