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Mauritania 🇲🇷

backpacking Africa Mauritania 🇲🇷Ride an ore train across the Sahara to caravan towns and bird coasts.

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Backpacking Mauritania in 2027

A complete guide including when and where to go, costs, transport, itineraries, and practical travel advice.
What a trip here is really like

Backpacking Mauritania
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 23, 2026

You can ride across the Sahara on top of a Mauritanian iron ore train for free. The trains run roughly 700 kilometers between the mines at Zouérat and the port of Nouadhibou, often stretching past two kilometers, and you climb onto an open wagon at Nouadhibou or Choum with a headscarf, water and a blanket. Night brings cold and iron dust in your teeth. Dawn turns the dunes orange around you.

Away from the tracks, Mauritania offers sand-swallowed caravan towns like Chinguetti, where families still guard Quranic manuscripts in wooden chests. Pelicans and flamingos crowd the tidal flats of Banc d’Arguin, and mint tea is poured from shoulder height until it foams. The hard parts are plain: long, gritty taxi rides, police checkpoints asking for photocopies of your passport, and eastern regions under strict travel advisories.

Morocco feels busy by comparison, and Senegal is greener, louder and easier. This country suits patient travelers who like silence and improvising. It frustrates anyone who wants nightlife, beer or firm schedules.

👉 Get the 📖 Travel Guide of Mauritania

Nouakchott (Port de Pêche, Marché Capitale, Ksar)

Most trips into Mauritania start in Nouakchott, a low, sand-drifted capital where goats nose along the curbs and the call to prayer competes with honking green-and-yellow Mercedes taxis. Reach the Port de Pêche around 4 pm, when hundreds of painted pirogues ride the surf in and men haul crates of fish across wet sand reeking of diesel and brine. Marché Capitale sells melhfa cloth by the meter. It suits travelers who like raw city life, and it ends with grilled fish eaten with your fingers.

Adrar (Atar, Chinguetti, Ouadane, Terjit)

Stone ksour, orange dunes and date palms that turn sudden green inside black rock canyons draw most visitors here. Buses cover the roughly 450 km from Nouakchott to Atar in 6 to 7 hours, then shared 4x4s reach Chinguetti in about 2. In Chinguetti’s family libraries, keepers unwrap manuscripts centuries old; at Terjit you sit in a spring-fed gorge with cold water running over your feet. Hikers and camel trekkers get nights of total silence under a sky thick with stars.

Nouadhibou and Banc d’Arguin (Nouadhibou, Cap Blanc, Iwik)

A paved coastal road runs about 470 km north from Nouakchott, 5 to 6 hours by bus, to Nouadhibou, a working port of fish factories, foreign trawlers and rusting wrecks in the bay. Cap Blanc, south of town, has cliffs above the world’s largest remaining colony of Mediterranean monk seals. A sandy 4x4 track off the road leads to Banc d’Arguin, where Imraguen fishermen share the shallows with flamingos and pelicans. Birders and self-sufficient campers leave with dawn light on the mudflats.

Iron Ore Train Line (Nouadhibou, Choum, Zouérat, Ben Amira)

Climb onto an empty ore wagon in Nouadhibou and you ride one of the world’s longest trains, around 2 km of steel, with black dust in your teeth and the desert turning silver under the moon. Most riders jump off at Choum before dawn, roughly 12 hours later, for a shared car to Atar. Ben Amira, one of the largest monoliths on earth, rises beside the track. Bring a headscarf, warm layers and patience; you get a night you will retell for years.

Senegal River Valley (Rosso, Kaédi, Boghé)

Head about 200 km south of Nouakchott, 3 to 4 hours by bus, and the sand gives way to rice fields, mango shade and Fulani, Soninke and Wolof villages along the river. Rosso is a loud, hustling ferry town facing Senegal; Kaédi and Boghé, further upstream, are slower and greener. Evenings are humid and full of mosquitoes. Travelers curious about Mauritania’s Black African side get riverbank sunsets and bowls of rice and fish shared from one platter.
Safety warning

The current risk level for Mauritania is high. Check the advice before going.
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Why go?What sets this destination apart

Scenery

The desert in Mauritania comes in more versions than you expect: apricot dunes spilling over black basalt cliffs, white salt flats, and palm gorges where … read more 👉
The desert in Mauritania comes in more versions than you expect: apricot dunes spilling over black basalt cliffs, white salt flats, and palm gorges where water trickles over warm stone. On the coast, the Sahara runs straight into the Atlantic, and fog rolls off cold surf onto sand. Light changes everything here. Midday flattens the land into glare, while the last hour before sunset turns rock purple and dunes copper. Plan your hikes and dune climbs for early morning or late afternoon, and spend at least one night camped in the open on the Adrar plateau, where the stars are bright enough to cast shadows.

