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Mauritania Tours
Travel To Mauritania
Jewel of the Sahara
Home to a very unique train journey as well as the UNESCO World Heritage site of Chinguetti – Mauritania has a surprising amount on offer for such an unknown land.
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Our Mauritania tours will showcase all that this nomadic, tribal land can offer.
A place that once suffered from security issues and foreign office bans, Mauritania is roaring back with its unique blend of wild Atlantic fishermen mixed with traditional desert nomads of the Sahara. This huge and sparsely populated nation has attractions and wonderful towns waiting to be discovered by the intrepid traveller.
Every group tour will ride the famed open-top iron ore train which runs from the central mines to the Nouadhibou overnight through the Sahara desert. It’s the trip highlight and one of the all-time great travel experiences!
What are you waiting for? Check out our sample Mauritania tour itinerary and group tours below!
Visa?
Thankfully it’s super easy to get a Mauritania visa. Basically all nationalities are eligible to apply for an e-visa for $60USD or €55.
What should I bring?
Bring clothes for hot and cool weather conditions. Comfortable footwear. A headscarf – especially to protect from dust if you are riding the iron ore train. Get in touch for a packing list!
When?
The Mauritania travel season runs from September to April. The summer months are not advised due to the extreme heat.
Tour Itineraries
5 spots available!
See the highlights from Nouakchott to Chinguetti and back on this classic Mauritania tour with an optional Libya combo!
- November 14 - 21st, 2025
- 1690
- 8 days
Fully Booked - Join the Waiting List!
Welcome in the first sunrise of 2026 while rolling through the Sahara desert on the famed Iron ore train!
- December 27 - Jan 3rd, 2026
- 1690
- 8 days
See all the highlights on this classic Mauritania tour with combo add ons to Libya & Algeria!
- March 23 - 30th, 2026
- 1740
- 8 days
Tour Map
Sample 7 Night Itinerary
Day 1 – Nouakchott
- Arrival in Nouakchott at your convenience & transfer to your hotel.
- In the afternoon we will venture out to the huge Camel Market and explore some of the city.
- Head to the Port de Pêche – the capital city’s largest and most vibrant fish market.
- See the Great Mosque of Nouakchott.
- Dinner and overnight in Nouakchott.
Day 2 – Nouakchott - Azoueiga
- Breakfast at our hotel.
- Visit the National Museum where artefacts of the history of Mauritania and its ancient cities are exposed.
Afternoon
- Drive 4 hours to the stunning Azoueiga sand dune. We’ll set up camp here in this incredibly peaceful setting.
- Climb the nearby sand dune in time for sunset.
- Dinner and overnight camping.
Day 3 – Azoueiga - Terjit - Chinguetti
- Drive towards Terjit – arguably Mauritania’s most naturally beautiful location. It’s an oasis in the middle of the Sahara desert.
- Relax in the pools after a long drive.
- Continue our off-road driving adventure to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Chinguetti – one of the holy cities of Islam. You’ll visit the library and other historical monuments and landmarks including the much-loved Friday Mosque of Chinguetti, the national symbol of Mauritania.
- Evening sunset watched from the huge sand dunes surrounding Chinguetti.
- Dinner and overnight at our guesthouse.
Day 4 – Chinguetti – Ouadane
- Breakfast at the guesthouse.
- Begin the 80km drive through nothing but desert and sand dunes: on the way stopping in the village of Tanounichert for tea with the locals.
Afternoon
- Arrive in World Heritage-protected Ouadane and explore the streets that once glorified this beautiful country as a whole.
- Get close to the Richat Structure or “Eye of the Sahara“ – This is an enormous 40km in diameter circular geological feature visible from space.
- Traditional dinner and overnight in our Hotel.
Day 5 – Ouadane – Choum Mineral Train
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Depart for Choum – the departing point for the iron ore train.
- On the way stopping at Agrour – here’s your chance to see pre-historic paintings left here 5000 years ago!
- Visit the Mheirith Oasis – an incredibly picturesque place where Mauritanians like to come and relax during the date growing season.
Afternoon
- Lunch at a local restaurant.
- Prepare for the Mauritania Iron Ore Train – stop at local shops and stores to ensure the group is stocked up on plenty of essentials.
- Board the world-famous Mauritania iron ore Train – at over 2km this is the longest and heaviest train in the world. Make sure to bring a warm blanket, warm clothing and a scarf to protect yourself from the dust. The train will depart anywhere from around 6 pm – 10 pm.
- Overnight on top of iron ore in an open-top train carriage.
Day 6 – Nouadhibou
- On arrival in Nouadhibou city, we head straight to our hotel for a very well-earned bed and shower!
- Take a break and relax in this distinctive city on a peninsula that directly borders the vast expanse of the Western Sahara.
- Today has been set aside for some well-deserved leisure, a necessary break after the demanding journey aboard the Iron Ore Express.
- Overnight at our hotel.
Day 7 – Nouakchott
- An early rise for breakfast and the long drive back to the Mauritanian capital city of Nouakchott.
Afternoon
- On the way stopping for lunch.
- Visit the Zein Art Gallery where you can pick up some amazing locally made souvenirs.
- Overnight in Nouakchott.
Day 8 – Nouakchott
- Transfer to the airport.
- End of Mauritania tour.
What else?
Mauritania Tours - FAQs
Most frequent questions and answers for our tours to Mauritania.
The areas which we visit on this tour are considered safe. We research the security of our destinations highly and safety is a priority, however we also advise you to do your own research as well to ensure you are comfortable with your trip.
The best time to visit is from October to March when the temperatures are comfortable in the Sahara.
Currently there are direct flights to Nouakchott from Paris, Casablanca, Gran Canaria, Istanbul and Dakar.
USD cash is the most widely accepted.
There are no ATMs outside the cities and credit cards are not accepted anywhere.
Group size will be no more than 12 travellers.
We’ll be a convoy of 4×4 cars with most of the driving off-road in the desert.
There will be one night of camping. The rest of the nights are in hotel/guesthouses with twin room sharing.
Not at all! We can cater to all diets.
Travel insurance is a must. We have teamed up with IATI Travel Insurance because they provide cover for all our destinations. You’ll also automatically receive a 5% discount with them as a Rocky Road Travel customer.