Young Pioneer Tours
Mauritania Iron Ore Train Tour – January 2025
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 3km (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. We’ll then return to Nouakchott by 4×4 and explore the Atlantic fish-markets, the Great Mosque and other must-see sights of the capital.
Our Mauritania tour can be combined with our Algeria Tour. Make the most out of your visit to this region of Africa and combine both tours!
Saturday 18th January – 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 €55 or $65.
- For those coming from Algiers on our Algeria tour we can recommend a flight to connect you to Nouakchott.
- Meet our driver as you exit the airport terminal and transfer to the comfortable Hotel Flora
- Dinner and overnight at hotel
Sunday 19th January – Nouakchott – Tergit – Atar – Chinguetti
Morning
- Breakfast at hotel
- Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of Hotel Flora at 8:00am to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
- Board our 4x4s and 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 nomadic campsite in the palms oasis
- The local nomads of Chinguetti will perform a music and dance performed by the women nomads
- Overnight at Chinguetti Motel
Monday 20th January – Chinguetti – Choum – Iron Ore 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
- 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
- Prepare for Mauritania Iron Ore Train – we’ll stop at Atar Market to ensure the group is stocked up on plenty of water, fruits, and snacks for the train journey. Here you can buy traditional Mauritanian clothing and face coverings which are most ideal for riding the Iron Ore Train to shield your face from the sand and iron ore dust.
- Arrive at the town of Choum – the departure city for the Iron Ore Train
- Tour highlight – Board the world-famous Mauritania Iron Ore 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 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 January – Nouadhibou
Morning
- Wake up to an incredible sunrise over the Saharan Desert
- 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.
- Dinner at Ice NBC, a family restaurant with a wide menu of delicious local dishes.
- Overnight at Hotel Al Jezira
Wednesday 22nd January – Nouadhibou – Nouakchott
Morning
- Breakfast at hotel
- Explore the local markets before boarding our 4x4s 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 late afternoon
- Check-in to the hotel to freshen up
- Dinner at a local restaurant and head out to a local shisha joint
- Overnight in Nouakchott.
Thursday 23rd January – 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. We’ll take a walk along the beach here too.
- 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 Sun House for our final group dinner
- Overnight in hotel
Friday 24th January – Nouakchott
- Breakfast at hotel
- Tour concludes – YPT is able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for flights out.
- You can also continue travelling with YPT in Africa by joining our Voodoo Trails Tour to Benin and Togo.
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