Western Sahara travel guide
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.
Places worth the trip
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. Flat water inside the lagoon suits beginners and freestyle riders.
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. Flamingos and other wading birds feed on the mudflats.
Dakhla oysters and seafood
Oyster farms in the lagoon supply restaurants in town, alongside fresh fish and octopus from the Atlantic. Tasting oysters at a farm on the lagoon shore is a popular outing.
Laayoune
The territory's largest city, a modern administrative centre with wide squares, a large mosque and markets selling Saharan cloth and goods. Foum el Oued beach lies on the coast nearby.
The Atlantic coast road
The main road runs south along the coast from Laayoune through Boujdour, with its lighthouse, to Dakhla and on towards Mauritania, passing dramatic cliffs, fishing camps and long stretches of empty desert.
Sahrawi culture
The Sahrawi people have a nomadic heritage. Tea is served in three rounds, each with a different strength and sweetness, often in a khaima (tent). Women wear the colourful melhfa, a long draped cloth, and Hassaniya poetry and music remain important.
Smara
An inland town founded in the late 19th century by the religious leader Ma al-Aynayn, whose zawiya (religious complex) remains, set in a stony desert landscape.
Interesting facts about Western Sahara
- Western Sahara was a Spanish colony, known as Spanish Sahara, until Spain withdrew in 1975 and 1976.
- The United Nations lists Western Sahara as a Non-Self-Governing Territory, and a UN mission, MINURSO, has been present since 1991.
- A conveyor belt around 100 kilometres long carries phosphate rock from the Bou Craa mine to the coast near Laayoune, and is often described as one of the longest in the world.
- Hassaniya, the Arabic dialect spoken by the Sahrawi people, is also spoken across Mauritania and parts of neighbouring countries.
- Dakhla sits on a narrow peninsula, roughly 40 kilometres long, between the Atlantic and the lagoon.
Best time to visit Western Sahara
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. Inland, summer is very hot and winters can be cold at night. Sandstorms can occur at any time of year.
Getting around
Most visitors fly into Laayoune or Dakhla, which have domestic connections and some international flights. Long-distance buses run along the coastal road between the main towns and north into Morocco. Hiring a car or a driver allows trips along the coast. Police checkpoints are common on the roads, so keep your passport handy. Parts of the interior are restricted military zones and contain unexploded ordnance, so stay on main roads and follow local guidance. Check your government's travel advice before you go.
Practical details
- Capital
- Laayoune (largest city); the territory's status, including its capital, is disputed
- Currency
- Moroccan dirham (MAD) in the areas administered by Morocco
- Languages
- Hassaniya Arabic, Standard Arabic, Spanish and French (also spoken)
- Plug types
- C, E
- Voltage
- 220 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency
- In Moroccan-administered areas: 19 police, 15 fire and ambulance, 177 gendarmerie
- Driving side
- right
- Tipping
- Small tips for guides, drivers and restaurant staff are appreciated.
Staying online in Western Sahara
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.
Western Sahara eSIM plans
1 GB
1GB eSIM Data for 7 Days for Western Sahara
Ilimitado
Unlimited Standard eSIM Data for 1 Day for Western Sahara
2 GB
2GB eSIM Data for 15 Days for Western Sahara
3 GB
3GB eSIM Data for 30 Days for Western Sahara
Useful apps
- Google Maps: Navigating Dakhla and Laayoune; download offline maps for the long coastal drives.
- Windy: Wind forecasts for kitesurfing and windsurfing sessions on the Dakhla lagoon.
- Google Translate: Arabic, French and Spanish translation, with offline packs.
- WhatsApp: Commonly used to contact surf camps, guides and drivers.
Western Sahara travel FAQs
It is a disputed territory. Most of it is administered by Morocco, its final status is unresolved, and a UN-led process has been under way for decades. This guide takes no position on the dispute.
In Dakhla, Laayoune and other towns, yes, and along much of the coastal road. In the desert interior there is little or no signal. A travel eSIM gives you data in the towns; check that your plan covers the territory before you travel.
Yes. The flat, shallow water of the lagoon and steady winds make it a good place to learn, and many camps offer lessons and equipment hire.
Most visitors fly to Dakhla or Laayoune, or travel overland along the coast road from Morocco. Check your government's travel advice and current entry requirements before you go.