Atar Town Mauritania

Atar is a town in north-western Mauritania, the capital of the Adrar Region and the main settlement on the Adrar Plateau. Situated on the Oued Seguellil, it is home to an airport, a museum, and a historic mosque, constructed in 1674. In 2013 it had a population of 25,190.

The Atar is best known to outsiders as an entryway for tourists to visit the ruins of the ancient Moorish cities of Quadane and Chinguetti It was a key stop in the world’s longest off-road race, the Paris Dakar Rally held every January.

Things to do in Atar town Mauritania

You will not regret visiting the ruins in Mauritania it’s one of the top activities to do while visiting Mauritania

Visit Quadane

Quadane is a small town in the desert region of central Mauritania situated on the southern edge of the Adrar 93 km northeast of Chinguetti.

The town was a staging post in the trans-Saharan trade and for caravans transporting slabs of salt from the mines at Idjil.

The old town, a World Heritage site though in ruins, is still substantially intact, while a small modern settlement lies outside its gate.

Ouadane is the closest town to the Richat Structure, a massive circular landmark visible from space.

Visit Chinguetti

Founded in the 13th century as the center of several trans-Saharan trade routes, this small city continues to attract a handful of visitors who admire its spare architecture, scenery, and ancient libraries. The city is seriously threatened by the encroaching desert; high sand dunes mark the western boundary and several houses have been abandoned to the sand.

Visit Adrar 

The Adrar is a highland natural and historical site of the Sahara Desert in northern Mauritania, Adrar an administrative division of Mauritania, is named after the traditional region. It is sometimes called Adrar Tamar to distinguish it from other areas called Adrar in the Sahara.

How to get to Atar town Mauritania

Charter flights can be arranged from France or the main capital Nouakchott, city, capital of Mauritania, on a plateau near the West African Atlantic coast, about 270 miles (435 km) north-northeast of Dakar, Senegal. Originally a coastal village on the desert trail north of Dakar, it was developed after independence (1960) as the capital of the new nation.

Where to stay in Atar town Mauritania

There are budget places to stay in Atar and some places to look out for include Auberge et camping inimi, Les toiles Maures, Bab Sahara, and odar kanawal.