Uniqueness

Few countries make you feel this far from the tourist circuit. In Mauritania, you can walk through a medieval caravan town and meet no other foreigners … read more 👉
Few countries make you feel this far from the tourist circuit. In Mauritania, you can walk through a medieval caravan town and meet no other foreigners all day, then share a camel stew with a family who will ask where you’re from and genuinely want the long answer. Nomad tents still dot the plateaus, and men in flowing blue “daraa” robes pass the evening over glasses of tea. Wind and silence come with the package. Learning a few Hassaniya greetings opens more doors than any itinerary, and staying in family-run auberges puts you right in the middle of daily life.

Low cost

Backpacking Mauritania costs most travelers around 1,100 to 1,750 ouguiya (€25 to 40) a day, covering a simple guesthouse bed, local meals and shared … read more 👉
Backpacking Mauritania costs most travelers around 1,100 to 1,750 ouguiya (€25 to 40) a day, covering a simple guesthouse bed, local meals and shared road transport. Food is filling and cheap: plates of rice and fish, camel meat with bread, and endless sweet tea often offered free. Guesthouses in towns like Atar or Chinguetti usually include breakfast, and many let you sleep on a roof mattress or in a nomad-style tent for less. The bigger expenses are 4x4 hire and guides for remote areas, so team up with other travelers at guesthouses to split those costs.

⭐ HighlightsWhat not to miss along the way

  • Chinguetti: The old quarter is a maze of dry-stone houses and palm-trunk doors, half-buried by dunes creeping in from the west. Inside family libraries, keepers lift centuries-old manuscripts from leather wrappers with bare hands, and the paper smells of dust and goat hide. Climb the dune behind town at sunset, when the minaret glows ochre and the only sound is wind hissing over sand.
  • Banc d’Arguin National Park: Shallow turquoise water meets desert along a coast where hundreds of thousands of migratory shorebirds winter on the mudflats. Motorboats are banned inside the park, so Imraguen fishermen still work the channels in wooden sailboats called “lanches”. The sharp tang of salted mullet drying in the sun tells you you’ve arrived in the fishing villages.
  • Terjit Oasis: A narrow gorge south of Atar shelters a ribbon of date palms and two springs, one cool, one warm. After a morning of hot rock, sitting barefoot in the stream while mint tea brews on embers under the fronds is pure relief.
… read more 👉
  • Chinguetti: The old quarter is a maze of dry-stone houses and palm-trunk doors, half-buried by dunes creeping in from the west. Inside family libraries, keepers lift centuries-old manuscripts from leather wrappers with bare hands, and the paper smells of dust and goat hide. Climb the dune behind town at sunset, when the minaret glows ochre and the only sound is wind hissing over sand.
  • Banc d’Arguin National Park: Shallow turquoise water meets desert along a coast where hundreds of thousands of migratory shorebirds winter on the mudflats. Motorboats are banned inside the park, so Imraguen fishermen still work the channels in wooden sailboats called “lanches”. The sharp tang of salted mullet drying in the sun tells you you’ve arrived in the fishing villages.
  • Terjit Oasis: A narrow gorge south of Atar shelters a ribbon of date palms and two springs, one cool, one warm. After a morning of hot rock, sitting barefoot in the stream while mint tea brews on embers under the fronds is pure relief. Locals picnic here on Fridays, so go midweek for quiet.
  • Richat Structure: Nicknamed the “Eye of the Sahara”, this ring of eroded rock measures around 40 kilometers across and is easiest to grasp from orbit. On the ground, you drive over concentric ridges of quartzite from Ouadane and see the rings rise and fall around you. Silence is total, broken only by the engine ticking as it cools.
  • Nouakchott Fishing Beach: Late afternoon, hundreds of painted pirogues ride the surf in while men wade out with crates of fish on their heads. Diesel, salt spray and shouted Wolof fill the air, and gulls fight over scraps. Stand back from the boats, keep your camera low and let the chaos unfold.
For spots most visitors never reach, aim for the granite monolith of Ben Amera, the Amogjar Pass with its rock paintings, and the ancient ksar of Tichitt in the Tagant.
Spotted a mistake or missing a highlight? Contact us.
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🧭 RoutesSuggested travel routes through Mauritania

