Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab · Western Sahara
Dakhla travel guide
Dakhla is a city in Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Western Sahara, home to about 165,000 people.
- Best months
- November to April
- Nearest airport
- VIL2 km · Dakhla Airport
- Currency
- MADMoroccan dirham
- Time zone
- Africa/El Aaiun
- Language
- Arabic
Things to do
What to see and do in Dakhla
See
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
Do
There are windsurfing and quad driving opportunities north of Dakhla. Inquire locally. A kite shop next to the Supratours office at the waterfront is helpful with all the necessary info. You can wind and kitesurf on both the western (ocean) and eastern (lagoon) side of the peninsula. You will hardly see anyone around during daytime, but don't worry, Dakhla, like most other cities in the area, comes to life after sunset.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Dakhla to stay in
There are plenty of budget hotels clustered around the city centre. Due to military presence, most only have twin rooms and you will pay almost the same price if you are alone. Twin rooms usually cost 150 dirham (2023). Prices, as always, are negotiable. There are a few campsites by the road to the north of Dakhla. Camping Moussafir is a popular spot with overlanders, and is located just south of the first checkpoint out of town.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Dakhla
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Dakhla are November to April. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; December is the wettest, with about 13 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Dakhla: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Dakhla Airport (VIL), about 1.8 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
The city centre is small enough to navigate on foot. Should you want to head further out, petits taxis abound and are metered.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
VIL · Dakhla Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Dakhla
Eat
Many patisseries offer cheap pastry. The restaurant at Sahara Regency hotel has decent European food, though the choice is limited and it is not always fresh. There are also numerous eateries in town.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Dakhla: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Dakhla?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Dakhla are November to April. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; December is the wettest, with about 13 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Dakhla?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Dakhla Airport (VIL), about 1.8 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Dakhla?
Moroccan dirham (MAD).
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.