How to get to Mauritania: airports, flights and border crossings

Use this table to pick your entry point, then book. Flight times are typical elapsed times including one stop, not nonstop services; almost nothing reaches Mauritania nonstop from the US, UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

First, fix your visa. Mauritania moved to an online e-visa and there is no visa on arrival since January 2025, so apply before you buy a ticket you cannot use. See the visa page for the current form, fee and processing time.

Second, choose the airport. Nouakchott–Oumtounsy (NKC) is the only realistic gateway for a first trip: it has the most airline options and the shortest transfer to the Adrar loop via Atar. Nouadhibou (NDB) is worth the extra connection only if the iron-ore train or the northern coast is your main reason for coming.

Third, book the flight. Expect at least one stop. Common hubs are Casablanca, Paris, Istanbul and Dakar; some travellers route through Bamako or Abidjan. Fares swing widely by season, so compare a few dates rather than a single one.

Fourth, plan the arrival. Nouakchott airport is outside the city, so arrange a hotel transfer or a licensed driver before you land rather than negotiating at midnight. Carry euros for exchange; the ouguiya is not easy to buy abroad. Buy a local SIM or eSIM at the airport or in town if you need data.

Fifth, if you are coming overland, build in a buffer day. The Guerguerat crossing from Western Sahara and the Rosso crossing from Senegal both involve paperwork, informal payments and long waits, and the Senegal River route can be slow in the wet season.

Fares, schedules and border rules shift. Treat every time and price here as a 2026 estimate and re-check with the airline, your embassy and a local operator close to departure.

Land entry is possible but not quick. From Morocco you cross at Guerguerat after the long drive down Western Sahara; from Senegal the main crossings are at Rosso and Diama. Both can close or slow without notice, and you should confirm your nationality's rules for the transit country as well as for Mauritania.

There is no useful sea passenger route for tourists; the port at Nouadhibou handles cargo, not scheduled passenger ferries. If you are arriving by your own vehicle, check customs and insurance requirements in advance.

Travel insurance matters here: medical facilities outside Nouakchott are limited, and evacuation cover is worth the cost. See the travel insurance topic for what to look for.