Iron Ore Train & Western Sahara Tour

Itinerary

1. Day One

   Arrive in Nouakchott

   • Arrive in Mauritania’s capital, Nouakchott. Take the day at leisure.

   • Overnight in Nouakchott.

2. Day Two

   Azoueiga Dunes

   • After breakfast, we’ll head out for the morning around Nouakchott, where we’ll visit the El Kheima Hotel for a panoramic view of the city, see the wild stock being sold at the camel market and watch as the fishermen come in at Port du Peche.

   • We’ll then drive to the Azoueigua sand dunes, which are some of the highest in the Mauritanian desert.

   • Spend the night camping amongst the dunes enjoying the tranquillity, away from the hustle and bustle of the
   city.

3. Day Three

   Terjit Oasis

   • Drive to Terjit Oasis; we will have time to explore this green paradise, hike around the village, and bathe in the natural pools.

   • Overnight in a local guesthouse.

4. Day Four

   Ouadane

   • Drive deeper into the Sahara, passing through dusty canyons and crumbling fortresses in the endless desert until we reach Ouadane, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

   • Head to the incredible Eye of the Sahara believed to be the location of the lost city of Atlantis.

   • Overnight in a local guesthouse.

5. Day Five

   Camel Safari

   • Spend the morning exploring the old town of Ouadane before driving to Chinguetti; the seventh holiest place in Islam.

   • Have lunch in Chinguetti before embarking on a camel ride through the desert.

   • After three to four hours of journeying on the camels, we will set up camp for the night. The crew will set up a bonfire and cook a delicious barbecue. Today will be an authentic desert experience.

   • Overnight in the desert under the stars.

6. Day Six

   Chinguetti

   • Start with breakfast, then prepare our camels for the journey back to Chinguetti.

   • Once back, we will walk around the area and visit the library before watching the sunset.

   • Spend the night at Auberge Eden, which is surrounded by pristine dunes.

7. Day Seven

   The Iron Ore Train

   • All aboard the Iron Ore Train! Before embarking on this great journey, we will stop for supplies.

   • Drive to Choum, where we will board the Iron Ore Train. These trains come through 3 times a day. However, timings are unpredictable, and we may have to wait as not all trains will stop. Once we board the train, it is around a 13-hour journey to the coast.

   • Overnight on the train.

8. Day Eight

   Nouadiboh and Western Sahara

   • Our drivers will collect us in the city of Nouadiboh once the train pulls in. Afterwards, we will go to a place where we can rest, freshen up from the long train journey, and eat breakfast together. If time permits, we will visit the traditional fishing port.

   • Hit the road again to start our journey to Western Sahara, crossing the famous El Guergerat border which is controlled by the Moroccan authorities.

   • Overnight in Dakhla.

9. Day Nine

   Dakhla/Tour Ends

   • Tour around Dakhla, visiting the famous white dunes and stopping for lunch at a local seafood restaurant. We’ll make a few stops at the many beautiful beaches and cliffs in the area and take in the vista of the lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean.

   • The tour ends in the evening when we can head to the airport to catch our flights home.