The Adrar and Banc d’Arguin by 4x4 (8 nights, including 4 nights in a guesthouse, 3 nights camping, and a day at sea)

The Adrar region is located in the geographical and historical heart of Mauritania. Adrar is a plateau overlooking a relatively flat desert region. In the Berber language, the word “adrar” means “mountain.” During this 4x4 expedition, you will discover the region’s varied landscapes and its people, as well as the lives of the Imraguen fishermen in Banc d’Arguin National Park.

YOUR TRIP

J 1 Nouakchott – Akjoujt – Amatlich

Arrival in Nouakchott at 1:40 a.m. Meet and greet at the airport, transfer to the hotel, and overnight stay.

After breakfast and a meeting with the team that will accompany you on this adventure (driver and cook), we’ll set off for the hidden oasis of Amatlich in search of the country’s highest dunes. Lunch en route in the shade of an acacia tree. We’ll enjoy stunning scenery until we reach the nomadic villages. There, the khaïma will be set up at the foot of the high dunes for our first night in the desert.

Overnight in a khaïma or campsite.

 J 2 Erg Amatlich – Col de Tifoujar – Terjit – M'Haïreth – Chinguetti

Today, we will cross the breathtaking Tifoujar Pass through landscapes of sand and dunes, as well as a few villages and hidden spots within the White Valley. We will continue our adventure toward Terjit, an oasis surrounded by dunes, rocky mountains, palm trees, and acacia trees. Lunch. After saying goodbye to the people of Terjit, we’ll head to the M’Haïreth oasis, the largest in the Adrar region. Then we’ll reach Chinguetti, the seventh holiest city in Islam. In the past, it was a camel route and the true capital of the “Moors.” Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can enjoy a magnificent sunset from the great dune that threatens to bury the city.

Dinner and overnight stay at an inn.

J 3 Chinguetti – Ouadane – Tanuchert

After breakfast, we will explore the town during the day, visiting the library, its streets, and the hospital run by the Chinguetti Foundation, a private Spanish foundation. As we leave Chinguetti and head toward Tanuchert via the dune road, we will visit the old village of Chinguetti and the village of Ouzane. Currently, there is a rebuilt mosque and a few houses. During the trip, we’ll visit the Arkaouiya camp. Then we’ll continue to the Tanuchert oasis, located in the middle of the desert.

Overnight in a khaïma or campsite.

J 4 Tanuchert - Ouadane - Azogui - Atar

After breakfast, departure for Ouadane, an ancient city with a rich Islamic history. Founded in 1115, Ouadane was an important stop on the trans-Saharan caravan trade route. In the 16th century, goods from Saharan Africa were traded there for those from the Maghreb. Tour of the city. Lunch in the vicinity, then departure to cross the Amodjiar Pass. We will stop to view some rock paintings (or what remains of them). We will descend the canyon and arrive in Atar, the capital of the Adrar region, where we will visit its authentic market. Later, visit Azougui, about 10 km west of Atar, where we will see the ruins of what was once the capital of the Almoravids, who conquered the southern Iberian Peninsula in the 11th century.

Overnight in Abougri at a guesthouse.

J 5 Atar – Benichab

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Akjoujt. To the west lie the shifting dunes of Benichab, where Mauritania’s finest mineral water springs forth and is extracted. We’ll stop along the way to visit nomadic herders, and if we’re lucky, we’ll come across camel caravans.

Overnight near the Banc d’Arguin or in a campsite.

J 6  Free day or a boat trip with the Imraguens

Early morning departure for the village of Iwik to discover the life of the Imraguen people. We’ll board a lanche, a small square-rigged boat with a shallow draft. During this day at sea, you’ll have the chance to watch birds or dolphins on the water’s surface and try your hand at fishing. Lunch will be served on the lanche.

Overnight stay at a guesthouse in Iwik or Cape Tafarit

J 7  Cap Tafarit – Nouakchott

After breakfast, we’ll head to Nouakchott, passing by the beach and all the Imraguen villages along the way. We’ll arrive in Nouakchott late in the morning and have lunch at a restaurant. Then we’ll stroll through the city’s bustling squares and take a walk around the fishing port. We’ll also visit the camel market, if possible. Dinner and transfer to the airport.

J 8  Return flight at 2:45 a.m.

 Fiche Technique Adrar et PNBA

                       Departure dates and prices (Flights: Paris, Nouakchott, Paris)