Day 6 – In the Garden of Eden
Today, you travel southward from Chinguetti, crossing the gray-brown rocky desert. Above you, bizarre rock formations rise into the blue sky like ancient castles. Your destination is a natural wonder hidden in the heart of the Sahara. Just moments ago, you were surrounded by arid desolation—and now, suddenly, a lush green ribbon of swaying palm trees and bubbling thermal springs appears. Welcome to Terjit, an idyllic oasis where time seems to stand still. As you walk through the deep gorge, you’ll be surrounded by vibrant greenery, birds chirping, and countless small and large thermal pools. Those feeling adventurous may choose to climb the surrounding rocks for a panoramic view of the palm-filled valley below. After a refreshing glass of mint tea in a Bedouin tent, you return to Azougui for the night. (BLD)
Day 7 – The Desert Train
A surreal scene awaits you at the train station in Choum. The Train du Désert, which will take you along the legendary Iron Ore Railway over the coming days, consists of a locomotive and a two-level sleeper carriage with a lounge compartment. Soon, you’re gently rocking northward through the vast desert, sipping tea and nibbling pastries. On the horizon, dark mountain ridges; ahead of you, nothing but a single track and endless orange sands. If you like, you can watch over the shoulders of the train engineers or even stand on the locomotive to feel the wind in your face. Depending on the schedule, you disembark somewhere along the open track—and then it happens: a cloud of dust rises on the horizon, followed by a distant rumble that swells into a thundering vibration. The Iron Ore Train—the heaviest and longest train in the world—passes by: a seemingly endless band of identical wagons, a force of nature that leaves you awestruck. With hearts full, you return to the train. After a brief stop at the railway company’s wagon graveyard, you finally reach the mining town of Zouérat, located in northern Mauritania near the Western Sahara border. Tonight, you’ll stay at a simple yet well-kept hotel. (BLD)
Day 8 – Iron Ore
In Zouérat, a planned mining town founded just around 60 years ago, everything revolves around iron ore. The state-owned mining company SNIM employs over 5,000 people, giving the town an unusually prosperous feel for the region. Accompanied by SNIM staff, you will visit not only the ore loading terminal for the valuable hematite, but also the gigantic open-pit mines—a surreal landscape of red and violet stone, where towering cranes, trucks, and conveyor belts appear almost toy-like in scale. In the afternoon, you reboard the Train du Désert, traveling westward via Choum. With a bit of luck, you might encounter the iron ore train once again along the route. Eventually, you arrive at Ben Amera. The location of your simple tented camp, equipped with shared showers and an eco-toilet, is nothing short of spectacular: rising above you is the enormous granite dome of Ben Amera, the second-largest monolith in the world after Uluru. In the evening, as you gather around the campfire, you’ll listen to the hypnotic, rhythmic singing of the Bedouins. (BLD)
Day 9 – The Legend of Aisha and Ben Amera
Enjoy a peaceful day in a spectacular desert landscape! From the massive monolith Ben Amera, you embark on a roughly two-hour hike to the Aisha Rock. Surrounded by barren beauty and deep silence, it becomes clear why so many religions originated in the desert. If the walk becomes too strenuous, you can switch to one of the supporting jeeps. At Aisha Rock, you’ll admire a park of stone sculptures created by artists from around the world, and you’ll learn about the legend of Ben Amera and Aisha—a desert tale full of mystery and symbolism. For lunch, nimble hands will have transformed a shady rock overhang and nearby cave into a cozy open-air lounge. Seated on carpets, you’ll enjoy tea and local specialties, all while taking in views over the golden sea of sand. In the afternoon, as the Train du Désert continues its journey westward, the massive monolith slowly disappears behind you into the desert sand. Tonight, you’ll sleep in the very basic sleeper compartments onboard the train. Even the toilet with hand basin and water canister at the end of the carriage meets only the simplest of standards—but the magic of the overnight desert train ride more than makes up for any lack of comfort. (BLD)
Day 10 – On the Atlantic Ocean
In Nouadhibou, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the route of the legendary Iron Ore Railway comes to an end. Here, you also bid farewell to the Train du Désert and its warm and welcoming crew. During a brief orientation tour, you’ll explore Mauritania’s most important port city, where daily life revolves around the shipping of iron ore and fishing—the region’s economic backbone. Later, you travel southward on a well-developed road, eventually arriving at your simple tented camp, idyllically located by the sea within Banc d’Arguin National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (BLD)
Day 11 – UNESCO World Heritage Banc d’Arguin
The Banc d’Arguin National Park is one of the world’s richest bird habitats and serves as a wintering ground for approximately 2.5 million migratory birds. As far as the eye can see, you’ll spot whimbrels, pink flamingos, spoonbills, pelicans, terns, and slender-billed gulls! The shallow, fish-rich coastal waters, dotted with countless small islands, are also home to sea turtles and dolphins. On land, the area is inhabited by a remarkable variety of desert wildlife, including Dama gazelles, African golden wolves, fennec foxes, sand foxes, wildcats, honey badgers, and striped hyenas. After your visit to the national park, you return to Nouakchott, where a day-use hotel room has been reserved for you. During your farewell dinner, you’ll likely have many unique impressions and stories to share from this unforgettable journey. Following dinner, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (BLD)
(B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner
