Eye of the Sahara Aerial Expedition - The Richat Structure & Lost Cities of the Mauritanian Desert

Day 1 - Arrival in the Sahara Gateway

• Arrival in Noukachott and drive to Atar (roughly 6 hours), the main gateway to the desert landscapes of northern Mauritania.

• Meet your expedition guides and fellow travelers before transferring to your desert guesthouse.

• Afternoon introduction to the geology and mysteries of the Richat Structure, including the theories linking it to ancient civilizations and the legendary Atlantis hypothesis.

• Sunset walk through the palm groves surrounding the town.

• Dinner and overnight in Atar.

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Day 2 - Flight Over the Eye of the Sahara

• Morning transfer to the airstrip for your first aerial expedition flight.

• Board a light aircraft for a breathtaking early morning flight over the Richat Structure, revealing its enormous concentric rings stretching nearly 40 km across the Sahara for approximately 45 minutes.

• From the air, witness the geological layers and vast desert landscape that make this formation visible even from space.

• After landing, depart by 4x4 into the vast circular landscape of the Richat Structure.

• Drive through the inner rings of the structure and walk across ancient geological formations shaped over hundreds of millions of years.

• Discover fossil beds, desert plateaus and the dramatic terrain of the Sahara.

• Late lunch picnic inside the structure itself.

• Afternoon return to Ouadane before driving toward the UNESCO listed desert city of Chinguetti, one of the most important caravan cities in medieval Saharan trade.

• Dinner and overnight in a traditional desert guesthouse.

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Day 3 - Return to Nouakchott

• Starting the day with a local breakfast before we set off back to Nouakchott.

• Short stop on the way back to relax among palm trees and natural springs surrounded by towering canyon walls.

• Optional short desert walks and morning photography depending on flight times.

• Trip ends.

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​​​* This expedition is scheduled for November 2027, the best time of year to explore the Mauritanian Sahara. During these months the temperatures are far more comfortable than the extreme summer heat, skies are typically clear, and visibility from the air is exceptional, making it the ideal season for scenic flights over the Richat Structure and desert exploration. The cooler conditions also make long 4x4 journeys, oasis visits, and walks through the ancient cities of Chinguetti and Ouadane far more enjoyable. Spaces are limited, 3 seats per flight. We have two plane options in Mauritania:

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 - Small, light aircraft - up to 3 passengers

 - Beechcraft King Air 200 - up to 15 passengers

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We also have the option to depart and fly back to Nouakchott International Airport instead of Atar which means passengers who only want to participate in the flight can be picked up from Nouakchott instead of driving to Atar.

 

POV Travel is the only company operating photography flights over the Richat Structure / flights over the Eye of the Sahara.