From Ouadane to Chinguetti, caravan cities

Mauritania, discover this 8-day trip

De Ouadane à Chinguetti, cités caravanières

Trip Description

A trek in Mauritania connects the two great caravan cities of the Sahara, Ouadane and Chinguetti. The immensity of the Ouarane erg, a true sea of dunes, commands respect and contemplation. This camel trek, starting from the caravan city of Ouadane, winds its way through the vastness of the Saharan universe, from oasis to camp. It is to the rhythm of the camels that this odyssey, marked by many encounters, allows us to discover Chinguetti, the library city, whose minarets suddenly rise in the distance, around a dune. A total immersion in the grandiose landscapes of the Adrar, meeting the nomads and discovering the cities steeped in history that are Ouadane and Chinguetti, both on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Accomodation

No accomodation information available

Stay program

day 1
Departure for Atar - Ouadane
Flight to Atar; welcome by our guide, then transfer by 4x4 to Ouadane. Check-in at the inn or in a set-up camp and dinner. Transfer: private vehicle, 4x4, about 3 hours. Accommodation: Saharan inn or set-up camp with showers and sanitary facilities. Meals included: dinner. Meals not included: breakfast - lunch.
day 2
Ouadane - Erg Ouarane
Departure in the morning for a visit to the old town of Ouadane, where many scholars and thinkers stayed a few centuries ago. Ouadane is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Together with our caravan and the camel drivers, we then set off towards the Ouarane erg, in the middle of a vast sandy plain before the dunes. Walking/visiting time: about 6 hours. Distance: 12 to 15 km. Accommodation: camp. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.
day 3
Oasis of Tenouchert
In a maze of small dunes scattered with camel grass (alfa), our caravan continues its journey towards the beautiful oasis of Tenouchert, where the tall palm trees provide welcome shade. Meeting with the semi-sedentary nomads of these regions. Walking time: about 6 hours. Distance: 15 to 16 km. Accommodation: Saharan inn. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.
day 4
Tenouchert - Oued R'Kawya
Beautiful stage in the vast Saharan expanses, where the sea of sand stretches endlessly. Here and there, a few acacias disturb the dunes' color with their darkest green, ranging from the palest yellow to the deepest orange. Arrival at the R'Kawya wadi, a superb site lost in the middle of nowhere, where we will set up our bivouac in the shade of the acacias. Walking time: about 6 hours. Distance: 14 to 16 km. Accommodation: camp. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.
day 5
Oued R'Kawya - El Mezrougat
The dune ridges stretch on endlessly... Sometimes of white sand, sometimes of yellow sand, they lead us to the heart of the Adrar massif, where the immense dunes of El Mezrougat, sometimes tinged with pink, invite us to set up camp. Walking time: about 5 hours. Distance: 14 to 16 km. Accommodation: camp. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.
day 6
El Mezrougat - Oued Chinguetti
Still in the heart of the Adrar, still among the labyrinth of dunes, small oases appear from time to time... We reach the Chinguetti wadi, where the well will allow us to resupply. Walking time: about 6 hours. Distance: 14 to 16 km. Accommodation: camp. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.
day 7
Oued Chinguetti - Chinguetti
At the turn of a dune, just when we thought we were alone in the world, the minarets of the famous city of Chinguetti, the 7th city of Islam, suddenly appear... Three-quarters engulfed by sand, it nonetheless preserves very ancient manuscripts; it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit of the old city, a museum, and a library (optional). Then transfer to Atar, with the possibility to visit the market. End-of-stay meal. Transfer: private vehicle, 4x4, about 2 hours. Walking time: about 4 hours. Distance: 7 to 9 km. Accommodation: Saharan inn. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.
day 8
Back
Transfer to the airport and return flight to France. Transfer: private vehicle, 4x4 or minibus, about 10 minutes. Meals included: breakfast. Meals not included: lunch - dinner.