Tour 14 - The "little" Atlantic Route -
                from Marrakech/Morocco to Dakar/Senegal
 

Fetch back the European summer for a little while! Our trip starts in Marrakech, the city of 1001 nights, We continue along the Atlantic coast to the artist's colony in Essaouira and to the tourist stronghold Agadir. Along the southern Moroccan Atlantic coast with its steep coast, but also secluded beaches, we will drive through the regions of the former Spanish Sahara all the way to Mauritania. We then travel 400 kilometres on the new tarred road through the western part of the Sahara to Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania. The onward journey towards the south takes us through a beautiful region of the Sahel, with dunes that reach all the way to the road. In the delta region of the Senegal River, we will drive through an extremely fertile area and thus reach Senegal. In St. Louis, we experience the old French colonial capital, with its colonial flair, as a lively black African city and stronghold of African jazz. Dakar, the destination of our trip, is the starting point for one last excursion to Gorée, the Island of Slaves.

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Our itinerary and Highlights:

Morocco

Day 1

• Day of arrival. We will camp at a nice site with a swimming pool and restaurant. Here, one can also rent luxury tents (with shower/WC). You can reach the city centre with a 15-minute taxi ride.

Day 2

• Marrakesch is a myth from 1001 nights turned to stone, memorable evenings on the "Place Djamaa el-Fna". This city offers something for everyone. History and culture, lively metropolitan city, busy markets with all imaginable oriental merchandise and goods and quiet gardens and parks.
• In the evening, communal meal on the "Place Djamaa el-Fna"

Day 3

• Essaouira: This Portuguese foundation is known as the most beautiful of Morocco's coastal cities and is now an artists' colony. A true gem.
• There is a lot to see along the road to Agadir. One of the most beautiful coastlines awaits us.
• The area around Tamri was already inhabited in the stone age. There are numerous banana plantations here.
• The region surrounding the villages of Immesouane and Tamanar is renowned for its abundant fossil finds.
• Agadir, famous bathing resort and tourist stronghold. It was fully rebuilt after the terrible earthquake in 1960. The coastal road is characterised by dense traffic, luxurious hotels and government buildings. It takes at least an hour to drive through the city towards the south.

Days 4 - 7

We will travel almost 1,200 kilometres along the wild, lonesome Atlantic coast towards the south. Sometimes we must hike on adventurous paths down the cliffs to reach the ocean, at other times the sandy beach can be reached with our vehicle. Windy - stormy or summery heat. The Atlantic shows itself from all sides. Cities developed here at great distances from one another. Small and sleepy, or evolved into large settlements over the years. A brief visit and a stroll through the streets show us their beauty.

• The thermal springs of Abeinou (40° C), wonderful swimming opportunity! Camp at the springs near El Argoub - ocean lagoons, flamingos, pelicans and camping right at the ocean
• Tarfaya - small fishing village, the high sand dunes in the area are impressive. The pilot and author Antoine de Saint – Exupéry ("The little Prince") was stationed her for a while
• Drive through the former Polisario region
• Laayoune - this formerly somewhat sleepy town grew into a modern metropolis within the last ten years.
• Boujdour, cultivated little town
• Cliff-lined coast, possibility to climb down to the gorgeous sandy beach, swimming opportunity - tropic of Cancer

Days 8 - 10

• 400 kilometres on good tarred roads through the western foothills of the Sahara. Stretches of dunes, or vast even sand surfaces pass us by.
• Border crossing Mauritania / Morocco.

Mauritania

400 km on the new tarred road through the Mauritanian Sahara to Nouakchott, the capital of the country. In the daytime, it is hectic and dusty. Donkey carts and all-terrain vehicles, trucks and taxis running haywire, all creating traffic mayhem.
The city calms down when the sun goes down. The heat of the day dissipates. We will have supper together in one of the many little street restaurants downtown and enjoy the pleasant evening atmosphere

Day 11

• After Nouakchott, we will drive through a very nice region of dunes
• After about 150 km, we will turn onto a new earth road, which takes us through the Diawling National Park.

Day 12

• The journey continues through the fertile alluvial land of the Senegal River to the Senegalese border
• Diama Dam - Border to Senegal

Senegal

• Onward journey through pretty Sahel landscapes characterised by baobabs, towards St. Louis. The beautiful city still has a core in French colonial style. We will stay at a campsite right at the ocean. The former capital and stronghold of jazz today offers you pure Africa day or night!
• Communal supper in St. Louis

Day 13

• Onward journey to Dakar to the district of Yoff. We will camp on a hotel's property, right at the ocean - wonderful sandy beach.

Day 14

• Daytime excursion to the Island of Gorée, the Island of Slaves off the coast from Dakar, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Millions of Africans were held here until they were shipped over to the New World
  In the evening / at night: Return flight to Europe. The airport is only 10 minutes away.

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