There is a train in the Sahara. It runs without a fixed schedule — a 2.5-kilometre wall of iron ore wagons emerging from the desert darkness, crossing one of the most desolate stretches of earth on the planet. Riding it is one of the most quietly extraordinary travel experiences that exists. You will do this on Day 5.
Before that: the Adrar dunes at golden hour, the jade-green springs of Terjit Oasis hidden between 30-metre sandstone cliffs, and Chinguetti — one of Islam’s seven holy cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where manuscript libraries from the 13th century survive in private family collections that almost no travellers ever see. Mauritania is the Sahara in its most undiscovered, most unhyped, most authentic form.
Why Mauritania in 2026
Mauritania receives fewer than 50,000 tourists per year. The Adrar region — the Sahara’s most spectacular interior — sees a fraction of that. There are no international hotel chains here, no tourist coaches, no queues at the UNESCO sites. You will walk through Ouadane’s medieval stone streets in silence. You will have the Azouega dunes almost entirely to yourselves at sunset. This is what “off the beaten path” actually means.
For travellers who have already done Morocco, Jordan, and Egypt — who have seen desert tourism executed well but at scale — Mauritania is the next step. The experience is more raw, more personal, and more memorable precisely because the infrastructure is sparse and the rewards are not handed to you.
About This Tour
This 6-day private tour covers the Adrar Desert, Terjit Oasis, and the UNESCO cities of Chinguetti and Ouadane, culminating in the legendary Iron Ore Train crossing and a morning on Nouadhibou’s Atlantic coast. All transport is private. All guides are native Mauritanians with English. All logistics — permits, accommodation, camp setup — are handled entirely by RJ Travel before you arrive.
Is Mauritania Safe for Tourists?
The Adrar region, where this tour operates, has a strong and consistent safety record for organised private travel. RJ Travel has been operating Mauritania tours since 2019 without incident. We conduct ongoing security assessments, coordinate with local authorities throughout, and provide 24/7 emergency WhatsApp support on every tour. Full pre-trip safety briefing included with every booking.
Arrive at Nouakchott airport. Transfer to hotel. Evening orientation walk and dinner. Overnight Nouakchott.
Depart by 4x4 for the 9-hour drive north to Atar through the Sahara. Stop at Akjoujt. Arrive Atar at sunset. Overnight Atar.
Drive to Chinguetti, one of Islam's seven holy cities. Visit the 13th-century mosque, manuscript libraries, and crumbling old medina. Return to Atar.
Drive to Terjit Oasis, a spring-fed canyon hidden in the desert. Swim in natural pools. Continue to desert camp on the dunes. Dinner under stars. Overnight desert camp.
The highlight: transfer to Choum to board the iron ore train, 2.5 km long. Ride atop the wagons through open Sahara. One of the world's most extraordinary travel experiences. Overnight Atar.
Morning at leisure. Depart by road back to Nouakchott for your international flight. End of tour.
