Western Sahara

Bordering Morocco to the north, Algeria and Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara covers roughly 266,000 km². Laayoune is the largest city and administrative centre. Arabic and Hassaniya Arabic are the dominant languages, and the Moroccan dirham is widely used in Morocco-administered areas. The territory's status remains unresolved under international law, with Morocco controlling most of it while the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is recognised by some states.

Most travellers enter Western Sahara through Morocco, using Moroccan entry requirements as the practical gateway. Many nationalities can enter Morocco — and by extension the Moroccan-controlled zones — visa-free for short stays. Travellers should consult their government's travel advisory, as entry conditions and diplomatic sensitivities vary significantly by nationality and the territory's disputed status complicates standard consular guidance.

The dramatic dunes around Laayoune offer raw desert scenery largely unmarked by mass tourism. Dakhla, on a narrow Atlantic peninsula, is well regarded for kitesurfing on its lagoon due to near-constant trade winds. The ancient caravan town of Smara contains the ruins of a zawiya — a religious complex — built in the early twentieth century and of historical significance to the Sahrawi people. The remote coastline south of Dakhla remains one of the least-visited Atlantic shores on the continent.

The climate is hot desert throughout, with coastal areas moderated by cold Atlantic currents. Inland temperatures can reach 45 °C in summer; coastal Dakhla typically stays between 18 °C and 28 °C year-round. Winters are mild, with inland temperatures dropping to around 10–15 °C at night. The most comfortable period for travel is October through April. Sandstorms occur periodically; packing eye protection and a dust-proof bag layer is advisable.

• One of the world's last major unresolved territorial disputes.
• Bou Craa holds one of Earth's largest phosphate deposits.
• The Sahrawi people maintain a distinct Hassaniya Arabic dialect.
• Dakhla lagoon is a globally ranked kitesurfing destination.
• Western Sahara has no universally recognised government.

• minurso.unmissions.org — UN mission overseeing the ceasefire and referendum process
• marokko.ma — official Moroccan government portal covering administered territories
• visitmorocco.com — Morocco's national tourism board, includes Laayoune and Dakhla
• meteo.gov.ma — Moroccan national meteorological service covering the region