Saharan desert landscape

Mauritania - West Africa

Where the Sahara
meets the sea

Extraordinary journeys through one of Earth's last great wildernesses — ancient cities, endless dunes, and Atlantic horizons.

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100%
Local expertise
7
Signature experiences
700km
Iron ore train route
24/7
WhatsApp support

Our Experiences

Choose your
adventure

From overnight desert camps to legendary train rides — each Yolo experience is crafted to reveal Mauritania's soul.

Iron Ore Train in the Sahara
★ Signature
The Iron Ore
Train Expedition
9 Days-Nouakchott → Nouadhibou-All levels

Board the world's longest train and ride 700km of Saharan silence — from the capital to the edge of the Atlantic.

from $1,299 / person Solo $2,299 · ×2 $1,699 · ×3 $1,499 · ×4 $1,299 ✓
Min. 2 travellers · Solo? Join a group →
Mheijratt Atlantic coast
Mheijratt beach camp
Mheijratt sunset
Coastal
Mheijratt — Where the Ocean meets the Desert
1–2 Days-Atlantic Coast

No signal. No noise. Just Atlantic waves crashing against Saharan dunes, fish caught fresh and grilled on the beach, and a sky full of stars.

from $199 / person Day trip $249 · Overnight from $299 · ×4 $199 ✓
Terjit Oasis springs
Terjit Oasis palms
Terjit Oasis canyon
Oasis
Terjit Oasis Escape
3 Days-Terjit Springs

Cool water hidden inside steep desert cliffs, surrounded by palms and birdsong. The most unexpected place in the Sahara — only 3 days from Nouakchott.

from $349 / person Solo $649 · ×2 $449 · ×3 $399 · ×4 $349 ✓
Min. 2 travellers · Solo? Join a group →
Adrar Classic desert landscape
Desert
Adrar Classic
6 Days-Nouakchott → Nouakchott

Ancient libraries, singing dunes, and a desert oasis hidden inside cliff walls. The soul of the Sahara in one loop — Azoueiga dunes, Terjit oasis, Chinguetti, Ouadane.

from $699 / person Solo $1,299 · ×2 $899 · ×3 $799 · ×4 $699 ✓
Min. 2 travellers · Solo? Join a group →
Banc d'Arguin coast
Banc d'Arguin flamingos
Banc d'Arguin sailing
Coastal
Atlantic Coast & Banc d'Arguin
5 Days-Nouadhibou coast

Sail through a UNESCO World Heritage site where flamingos and pelicans gather at the meeting point of ocean and desert.

from $749 / person Solo $1,399 · ×2 $949 · ×3 $849 · ×4 $749 ✓
Min. 2 travellers · Solo? Join a group →
Eye of Africa Richat Structure
Expedition
Eye of Africa Expedition
7 Days-Guelb er Richat

The Richat Structure — a geological wonder visible from space. Stand inside it and understand why ancient geographers thought they'd found Atlantis.

from $879 / person Solo $1,599 · ×2 $1,099 · ×3 $979 · ×4 $879 ✓
Min. 2 travellers · Solo? Join a group →
The Grand Mauritania expedition
★★★ Signature
The Grand Mauritania
13 Days-The Ultimate Loop

Everything. In one loop. Dunes, oases, ancient cities, Africa's largest monolith, the Iron Ore Train, Atlantic coast, and Mheijratt. Nothing retraced.

from $1,549 / person ×3 $1,749 · ×4 $1,549 ✓ · Min. 3 travellers
Min. 3 travellers · Solo or pair? Contact us privately →

Group Departures

Travel together,
pay less.

Browse upcoming departures and join fellow travellers. The more in your group, the lower your price — and you'll arrive as friends.

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Don't see a date that works? We organise departures on request.

Request a private departure →

City Experiences

Discover Mauritania's
legendary cities

From ancient UNESCO caravan towns to Atlantic port cities — each destination tells a different chapter of Mauritania's story.

Nouakchott mosque
Nouakchott
Capital - Atlantic Coast
Where the Sahara meets the sea — the vibrant capital with its camel market, fishing port, and cultural heart.
Nouadhibou port city
Nouadhibou
Port City - Cap Blanc Peninsula
Gateway to the iron ore train and the legendary ship graveyard on the Atlantic edge.
Dakhla Atlantic lagoon
Dakhla
Western Sahara · Partner Experience
Partner · Coming Soon
Kitesurfing, Atlantic lagoons and desert landscapes on the edge of the Saharan coast. Available through our trusted local partner.
Oualata painted facades
Oualata
UNESCO · Ancient Caravan City
One of the most remote UNESCO World Heritage cities — famous for extraordinary painted facades and ancient manuscripts.
Chinguetti ancient city
Chinguetti
UNESCO · 7th Holy City of Islam
The fabled seventh city of Islam — ancient libraries, timeless dunes, and a minaret unchanged for centuries.
Tichitt ancient stone city
Tichitt
UNESCO - Ancient Stone City
One of Africa's oldest cities — an off-the-beaten-path UNESCO treasure of ancient stone architecture.
Atar gateway to the Adrar
Atar
Gateway · Adrar Plateau
Gateway to the Adrar's spectacular plateaux, gorges and ancient caravan towns of the Sahara.
Ouadane stone medina
Ouadane
UNESCO · Saharan Trading Hub
Ancient walled city and crossroads of trans-Saharan trade — its narrow stone streets and ruined medina await.