The 5-Day Adrar Caravan Route

A tight, focused trip into the heart of Mauritania’s desert, where palm-lined gorges lead up onto a plateau of dunes and old caravan towns. Expect starry nights, stone alleys half swallowed by sand and plenty of mint tea.
  • A night beside the springs of the Terjit Oasis
  • The stone lanes and ancient libraries of Chinguetti
  • The clifftop ruins of the Ksar of Ouadane

👉 explore this 5-day route

The 10-Day River and Dunes Route

This trip pairs Mauritania’s green, bird-filled south with the bare sand seas of the north. You move from fishing beaches and the Senegal River to sunset dunes and one of Earth’s strangest geological formations.
  • The evening fish landing at Nouakchott’s Port de Pêche
  • Wetland birdlife in Diawling National Park
  • Hiking the rings of the Richat Structure
  • Desert sunsets over Chinguetti

👉 explore this 10-day route

The 15-Day Coast-to-Sahara Route

An epic loop through Mauritania that runs from Atlantic bird islands to the dunes on a freight train, then on foot … read more 👉

The 5-Day Adrar Caravan Route

A tight, focused trip into the heart of Mauritania’s desert, where palm-lined gorges lead up onto a plateau of dunes and old caravan towns. Expect starry nights, stone alleys half swallowed by sand and plenty of mint tea.
  • A night beside the springs of the Terjit Oasis
  • The stone lanes and ancient libraries of Chinguetti
  • The clifftop ruins of the Ksar of Ouadane

👉 explore this 5-day route

The 10-Day River and Dunes Route

This trip pairs Mauritania’s green, bird-filled south with the bare sand seas of the north. You move from fishing beaches and the Senegal River to sunset dunes and one of Earth’s strangest geological formations.
  • The evening fish landing at Nouakchott’s Port de Pêche
  • Wetland birdlife in Diawling National Park
  • Hiking the rings of the Richat Structure
  • Desert sunsets over Chinguetti

👉 explore this 10-day route

The 15-Day Coast-to-Sahara Route

An epic loop through Mauritania that runs from Atlantic bird islands to the dunes on a freight train, then on foot with camels. It suits travelers who want the full country story, from fishing villages to desert scholarship.
  • Sailing out to the bird islands of Banc d’Arguin
  • Riding the iron ore train into the Sahara
  • Sunrise beneath the monolith of Ben Amera
  • A camel trek across the dunes into Chinguetti

👉 explore this 15-day route

🌤️ When to go?Weather, seasons, and timing

The best time to go backpacking in Mauritania is November to March, when Saharan days settle around 25 to 32°C, the camel treks and desert auberges are fully running, and the seasonal charter flights from France land in Atar. Timing varies by region. The Atlantic coast around Nouakchott and Nouadhibou stays mild most of the year thanks to cool sea breezes, while the Adrar interior swings from pleasant to brutal, and the far south along the Senegal River gets real summer rain.
  • Cool season (November to March): Peak months. Warm, dry days, chilly desert nights that can drop to 5 to 10°C, and the most foreign visitors, though crowds here mean a few dozen people in Chinguetti, not busloads. Guides and 4x4s book up first, and an auberge bed with dinner runs roughly 600 to 1,000 MRU (US$15 to 25).
  • Hot shoulder (April to June): Inland highs climb from about 38°C to well over 40°C, with dust and Harmattan haze. Many desert camps wind down, so guides are easier to bargain with. The coast and the Banc d’Arguin stay workable.
  • Rainy season (July to September): Short, heavy storms in the south and occasional flooding in Nouakchott, with stifling humidity. Mauritanian families head to Adrar oases for the “guetna” date harvest, the one domestic travel peak of the year.
  • Cooling shoulder (October): Still hot inland, but migrating birds start arriving on the coast and prices stay low.
Pack a proper fleece and a sleeping bag rated to around 5°C even in peak season, because Saharan nights catch nearly everyone off guard.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: highly recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: below average for travelingAUGAugust: below average for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: excellent for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
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💰 Costs (as of 2026)How expensive it really is

Backpacking Mauritania costs most budget travelers US$25 to 40 a day, but one 4x4 trip into the Adrar can double that week's total. Travelers pay in ouguiya, and the dollar figures below use a rate of roughly 40 ouguiya to US$1.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$8 to 15 per nightReal dorms are rare, so think shared rooms, roof mattresses and campsite huts. In Nouakchott, a bed or camping spot at a traveler auberge like Auberge Menata runs about US$8 to 12. In Atar and Chinguetti, a mattress in a Saharan-style tent or a basic auberge room costs US$8 to 15, and US$15 to 25 usually adds half board. To pay less, sleep on the roof or pitch your own tent. That's about the same as a Moroccan hostel and cheaper than a guesthouse in Dakar.
MealsUS$6 to 12 per dayA plate of rice with fish or mafé from a canteen costs US$2.50 to 5, a shawarma in Nouakchott about US$2 to 3, and a baguette around US$0.25. Supermarkets are where self-catering costs climb, since most goods are imported: yogurt, cheese and canned food often cost more than in Morocco. Street food beats cooking for yourself.
Local transportUS$1 to 15 per dayA long-distance bus from Nouakchott to Atar is about US$10
… read more 👉
Backpacking Mauritania costs most budget travelers US$25 to 40 a day, but one 4x4 trip into the Adrar can double that week's total. Travelers pay in ouguiya, and the dollar figures below use a rate of roughly 40 ouguiya to US$1.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$8 to 15 per nightReal dorms are rare, so think shared rooms, roof mattresses and campsite huts. In Nouakchott, a bed or camping spot at a traveler auberge like Auberge Menata runs about US$8 to 12. In Atar and Chinguetti, a mattress in a Saharan-style tent or a basic auberge room costs US$8 to 15, and US$15 to 25 usually adds half board. To pay less, sleep on the roof or pitch your own tent. That's about the same as a Moroccan hostel and cheaper than a guesthouse in Dakar.
MealsUS$6 to 12 per dayA plate of rice with fish or mafé from a canteen costs US$2.50 to 5, a shawarma in Nouakchott about US$2 to 3, and a baguette around US$0.25. Supermarkets are where self-catering costs climb, since most goods are imported: yogurt, cheese and canned food often cost more than in Morocco. Street food beats cooking for yourself.
Local transportUS$1 to 15 per dayA long-distance bus from Nouakchott to Atar is about US$10 to 13, and Nouakchott to Nouadhibou US$12 to 15. A seat in a Nouakchott shared taxi is US$0.50 to 1.25. On the iron ore train from Nouadhibou to Choum, riding on top of the ore wagons is free and a bench in the passenger car costs about US$5 to 10. Per kilometer, buses cost more than in Senegal but distances are long.
ActivitiesUS$0 to 150 per dayThe biggest cost is a 4x4 with a driver, which runs US$100 to 150 a day with fuel. That's why splitting it among four people makes such a difference. A camel trek out of Chinguetti or Ouadane costs about US$30 to 50 a day with a guide, and a visit to a Chinguetti manuscript library is about US$2 to 3.
MiscellaneousUS$2 to 5 per dayA Mauritel or Chinguitel SIM card costs about US$2 to 3, and a few gigabytes of data US$5 to 10. Bottled water is US$0.50 to 0.75 per 1.5 liters. You'll also want 30 or more photocopies of your passport (a “fiche”) to hand out at police checkpoints, at a few cents each. Budget separately for the visa: about US$60 on arrival or as an eVisa.
Total Daily BudgetUS$25 to 40 per dayPer person, per day, in high season.
Carry plenty of cash. Outside Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, ATMs are unreliable and cards are rarely accepted, so change euros or dollars in the capital before heading for the Adrar.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutMauritania Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (228 pages) contains:
✅ 47 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 5, 10 & 15-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
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📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
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🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where to stay in Mauritania

