Name: GLT Mauritania Adventure 2023
Start: 2023-01-29T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Mauritania

Girls LOVE Travel

208 reviews

Jan 29 - Feb 5, 2023

Group size: 1 - 20

GLT Mauritania Adventure 2023

Mauritania

$2,249

Deposit: $500

Jan 29 - Feb 5, 2023

Group size: 1 - 20

Join GLT in the adventurous Mauritania! 🇲🇷

Girls LOVE Travel is ecstatic to work alongside Mudita Adventures to bring you a bucket-list trip to Mauritania, featuring the infamous Iron Ore train ride across the Sahara desert!

Mauritania is one of the final frontiers. It is one of the least visited countries in the world- home to ancient holy cities, nomadic tribes, and the one of the most hardcore travel experiences of your life- the Iron Ore train through the Sahara Desert.

This is an ACTIVE trip. If you have any questions involving the physical requirements of the trip, including hiking, climbing, etc. Please reach out to us.

Check out this blog post about the Iron Ore train experience!

Due to the nature of this trip- travel medical insurance is REQUIRED for all participants.

Our team uses and loves Trawick International, and recommend them for all of our guests. Many of their plans for one week of medical coverage start at approximately $10.

They also offer trip coverage for cancellations, luggage loss, etc for an extra cost

Your spot is held when we receive your nonrefundable deposit of $500 upon sign up. Please note that this deposit is not transferable once received.

Final payments are due November 15, 2022.

In the event you have to cancel, here is the cancellation policy:

From now until 75 days before the trip (November 15), only the nonrefundable/non-transferrable deposit ($500) will be held.

From 74 to 60 days before the trip (November 16 to November 30)= 50% of the package price will be held ($1,650)

From 59 days until the trip date (Dec 1 until January 29)- 100% of the package price will be held ($2,300)

It is the responsibility of the trip attendee to reach out in the event of a cancellation and make their payments on time. Girls LOVE Travel reserves the right to hold payments according to the cancellation policy above to pay our vendors to make this trip happen.

In order to ensure you do not miss any parts of the tour- here are recommended times for your flights.

ARRIVAL FLIGHTS:

Arrive to Nouakchott (NKC) before 2pm in order to go through immigration, transfer to the hotel, and check in/settle in before the welcome group dinner.

DEPARTURE FLIGHTS:

Depart from Nouakchott (NKC) AFTER 5pm on the last day. We will arrive back to Nouakchott around 1pm (ish), so later is better. Just in case!

Flight tip: many of Mudita Adventure's previous guests have connected through Casablanca, Morocco/Europe for flights. This may help you plan out your flight plans!

Accommodation
Accommodation for 7 nights (actually 6, since the 7th is on a moving Iron Ore train)
Transport
All transport within the itinerary
Airport Transfer
Transfer upon arrival
Breakfast
Breakfast is included daily
Some Meals
Meals OUTSIDE of the capital city are included
Activities/Fees
Activities and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary
Local Guides
Local guides to show you around their country
Western Guide
A western guide throughout the entire trip
Bragging Rights
You just did this epic trip- of course you get bragging rights!
Google Photos Link
A Google Photos link will be made for all attendees to add their photos to. Think of it as a group photo scrapbook of your crazy journey!

International Travel
Travel to and from Nouakchott
Visa
Mauritania visa ($55 in cash at the airport). This is easy to organize at the airport.
Meals in Cities
Lunches and dinners in the cities (payable by cash each day, minimal cost)
Tips
Tips to our local guides
Iron Ore Clothing
Clothing for the Iron Ore Train experience (ski goggles etc). We will send a packing list with all this info
Travel Insurance
This is manadatory. Check out the link above to choose medical travel insurance that works best for you!
WeTravel Fees
All service fees and credit card fees are covered by the participant

Day 1
Day 1
Welcome to Mauritania!
Arrive in Nouakchott anytime. I’ll be there at least 1 day early.

Group dinner to see old friends who have traveled with me before and new crazy people who like to spend their vacation time in places like Nouakchott! Alcohol is strictly illegal. But, I know my way around this city, so we may even find a little bar from our friends ‘in-the-know’.

Included meals: none
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Day 2
Day 2
Exploring Nouakchott
It’s our first full day in Mauritania’s capital. Culture shock. This is what travel is all about. We’ll check out the city, a museum, the administrative center.

Lunch on the beach and a visit to the local fish market. One last dinner & sleep in civilization before we head off to the desert.

