Wander To Mauritania

Jan 15

Highlights: Arrival in Mauritania, welcome dinner

Included: Dinner

Upon arrival at the Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport, you will be met by our personal driver and transferred to our hotel in the city center. In the afternoon we'll all gather for an orientation meeting before sitting down for our welcome dinner. → Overnight in a 4* hotel (private bathrooms and hot water)

Jan 16

Highlights: Full tour of Nouakchott

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll begin our journey with a full guided tour of Nouakchott, where we’ll visit the business district, see the city's main mosque, and experience the energy of the lively fish market, where colorful boats bring in the day’s catch. For lunch we’ll enjoy Yassa, a popular West African dish made with marinated chicken or fish, cooked in a rich sauce of caramelized onions, mustard, garlic, and citrus, served with rice. In the afternoon we’ll visit one of the largest camel markets in the world (a sight that needs to be seen to be believed!), where traders gather from across the region to buy and sell these prized animals. After returning to the hotel for a short break, we’ll head to Jreida Beach to catch the sunset over the vast, empty sands. We'll head out for a dinner nearby before an early sleep, getting ready for our drive into the desert the next morning. → Overnight in a 4* hotel (private bathrooms and hot water)

Jan 17

Highlights: Arrival in the Sahara Desert, Azouega Dunes

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we'll depart Nouakchott early and begin heading east toward the Sahara. The drive takes about 5 to 6 hours, and it is a chance to watch the country change gradually, from city edges to smaller towns and villages, then into wider, emptier stretches. Part of the day will be on paved roads, then we'll transition onto desert travel, where the route feels less defined and the horizon starts to take over. We'll stop in Akjoujt for lunch and to gather any last supplies, then continue into the dunes. By late afternoon we'll reach the Azoueiga Dunes, the tallest in Mauritania, and settle into our pre set canvas tents. As the temperature softens, we'll head out into the sand for time to explore at a comfortable pace. Near sunset, we'll climb into the highest dune for a view that explains why people fall for the Sahara. Our guides will prepare dinner over the campfire, and we’ll spend the night under the stars in this breathtaking location. → Overnight camping

Jan 18

Highlights: Surreal nature, Terjit Oasis

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast we’ll head out on a scenic morning walk along the base of the dunes, a simple way to take in the scale of the landscape before we get back into the vehicles. We'll then follow a rugged, rarely traveled route through rocky desert terrain, climbing over plateaus and passing viewpoints that open up across dunes, mountains, canyons, and valleys. The drive takes about 3.5 hours, with a stop for lunch halfway. We'll arrive at the Terjit Oasis in the afternoon, a pocket of green tucked into the desert, with flowing springs, small waterfalls, palm groves, and cliffs rising above the water. The shift in atmosphere is immediate. We'll have time to explore, cool off in the water if you feel up to it, and settle into our simple campsite set in a quiet garden. → Overnight camping (with shared toilets and cold water showers)

Jan 19

Highlights: Mheireth Oasis, local village walk

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a relaxed morning we'll drive for about two hours to the Mheireth Oasis, one of the largest and most scenic oases in the region. After arriving we'll enjoy a picnic by the riverbed, then walk into the heart of the oasis. You will see how the landscape layers together here, rocky hills and sand dunes, thick palms, and a clear lake that feels unexpected in this setting. We'll have about an hour to take it in, and, if you want, you can take a refreshing dip in the cool water. Later we'll continue into Mheireth village and check into our camp. In the afternoon we'll take a guided walk through the village, stopping at small markets and shops, meeting locals, and getting a more personal feel for what daily life looks like in a remote desert community. Dinner will be back at our camp, with the quiet returning as the light fades. → Overnight camping (with shared toilets and cold water showers)

Jan 20

Highlights: Chinguetti, Amazigh caves, amazing desert

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we'll continue across the Sahara, following faint tracks in the sand as we make our way to Chinguetti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its historic Islamic libraries. Aloing the way we'll stop to explore the Amazigh caves, where rock paintings will offer us a glimpse into the region’s deep history and the many lives that have moved through this landscape. After arriving in Chinguetti we'll check into our guesthouse and head out on foot to explore the old town. The stone alleyways and weathered buildings still carry traces of its past as a center of trade and scholarship. We'll visit one of the historic libraries, where caretakers share the story of manuscripts preserved across generations. As the sun begins to set, we'll drive to a dune viewpoint for wide desert views, then return for a home cooked dinner at the guesthouse and a relaxed evening. → Overnight in a guesthouse (with private bathrooms and hot water)

Jan 21

Highlights: Meeting villagers in Tenewchert Oasis, Oudane

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

As we move onward today, the scenery shifts again, from rolling dunes into more rugged terrain near the Adrar Plateau. We’ll stop briefly to meet some of the villagers who call this isolated community home, gaining insight into their way of life in one of the country’s most secluded areas. From there we'll continue through a striking mix of white, red, and orange dunes before arriving in Oudane, an old caravan town that once played a major role in trans Saharan trade. After checking into our guesthouse, we’ll take a short drive into the desert to watch the sunset over the landscape before returning for a relaxed evening. → Overnight in a guesthouse (with private bathrooms and hot water)