Mauritania has almost no true backpacker hostels, but family-run auberges and campements with simple rooms, shared mattresses or rooftop tents fill the gap, mostly in Nouakchott, Atar, Chinguetti and Ouadane. In the capital, Tevragh Zeina has the widest choice, the best restaurants and a calm, embassy-district feel, though prices run higher. Ksar and the streets around the Marché Capitale are cheaper and closer to everyday city life but noisier and dustier, and nowhere in the country has nightlife beyond late tea and grilled meat, since alcohol is banned.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, … read more 👉
Mauritania has almost no true backpacker hostels, but family-run auberges and campements with simple rooms, shared mattresses or rooftop tents fill the gap, mostly in Nouakchott, Atar, Chinguetti and Ouadane. In the capital, Tevragh Zeina has the widest choice, the best restaurants and a calm, embassy-district feel, though prices run higher. Ksar and the streets around the Marché Capitale are cheaper and closer to everyday city life but noisier and dustier, and nowhere in the country has nightlife beyond late tea and grilled meat, since alcohol is banned.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in Mauritania


Best quality hotels in Mauritania

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around Mauritania

Getting around Mauritania runs on two clocks: the intercity buses, which leave close to their posted early-morning times, and everything else, which leaves when the last seat fills. Buy bus tickets at the company depot a day ahead for the Nouadhibou or Atar runs, but for bush taxis and the ore train you simply turn up early and wait.
  • Intercity buses: Air-conditioned coaches link Nouakchott with Nouadhibou (about 470 km, 5 to 6 hours) and Atar (6 to 7 hours) for roughly 500 to 700 MRU (US$13 to 18).
… read more 👉
Getting around Mauritania runs on two clocks: the intercity buses, which leave close to their posted early-morning times, and everything else, which leaves when the last seat fills. Buy bus tickets at the company depot a day ahead for the Nouadhibou or Atar runs, but for bush taxis and the ore train you simply turn up early and wait.
  • Intercity buses: Air-conditioned coaches link Nouakchott with Nouadhibou (about 470 km, 5 to 6 hours) and Atar (6 to 7 hours) for roughly 500 to 700 MRU (US$13 to 18). Pay cash at the office and expect your passport details to go on the passenger list. Seats are upright but padded, and the sealed windows keep the sand out, so the long beige blur of dunes and the odd camel herd slide past behind glass instead of in your teeth.
  • Bush taxis: Dented Mercedes sedans and Peugeot station wagons leave from garages on the edges of town, Nouakchott to Rosso taking 3 to 4 hours for about 200 to 350 MRU (US$5 to 9). You pay the driver, and buying a second seat for a few hundred ouguiya more is the only way to get real elbow room. Stops are for prayer and diesel, often with a roadside glass of sweet mint tea, so you end up sharing tea with whoever is crammed in beside you.
  • Shared 4x4s in the Adrar: Land Cruisers piled with sacks of rice and gas bottles run Atar to Chinguetti (about 80 km, 1.5 to 2 hours) for 200 to 400 MRU. Ask at the Atar market in the morning. The road climbs over the Amogjar-area plateau edge, giving you dusty, rattling views across black rock and orange sand.
  • Iron ore train: The ore line from Nouadhibou to Choum takes 10 to 14 hours, often more, leaving Nouadhibou in the afternoon. Riding atop an empty ore wagon is free; a seat in the single passenger car costs about 200 to 400 MRU. Iron dust coats everything and desert nights get bitterly cold, so wrap your face and bring a warm layer, and you get a sky packed with stars over a roaring kilometers-long train.
  • City taxis: In Nouakchott, flag a shared taxi on the roadside and call out your district, paying 20 to 50 MRU per hop, or 150 to 300 MRU to hire the whole car.
Carry 20 or more photocopies of your passport photo page and visa: police checkpoints on every highway ask for one, and handing over a copy instead of your passport keeps each stop down to a minute.
In Mauritania, Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC) sits about 25 km (16 miles) north of the city center, and a taxi from the arrivals area is the cheapest reliable way into town.
  • Taxi (30 to 40 minutes, roughly 500 to 1,000 MRU / US$13 to 25): drivers wait right outside arrivals, there are no meters, so agree on the price in ouguiya before loading your bag and pay cash on arrival.
  • Guesthouse or hotel pickup (30 to 40 minutes, usually 800 to 1,500 MRU / US$20 to 38): many guesthouses in Tevragh Zeina and Ksar arrange a driver if you send your flight number a day ahead, and you normally pay cash to the driver or at check-in.
Late-night arrivals are common at NKC, so change a little money or withdraw cash inside the terminal before you exit, and book a pickup ahead if your flight lands after midnight, when fewer taxis wait and drivers push their prices higher.
⚠️ Prices and routes can change, so take this as a rough guide and ask for local advice when you arrive.
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🔒 Safety (risk Level: high)Is Mauritania safe to visit?

