Mauritania Iron Ore Train Tour

DESCRIPTION

After years of experience we have designed our Mauritania Iron Ore Train tour to become the most thrilling and affordable tour to take place in this unique part of the world.

Your grand adventure begins in Mauritania where you’ll have the opportunity to explore Nouakchott, the capital city. Once arriving we’ll make our way and explore the UNESCO world heritage site of Chinguetti – a holy city of Islam. This city was for centuries the gathering point for pilgrims of the Maghreb to gather on their way to Mecca. Africans claim it as the 7th most holy city of Islam. Much of the old centre dates from the 12th century. Here you’ll visit the incredibly historic library and have a close encounter with ancient architecture.

This is where you’ll board the famed Mauritania Iron Ore Train and ride in open carriages through the Saharan desert. The train is up to 3 km (1.8 miles) in length with over 200 freight carriages, carrying up to 84 tons of iron ore. This is the longest and heaviest train in the world.

You’ll ride with us from Choum close to the border of Western Sahara to the Port of Nouadhibou, Mauritania’s second largest city and economic hub. Riding in this direction will allow you to get the best possible views of the journey. You’ll spend the better part of the evening gazing up to the starry night of the desert on this high-adrenaline ride. This is one of the most unique train trips in the world and not to be missed.

Once arriving in Nouadhibou we’ll explore Cape Blanc, a peninsula that is shared between Mauritania and Western Sahara and a large ship graveyard. We’ll then return to Nouakchott by bus and explore the Atlantic fish-markets, the Great Mosque and other must-see sights of the capital.

ITINERARY

Saturday 18th June – Nouakchott

Arrival at your convenience into Nouakchott – the capital city of Mauritania which is well connected from flights between Algiers, Paris, Casablanca, Istanbul and Tunis. Visa on arrival in Mauritania is €50 or $55.
Transfer to the comfortable Hotel Flora
Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of Hotel Flora at 4:00pm to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
Dinner and overnight at hotel

Sunday 19th June – Nouakchott – Tergit – Atar – Chinguetti Morning

Breakfast at hotel
Depart for Tergit Oasis within the Sahara Desert – Mauritania’s most picturesque location. Located within a gorge this the perfect spot to cool down and relax after our drive as well as getting stunning desert photos.

Afternoon

Lunch at a camp in Tergit Oasis
550km later we’ll arrive into Chinguitti via the city of Atar
Evening sunset watched from the huge sand dunes of Chinguetti
Arrive at Chingguetti Motel
Dinner at Nomad Restaurant in the Palms Oasis
After dinner we can enjoy local nomads of Chinguitty music and watch a dance made by women nomads
Overnight at Chingguetti Motel

Monday 20th June – Chinguetti – Choum – Mineral Train Morning

Breakfast at hotel
Drive to the UNESCO world heritage site of Chinguetti – a holy city of Islam. You’ll visit the library and other historical monuments and landmarks including the much loved Friday Mosque of Chinguetti, the national symbol of Mauritania.

Afternoon

Lunchtime at hotel Mer et Desert. You’ll most likely meet the owner, a French woman who has left everything behind to become member of the community. She knows a lot about the social issues of local tribes and is a wonderful source of information.
Visit Azoughi Oasis and village for a tea stop and experiencing how locals live
On the way we’ll stop at Amogjar pass – look at pre-historic paintings left 5000 years ago as well as incredible lava formation
Arrive at the town of Choum – departure city for the Iron Ore Train
Prepare for Mauritania Mineral Train – we’ll stop at Atar Market to ensure the group is stocked up on plenty of water, fruits, sandwiches, snacks, face coverings, socks, gloves, cheap warm jackets, jeans, etc.
We’ll pop a quick visit to Azoughi Oasis and the nearby village.
Tour Highlight – Board the world famous Mauritania Mineral Train – this is the longest and heaviest train in the world. You’ll be sitting inside open top cars so please ensure you have prepared a blanket, warm clothing and goggles to protect yourself from the sand. Train does not have a fixed departure and can depart anywhere between from 6:00pm to 11:00pm.
Overnight on train

Tuesday 21st June – Nouadhibou Morning

The train pulls up into Mauritania’s second city of Nouadhibou around 8:00am to 11:00am where we will head to the hotel for a shower and rest before heading out to explore the city.

Afternoon

Lunch at a local restaurant in town
Head to the Atlantic ocean at Cape Blanc – a peninsula that is shared between Mauritania and Western Sahara. It was this exact spot where the Spanish expanded their fishing presence from the Canary islands onto the African coast. This is where the biggest ship graveyard used to be located until it was broken down into pieces and the steel sold by Chinese companies in recent years. It is also possible to spot the Mediterranean monk seal colony here.
Visit the new ship graveyard of Nouadhibou
Dinner at Ice NBC, a family restaurant with a wide menu of delicious local dishes. For those who fancy a well deserved ice cold beer it is possible to visit the Chinese restaurant next door for the only establishment that openly serves beers.
Overnight at Hotel Al Jezira

Wednesday 22nd June – Nouakchott Morning

Breakfast at hotel
Explore the local markets before boarding our bus for long drive back to Nouakchott (480km)

Afternoon

On the way we will be stopping for breaks, photo opportunities and lunch
Arrival into Nouakchott around mid afternoon
Check-in to the hotel to freshen up
Dinner at a local restaurant and try our luck at getting inside a Chinese owned restaurant for a cold beer
Overnight in Nouakchott.

Thursday 23rd June – Nouakchott

Morning

Breakfast at hotel
Head straight to the lively Atlantic fish market. Every evening hundreds of fishermen bring in the day’s catch on their distinct sea canoes recognized by their colourful hand-painted hulls. The catch is then brought by donkey cart to the city’s markets
Visit the National Museum where artefacts of the history of Mauritania and its ancient cities are on view

Afternoon

Lunch at Odelice restaurant.
Visit the local craft market where locals specialise in camel wool rugs
Driving tour of the massive embassies of the main players of the region – USA, China, France, and Russia
Quick photo stop by the Great Mosque of Nouakchott – funded by Saudi Arabia and built in 1982.
Head to the beach for some great people watching. This is where local Nouakchottois come to escape the city and cool off
Head to the Sun House for our final group dinner
Overnight in hotel

Friday 24th June – Nouakchott

Breakfast at hotel
Tour concludes – YPT is able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for flights out.

GALLERY

The Mauritanian Dictatorship

Colonialism in Africa was and is, across the board, ruthless and deplorable. Native peoples were made second class citizens on their own soil, their resources were ripped from the very Earth and any hope for competitive economic development with the ra …

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is an enormous country in northwestern Africa. Approximately 90% of the nation’s geography lies in the Sahara. The capital city Nouakchott lies on the Atlantic coast. Nouakchott contains about 1/3 of Mauritania’s popu …

Mauritania has its own currency contrary to many of its neighbouring countries, which are all using the CFA. It is also interesting that the name of the Mauritanian currency, Ougiya is unique around the world, contrary to dollars, dinars and so on. Oug …

Nouadhibou is the second most important city of Mauritania. Located at the north of the country, less than an hour driving from the wild border between Morocco and Mauritania, controlled by Western Sahara, it is an important fishing port of the west co …

Introduction of the Mauritanian Iron Ore Train The Mauritanian Iron Ore Train is one of the most unique and incredible train journeys one can take. The train is up to 3km (1.8 miles) in length, travels on a single track of 704 kilometres (437 miles), w …

Mauritania, which used to be a french colony, then became an Overseas Territory until its independence in the beginning of the 60s is one of the countries that are less often mentioned when people think of travelling to Northern Africa. Even though its …