Included meals: Breakfast
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Day 3
Day 3
Cooling Down at Terjit Oasis
We hit the road today. 450km, so 5 or 6 hours inwards into the Sahara. We’ll reach one of Mauritania’s absolute gems, the Terjit Oasis. Palm groves, cooling water. Like something from a cartoon as a kid.

Here we’ll bed down in our tented accommodation, have dinner under the stars and soak up just where we are in the world.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
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Day 4
Day 4
Vallee Blance, Pass Tifoujar, Toungad and Mhairett Oasis and Azougui
Get breakfast and brace yourself for an action-packed day.

We start with exploring the White Valley, via the epic Tifoujar mountain pass. Reaching the Oasis of Toungad, where we’ll stop for lunch before heading deeper into the Mhairett Oasis later in the afternoon.

Soon we’ll reach the Ancient Dynasty of Azougui where we can visit the ruins and chill in the Palm Groves.

Then back to our tented accommodation for the night.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5
Day 5
Exploring Chinguetti- A UNESCO World Heritage Site
First, a little-known secret of Mauritania, the Rupestrian Paintings in Agrour Cave dating back THOUSANDS of years. Then we’ll move on to Fort Sangenne.

Up next is Islam’s 7th Holiest City, and a World Heritage Site, Chinguetti. We’ll visit the Medina, the Ancient City, followed by the ancient Mosque and library of the old city.

We’ll have sunset in the sand dunes of Chinguetti and sleep just outside the town itself.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5
Day 5
What You Came For: The Iron Ore Train!
What can I say? Today we make our way towards the depths of the Sahara, to Choum, and the train tracks that mark our pick-up spot.

After lunch, we’ll prepare ourselves. Lined up, and relaxing. Waiting for the noise of the train approaching.

When you hear the sound of the train in the distance, its go time! Get your bags ready, your calf muscles prepped. Once the train pulls in, we’ll be hopping up the carriage, 4 to a carriage, to claim our spot for the night. Digging holes in the corners to bed down in.

Photo time, earphone time, goggle time. It’s a beautiful, winding, loud, and epic journey through the Sahara. I don’t want to say too much, you’ll experience it soon enough. Just epic.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7
Day 7
Arrrival in Nouadhibou
Early arrival into the port town of Nouadhibou. Here we’ll have an early check-in to our hotel for a WELL EARNED shower. You’ll be filthy from the iron ore- but it will be WORTH IT!

If we have time after the train, we’ll pay a visit to the old mining district, have lunch on the Bay of Nouadhibou, and dinner & overnight in the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 8
Day 8
Back to Reality
That’s the end of the line, but you will have your memories forever!

For those with return flights from Nouakchott, we have a bus transfer back to the Capital City, it takes about 6 hours or so.

Depending on your flight time, you can stay an extra night or leave the same day, we can help organize extra nights as needed.

Included Meals: Breakfast
Read more

Day 1

Welcome to Mauritania!

Arrive in Nouakchott anytime. I’ll be there at least 1 day early.

Group dinner to see old friends who have traveled with me before and new crazy people who like to spend their vacation time in places like Nouakchott! Alcohol is strictly illegal. But, I know my way around this city, so we may even find a little bar from our friends ‘in-the-know’.

Included meals: none

The trip was amazing! Everyone was so nice. And Haley and Sandy did SUCH a great job planning it, and then keeping it going smoothly. There was the perfect amount of activity time and down time. Panama was beautiful - both the city and the islands. Our host on the boat was incredible and the first mate was an incredible cook. I already signed up for another GLT trip.

By Becky S for Panama 2025 - GLT Celebrates 100 Years of Guna Independence on Mar 09, 2025

My trip to Panama with GLT was so much fun! Getting to stay in old town Panama and explore that area was so cool, lots of adorable little streets and churches and squares to explore. Living on a catamaran sailing among the San Blas islands was paradise. I wish I could have stayed forever. Beautiful islands, amazingly welcoming indigenous communities, gorgeous reefs and waters. I could go on and on about how special it was but really you just have to go see it yourself! And no better way than with GLT trips! I’ve always loved meeting new friends and the trips are always well organized and thought out. This was my 3rd GLT trip and I know I’ll be going on more.

