Chinguetti

Chinguetti, deep in the Adrar desert of Mauritania, is one of the most evocative and remarkable places in the Sahara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an ancient town that was once a great crossroads of the caravan trade and a renowned centre of Islamic scholarship, revered as one of the holy cities of Islam. Founded in the medieval era, its atmospheric old quarter of dry-stone and mud houses, crowned by a famous square-towered old mosque, is slowly being reclaimed by the encroaching dunes. Its greatest treasures are the ancient family libraries, which still guard priceless illuminated Qurans and scientific and religious manuscripts centuries old.

What you actually see

• The old mosque - the famous square-towered medieval mosque.
• The ancient libraries - the priceless medieval manuscripts.
• The old town - the dry-stone quarter half-buried in sand.
• The encroaching dunes - the desert reclaiming the town.

When to go

November to February, the cooler winter months, for bearable desert temperatures, as the Sahara is scorching for much of the year; even in winter, days are warm and nights cold. The town is reached by a journey to Atar, usually by air or road, and then a desert drive, ideally with a guide who can arrange access to the private libraries.

Honest expectations

As an atmospheric, ancient Saharan library town of extraordinary history, half-buried in the dunes, guarding priceless manuscripts, though, Chinguetti is a genuinely evocative and remarkable destination.

Nearby

The town of Atar, the oases of Terjit and the ancient town of Ouadane are within reach.