Mauritania Complete Guide 2026: Chinguetti, Banc d'Arguin, Atar, Adrar and the Sahara Heritage
Browse more guides: Mauritania travel | Africa destinations Mauritania Complete Guide 2026: Chinguetti, Banc d'Arguin, Atar, Adrar and the Sahara Heritage TL;DR I planned my Mauritania trip around four anchors: the 13th-century manuscript town of Chinguetti (UNESCO 1996, 30th anniversary in 2026), the 12,000 km² Banc d'Arguin National Park (UNESCO 1989) where Imragen fishermen still partner with wild dolphins, the Adrar Plateau out of Atar with its 9th-century neolithic rock paintings, and the 700 km Iron Ore Train from Zouerat to Nouadhibou, the world's longest and slowest freight ride at 2.5 km and 220 wagons. India passport holders get visa-on-arrival for 30 days at USD 55 with proof of onward travel and accommodation, and the cool dry window from November to February makes 4WD desert expeditions sane before the harmattan dust season fades. The country runs 1.03 million km², holds 4.6 million people, and is 90 percent Sahara, so almost every itinerary is a slow-trav...