Circuit in 4x4, Duration 21 days
In the footsteps of ancient caravanners
The path of the Almoravids (Old towns)
This circuit of ancient cities will allow you to take a real journey through time and discover: Aoudaghost, Koumbi Saleh, Oualata, Akreijit, Tichitt, Chinguetty, Ouadane.
Cities founded in the 11th and 12th centuries to meet the needs of trans-Saharan caravans, these commercial and religious centers became centers of Islamic culture.
They have remarkably preserved the urban fabric developed between the 12th and 16th centuries, their courtyard houses narrowing into narrow streets around a mosque with a square minaret.
They testify to a traditional way of life, centered around the Bedouin culture, of the inhabitants of Western Sahara.
The route:
Arrival in Nouakchott
Arrival in Nouakchott. Reception at the airport, transfer to the hotel and overnight stay.
Nouakchott – Boutilimitte – Makta-lihjar – Sanrava
Departure to the town of Boutilimitte dominated by its fort, a vestige of the colonial era.
It is the city of Cheikh Sidiya, founder of the library, recognized scholar of Timbuktu in Mali, and of Mokthar ould Daddah, father of the independence of Mauritania, we cross the great erg of Trarza, Boutilumite, Aleg, and its immense dry lake, the villages of Makta-lihjar, Sangrava,
Bivouac under the stars or in a nomadic tent.
Oasis Guerou – Kiffa
Continuation by the road of hope crosses villages, where the nomads have settled, from where one can reach the oases of Douk, guerou, and about 600 km, Kiffa the capital of the region of the assaba, from here, one can go to the ruins of the ancient caravan city Aoudaghost.
Bivouac under the stars or in a nomadic tent.
Tamchakett – Aoudaghost
Departure by the track to the town of Tamchakett was founded in 1927 and is the capital of the Afella region.
Tammishket is located at a distance of one hundred and thirty kilometers northwest of the city of Aioun el-Atrous, the capital of Houd Elgharbi.
Aoudaghost:
After Tamchakett, we head towards the archaeological city of Audagost, located in the “Rkiz” region, 45 km northeast of the town of Tamchaket.
Archaeological excavations have identified the city of Aoudaghost, as it was a center for trade caravans coming from the north and heading south and those coming from the east or west.
The archaeological site dates back to the 8th century, until the arrival of the “Almoravid State”, which took Aoudaghost as its temporary capital.
The excavations showed the development of architecture and human life, which led to the discovery of very important things in the gold trade and industry.
Bivouac under nomadic tent.
Tamchakett – Aioun el-Atrous – Timbedgha – Koumbi Saleh
you will join the “Road of Hope” 800 km from Nouakchott, Aioun el-Atrous is located in a huge bowl of hodh surrounded by the cliffs of Assaba, Tagant, Tichit and Oualata, sculpted rocks by the wind of the crazed cliff are worth the detour.
Koumbi Saleh:
We continue to Tambagh, where we reach the ruins of Kombi Saleh, which are located 60 km to the south.
It dates back to the 3rd century when the pagan Mandia tribes controlled the caravan trade routes between Kembe Salih, Audaghest and Timbuktu.
Islam:
Islam entered the city of “Kimbi Saleh” in the 11th century after the arrival of the Almoravids in the desert region of West Africa.
The history of the city’s influence began when the Ghana Empire made it its political capital. The city experienced the height of its prosperity and was truly a dominant superpower in the region, with a population of around 30,000, it became the largest city on the African continent for several centuries.
The disappearance of the city:
In the 15th century, the city of “Kimbi Salih” began to lose its importance due to successive years of drought and the departure of the inhabitants of “Kimbi Salih” until it later became a discolored and deserted city.
The first excavations:
“The French paleontologist Bonnier de Maizière conducted extensive excavations in 1914, followed by other expeditions that took place in 1939 and 1950, and these excavations revealed the ruins of the Islamic city and its unique architecture. »
Bivouac under nomadic tent.
Oualata
Built in the 7th century, Oualata constitute an important stage on the caravan route.
Its pretty oasis is home to wasteland houses in pastel colors, the doors feature harmonious geometric designs
Oualata is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Accommodation in a hostel.
Tagouraret well – Makrougat
In the direction of the rock of Makhrougat we pass by a well of Tagouraret, Then the road continues until the rock elephant and Makrougat essential beauty of nature, lost in the desert, After the well of Aratane, discover the set of rocks piercing the living sand: Es Sba: the fingers” for the nomads.