Safety for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals
Mauritania is generally safe for solo travelers in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou and the Adrar region, where violent crime against visitors is rare and people are notably hospitable, though petty theft and scams occur in markets. Areas near the Malian border in the east and southeast, as well as remote desert zones in the far north and east, are subject to government travel warnings due to the risk of militant activity, and police checkpoints are frequent everywhere. Solo women may face staring and unwanted comments, so modest dress and firm, polite refusals help, and many female travelers find hiring a local guide makes rural travel easier. Same-sex relations are illegal and severely punishable under the country’s Sharia-based law, so LGBTQ+ travelers should be fully discreet and avoid discussing their orientation or using dating apps.


Full official government travel advisory (live updates)
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source: www.gov.uk

✈️ VisaWhat travelers should know about visas

Most travelers need a visa to visit Mauritania, except citizens of some African countries. Apply online through the official e-visa platform of the national registry agency (ANRPTS) before you travel, pay the fee of around €55, and present your approval on arrival at Nouakchott airport or a land border such as Rosso or Guerguerat, where your visa is issued.
⚠️ Visa requirements can change over time, so always check the latest visa requirements with the official embassy or government website before you travel.

🎒 What to pack?What you'll need while traveling

Packing for Mauritania means preparing for intense sun, fine blowing sand and surprisingly cold desert nights, particularly from December to February in the Adrar, where temperatures can fall close to freezing after scorching afternoons. Loose, long, breathable clothing works on both fronts, protecting your skin while respecting the conservative dress norms of this Islamic republic, where shoulders and knees should stay covered for everyone. A large scarf or turban cloth is the single most useful thing you can carry for dust storms, bush taxis and the ore train. Sturdy closed shoes handle rocky plateau paths and hot sand better than sandals, and a good dust-proof bag keeps your electronics alive. Bring any medication, sunscreen and toiletries you rely on, since choice outside Nouakchott is very limited.

Apart from this country specific advice, I have also crafted a general packing list that should help on any trip. authorOver the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.

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🙋 FAQFrequently asked questions

Trip Planning

Planning a backpacking route through Mauritania can be tricky — you need to balance must-see places, travel times, budget, and how long to stay in each destination. Our free personalized Mauritania itinerary planner creates a route based on your travel style, trip duration, and interests, so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring.



Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.


Travel Essentials

For Mauritania, make sure routine vaccines are up to date and get hepatitis A and typhoid, with hepatitis B and rabies recommended for longer stays or rural travel. A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, and the vaccine is recommended for areas south of the Sahara. Malaria is present in most of the country, especially the south during and after the rainy season, so discuss antimalarial tablets with a travel clinic; the far northern regions around Nouadhibou and Zouérat carry little risk.


vaccination requirements
When I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.

These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in Mauritania, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.

There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Holafly, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.


