- Admire the Dakhla Peninsula: The Dakhla Peninsula is a stunning coastal region known for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and excellent conditions for water sports like windsurfing and kitesurfing.
- Visit the Smara Oasis: Smara Oasis is an enchanting desert oasis located in the heart of Western Sahara. Explore the palm groves, take a refreshing dip in the natural pools, and experience the tranquility of the desert.
- Explore the Aaiun: Aaiun is the largest city in Western Sahara, offering a blend of traditional Saharan culture and modern amenities. Visit the local markets, taste traditional cuisine, and learn about the unique history of the region.
- Discover the Rich History at Laayoune: Laayoune is the capital city of Western Sahara and is home to various historical landmarks. Explore the Spanish colonial architecture, visit the Museo del Sahara to learn about the region’s history, and take a stroll along the beautiful waterfront promenade.
- Experience Sahrawi Culture: Immerse yourself in the vibrant Sahrawi culture by visiting local villages and engaging with the friendly locals. Learn about their traditions, music, and art, and experience the warmth and hospitality of the Sahrawi people.
backpacking Africa
Western Sahara
Explore Uganda
Explore Zambia
Backpacking Western Sahara in 2025
A complete guide for backpacking in Western Sahara with best places to go, best time to visit, what to bring and safety advice.
Visit Western Sahara
Embark on a unique and off-the-beaten-path adventure in Western Sahara, where vast desert landscapes meet the Atlantic coast. Pros? Experience the tranquility of unspoiled dunes, and engage with the nomadic Sahrawi culture. Western Sahara offers a rare escape from the tourist trail. However, limited infrastructure and political complexities may present challenges. For the intrepid backpacker seeking solitude and cultural authenticity, Western Sahara offers a distinctive journey into a lesser-explored corner of the world, where the vast expanses of the desert unfold as a canvas of serenity and mystery.
💡 HighlightsTop-5 things to do in Western Sahara
🌤️ When to go?Best time to go backpacking Western Sahara
The best time to visit Western Sahara for backpacking is during the cooler months, which are from November to March. During this time, temperatures are more comfortable, ranging from 15 to 25 °C (59 to 77 °F). It is also the period with the least amount of rainfall, making it ideal for outdoor activities and exploration. However, it's important to note that Western Sahara is a desert region, so be prepared for hot temperatures during the day, even in the cooler months.
Risk level: medium (50%)Safety advice for Western Sahara
- Terrorism is a risk in Morocco. Tourist areas and public places are possible targets. Be alert to possible threats. Avoid known targets. The risk increases in remote mountain areas, the south and border areas.
- There is currently an increased risk of demonstrations and protests occurring around the country linked to the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. There's an increased threat of attacks against Israel and Israeli interests. Follow the advice from local authorities and monitor media for any updates.
- Large public gatherings and protests can turn violent. Avoid demonstrations. Take care on weekends and around Friday prayers.
- Foreigners are at high risk of serious crime across North Africa. This risk increases in remote areas. Don't hike alone in mountainous or isolated areas. Get professional security advice before travelling to border areas.
- Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, is common. Tourists have been mugged when walking at night. Keep your belongings close. Don't walk in isolated areas or along dark streets at night.
- You may face aggressive begging and harassment, particularly near ATMs. Female travellers may be sexually harassed. Take care when using ATMs. Avoid walking or travelling alone.
- Scams and fraud are common. These include double-charging credit cards and replacing your purchased goods with lower-quality ones. Australians have fallen victim to fake internet friendship, dating and marriage schemes in Morocco.
source: smartraveller.gov.au
source: www.gov.uk
Western SaharaMy tips to get you on the way!Does Western Sahara sound like your next backpacking destination? Use these steps to get you on the way.
Get inspiration 📚
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
Prepare your trip ✅
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Western Sahara. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Western Sahara may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Western Sahara. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Western Sahara may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Book your flight ✈️
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Western Sahara, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Western Sahara, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
Book your first night(s) 🛌
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
My personal packing list 🎒
.jpg)
Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.
Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Moneybelt
[Amazon]
“Best way to carry your important documents”
Quick dry pant
[Amazon]
“Nothing beats these quick dry and light pants when traveling”
Light rain jacket
[Amazon]
“Hiking in rainy season? These keep you dry”
Thermo underwear
[Amazon]
“Less weight and volume than bulky sweaters or jackets”
Quick dry towel
[Amazon]
“Normal towels get smelly and heavy when traveling”
Power bank
[Amazon]
“Pick a small and light one, with 10.000mAh or more”
Travel adapter
[Amazon]
“Needed as each country has its own electricity plugs”
Number lock
[Amazon]
“No chance of losing your key; handy for lockers in dormitories”
Packing cubes
[Amazon]
“Keep your wet or dirty clothes separate from the rest”
Travel pillow
[Amazon]
“Light and great for flights and long bus journeys”
last page update: 25 September 2024