Explore the territory

Mauritania, mapped

Mauritania destination map
Capital - Atlantic Coast

Nouakchott

Capital city and cultural center, with lively markets, Atlantic fishing boats, and the easiest starting point for a Mauritania journey.

Camel MarketFishing PortCity WalksCulture
Port City - Cap Blanc Peninsula

Nouadhibou

Coastal city near Banc d'Arguin, known for Atlantic views, fishing culture, and access to the iron ore train route.

Atlantic CoastIron Ore TrainFishingCap Blanc
Gateway - Adrar Plateau

Atar

Gateway to the Adrar's plateaux, dramatic gorges, and ancient caravan towns of the Sahara.

Desert TreksOasis WalksRock ArtAdrar
UNESCO - 7th Holy City of Islam

Chinguetti

Historic desert city known for ancient libraries, sand-filled streets, and centuries of Saharan scholarship.

UNESCO HeritageAncient LibrariesDune ClimbingMedina
UNESCO - Saharan Trading Hub

Ouadane

Old caravan town and UNESCO heritage area, built from stone on the edge of the desert plateau.

UNESCO HeritageStone MedinaDesert TrekkingCaravansary
Adrar - Eye of the Sahara

Richat Structure

The famous Eye of the Sahara, a vast circular landform best visited from the Adrar region.

GeologyDesert DriveAerial ViewsAdrar
UNESCO - Ancient Stone City

Tichitt

One of Africa's oldest cities, an off-the-beaten-path UNESCO treasure of ancient stone architecture.

UNESCO HeritageStone CityRemote RouteHistory
UNESCO - Ancient Caravan City

Oualata

Remote caravan city famous for hand-painted geometric facades and manuscripts kept in family libraries.

UNESCO HeritagePainted FacadesManuscriptsRemote

Sample Itinerary

13 Days across
Mauritania

Our signature journey takes you in one complete loop — desert, ancient cities, Africa's largest monolith, the Iron Ore Train, and the Atlantic coast. Nothing retraced.

1
Day 1–2
Azoueiga Dunes & Terjit Oasis
Drive into the Sahara and camp at Mauritania's tallest dunes. Next day, swim in the natural springs hidden inside desert cliffs at Terjit.
2
Day 3–4
Chinguetti & Ouadane
Explore the 7th holy city of Islam and its ancient manuscript libraries. Continue to Ouadane — a stone medina on a cliff edge overlooking the desert.
3
Day 5
Richat Structure — Eye of Africa
Stand inside a 50km-wide geological formation visible from space. Camp inside the Eye of Africa.
4
Day 6–7
Deep Desert & Ben Amera
Cross the most remote stretch of the Sahara. Reach Africa's largest monolith — 633m of granite rising from the desert floor.
5
Day 8–9
Iron Ore Train & Nouadhibou
Board the world's longest train at dusk — 700km overnight to the Atlantic. Arrive Nouadhibou at dawn. Ship graveyard, Cap Blanc.
6
Day 10–11
Banc d'Arguin & Mheijratt
Sail a traditional Imraguen dhow through a UNESCO sanctuary of flamingos and dolphins. Then south to Mheijratt — wild beach camp where the Sahara meets the Atlantic.
7
Day 12–13
Mheijratt & Return to Nouakchott
A full day to decompress — fish, swim, sleep on the beach. Morning tea, then 130km home. Full loop complete. Nothing retraced.
Mauritania desert journey
Desert landscape Mauritania
Local guide in the Sahara
Since 2012

About Yolo

We live here.
We'll show you everything.

Yolo was born from a deep love of Mauritania — its vast silence, ancient cultures, and landscapes that feel untouched by time. Our guides are locals, our camps are sustainably built, and every journey is designed to connect you with something real.

We believe Mauritania is one of the great undiscovered destinations on Earth. We're here to change that — carefully, respectfully, and with extraordinary care for the places and people we encounter.

100%
Local guides
Low-impact
Travel philosophy

Traveller Stories

What our guests say

★★★★★

"The Iron Ore Train night was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life. Lying on iron ore, watching the Milky Way roll overhead across the Sahara — nothing compares."

Sophie M.France - Iron Ore Expedition
★★★★★

"Our guide's knowledge of the desert was humbling. He knew every dune, every oasis, every family along the route. We weren't tourists — we were guests of the Sahara."

David K.Germany - Ancient Cities Tour
★★★★★

"Booking via WhatsApp was so easy — the team responded within an hour and customised everything for us. The camp at Erg Amatlich brought tears to my eyes. Perfect."

Priya R.UK - Sahara Star Camp