Dakhla in Practice

In order to best anticipate and organise your holiday in Dakhla, you will find below important practical information to guide you before your departure.

How to get to Dakhla?

The easiest way to travel to Dakhla is by plane, while the development of the railway network in the region is still under way.

Dakhla has an international airport that welcomes 3 weekly flights from Paris, 2 from Madrid and several from the Canary Islands (Lanzarote and Gran Canaria). Daily flights from Casablanca also arrive at this airport: depending on your city of departure, connecting routes are available several times a week or even every day.

The main airlines serving Dakhla are Royal Air Maroc, Transavia and Ryan Air.

Where to stay in Dakhla?

Dakhla is an ideal destination offering accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. Whatever your criteria or needs, you will find a hotel, a guesthouse or an apartment to rent that fits perfectly.

You can choose to stay by the lagoon, close to the kite spots, or in the city of Dakhla itself, depending on your preferences and your holiday itinerary.

When to visit Dakhla?

For lovers of water sports, the best period to visit Dakhla runs from March to November, when temperatures are mild and winds are steady, ideal for practising sail-based sports.

Nevertheless, Dakhla enjoys a pleasant climate all year round: even in winter, temperatures generally fluctuate between 18°C and 24°C, making it an attractive destination in every season. Wind statistics are less favourable in winter, but with wind blowing 300 days a year in Dakhla, it is unlikely that you will miss out entirely on water sports activities during your stay, whatever time of year you visit.

For those who simply wish to enjoy the desert and the breathtaking landscapes of Dakhla, it is possible to come at any time of year.

As for surf enthusiasts, they will prefer the wave season, which runs from November to March.

In short, there is no bad time to visit Dakhla - it all depends on the holiday programme you have in mind.

What to pack for Dakhla?

To make the most of your stay in Dakhla, prepare a suitcase suited to a mild, sunny climate as well as to the wind and water-based activities.

The essentials to pack are lightweight clothes for the daytime, jumpers or a windproof jacket, warm clothing for cooler evenings, a swimsuit, sandals for the beach and comfortable shoes for activities.

Important accessories include sunglasses, a cap or hat, high-protection sun cream and lip balm. If you are planning to take part in water sports, remember to bring a beach towel or a poncho, a strap for your glasses and possibly a water bottle.

What practical information should you know before travelling?

It is compulsory to travel with a passport that has a validity of more than 6 months upon entry into Morocco. Whether you need to apply for a visa depends on your nationality, but for most European countries, travellers may enter Morocco without a visa for a maximum period of 90 days.
There are no particular health requirements to observe in Morocco and no compulsory vaccinations. The main recommendation is to drink bottled water.
It is advisable to travel with a first-aid kit containing essential medicines (analgesics, anti-inflammatories, anti-diarrhoeals, anti-emetics…) although most medicines are available at local pharmacies.
The local currency is the dirham. 1 euro is generally worth between 10 and 11 MAD, depending on exchange rate fluctuations. Several currency exchange offices are present in the city of Dakhla, as well as numerous ATMs.
The spoken language is Darija, a variant of classical Arabic unique to Morocco. The language native to this region of the Sahara is Hassanya. Many people also speak French, English or Spanish.
The 3 major telephone companies operating in Morocco are Maroc Telecom, Orange and Inwi. The price of a SIM card in Dakhla generally ranges between 15 and 20 MAD, and 1 GB costs approximately 10 Dhs. It can be advantageous to purchase a physical SIM card upon your arrival, though the e-SIM option is also available.