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Mauritania9 daysMax 12 travellersSolo-friendlyGuaranteed departures

Mauritania – Desert Discovery

Nine days crossing the Adrar by 4x4 — ancient caravan routes, UNESCO-listed desert cities, and nomadic camp fires under Saharan stars.

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As Featured In

The TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational GeographicThe TelegraphCulture TripThe TimesLonely PlanetThe GuardianIndependentNational Geographic
About this journey

What to expect on this trip

Vast, remote, and deeply evocative, Mauritania is a land shaped by shifting sands, ancient cities, and timeless nomadic traditions. This immersive
Mauritania small group journey takes you deep into the Adrar region, where centuries-old caravan routes wind past oases, crumbling medieval towns, and dramatic desert landscapes. Along the way, you’ll swim in natural pools, dine under Saharan skies, and witness life in traditional nomadic communities. Highlights include the UNESCO-listed cities of Chinguetti and Ouadane, the geological wonder of the Richat Structure, and camel rides across golden dunes at sunset. Travelling by 4×4, this adventurous tour offers a rare chance to explore one of West Africa’s most untouched and culturally rich corners.

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The journey

Mauritania – Desert Discovery

What makes this trip special

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route
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The highlights

  • Big Dunes of Azoueiga at Sunset

    Drive to the Big Dunes of Azoueiga with scenic stops along the way, arriving in the late afternoon to watch the sunset from the dunes. Camp staff prepare a desert camp where dinner is served around a campfire under the stars. The night is spent in comfortable desert tents.

  • Mherith Oasis Swimming Pools

    The route through the White Valley leads to Mherith Oasis, where natural pools sit surrounded by dunes, greenery, and rocky outcrops. Lunch is taken here before continuing toward Chinguetti. Nomadic families are encountered in the White Valley along the way.

  • Chinguetti Ancient Quarter and Manuscripts

    A guided walking tour of Chinguetti's ancient quarter visits a historic library housing centuries-old Islamic manuscripts. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reached at sunset on Day 3. Day 4 includes a camel caravan trek through the dunes timed for the evening light.

  • Intkemkemt Oasis Camel Caravan

    After the Chinguetti walking tour, the route continues to nearby Intkemkemt Oasis for lunch beneath date palms beside a small natural pool. A late-afternoon camel caravan trek through the dunes is timed to coincide with sunset. Dinner and overnight follow at the traditional guesthouse.

  • Nomadic Family Stay at Tenochert Oasis

    An ancient caravan route through dramatic desert scenery leads to Tenochert Oasis, where the afternoon is spent with a nomadic family whose home serves as a modest guesthouse with bathrooms and showers. Daily traditions are observed and the evening ends with music by the fire. The overnight is at the oasis.

  • Ouadane and the Street of Forty Scholars

    The ancient trans-Saharan trade route leads to Ouadane, a second UNESCO World Heritage Site. Exploration of old town ruins includes the famous Street of Forty Scholars. Sunset is watched over the ancient city before returning to the guesthouse for dinner.

Trip highlights for Mauritania – Desert Discovery

Full itinerary · 9 days

Prefer a PDF? Get the printable dossier
Dates & prices

Choose your departure

Reserve your place with a £350 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.

Our departures are guaranteed to run. We never cancel a confirmed tour.

  • Departure
    22 Nov 2026 → 30 Nov 2026
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,750 pp
    Single supp. +£200
    Contact for availability
  • Departure
    7 Feb 2027 → 15 Feb 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,750 pp
    Single supp. +£200
    Book now
  • Departure
    21 Nov 2027 → 29 Nov 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,750 pp
    Single supp. +£200
    Book now
  • Departure
    6 Feb 2028 → 14 Feb 2028
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,750 pp
    Single supp. +£200
    Book now
  • Departure
    19 Nov 2028 → 27 Nov 2028
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,750 pp
    Single supp. +£200
    Book now

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Mauritania journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip
What's included

What your tour price covers

Included in the price

  • Arrival and departure airport transfers
  • Services of a knowledgeable, English-speaking local guide throughout
  • Private 4×4 transport in well-maintained vehicles (maximum 3 guests per vehicle)
  • All fuel and ground transport
  • All accommodation in private rooms (single or double occupancy as requested)
  • All meals listed
  • Bottled mineral water provided throughout the tour
  • Professional desert chefs for meals while camping
  • All entrance fees and scheduled visits as per the itinerary

