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Lernidee Trains & Cruises (Lernidee Erlebnisreisen) · Escorted small-group tour

Adventure in the Heart of the Sahara

Eleven-day Sahara crossing on the Iron Ore Railway through Mauritania

Illustration of Adventure in the Heart of the Sahara

Lernidee Erlebnisreisen operates an 11-day escorted journey through Mauritania that combines 4x4 desert travel with a night aboard the Train du Désert on the legendary Iron Ore Railway. The tour departs Nouakchott, the capital, spends six days exploring ancient UNESCO oasis towns, desert canyons, and thermal springs, then boards the mining train for an overnight passage through the Sahara, visiting the world's second-largest monolith at Ben Amera and Zouérat's open-pit iron ore mines before finishing at Banc d'Arguin National Park on the Atlantic coast. Groups of up to 14 travel with continuous English or French-speaking guides plus a local guide. Accommodation ranges from simple hotels with private bathrooms to desert tent camps and a night in very basic sleeper compartments aboard the train. This tour suits repeat rail travellers seeking an unconventional rail experience, history lovers drawn to UNESCO sites, and photographers interested in desert geology and migratory birds.

What to know before you look closer

  • One night is spent aboard the Train du Désert in very basic twin sleeper compartments with opposing bunk beds and minimal sanitary facilities (toilet at the end of the carriage).
  • Desert tent camps have shared showers and eco-toilets; simple hotels throughout have private bathrooms.
  • The roughly two-hour hike on Day 9 to Aisha Rock can be replaced with a jeep option.
  • Drinks during mealtimes are not included, except water and mint tea. International flights, visas, and gratuities are not included.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Nouakchott

    Welcome to Mauritania!

    Today, your flight takes you to Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania. At the airport, you will be given a warm welcome, followed by a transfer to your typical local hotel in the city, where you will stay for the first two nights.

  2. Day 2overnight: Nouakchott

    Nouakchott

    Explore the capital's traditional camel market and Port de Pêche fishing harbour, visit the National Museum, and stop at an art gallery before a festive welcome dinner.

  3. Day 3overnight: Azougui

    Into the Sahara!

    A six-hour drive from the Atlantic coast deep into the heart of the Sahara Desert, via the provincial capital of Atar, ending at a simple guesthouse in the oasis of Azougui.

  4. Day 4overnight: Ouadane

    From Azougui to Ouadane - Through Canyons and Sand Seas

    The route climbs a mountain ridge with steep gorges, passes Wadi Amogjar ('Mauritania's Grand Canyon'), and reaches the ancient UNESCO oasis town of Ouadane, an old salt caravan trade hub since the 12th century.

  5. Day 5overnight: Chinguetti

    Chinguetti - The Other Timbuktu

    A jeep excursion to the Eye of Africa geological formation and the ruins of a 1487 Portuguese fort, then on to Chinguetti, a sacred center of Islamic scholarship with private libraries of hand-calligraphed manuscripts.

  6. Day 6overnight: Azougui

    In the Garden of Eden

    Travel south across rocky desert to Terjit, an oasis of palm trees and thermal springs hidden in a deep gorge, before returning to Azougui for the night.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Zouérat

    The Desert Train

    Board the Train du Désert at Choum for the Iron Ore Railway, encountering the world's heaviest and longest train en route, and reach the mining town of Zouérat.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Ben Amera (desert tent camp)

    Iron Ore

    Visit the SNIM ore loading terminal and open-pit iron ore mines in Zouérat, then reboard the Train du Désert westward to a tented camp at Ben Amera, beneath the world's second-largest monolith.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Aboard Train du Désert (basic sleeper compartment)

    The Legend of Aisha and Ben Amera

    A roughly two-hour hike (or jeep option) to Aisha Rock and its sculpture park, then continue aboard the Train du Désert in very basic sleeper compartments as the monolith disappears into the desert.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Banc d'Arguin National Park (tented camp)

    On the Atlantic Ocean

    Arrive in Nouadhibou where the Iron Ore Railway route ends and bid farewell to the Train du Désert, then travel south to a tented camp by the sea within Banc d'Arguin National Park.

  11. Day 11

    UNESCO World Heritage Banc d'Arguin

    Explore Banc d'Arguin National Park, a wintering ground for around 2.5 million migratory birds, before returning to Nouakchott for a farewell dinner and transfer to the airport.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Explore Nouakchott's traditional camel market and Port de Pêche fishing harbour, visit the National Museum, and attend a festive welcome dinner.
  • Day 4Drive through Wadi Amogjar, known as Mauritania's Grand Canyon, to reach Ouadane, a UNESCO oasis town that served as a salt caravan trade hub since the 12th century.
  • Day 5Visit the Eye of Africa geological formation and the ruins of a 1487 Portuguese fort; explore Chinguetti, a sacred centre of Islamic scholarship with private libraries of hand-calligraphed manuscripts.
  • Day 7Board the Train du Désert at Choum on the Iron Ore Railway, encounter the world's heaviest and longest train en route, and arrive in the mining town of Zouérat.
  • Day 10Arrive at Banc d'Arguin National Park, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and wintering ground for approximately 2.5 million migratory birds.

Included

  • Train journey aboard the Train du Désert, traveling the route of the Iron Ore Railway
  • Overland travel in a rugged minibus or 4x4 jeeps, depending on terrain
  • 2 nights at the beginning of the tour and a day-use room on the departure day in a local-style hotel in Nouakchott
  • 5 nights in very simple hotels, all with private bathrooms (shower/toilet)
  • 2 nights in desert tent camps, with shared showers and eco-toilets
  • 1 overnight stay aboard the Train du Désert, in very basic twin compartments with opposing bunk beds and minimal sanitary facilities (toilet at the end of the carriage)
  • Meals as per itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
  • Drinking water and mint tea provided throughout the entire journey
  • Continuous English- or French-speaking tour guide from/to Nouakchott
  • A French/English-speaking local guide accompanies the group from/to Nouakchott
  • Entrance fees to national parks and protected areas

Not included

  • Drinks during mealtimes (except water and mint tea)
  • Visa
  • Gratuities
  • Flights
  • Personal expenses
  • Optional excursions

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The Train du Désert journey aboard the Iron Ore Railway from Choum to Zouérat to Nouadhibou is included, including one overnight in a basic sleeper compartment.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is escorted by a continuous English- or French-speaking Lernidee tour guide plus a local French/English-speaking guide throughout.
What kind of accommodation is provided?
Two nights in a local-style hotel in Nouakchott, five nights in very simple hotels with private bathrooms, two nights in desert tent camps with shared facilities, and one night aboard the Train du Désert in basic twin sleeper compartments.
What is included in the price?
Train journey, overland travel by minibus or 4x4, accommodation, meals as per itinerary, drinking water and mint tea, tour guides, and entrance fees to national parks and protected areas. Flights, visas, drinks during meals, gratuities, and personal expenses are not included.
How large are the groups?
Maximum of 14 guests per tour.
What is the physical activity level?
A roughly two-hour hike to Aisha Rock is offered on Day 9, with a jeep option available. Daily travel involves 4x4 journeys on uneven terrain and multiple stops with luggage handling.

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