Mauritania’s Ancient Cities Await
Mauritania remains one of the world’s most enigmatic travel destinations — a vast, sand-carved nation where history is written in stone, earth, and the weathered faces of trans-Saharan communities. While most Africa-bound travellers flock to Morocco’s medinas or Egypt’s monuments, Mauritania’s four UNESCO Ancient Ksour (fortified towns) remain virtually unknown to the international traveller. This 16-day expedition changes that paradigm entirely, delivering you to the earthen halls of Oualata, the clifftop stone villages of Tichitt, and the Sahara’s most haunting natural monuments.
This is not a safari tour. This is not a resort experience. This is archaeological immersion in one of Africa’s last genuinely untouched cultural frontiers. You will spend two weeks penetrating the Sahara’s interior — driving the Road of Hope through dune and scrubland, sleeping in desert camps under unobstructed stars, and witnessing landscapes that cinema has barely documented. You will meet the Imraguen, a fishing community so ancient and specialized that they still herd Atlantic fish into shallow waters using techniques unchanged for centuries. You will walk streets in Oualata where medieval merchants once haggled in Arabic, and spend two nights atop Tichitt, a mountain village whose stone houses are stacked like geological layers.
This is Africa’s ultimate expedition to the edges of human geography.
What Makes This Different
- UNESCO Ksour sites: Oualata, Tichitt, Chinguetti, Walata
- The Road of Hope (Route de l’Espoir): Mauritania’s legendary trans-Saharan highway
- Prehistoric rock art at Araouane and Terjit
- Imraguen fishing traditions: centuries-old herding techniques
- The Eye of the Sahara (Richat Structure)
- Banc d’Arguin National Park: UNESCO-listed wetlands with migratory birds
- Atlantic coast exploration with traditional fishing villages
- Small group travel: never more than 12 participants
Arrive Nouakchott. Airport transfer and hotel check-in. Afternoon city tour including the Grand Mosque, National Museum, and the colorful Port de Peche fish market. Welcome dinner.
Drive north to Atar via Akjoujt (450km). Cross semi-arid plains into the dramatic Adrar plateau. Stop for lunch en route. Arrive Atar evening, settle into auberge.
Full day exploring Chinguetti, the seventh holy city of Islam and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit manuscript libraries, the ancient mosque, and wander the sand-invaded stone quarter. Afternoon dune walk.
Expedition to the Eye of the Sahara (Richat Structure), a 40km geological wonder visible from space. Full day exploring the concentric rock formations. Picnic lunch on the rim. Desert camp overnight.
Drive to Ouadane, UNESCO cliff-top medieval city. Explore ruins of the old trading quarter, visit the mosque, enjoy sunset views. Meet local families and learn about desert life. Overnight auberge.
Camel trek into the Erg Ouarane sand sea. Ride through towering golden dunes with experienced Moorish handlers. Full immersion in the deep Sahara. Desert bivouac with traditional dinner under the stars.
Journey south to Tichitt, one of the oldest stone settlements in West Africa. This remote UNESCO site preserves ancient dry-stone architecture dating back over 1,000 years. Explore the ruins and meet local communities.
Desert crossing back northward through remote terrain. Experience the vastness and silence of the inner Sahara. Stop at nomadic camps along the way. Overnight desert bivouac.
Visit Amogjar Pass to see prehistoric rock art depicting giraffes, elephants, and cattle from when the Sahara was green thousands of years ago. Continue to El Beyyed for more rock engravings. Return to Atar.
Relaxation day at Terjit Oasis. Swim in natural spring pools beneath palm-shaded cliffs. Afternoon at leisure. This is a welcome rest after days in the deep desert. Optional short hikes in the canyon.
Transfer to Choum for the iconic iron ore train ride. Board the 2.5km-long train for the desert crossing to Nouadhibou. Arrive late evening on the Atlantic coast. Hotel overnight.
Explore Nouadhibou. Visit the famous ship graveyard, local markets, and the fishing port. Afternoon free at the Atlantic waterfront. Fresh seafood dinner.
Full-day boat excursion to Banc d Arguin National Park, UNESCO World Heritage coastal ecosystem. Spectacular birdwatching, Imraguen fishing villages, and pristine coastal landscapes.
Visit Cape Blanc (Cap Blanc) peninsula, home to one of the last Mediterranean monk seal colonies. Explore the coastline and enjoy the wild Atlantic scenery. Afternoon at leisure.
Drive south from Nouadhibou to Nouakchott along the coastal corridor (470km). Final desert-meets-ocean landscapes. Arrive evening for a farewell dinner celebrating the expedition.
Morning free for Nouakchott markets or relaxation. Transfer to airport for departure. End of the grand 16-day Mauritania expedition.
