Panorama of desert in Mauritania
Distance covered: 1580 km
8 Days / 7 nights
Validity: all the year
Points important:
Chinguitty: It was founded into 660 of Hégire (13th century). 7th holy place of Islam and classified world inheritance of humanity, the city of Chinguitty was a cultural and religious headlight important and a high place of meeting of the Ouest-africains pilgrims in departure for Mecque. Today still, it preserves in its libraries and museum rich in manuscripts and writings, of rare testimonys of the spiritual radiation of the city. It played also a very dominating economic part (relay caravaneer for the Trans-Saharan trade).
Ouadane: City founded with 12th and which counted 40 scientists per street, today it remains only some ruins of its prestigious mosque, of its library which jealously safeguard a part of its inheritance. Ouadane was used as Portuguese commercial counter in 1487. It was the first city to introduce the date palm in Mauritania
Tergit: the most known oasis and most impressive of Adrar; Palm plantation located at the bottom of the throat of a plate, cascades of and udder spring water of rock where the source of curative hot water, surrounded of luxuriant vegetation, adds magic feelings and images in this desert context. The oases are particularly appraisals at the time of the period of Guitna: gathering of dates.
Arguin basin : national park since 1976, classified world inheritance of humanity by UNESCO mainly because of its role of fish pond and nurseries for any kind of fish, the bench of Arguin, the largest coastal park of Africa, is an ornithological reserve of a surface of 120 km2 distributed equitably between sea and ground sanctuary protected from million migratory birds, of water birds (45 000 couples: Pelicans, Spatulas, Cormorants, Flemings, Pinks, Herons, Aigrelles etc.) ; more than 2 million birds of shores (Courbis, Barges, Sandpipers, Plovers etc; greater world concentration of seals monks persecuted since the 15th century (500 individuals in the white Cape, only group being adapted to tropical water); refuge for the marine tortoises, the Cetacea. It is also the field of the small fauna: gilded jackal, gerbil, hyena striped etc
Island of Tidra: It was the cradle and the starting point of the Almoravide conquest.
Visit islands nurseries of the birds on board veil dugouts.
Beautiful beaches of Nouakchott.
Itinerary
1.Arrival at Nouakchott
Airport pickup and transfer to hotel. Depending on the arrival time, we will take a brief tour of the city. Lodging in a hotel.
2.Nouakchott - Atar - Chinguitty 530 km
On the best tar road in Mauritania we will drive trough Akjoujt to Atar. From there on we'll take the track to Chinguetti, the seventh holy city of Islam declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Lodging at a Motel.
3.Chinguitty
Stay in Chinguitty the more ancient city in Mauritania, having tour in its libraries and quarters and its oases, Lodging at a Motel.
4.Chinguitty - Ouadane 100 km
Our journey will take us across 120 km, the true sand dune desert, where we will experience the isolation of the lost cities of the desert. When we arrive in Ouadane, we will visit the museum that displays the surprisingly glorious past of this country. Lodging at a Motel.
5.Ouadane - Passe d'Amogjar - Terjit 200km
The Passe d'Amogjar is a beautiful canyon, where we will see some amazing prehistoric paintings and the “Fort Saganneâ€, built by the French. After a short visit of Atar we will make our way into the desert along a picturesque track to Terjit, where an oasis with thermal springs and marvelous pools awaits us for bathing. Lodging at an Motel
6.Terjit - Benichab - Arguin basin 500km
From the stony Adrar desert, we will head towards Akjoujt en route to Benichab, where there is a large layer of fossil water, 90 meters deep, used for bottled mineral water. Leaving Benichab, we will approach Iwik along the dunes that lead to the ocean passing through ancient salt lakes. Iwik is a village of Black Fishermen, the Imraguen, who sometimes fish with the help of dolphins Lodging at a Motel with tents.
7.Arguin basin - Island Tidra - Nouakchott 250km
After a relaxing morning at the beach savoring the freshest of fish, departure in the traditional boats with the fishermen to visit the Island of Tidra , we can view the dolphins , thousands of birds , after this special visit we return to Nouakchott. Lodging in a hotel.
8.Nouakchott
We will visit the local markets, the museum and, in the afternoon, the lively fish market before departure.