Hotel Atar

Hotel Atar is the leading hotel in Atar, the principal town of Mauritania's Adrar region and the main service point for travellers exploring the plateau's ancient desert cities. The hotel's central location puts it within walking distance of the weekly souk, money-changers, and the taxi-brousse station where 4x4 vehicles depart for Chinguetti, Ouadane, and the Terjit oasis. The Adrar plateau surrounds the town on all sides, with the dramatic Amogjar Pass — a steep rocky gorge known for prehistoric rock paintings — beginning approximately 20 kilometres to the north-east. Hotel Atar is the most comfortable accommodation in the region, housed in a low-rise building with thick stone walls that moderate the desert heat. Air conditioning is available in all rooms, distinguishing the property from the guesthouses and campements that make up most of Atar's accommodation stock. Rooms include private bathrooms with hot water, satellite television, and proper beds with quality linen; superior rooms offer additional space. A restaurant on the ground floor serves Mauritanian and French-influenced dishes; the kitchen runs breakfast, lunch, and dinner services and is used by day visitors as well as hotel guests. The hotel's courtyard provides shade during the afternoon peak heat. Staff at the front desk arrange 4x4 hire, licensed tour guides for the Adrar circuit, camel-trek bookings, and transport to and from Atar International Airport, which serves limited weekly connections from Nouakchott. The property accepts both cash and card payments, and the front desk can sometimes assist with currency exchange for visitors arriving with euros.