Keep reading if you are a true explorer - This trip will be adventurous and wild! Mauritania is a unique country that is not frequently visited by tourists! Still, Mauritania has so much to offer, and I can't wait to discover those incredible places with you! Who am I looking for? I'm looking for the most adventurous people to join my trip! You need to be ok with spending hours on a bumpy road, uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, and open for new cultural experiences. If you speak French or Arabic, that's a huge plus as well! HIGHLIGHTS: IRON ORE TRAIN - Hitch-Hike on top of a Cargo Train Through The Sahara UNESCO - Visiting World Heritage Sites in Chinguetti SAHARA DESERT - Drive through a long series of sand dunes What's included? - Accommodation (shared rooms, basic hotel/hostels, tents and one night on the iron ore train) - Transportation from/to all the places we visit - Trip planning and packing list Additional costs: - Personal expenses for food, souvenirs etc. - Visa fee (€55) Visa: You need a visa to enter Mauritania, you can get it either through your embassy or in most cases (Europeans) on arrival. About me: I’m Kathi, 26 years old and from Austria. I already organized many JoinMyTrip group trips, and it was always a lot of fun! You can find all my trips when you click on my profile. More about me: https://www.joinmytrip.com/en/t/tripleader/kathichristalon ❤️ Please send me a message after reserving your spot and let me know why you want to join this crazy adventure!
Your Booking includes free protection from Trip cancellations. Learn More
You can chat with Katharina once you reserve your spot.
Trip Itinerary
1
Nouakchott
Day 1-3
Welcome to Mauritania! The first day, is only planned as arrival, so choose whatever flight works for you :) Mauritania has 90 percent of its territory situated in the Sahara. Most of its population lives in the temperate south of the country, with roughly one-third concentrated in the capital and largest city, Nouakchott, located on the Atlantic coast. The next day, we will explore Nouakchott together. Most likely we will have a culture shock, but this is what travel is all about! We will visit the Nouakchott Camel Market, which is one of the largest in all of Africa and about half an hour away from the city. We will see the locals interacting with each other and arguing to get a good price for the camels. Trading camels is one of the main economic sectors of the country, since milk, meat and skin are obtained from them.
2
Terjit
Day 3-4
We hit the road today. 450 km, so 5 or 6 hours inwards into the Sahara, to visit Terjit Oasis, either by bus or private driver. Expect Palm groves and cooling water. Here we will spend the night in a tent.
3
Chinguetti
Day 4-5
We will visit the ruins of a historical town - a UNESCO heritage site! Currently, there are two Libraries that can be visited, these contain manuscripts from several centuries old. The library that is best preserved is that of Al-Ahmed Mahmoud and you can visit and talk to its owner and in return he will ask you for a small donation of 100MRU (2.5€) destined for the conservation of the library.
4
Atar
Day 5
We will stop by Atar before heading to Choum - this is the last chance to stock up on water and snacks before our long train ride. There are some secondhand stores as well for jackets and blankets that will make our ride more comfortable.
5
Choum
Day 5-6
Finally, the day has come! We will be taking the iron ore train from Choum. The train is not bound to any schedule or timetable. There is no ticked, conductor, or any sort of service. We simply hitchhike the train, quickly climb on top of it when it arrives, and enjoy the raw adventure where nothing is between us and the Sahara desert. The journey will be tough. Dust from the iron ore and sand from the Sahara desert will be a few of our enemies on this journey. I recommend that you bring along: Turban (for covering your face) Ski goggles (to cover your eyes) a sleeping bag and gloves to keep warm over the night, as well as good shoes.
6
Nouadhibou
Day 6-7
The next morning, after 14–19 hours on the Iron Ore Train, we will reach the coast, at Nouadhibou! Here we will spend one night, happy to shower after our adventurous train ride and explore a bit, depending on our arrival time. Next day, we will head back to Nouakchott to spend the rest of our time.
7
Nouakchott
Day 7-8
Back in Nouakchott, we will have some time to explore, as most flights depart in the afternoon. We can go to the fish market, the mosque or visit the national museum to learn about the history of Mauritania.
Trip Summary
Accommodation
Camping & Other & Hostel & Apartments
8 days trip
Nouakchott, Terjit & 5 more
Transportation
Car, Train
Why JoinMyTrip?
Trusted platform used by 150K+ TripMates
Have A Question? Live Chat with our experts 24x7
Unique Trips hosted by Experienced Travellers
Secure Payments to ensure your money is always safe
Show All 10 Photos 
Mauritania
Phone Verified
Identity Verified
50 Countries
62 Trips Completed
based on 111 reviews 
Trusted platform used by 150K+ TripMates 
Have A Question?
Unique Trips hosted by Experienced Travellers 
Secure Payments to ensure your money is always safe