This was Vera Mironova’s mindset, a backpacker with more than one hundred countries under her belt (who also happens to be a researcher at Harvard). On a grey and gloomy Monday morning in Paris (yes, even Paris can get gloomy in winter) an unexpected change of plans left her with a week to spare. Faced with the choice of doing more of the same or seizing an extraordinary opportunity, Vera chose the latter and embarked on an unforgettable one-week journey across Mauritania traversing deserts, vanishing towns, camel races, oases, culminating on an epic journey on the iron ore train.

Its western coastline boasts kilometres of soft white sand beaches near Nouakchott, ideal for sunbathing and water sports, while the mainland is dominated by vast deserts. With just 5 million people, this mineral-rich country – known for iron, gold, and copper – is one of the least densely populated in the world. Recognising its untapped potential, adventurous travel companies now offer all-inclusive group trips to explore this vast, unspoiled land.

1. A perfect escape

What better way to disconnect from the world for a week or ten days than to immerse yourself in the serene atmosphere of the Sahara, where the air carries the faint, earthy scent of sun-warmed sand blending with the occasional aroma of spiced tea prepared by welcoming locals? Imagine a landscape of endless rippled dunes landscape near a campfire in a bivouac. At night the quiet of the desert is punctuated only by the soft murmur of voices and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures… and bugs. “They are weird bugs,” says Vera.”They don’t bite you. It’s just kind of annoying.”

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Thanks to the convenient flight options between France and Mauritania and the absence of jet lag, it was a no-brainer For Vera, who normally lives in the US. “I had an Airbnb in Paris booked until day N, but then I had to attend a conference on day N+10. I couldn’t extend my Airbnb, so I calculated that it was cheaper, or more or less the same, to fly to Mauritania for a holiday than to rent another Airbnb in Paris for 10 more days,” she explained.

And she is not the only one who had the idea to visit Mauritania. Against the Compass, a Barcelona-based travel company specialising in destinations outside the usual bucket list, reports that over half of its 2025 Mauritania tours are already fully booked. They even added an extra trip in early April due to demand.

2. Attractions and experiences

Mauritania’s main attractions include the oases trail of Adrar region, the palm groves of the Tougad and Tergit Oases in the Adrar, the village of Maaden founded by a Sufi master, the historic cities of Ouadâne and Chinguetti, camel races, camping under starry nights in desert bivouacs, ancient ruins and caravan routes, and the famous iron ore transport train.

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Vera recalled a chance invitation to a women’s celebration in a remote village, where she enjoyed traditional music, dancing, and local games. “It was totally random. We had stopped in a village looking to buy some food, and I saw a group of women. I started filming them, and they invited me to join their celebrations. My guide, being male, could not come with me, so I went alone and was warmly welcomed.”

She was equally amazed at the ingenuity and multiple uses of sheep products, including how sheepskin is used to collect and store water, a most precious resource in the desert. (Disclaimer: Not so practical if you are rushing to a meeting at the EU parliament.) 

3. Scenic highlights

For the best #nofilter photos on your social media account, the Tougad and Tergit Oases, set against the stunning orange and ochre hues of the surrounding desert, are the perfect spots. Tergit is celebrated for its year-round natural springs and lush greenery, while Tougad will enchant travellers with its tranquil charm, dense palm groves, and serene location within the breathtaking Maaden dunes. Offering shaded havens for travellers to cool off, both oases are vital lifelines for the local communities, supporting date cultivation and creating vibrant greenery.

The ancient cities of Chinguetti and Ouadâne, UNESCO World Heritage sites, are also must-sees. Chinguetti, also called the “city of Libraries”, is famous for its centuries-old manuscripts and Islamic architecture which battles fights a constant challenge from encroaching sand dunes. Ouadâne is also known for its ruins, vestiges of a more prosperous past, when Mauritania was an important route for trans-Saharan trade, and gold, salt and other goods were transported across Africa by camel caravans.

“The city was moved three times because of the sand,” said Vera, who was as baffled by the city’s beauty and history as by the fact there were no touristic amenities at all there. “There are no restaurants in Chinguetti. The guides cooked food at home and brought it to the hotel. We were thrilled to find Snickers bars in one store.”

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4. Camels and trains

Two truly unique experiences stand out: trekking on camel across the desert, as the ancient nomads did, and riding the iron ore train. “Camels are everywhere,” says Vera, unlike Wi-Fi “Wi-Fi is not good” which sometimes requires some acrobatics, or riding in the back of a truck on a sandy road to get to the next village.

If you do not fancy a trek on camel back through the desert, do not miss the chance to go to at least one desert camel race. Camel racing is a traditional sport in Mauritania. In May 2024, a 5 km track, financed by the United Arab Emirates, was inaugurated in Nouakchott. 

The second unforgettable experience, for the truly daring, is to ride atop the tone of the world’s longest train carrying iron ore across the Mauritanian desert, an experience described by Vera as “very hard, extremely cold and very dirty. Make sure to wear disposable clothes, cover as much of your body as possible, equip yourself with masks, and ski goggles.” She sums it up as “a very interesting experience, but I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone”. Still, despite the physical challenges, the sight of the vast desert skies stretching endlessly above as the train snakes through the barren landscape is an unparalleled spectacle. 

5. Nouakchott and beyond

Beyond the natural and historical beauties paving the way, you can also enjoy the National Museum of Mauritania in the country’s capital, Nouakchott, displaying artefacts from prehistoric times to the Islamic period. The Marché capitale is a great place to discover the local arts and crafts while the grand Saudi mosque offers a striking example of Islamic architecture. 

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The most famous beaches can be found at the Cap Blanc (Ras Nouadhibou), where the Sahara meets the Atlantic Ocean, and is home to one of the world’s last colonies of Mediterranean monk seals. Plage de Nouakchott, or any of the beaches of the capital are ideal to relax and watch local fishermen bring their bounty in their beautifully hand-painted pirogues. There even is a UNESCO World Heritage coastal reserve, Banc d’Arguin National Park, ideal for bird-watching. 

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6. Language and communication

French is widely spoken, but Vera highlighted the surprise locals felt when she spoke Arabic, which she found “clean” and easy to understand compared to other Maghreb dialects.

7. Safety considerations

Bordered by Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali and Senegal, safety is a valid concern.  Often overlooked in favour of its Maghreb neighbours like Morocco and Tunisia, Mauritania nevertheless stands out as “absolutely, totally safe,” according to Vera. She noted, “While half the country is off-limits, it’s mostly desert areas where tourists wouldn’t typically go.” Vera emphasised how safe Mauritania is for women travelling alone. “It’s an Arab country; no one will touch you or even look at you,” she said. 

While big chunks of the country (a little over 50%) are military zones and off-limits to tourists, other areas are considered stable. Western governments, including the UK and US, advise caution but do not discourage travel to safe zones. Swiss travel advisories rate Mauritania as stable but recommend avoiding certain regions due to crime or terrorism risks.

It is nevertheless crucial for travellers to consult updated travel advisories and exercise caution before booking their trips to the region.  

L’article Exploring Mauritania through sand, stars, stories and iron ore est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.