HolaFly eSim

Culture & Customs

Mauritania is a deeply conservative Islamic republic, so dress modestly (long trousers or skirts and covered shoulders for everyone, with women often adding a loose headscarf in rural areas) and always eat, pass objects and shake hands with your right hand. Do accept tea when offered and stay for the traditional three glasses, sit cross-legged without pointing your feet at others, and remove shoes when entering a home, tent or mosque. Don’t photograph people, especially women, military sites or police checkpoints without asking, and don’t bring or seek alcohol, which is illegal. During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight. Public displays of affection are frowned upon for any couple, unmarried couples may struggle to share a room, and same-sex couples should show no affection in public. Women traveling alone will generally be treated with respect, though men may avoid direct contact such as handshakes, so wait for the other person to offer theirs.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for Mauritania.
  1. Thieboudienne (Chebjen): Rice cooked in a rich tomato and fish broth, served with chunks of fish and vegetables like cassava, carrot and cabbage. Shared with Senegal and especially popular in the south and in Nouakchott, it is the everyday lunch dish eaten by hand from a communal platter.
  2. Méchoui: A whole lamb or goat slow-roasted over coals until the meat pulls apart, served at weddings, Eid celebrations and for honored guests. Being offered méchoui is a sign of serious Moorish hospitality.
  3. Couscous with camel or lamb: Steamed semolina topped with stewed meat and vegetables, with camel meat giving it a lean, slightly gamey flavor. It reflects the country’s nomadic herding heritage and North African links.
  4. Maru we lham: A simple, filling dish of rice with seasoned meat (lamb or camel), one of the most common home-cooked meals across the country.
  5. Zrig: Camel or goat milk, sometimes fermented, thinned with water and sweetened with sugar, drunk cold. It is the classic desert refreshment and a staple in nomadic camps.
  6. Atay (Mint tea): Green tea brewed with fresh mint and plenty of sugar, poured from height to raise a foam and served in three rounds. The ritual is the center of social life, and accepting all three glasses is part of being a good guest.
  7. Dates: Fresh dates from the oases of the Adrar and Tagant, especially during the summer guetna harvest season, eaten with zrig or tea.
Tap water in Mauritania is not considered safe for travelers to drink, even though many locals in Nouakchott drink it or store it in jerrycans and clay jars. Stick to bottled water, which is sold everywhere for around 30 to 60 MRU (US$0.75 to 1.50) per 1.5-liter bottle, or use a filter or purification tablets, especially in the desert where you may need 4 to 5 liters a day.
The main language in Mauritania is Arabic. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Arabic skills have become a bit rusty.

Want to understand locals better?
The complete Travel Guide for Mauritania includes 52 essential words and phrases — greetings, thank-yous, ordering food, transport, numbers, and common local expressions you'll actually hear.

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English is spoken very little in Mauritania, even in Nouakchott, where you will find it mainly at upscale hotels, some NGOs and among a minority of younger, university-educated locals. Hostel and auberge owners in Nouakchott, Atar and Chinguetti sometimes manage basic English, but in rural areas and on bush taxis it is almost absent. French is by far the most useful second language, widely understood in towns alongside Hassaniya Arabic, the local dialect. Download an offline French translation pack and learn a handful of Hassaniya courtesies such as “salam alaykum” and “shukran” to smooth daily exchanges.

Money & Payments

The local currency of Mauritania is MRU (UM).
ATMs in Mauritania are found mainly in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, with a few in Atar, and they often run out of cash or reject foreign cards, with Visa working far more reliably than Mastercard and withdrawal fees of roughly 200 to 400 MRU (US$5 to 10) plus your home bank’s charges. Outside these cities, including Chinguetti, Ouadane and the south, there are effectively no ATMs, so carry enough cash for the whole trip there. Cards are accepted only at upscale hotels, some supermarkets and airline offices in the capital, while guesthouses, bush taxis, markets and guides all want cash in ouguiya (MRU). Bring euros as your main backup, as they get the best rates, with clean, recent US dollar notes as a second option. Exchange at banks or licensed bureaus de change in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, and avoid changing with street traders at borders like Rosso, where short-changing and fake notes are common.
Tipping in Mauritania is not a fixed custom, but small gestures are appreciated: rounding up the bill or leaving around 5 to 10 percent in sit-down restaurants in Nouakchott is common practice. Taxi drivers do not expect tips if you have agreed on a fare, while desert guides, drivers and camel handlers on multi-day trips usually receive around 1,000 to 2,000 MRU (US$25 to 50) per day from the group at the end.

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We 💚 feedbackThe bottom line on traveling here

The best reason to backpack Mauritania is the space: deserts and dune towns so quiet you hear sand moving, shared with almost no other travelers. The realistic drawback is friction, from slow, uncomfortable travel days to dusty towns with little to do between highlights. Buy a local SIM on arrival and save the numbers of every guesthouse owner you meet, because in this country one phone call to the right person solves transport, lodging and introductions faster than any website.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Mauritania. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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