Jan 22

Highlights: Richat Structure, Oudane's ancient city

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast we'll climb into our SUVs for the one hour drive to the Richat Structure, often called the Eye of the Sahara. From above, it reads as huge concentric rings in the desert, and crossing it on the ground feels almost unreal. We'll drive across the formation and reach its inner core, where you can step out and take in the textures and colors up close. On the way back to Oudane we'll stop for a picnic lunch and make time for other viewpoints in the area. In the afternoon we'll explore Oudane itself, walking through the older alleys past mosques and crumbling stone homes, and piecing together how this town once functioned as a crossroads for caravans, traders, and scholars. The rest of the evening will be yours to relax at the guesthouse before we continue our journey the next morning. → Overnight in a guesthouse (with private bathrooms and hot water)

Jan 23

Highlights: Adrar canyons, local market in Atar

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving Oudane behind, we'll drive through the rocky canyons of the Adrar Plateau, with stops at scenic points where the views stretch far and the scale is easy to feel. This part of the route is a reminder that Mauritania is not a single landscape, it shifts constantly as we travel. We'll break for lunch along the way, then continue to Atar, the largest town in the region and an important trade center. After checking into our hotel we'll visit Atar’s main market, where stalls and small shops sell everything from produce and baked goods to spices, textiles, and handmade crafts. It is a good place to walk slowly, observe, and see what people are actually buying and using. We'll end the day with dinner back at our hotel, getting some rest before the next day. → Overnight in a hotel (with private bathrooms and hot water)

Jan 24

Highlights: Ben Amera monolith, Choum Tunnel, Iron Ore Train

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast we'll begin the journey north toward the remote village of Choum, with a brief stop to see a slice of everyday life in this small desert settlement. From there we'll continue to the Choum Tunnel, built during the French colonial era, and we learn why it has become a symbol of poor planning and heavy cost. We'll then drive about two hours to Ben Amera, the second largest monolith in the world, rising sharply from the desert in a way that makes the surroundings feel even more open. We'll take time to explore the area, walk around the base at a comfortable pace, and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon we'll continue another two hours to the village of Tmeimichat, where we'll reach the loading station for the Iron Ore Train. The overnight ride to Nouadhibou takes about 10 hours and there are no passenger cars. You'll climb up a ladder, place a blanket on top of the iron ore, and ride on the open wagon. This overnight train trip is optional. If you do not wish to ride, we will camp in the desert near the village and continue our drive to Nouadhibou the next day. → Overnight on the Iron Ore Train or camping

Jan 25

Highlights: Nouadhibou

Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Those who took the train and those who did not will reunite in Nouadhibou, Mauritania’s second largest city and a port town with a very different feel from the desert interior. Today will be a relaxing day. You can explore the market, the fishing area, and the quieter neighborhoods if you feel up for it, or you can use the time to rest and reset after several big travel days. This is also a good moment to catch up on sleep, wash up, and enjoy the comfort of your hotel room. In the evening we'll gather for dinner at an unexpected restaurant, then return to the hotel for a well-deserved sleep. → Overnight in a 3* hotel (with private bathrooms and hot water)

Jan 26

Highlights: Banc d'Arguin National Park

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we'll leave the Nouadhibou peninsula behind and head south to Banc d’Arguin National Park, a protected coastal reserve where desert and ocean meet. The landscape changes again, with sand dunes, open shoreline, and scattered islands shaping the horizon. Upon arrival we'll settle into our remote coastal campsite, set in a spot chosen for its wide ocean views. In the late afternoon we'll take a short walk along the cliffs and watch the sun set over the Atlantic. After dinner the evening will be slow and quiet around the campfire, with waves in the background and a sky full of stars overhead. → Overnight in large canvas tents (with shared bathrooms available)

Jan 27

Highlights: Beaches, return to Nouakchott

Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast we'll continue south to the small fishing village of Lemhaisrat. Wooden boats line the shore, and much of the day still revolves around the catch, the tides, and the work that comes with both. We'll spend time taking it in, then follow the coastline to our final lunch spot, a peaceful stretch of beach where the dunes of the Sahara meet the Atlantic. We'll take our time here, knowing it is our last long look at Mauritania’s wild edge. In the afternoon we'll drive back to Nouakchott, check into our hotel, and enjoy some free time to relax before we gather for our farewell dinner and reflect on the journey together. → Overnight in a 4* hotel (with private bathrooms and hot water)

Jan 28

Highlights: Departure day

Included: Breakfast

You will be picked up at the hotel by our private driver and transferred to the airport in time for your departing flight.