Bivouac under the stars or in a nomadic tent.
Akreijit – Tichitt
Then the two historic towns the village of Agrigit is one of the most important and famous prehistoric sites. This dry stone village is located about 35 km east of Tishit which is also called “Monod site”. “.
Then the historic city of Tichitt, the city which has preserved its architecture for nine centuries, and which is still standing despite antiquity, we visit its different districts, one of which is of green stones, its mosque, the museum and the library. .
Bivouac under nomadic tent.
Well of Zig–Lekcheb
Then the track becomes more and more sandy, thus marking the end of the Tagant plateau. The small massif of Zig offers a superb landscape: a mass of dunes overlooking a mountain range bounded on the horizon by large dunes.
The stop at the Zig well, You will cross a natural door between two high rocks.
Bivouac under nomadic tent.
Lekcheb – Tidjikja
You will cross camps based around a well, stony tracks before reaching Lekcheb: a landscape made up of huge blocks of spooky rocks between which the sand has been deposited forming small valleys, we continue with the same plateau until Tidjikja the capital of Tagant, you will visit its market, its old houses.
Accommodation in a hostel.
Tidijikja – Oasis Rachid
We continue to the great oasis of Rashid, when we reach the wadi Rashid, the modern city of Rashid appears on the left side of the valley it mixes with large rocks, and in front of them are the ruins of the ancient city on the other side of the valley, founded at the beginning of the 13th century, and formed a checkpoint on the way of the caravans coming from Adrar.
Bivouac under the stars or in a nomadic tent.
Rachid Oasis – El-Aien Savra
At sunrise, let’s leave Rachid, towards the village of El-Aien Savra with these dry stone houses.
Bivouac under the stars or in a nomadic tent
Chingetty
We return to Chinguetti, the 7th holy city of Islam, dating from the 11th century, with its dry stone houses and its famous mosque declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We visit the old town, the museum and the library
Accommodation in a hostel.
Ouadane – Guelb er Richat
Departure in the morning towards Ouadane, we visit the old city, the museum which illustrates the highly glorious past of this country. and we visit The structure of Richat, nicknamed “the eye of Africa” or traditionally Guelb er Richât, is an old volcano crater,
Accommodation in a hostel
City of Atar, Oasis of Azougui – Terjit – the Tifoujar pass,
We then head to Atar, the current capital of the Adrar region, which hosts the largest and most colorful market in the whole region with its exotic products, typical of Saharan trade, we first visit Azougui, the former capital of the Almoravids who inhabited Spain in the 11th century, and current place of worship due to the presence of the tomb of the iman EL Hadrami, we go to Terjit where an oasis of thermal waters awaits us with marvelous basins then the Summit from the Tifoujar pass, the view is impressive, a notch of 200 meters in height literally throws itself into the EL-Abiod wadi at the bottom of the valley. the dunes rise to attack this totally sandy pass.
Bivouac under nomadic tent.
Amatlich, Oasis El Meddah.
Morning departure to the oasis of El Gleïtat and El-Meddah, the largest palm grove in Mauritania. cords of dunes planted with palm trees, here begins the long cord of dunes of Erg Amatlich.
Bivouac under the stars or in a nomadic tent.
The Foum Tizigui pass – Azoiga Oasis
Early departure towards Foum Tizigui a pass in the cord of dunes of Amatlich, famous stage of Paris-Dakar, this cord extends over nearly 400 km long, we then continue by the massif of high dunes of Erg Amatlich and oasis of graritte livrasse, Azoiga, you enjoy the great dunes of Azweiga (Tanakhwjeritte).
Bivouac under the stars or in a nomadic tent.
Akjoujt.- Nouakchott-
Departure for Akjoujt the city of copper ores and continuation to Nouakchott.
Nouakchott
Let’s visit the fishermen’s port, the museum and the market.
Dinner in town and transfer to the airport.
To request information, reservations and prices: Contact us
* The price includes:
- Reception and transfer to the airport
- Accommodation
- Full board
- Camping equipment (Nomad tent.)
- Transport in 4×4 Vehicles
- 4×4 fuels
- spear fees
- French-speaking guide
- To cook
- Entrances to sites and museums and libraries.
* Not Included in the price:
- Fly and cool
- visa fees
- Travel assistance insurance
- drinks and personal expenses, tips
- All charges not specified.