4 days
from $1,300
Essential Mauritania: Iron Ore Train
Nouakchott, Atar, the Terjit oasis and a night aboard the world's longest iron ore train.
View itineraryAdrar Region, Mauritania
Choum — Where You Board the Iron Ore Train
A tiny desert junction, a two-kilometre colonial tunnel, and the boarding point for the longest train in the world.
Why travellers come to Choum
Choum is a small town in the Adrar region of northern Mauritania, and for anyone who wants to ride the iron ore train it is the single most important place on the map. It sits roughly halfway along the railway between the mines at Zouérat and the Atlantic port of Nouadhibou, and it is the closest point on the line to Atar, the Terjit oasis and Chinguetti — which is why almost every guided desert train trip boards here.
The town itself is tiny: a scatter of low buildings, a few shops and tea places, and an enormous horizon. What makes it remarkable is the railway. French engineers drove a two-kilometre tunnel through granite near Choum so the line could avoid what was then Spanish-controlled territory, and the trains have been running through it since the 1960s.
How to get to Choum
Choum is reached by road from Atar across the Adrar plateau — a desert drive of roughly two to three hours in a 4x4, depending on the track and the weather. On our iron ore train tours we drive from the Terjit oasis or Atar in the afternoon so you arrive with time to spare, eat before boarding, and meet the train in daylight.
There is no fixed public timetable: the ore train is a freight service, and its arrival shifts from day to day. A local operator with contacts along the line is the practical way to be in the right place at the right time, rather than waiting at the tracks for an unknown number of hours.
Boarding the desert train at Choum
- Trains are met in the late afternoon or evening, and you ride overnight to Nouadhibou
- Most travellers ride on top of the iron ore in an open wagon — the classic experience
- A passenger carriage is sometimes attached to the train, but it cannot be relied on
- Warm layers, a headscarf against the dust, a headlamp, water and a sleeping mat make the night far more comfortable
- Your guide handles the boarding, stays with you through the night and gets you off safely at the coast
Choum in Photos
Choum: Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly do you board the iron ore train?
Most travellers board at Choum, the desert junction closest to Atar and the Adrar. You can also board at Nouadhibou or at Zouérat at the mining end of the line.
How far is Choum from Atar?
Choum is roughly a two to three hour drive from Atar by 4x4 across the Adrar plateau. Our tours include the transfer.
Is there a timetable for the train at Choum?
No fixed public timetable. It is a freight train, so times move. Our guides track the train and time the transfer so your wait is short.
Mauritania Tours That Visit Choum
6 days
from $1,500
Iron Ore Train & Banc d'Arguin
The full iron ore train expedition, extended with two days in the Banc d'Arguin National Park.
View itineraryMore places to discover in Mauritania
Tailor-made trips
Want a tour built around you?
Every itinerary here can be changed: your own dates, a private departure for your family or friends, more days in the desert, or extras like the Eye of the Sahara and Ouadane. Tell us what you want to see and we will design it.