Amogjar Pass

The Amogjar Pass is the dramatic gorge where the main track drops from the Adrar plateau down towards the town of Atar. The rock walls rise steeply on both sides, and ancient rock carvings and inscriptions can be found throughout the gorge — some dating back thousands of years. This was one of the main crossing points of the Saharan trade routes.

The pass is about 15km from Atar on the road north. It can be visited as a short excursion from town, on foot or by vehicle. The walk through the gorge takes one to two hours. In the early morning the light in the pass is exceptional and the ancient rock art is at its most visible. Bring water; even in winter the sun in a rocky gorge is strong.

things to do sight
A story
The pass was a critical point on the trans-Saharan caravan route between Mauritania and Morocco for over a thousand years. Caravans of hundreds of camels loaded with salt, gold, and slaves crossed here on the journey north. Rock inscriptions in the pass walls record the passage of caravans and include some of the earliest Tifinagh script found in the region.