Budget separately for

  • International flights
  • Any applicable airport taxes
  • Travel insurance (a requirement for booking)
  • Visa fees
  • Drinks (alcohol is rarely available outside the capital)
  • Items of a personal nature (e.g. laundry, souvenirs, snacks)
  • Tips and gratuities for guides and drivers (discretionary, but appreciated)
Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to parts of Mauritania along the borders with Western Sahara, Algeria and Mali. However, these areas are entirely outside the regions visited on this tour. The itinerary covers Nouakchott, the Adrar region, Chinguetti, Ouadane, Terjit Oasis and Atar — none of which are subject to FCDO 'against all or all but essential' travel advisories. We monitor FCDO guidance closely and will inform all clients of any changes. Please visit foreign-travel-advice for the latest information.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Reviews from ninety-plus small-group adventures worldwide, written by the people who took them.

“The tour leader, Olaf Stals, did a sterling job. Charming, accessible, enthusiastic and a good communicator. Olaf has an in-depth knowledge of the mechanics of seamless travelling and managed the group very effectively. The tour was challenging but very good organisation and professional tour leadership made it a success.”
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Gustavo Musto, Uruguay

“When asked by other travellers why I book with Undiscovered Destinations, it's because of the chance to visit places few, if any, other tour operators go to. ”
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Oliver Grumitt, UK

“The tour leader, Olaf Stals, did a sterling job. Charming, accessible, enthusiastic and a good communicator. Olaf has an in-depth knowledge of the mechanics of seamless travelling and managed the group very effectively. The tour was challenging but very good organisation and professional tour leadership made it a success.”
Read full review

Gustavo Musto, Uruguay

“Given the countries involved, I thought the accommodation was better than I expected. Our guide was knowledgeable. He was kind and provided snacks and stories to while away the very long driving days. ”
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Traveller from the UK

“An excellent trip. We saw all that we expected to and more. Very good guide, helpful and considerate. Tour met and exceeded my expectations ”
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Martin Robathan, UK

“Quite the best guide and driver we have encountered in 45 years of travel.”
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John Davies, UK

“You have a good choice of more adventurous options. Standards are good. Prices competitive”
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Stewart Mitchell, UK

“This was our first trip with Undiscovered Destinations and we were very impressed. You have some very interesting itineraries so we hope we will travel with you again and we will certainly be recommending Romania to our friends”
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Anne Walton, UK

“The initial version of our 17-night tailor made itinerary was virtually spot on, covering all the interests. All we did was put in a few extra days for a more relaxed experience. The turnaround was quick and emails were responded to promptly. The process was quick and simple and we received all our final documentation in good time. All the information received was very helpful. ”
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Helen Jackson, UK

“I sent my request to book roughly 6 weeks before the tour started, which is relatively short notice considering the destination. I really appreciate the swiftness with which everything was handled.”
Read full review

Raquel Romeiro

Want to customise this tour?

Make Mauritania – Desert Discovery your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.

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Start planning your Mauritania adventure

Join a small-group departure, or let our Mauritania specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.

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Common questions

Things travellers usually ask

  • How many travellers will be in my group?

    Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

  • Can I travel solo?

    Yes, solo travellers are welcome on every small-group tour. A private single room is offered on every trip, with the single-room supplement listed alongside the departure price. If you’d rather share, you can opt for a twin room with another solo traveller of the same gender. Around 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you’ll be in good company.

  • How fit do I need to be?

    Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

  • When are the next departures?

    The next available departures are 22 November 2026; 7 February 2027; 21 November 2027. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

  • Will my departure definitely run?

    Yes. Departures marked Guaranteed on this page run whether one traveller books or twelve. We never cancel a confirmed tour for lack of numbers, so you can book flights and time off around it with confidence.

  • What's included in the tour price?

    Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure airport transfers; Services of a knowledgeable, English-speaking local guide throughout; Private 4×4 transport in well-maintained vehicles (maximum 3 guests per vehicle); and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

  • Where exactly does this trip go?

    This tour visits Mauritania. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

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