By Sydney B for Panama 2025 - GLT Celebrates 100 Years of Guna Independence on Mar 09, 2025

Panama 2025 - GLT Celebrates 100 Years of Guna Independence was truly an unforgettable adventure—equal parts breathtaking scenery and unexpected plot twists! To start with the positives, Panama itself is a marvel. The diversity in its landscapes and the warm, kind-hearted locals made the journey all the more special. The San Blas Islands, in particular, were an oasis of natural beauty that took my breath away. And the food? Absolute perfection. Each meal was a highlight in its own right—flavors that danced on the palate and reminded me why traveling is such a joy. I came away enriched, having learned so much and experienced the splendor of this incredible country. I’ll absolutely be back to explore more of what Panama has to offer. That said, the trip wasn’t without its hurdles, and I think future travelers should know what to expect. As a solo traveler, I found the price steep, especially when factoring in the shared boat accommodations, which lacked the private bathroom perk enjoyed by shared accommodations. There was a fair amount of misinformation and mismanagement that, at times, overshadowed the joy of the experience. One major misstep was the "leisure bike ride," which turned into a grueling 4-hour, 12+ mile journey with steep inclines, no bathroom breaks, and inadequate preparation for water, gear, or attire. Leisure? Not quite. Painful? Absolutely. This ordeal left a lasting impression for the remainder of the trip —and not in a good way. The ride to San Blas was another misadventure, with a roadside accident leaving us stranded for seven hours. Communication was sparse, and basic necessities like food and water were left to the travelers to figure out. A quick trip to fetch supplies could have alleviated a lot of stress in this situation. Additionally, the logistics of the two boats were puzzling. They were anchored far apart for much of the trip, causing segregation and discomfort. Being asked to spend an hour on the other boat (away from my belongings), leading into 4 actual hour without proper notice led to some avoidable mishaps, including a sunburn when I didn’t have my rash guard on hand. Despite these challenges, I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to have been part of such a unique journey. Panama's natural beauty and warm hospitality shone through, reminding me why I love to travel in the first place. With some improvements in planning and communication, this trip could easily transform into an exceptional experience.

By Carrie L for Panama 2025 - GLT Celebrates 100 Years of Guna Independence on Mar 09, 2025

Love, light, and happiness. This trip found me when I needed it most, and am I so glad that I went with it. The itinerary was executed with confidence and grace, knowing that we would have the most amazing time. Kudos to Haley and Sandy for organizing a trip of a lifetime!

By Shayna P for Panama 2025 - GLT Celebrates 100 Years of Guna Independence on Mar 08, 2025

My second GLT trip was a success! Haley and Sandy were absolutely amazing from the very beginning. I was incredibly impressed with how above and beyond they went when a hurricane put a kink in our plans. The amount of leg work these girls did behind the scenes to adjust plans and ensure everyone got there safely is commendable. When our group got together everything else just fell into place. All the tours, excursions, and experiences were incredible! I was also overjoyed when I learned a few of my previous travel companions had booked the same trip, so not only was this a mini reunion for a few of us, but I had the pleasure of making some true connections with new people as well. A wonderful experience all around ☺️

By Adriana W for GLT Belize - Nov 2024 on Dec 08, 2024

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I really had no idea what I was in store for when I booked this trip. Egypt is on most of our “bucket lists,” so expectations were high. Before leaving, GLT makes everything seamless. Booking is easy, communication lines are open and responses are prompt. I also found the Facebook Group to be particularly helpful with the expertise of people who have either traveled to Egypt or have gone on GLT trips. The itinerary is thoughtfully curated to allow time for rest if you want (you won’t want, trust me!) or you can choose to go on other excursions. As soon as you land you’re met by an agent who guides you through customs and gets you in transportation to the hotel. When we arrived at the hotel it was close to 2a. Enter Yasser, our guide. He welcomed us with his warm smile even though it was early morning. We were impressed. I remember getting the feeling we were in good hands, but that was only the beginning. From day one you could tell Yasser was full of knowledge. He answered every question with love and passion. We were mesmerized by the stories he told us and we quickly became family. Everywhere we went Yasser knew someone. After a quick hello and a hug, Yasser’s friends would be on their way, but not before yelling things like, “you have the best guide” and “that’s my teacher. You’re very lucky!” As I write this, I can’t help but to smile. Yasser made this trip memorable. I felt extremely safe and loved the opportunity to meet new people and socialize. If you’re on the fence and thinking about going on this trip, don’t think! You’ll leave in awe of this magical country and you’ll leave with a new extended family member with the name of Yasser. You won’t be sorry.

By Catherine M on 05 Oct, 2023

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GLT Mauritania Adventure 2023

GLT Mauritania Adventure 2023

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