Iron Ore Train

Morning Wake up in the morning and enjoy a cooked breakfast by camp fire. Begin exploring the Adrar Region of Mauritania. Visit Azoughi oasis and village for a tea stop and experience how the locals live. Afternoon Drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Chinguetti – a holy city 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 of Chinguetti. Dinner and overnight at Hotel – Traditional stone guesthouse

Morning Breakfast at hotel. Ready to see the TALLEST Sand Dunes in Mauritania! Begin 80km drive through pure desert and sand dunes: on the way stopping in Tanounichert for a tea stop with the locals – once upon a time it was an important stop of the trans-caravan routes of the Sahara. Ouadane is the Pompei of Mauritania for its sprawling city in ruins which is sure to amaze you. It was here that products of sub-Saharan Africa were traded with those of the Maghreb. The Portuguese arrived in 1487 and transformed the city into a local centre of cultural, economic and scientific advancement. Afternoon Explore the streets and see the buildings that once glorified the country as a whole and then move on to the new part of town where you’ll be sure to mingle with the locals. Traditional dinner and overnight in the Hotel.

Get through a rather chilly, very loud, and pretty uncomfortable night. Then brag about this experience for the rest of your life! 20 hours of absolute madness and one h*ll of a story to tell when you get old! It’s now or never... The Mauritania train is the longest train in the world at 2,500m.

Exploring the harbour city and the cool shipwreck!

Morning An early rise for breakfast and the long drive to the Mauritanian capital city of Nouakchott. Afternoon On the way stopping for lunch at San Francisco Café for a hearty meal and access to WiFi after a few days of deprivation. Arrive in time to catch the lively Atlantic fish market. Every evening hundreds of fishermen bring in the day’s catch on their distinct sea canoes recognized by their colourful hand-painted hulls. The catch is then brought by donkey cart to the city’s markets. Visit the National Museum where artefacts of the history of Mauritania and its ancient cities are exposed – this will allow you to have a quite recap of what you’ve seen in the last days. Visit the local craft market where locals specialise in camel wool rugs. Driving tour of the massive embassies of the main players of the region – USA, China, France, and Russia. Quick photo stop by the Great Mosque of Nouakchott – funded by Saudi Arabia and built in 1982. Head to the beach for some great people watching. This is where local Nouakchottois come to escape the city and cool off. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant Overnight in Nouakchott