Dunes at Chinguetti, MauritaniaPhoto: Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 pl, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Mauritania
Mauritania, made clear: where the Sahara meets the Atlantic
Mauritania is one of the great desert journeys left on earth: ancient caravan towns full of manuscripts, golden dunes in the Adrar, a coastline where millions of birds gather and fishermen still work alongside dolphins. It is also a country where good planning matters. This guide answers the questions on safety, entry, money and seasons, so you can travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyTravel advice, visa, cash and the right season, answered
- LandingNouakchott's airport and your first night, explained
- Your days in MauritaniaCapital, coast and Adrar desert, planned realistically
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Honest answersWe say plainly where visitors go, and where governments advise against travel.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain what costs more and what costs less, so your budget holds.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Mauritania rewards travellers who prepare. We answer the hard questions first, from travel advice to cash, so you can choose the right route, the right season and the right partners, and enjoy the desert with a clear head.
Going home to see family in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou or Kiffa, or dreaming of Chinguetti's dunes? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels well planned.
- Read the travel adviceStart with your government's current advice for Mauritania, which shapes where you can go.
- Choose your MauritaniaThe capital and coast, the Banc d'Arguin, or the Adrar's oases and caravan towns.
- Sort the essentialsVisa, cash in euros, travel insurance and the cool season, checked against official sources.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to shape realistic days, with licensed local guides for the desert.
Everything your Mauritania trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, the Banc d'Arguin, Chinguetti and Atar, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
Fish markets, libraries, oases, dunes, cafés and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Nouakchott and stays in each area.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The Mauritania few people see
Caravan towns, dunes and a wild Atlantic coast
Mauritania's great draws are its desert and its shore: the UNESCO-listed ksour of Chinguetti and Ouadane with their family manuscript libraries, the palm oases and canyons of the Adrar, and the Banc d'Arguin National Park, one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the world.
- Chinguetti's old town and manuscript libraries
- Sunset over the Erg Ouarane dunes
- Flamingos, pelicans and Imraguen fishing villages on the Banc d'Arguin
- The sunset return of the fishing boats at Nouakchott's Port de Pêche
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, the coast and the desert fit together.
Mauritania destinationsPlan with confidence
A realistic route, without the worry
Distances are long, the season matters and government travel advice covers parts of the country. Our free planner helps you think through travel times, where to base yourself and the kind of support a desert trip needs.
- Realistic road times between towns
- The right season for the desert
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Mauritania
From the Atlantic capital to the bird islands of the Banc d'Arguin and the caravan towns of the Adrar.
Nouakchott
Nouakchott
Mauritania's young Atlantic capital, with a spectacular fish market, busy souks and a long sandy shore.
Read the guidePhoto: IssamBarhoumi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dakhlet Nouadhibou
Nouadhibou
Mauritania's fishing and iron ore port on a desert peninsula, with monk seals and a famous ship graveyard.
Read the guidePhoto: Hamoudy Hamady, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Between Nouakchott and Nouadhibou
Banc d'Arguin National Park
A UNESCO-listed coastal park where the Sahara meets the sea and millions of shorebirds spend the winter.
Read the guidePhoto: Kokopelado, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Adrar
Atar and the Adrar
The gateway to Mauritania's desert heartland, with palm oases, rock art and dramatic escarpments.
Read the guidePhoto: Ammar Hassan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Adrar
Chinguetti
A legendary caravan town of stone lanes, family manuscript libraries and golden dunes.
Read the guidePhoto: Ammar Hassan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Adrar
Ouadane
A terraced stone ruin city on the edge of the Adrar plateau, close to the giant rings of the Richat Structure.
Read the guidePhoto: Jah Abdul, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Mauritania safe for visitors?
Many visitors travel safely to Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, the coast and parts of the Adrar, but governments advise against travel to the eastern and northern border regions near Mali and Algeria. Read your own government's current advice before booking, and use licensed local guides for any desert travel.
Do I need a visa for Mauritania?
Most visitors need a visa, and the rules depend on your passport. Mauritania has introduced an online visa system, and some travellers have been able to get a visa on arrival. Check the official government visa site and your nearest Mauritanian embassy before you travel, as the process changes.
When is the best time to visit Mauritania?
November to March, when days in the desert are warm rather than scorching and nights are cool. Summer is extremely hot inland, and the short rainy season in the south runs from about July to September.
What language is spoken in Mauritania?
Arabic is the official language and Hassaniya Arabic is spoken day to day. French is widely used in business, hotels and government, and Pulaar, Soninke and Wolof are spoken in the south. English is limited outside top hotels.
What currency does Mauritania use?
The ouguiya. Cash rules, especially outside Nouakchott, and euros are the easiest currency to exchange. Card acceptance is limited, so bring enough cash for the desert.
Is alcohol available in Mauritania?
Mauritania is an Islamic Republic and alcohol is not sold openly. A few hotels in Nouakchott may serve it discreetly, but plan your trip assuming you will not drink.
Ready to find your Bliss in Mauritania?
Use the free trip planner to turn ideas into a route that fits your dates, the seasons and the current advice.