In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Mauritania
Choum
Stop in Choum to board the iron‑ore train; plan only a few hours, no overnight stay needed.
Choum is a tiny railway halt in the Adrar desert with a single attraction – the iron‑ore train – and virtually no services. A brief visit of a few hours is enough; bring water, sun protection and sleeping gear if you plan to camp.
- Country
- Mauritania
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (extreme heat)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MRU
- Money
- Currency is the Mauritanian ouguiya (MRU), redenominated in 2018 (1 new = 10 old; prices are sometimes still quoted in old ouguiya). Cards are accepted in very few places outside a handful of Nouakchott hotels; bring euros in cash to exchange.
- Daily spend
- Budget MRU 200–300 (water, food, minimal supplies) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Mauritel, Mattel and Chinguitel sell SIMs in Nouakchott; passport needed.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 18
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 220 V · 50 Hz · Generators in desert auberges; bring a power bank.
- Tipping
- Driver or guide day: €5–10.; Cook on desert trip: €3–5 a day.
- Water
- Bottled only.
- Toilets
- Basic in auberges; the desert is the toilet on 4x4 days.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Minibus fare Choum → Atar | MRU 200 |
| Bottled water (1 L) | MRU 30–50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ATR · Atar Airport
- about 150 km (93 mi) south, reachable by minibusabout 93 mi (150 km) south, reachable by minibus
Typical fares
- Ore train Choum → Nouadhibou
- about MRU 1,500 per passenger (check schedule)
- Minibus Choum → Atar
- about MRU 200 per person
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
On foot; the settlement is a cluster of shacks within walking distance.
See and do
Known for
- Iron‑ore train stop
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Atar | Minibus from Choum, about 150 km (93 mi) south on paved roadMinibus from Choum, about 93 mi (150 km) south on paved road | ≈3 h |
| Nouadhibou (iron‑ore train destination) | Board the ore train from Choum; travel north‑west to the coast | ≈6 h |
Sleep
- None (sleep in your own gear)
- Bring a sleeping bag and mat; the ground is rocky and there are no hotels.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | سلامsalaam |
| Water | ماءmaa |
| How much? | كم الثمن؟kam al-thaman? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Tea: Accept all three glasses; avoid: Leaving before the third
- Dress: Cover arms and legs; avoid: Shorts in towns
- Hands: Right hand to eat and pass; avoid: Left hand
- Gender: Wait for women to offer a hand; avoid: Touching unrelated women
Scams and watch-outs
- Daytime temperatures exceed 40 °C in summer; carry at least 4 L water per person.
- No phone, mobile or internet coverage; arrange emergency contact before arrival.
- No shops or medical facilities; bring all supplies, including vitamin pills.
Choum is remote with no services; the main risks are heat, dehydration and lack of communication – prepare thoroughly.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Choum yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Iron‑ore train stop
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Choum coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Choum, revision 5081032 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5081032
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/choum). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.