Dakhla 175 8
Goulimime 155 7
Marrakesh 270 14
Tan Tan 120 4½
Tiznit 190 9
Supratours Offline map (Place Oum Essad) and SATAS Offline map (Blvd de Mekka) have
similar daily services, respectively costing more and the same or marginally less.
Taxi
Red and white petits taxis charge about Dh5 to take you across town, including to the following
grand-taxi stations, which are scattered around the city.
North Grands taxis leave from ‘Place Tan Tan’, about 1.5km east of Place Hassan II along Ave
Hassan II, for Tan Tan (Dh120), Goulimime (Dh150) and Inezgane (for Agadir; Dh200).
South Grands taxis depart from ‘Place Boujdour’ in the southern suburbs to Boujdour (Dh75)
and Dakhla (Dh175).
Dakhla (ad-Dakhla)
POP 40,000
Established by the Spanish in 1844 and formerly called Villa Cisneros, Dakhla lies just north of
the Tropic of Cancer on a sandy peninsula, stretching out 40km from the main coastline. It’s a
very lonely 500km drive from Laâyoune (more than 1000km from Agadir) through endless
hammada . After so many hours on the road, it is tempting to imagine that you are arriving at
the end of the earth. It is certainly the end of Morocco, or at least the last major settlement,
closer to Nouâdhibou (Mauritania) than Laâyoune.
And yet Dakhla feels less remote than many southern towns, and certainly more prosperous
with a selection of good hotels and restaurants. The whitewashed, arcaded streets are a little
soulless, but refreshing after some of the rundown backwaters to the north. Although Western
Saharan tensions lurk under the carefree, sea-breeze surface – fishing rights are a touchpaper
between the Saharawi and Moroccan settlers – Dakhla’s inhabitants appear relatively modern
and progressive. Men in overcoats and dapper, white-gloved policemen are as common as
robes and melhaf .
Money continues to find its way along the peninsula, with investments made by the Moroccan
government and developers, and workers tempted from the north. New apartment blocks
stretch the town boundaries, the huge port is home to Morocco’s largest fishing fleet, and the
French campervan set is fond of wintering here.
Dakhla is reasonably easy to get around; hotels, cafes, bus offices and most of the main
facilities are within walking distance of each other in the centre.
Sights & Activities
There is a ruined 19th-century Spanish fort next to the black-and-white lighthouse east of the
airport. Otherwise it’s out into the desert for some four-wheel driving, or down to the beach to
windsurf, kitesurf, paraglide or go fishing. Hotels can help arrange these activities, and
operators include the following: