A route to discover the Mauritanian Sahara, combining desert, oasis and ocean on the same trip.
If you are drawn to wide-open spaces, dunes, oases and the feeling of being far from everything, Mauritania offers dramatic landscapes where vast stretches of sand alternate with ancient oases, caravan towns and an unspoilt Atlantic coast.
Travel to Mauritania for 10 days
Our 10-day Adrar Oases and Atlantic Coast trip explores some of the Mauritanian Sahara’s most spectacular landscapes, combining desert, culture, nature and encounters with local people.
A journey to the desert beyond the dunes
Mauritania reveals another Sahara: beyond vast dunes lie deep canyons, palm groves, oases, caravan routes and small settlements whose lives remain closely tied to the desert.
The route crosses the Adrar massif, combining 4×4 journeys, walks and camping beneath the stars.
Designed for travellers seeking a desert journey with adventure and exploration, far from the usual tourist routes.
The Erg Amatlich and the first dunes of the Sahara
After arriving at Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, the journey gradually enters the desert towards Erg Amatlich.
Here appear the first large stretches of dunes and begins one of the most characteristic experiences of this trip: sleeping in the desert, surrounded by a landscape of sand and silence.
The camp is set between the dunes and there is the possibility of walking around at sunset, when the light completely transforms the landscape.
Typhoujar, the Vallée Blanche and the oasis of Terjit
We continue to Tifoujar Pass and descend into the Vallée Blanche. The scenery gradually changes, with small villages and large oasis palm groves appearing.
One of the most special moments is the arrival in Terjit, an oasis located in a narrow canyon where the water creates a surprising contrast with the desert landscape.
An easy walk up the canyon reaches the wells, revealing the remarkable diversity of Saharan landscapes.
Ouadane and the old Caravan cities
The Mauritanian desert also has an important history linked to the old trade routes that crossed the Sahara.
Ouadane is one of the best examples. The old city is located on a hill and preserves the traces of its past as an important stage of the caravan routes.
Visiting Ouadane allows us to understand that the desert was never an empty space: for centuries it was the scene of trade, cultural and human exchanges between North and West Africa.
The “Eye of the Desert”
From Ouadane, the route heads towards Guelb er Richat, one of Mauritania’s most striking geological features, known as the Eye of the Sahara.
This huge circular structure, almost 50 kilometers in diameter, is especially spectacular when viewed from the air. Its geological origin has been the subject of different interpretations and constitutes one of the most unique landscapes of the desert.
The journey continues towards Tanouchert oasis and Chinguetti, another great historic city of the Mauritanian Sahara.
Chinguetti, a city in the desert’s heart
For centuries, Chinguetti was an important caravan stop and a major cultural centre.
During the visit you can see its old mosque and some of its historic libraries, testimony to the importance that this city had on the trans-Saharan trade routes.
The landscape around Chinguetti captures the essence of desert travel: sand, stone, palms and ancient buildings amid a seemingly endless expanse.
From the desert to the Atlantic coast
One of the great features of this route is that the trip does not end in the desert.
After Adrar, the scenery changes as we head towards the Atlantic. The contrast is spectacular: dunes and oases give way to the open beaches of Banc d’Arguin National Park.
This protected area is especially important for its richness of birds and for the marine and coastal ecosystems it conserves.
The route passes through Cape Timirist and some villages of the Imraguen, a traditional fishing community in this region.
Finally, the Nouamghar dunes offer a spectacular panoramic view over the Atlantic Ocean.
Sleeping in the desert
Camping nights are an essential part of the experience.
On several stages, we sleep in traditional tents set up by the local team, far from settlements and light pollution. At night, the desert transforms and the sky becomes one of the journey’s great attractions.
For an authentic desert experience, sleeping in a haima tent, dining around camp and walking among dunes at dawn are hard to match elsewhere.
A journey to the Sahara to discover, not just to contemplate
This Mauritania tour combines the Sahara’s great attractions: dunes, oases, caravan towns, geological landscapes, nomadic culture and the Atlantic coast.
Above all, a journey of discovery: 4×4 travel on desert tracks, short walks, camping and encounters with a very different way of life.
For a Sahara destination still little visited, Mauritania offers an exceptional combination of nature, adventure and culture.
Travel to Mauritania: Adrar oases and Atlantic coast
Mauritania✔️ Departures 2, 30 OCT | 14 Nov | 4, 27 Dec 2026
✔️ Price from 2030€
Travel to the desert with Tuareg’s experience
If you love the desert, remote landscapes, other cultures and travelling away from the usual routes, you will find information here for your next Sahara trip. Follow these links to learn more, gather ideas and discover the best time to travel.