Travel advisory · MauritaniaSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Mauritania.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Adrar · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand
- Algeria border strip · avoid all travel · Germany, New Zealand, US
- Assaba · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand, UK
- Eastern Mauritania · avoid all travel · Spain, France, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Guidimaka · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand, UK
- Hodh Ech Chargui · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, US
- Hodh El Gharbi · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand, UK
- Mali border strip · avoid all travel · Germany, Spain, France, Italy, New Zealand, UK, US
- North of Zouérat · avoid all travel · Germany, France, Italy
- North-east of Zouérat–Ghallaouia line · avoid all travel · France, Italy
- South-east of Akhrejit–Kankossa line · avoid all travel · France, Italy
- Tagant · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, New Zealand
- Tiris Zemmour · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK
- East of Aghouedir–Tichit line · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Gorgol · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
- North of Choum–Aghouedir line · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Nouadhibou to Zouérat frontier zone (PK55) · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy
- South-east of Tichit–Kaedi line · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Western Sahara border strip · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK
Also named by one government: 25 km strip along northern borders, west of Zouérat–Ouadane line (Canada), North of Tropic of Cancer (US), Prohibited zone (Cheggat–Ain Bentili–Dhar Tichitt–Lemreyye) (Spain), Carretera de la Esperanza (Kiffa eastward) (Spain), Land route through Western Sahara (Germany), Northern region between Mauritania, Algeria and Western Sahara (Italy), West of Ghallaouia–Akhreijit–Kankossa line (Adrar and Tagant) (UK)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country; advice against parts only (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider Travel | Aug 18, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Vigilance renforcée (reste du territoire) (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Atar
Atar is a common base for desert trips in northern Mauritania, with date palm oases and old trading towns a few hours' drive away.
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Atar is a town in the Adrar region of northern Mauritania, on the edge of the Sahara. It is the regional capital and the base most travelers use before heading into the desert. Date palms grow around the town, and it is quieter than Nouakchott, the national capital.
Most visitors come for what lies beyond Atar. The old trading towns of Chinguetti and Ouadane, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, are reached by 4x4 on sand and stone tracks, and the dunes and rocky plateau of the Adrar are a long drive away. The trip suits travelers who accept basic lodging, long drives and desert heat, and who book a licensed guide. November to March is the cooler season. Plan at least three to four days to see the area without rushing.
Atar in five
- Book a licensed guide for the desertTrips to the dunes and the old oasis towns need a 4x4 and a driver who knows the tracks and the checkpoints. Arrange them through a licensed operator before you arrive.Tours and tickets
- Carry your passport at every checkpointPolice checkpoints on the roads out of Atar ask to see your passport and where you are going. Keep the passport in an outside pocket so you can reach it without unpacking.
- Bring cash, not cardsCard payment is rare outside a few hotels, and ATMs in town cannot be relied on. Bring enough euros or dollars and change some into ouguiya (MRU).Money and costs
- Buy a local SIM with your passportMauritel, Mattel and Chinguitel sell SIMs, and the shop will ask for your passport. Expect signal to stop at the edge of town.Phones and eSIM
- Dress for a conservative Muslim townCover shoulders and knees, and carry a scarf for mosques and older streets. Ask before photographing anyone, and never photograph police, soldiers or government buildings.
Need to know
- Currency
- Ouguiya (MRU)
- Entry
- Visa needed for most passports; check requirements before you fly
- Emergency
- Police 117; ask your guide or hotel for ambulance and fire numbers
- Tipping
- Not expected in cafés; small tips for guides and drivers are usual
- Time
- UTC+0, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCool, clear
- FebruaryCool, clear
- MarchCool, clear
- AprilCool, mild
- MayWarming up
- JuneHot, dusty
- JulyVery hot
- AugustExtreme heat
- SeptemberPeak heat
- OctoberStill hot
- NovemberHeat easing
- DecemberCooling, clear
Right now in Atar
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
24
- Feels like
- 25°
- Humidity
- 55%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 80%
Atar
12:03 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today27°20°80%Tuesday: Rain. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Wed30°20°10%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Thu32°20°4%Thursday: Clear. High 32°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Fri33°21°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 33°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat34°22°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 34°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun34°21°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 34°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 09:07 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 40.52 MRU
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- ChinguettiSeveral hours by 4x4 on pisteAn old mud-brick town on the edge of the Sahara, known for its historic manuscript libraries.
- OuadaneSeveral hours by 4x4 on pisteA fortified old caravan town with ruins on a hill above the desert.
- Terjit oasisA few hours by 4x4 on pisteA palm oasis in a rocky valley, a shady stop on the desert route.
Before you go to Atar
Rules for Atar, checked
- Photographing people, police, soldiers and government buildings needs permission. Ask first and accept a refusal.
- Carry your passport and visa at all times. Checkpoints on desert roads check papers.
- Alcohol is restricted in Mauritania. Do not carry it in or drink it in public.
- During Ramadan, eating and drinking in public in daylight is frowned upon. Check opening hours locally before you go.
Plan around Atar
Cities, desert routes, entry and money
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa before you fly
Read the guideCash and ouguiyaWhy cards fail and what to carry
Read the guidePhones and eSIMSIM registration and signal outside town
Read the guideTours and licensed guidesDesert trips, drivers and what to book first
Read the guideGetting aroundTaxis, 4x4s and long-distance roads
Read the guideAtar FAQ
Is Atar worth visiting?
Yes, as a base for desert trips to Chinguetti, Ouadane and the oases. Give it two to three days, more if you want to walk on the dunes.
How do you get to Atar?
Domestic flights run from Nouakchott, but schedules change, so confirm options with a local operator before you plan. Long desert roads are also covered by 4x4 with a driver.
How many days do you need in Atar?
Three days covers the town and one desert trip. Add days for Chinguetti and Ouadane, which need a 4x4 and long hours on the road.
Do you need a guide in Atar?
For the desert, yes. Book trips beyond town with a licensed operator who handles the driving, the checkpoints and the water.
Can you pay by card in Atar?
Rarely, outside a few hotels. Bring enough cash in euros or dollars and change some into ouguiya.
What should women wear in Atar?
Cover shoulders and knees, and carry a scarf for mosques and the older parts of town.