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Saara Ocidental.
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Travelling to Saara Ocidental: what to know before you go

Western Sahara is a disputed territory on the Atlantic coast of north-west Africa, administered largely by Morocco, whose final status remains unresolved and is the subject of a long-running UN process. Its landscape is desert meeting ocean: long empty coastlines, dunes and the Dakhla lagoon, a renowned kitesurfing spot. Visitors mostly stay in Laayoune and Dakhla, and tourism infrastructure beyond them is very limited.

Where to go

• Dakhla lagoon. A long, sheltered lagoon on the Atlantic coast with reliable winds for much of the year, making it one of the world's best-known destinations for kitesurfing and windsurfing.
• Dakhla's White Dune and Dragon Island. Inside the lagoon, a bright white sand dune rises beside turquoise water, and the small rocky Dragon Island is visited on boat trips at low tide.
• Dakhla oysters and seafood. Oyster farms in the lagoon supply restaurants in town, alongside fresh fish and octopus from the Atlantic.
• Laayoune. The territory's largest city, a modern administrative centre with wide squares, a large mosque and markets selling Saharan cloth and goods.

Best time to visit

The coast has a mild climate all year, kept cool by the Atlantic, so Dakhla and Laayoune are pleasant in most months. Winds for kitesurfing in Dakhla are strongest and most consistent from roughly April to September, while autumn and winter bring calmer, sunny days.

Staying online in Saara Ocidental

Mobile coverage is good in Laayoune, Dakhla and the other towns, with 4G available in the main urban areas, and coverage is fairly consistent along much of the coastal road. Away from the towns and the main road, signal disappears quickly across the open desert, and kitesurfing camps on the lagoon may have only Wi-Fi. Hotels in Dakhla and Laayoune generally have Wi-Fi. Download offline maps before driving between towns. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.