About Dakhla

About Dakhla

Dakhla, the gateway to the Sahara, is a unique little town perched on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic. A mishmash of sea and land, north and south, town and wilderness, comfort and adventure, there is no where quite like it.


Sea

While the Atlantic crashes into the west side of the peninsula (creating some incredible surf), the eastern side couldn’t be more different. Dakhla bay is 40km of calm waters, gentle breeze and azure sea. Full of life, exploring the bay can mean encountering flamingos, schools of fish, and dolphins if you’re really lucky. The oyster farms, dunes, kite camps, beaches and restaurants spread along its shores, look out onto the desert island at it’s heart.

To fully enjoy the sea, we offer a range of trips and sailing opportunities, but there are also numerous other local opportunities to get your feet wet. There are a range of kite and surf schools, but we’d also recommend checking out La Sarga the incredible beach at the very end of the peninsula, the expansive Oum Lbouir beach on the Atlantic side, and the beautiful (and sheltered) Boutalha cove that opens out onto the bay.


Desert

Outside of the town lies one of the last true great stretches of wildness in the world. You don’t have to go far before the Sahara desert fills every horizon. Local 4×4 drivers will happily take you see the sights, including the salt-water pools of Imilli, the White Dune, and the vast Peurto Rico beach on the far side of Dakhla Bay. The wildlife is also pretty unique, the desert playing home to the dorcas gazelle, sand cats and the golden jackal, with the intrepid Dakhla Rovers offering wildlife tours from the town and surrounding areas.

Do feel free to contact us if you’d like more information or to be put in touch with any of these local businesses.


Food

The food of Dakhla is an incredible melting pot of dishes from up and down the north-west coast of Africa. Everything from the Senegalese-Mauritanian rice and fish to Moroccan couscous and tagine. But that’s not all, Dakhla itself is a centre for fishing for the region, so if you like sea food this is the town for you. Numerous oyster and mussel farms are just a short drive out of town, and offer them freshly caught on their menus for just a few dirhams each. The fish markets in town also have a massive range of sea food to choose from, and the seafood restaurants will serve lobster, calamari and local corbin, all fresh, of course. Not to mention the expat community offering French, Italian and Spanish food.

Contact us for more information and recommendations.


Culture

Although at first glance your classic Moroccan town, following the north in terms of architecture and language, look a little closer and you start to see elements of the nomadic desert culture peeking through too. Streets will often end up blocked off by tents, men stride around in flowing dir’ahs and women their sport bright, colourful sari-like malafas. It is not unusual to spot a camel, munching on a shrub at the side of the road! Mixed in with this again, are remnants of the old Spanish colonial period. An odd wall here or building there breaking up the blocks of shops, and apartments, giving Dakhla a distinct character.


Getting Here

If you are coming internally from Morocco Air Arabia and Royal Air Maroc offer very cheap flights. In France Transavia offer flights from €69 from Paris. In Spain Binter offer flights from €85 from Las Palmas. And for almost everywhere else Royal Air Maroc offer many connections via Casablanca airport and AirArabia via Marakech.

Transport to and from our base from your hotel or residence is available at small cost when you book with us.