Dakhla is a mesmerizing city on the Atlantic coast of the Sahara, stretched along a 40-kilometer sandy peninsula that embraces one of the most beautiful lagoons on Earth: a calm turquoise expanse separating the gold of the desert from the blue of the ocean. Founded in 1884 as Villa Cisneros during the Spanish era, it has become one of the world's top destinations for kitesurfing and windsurfing, thanks to steady winds and warm, shallow waters all year round.
Its most famous sights include the iconic White Dune (Dune Blanche), which slides straight into the lagoon; Dragon Island, whose path is revealed at low tide; the natural hot springs of Asmaa; and the mysterious Imlili sebkha with its salty pools and their astonishing fish. Dakhla is also renowned for its premium oyster farms and fresh seafood, while pink flamingos and dolphins accompany visitors to the lagoon throughout the year.
Dakhla is the great overland gateway between Morocco and Mauritania via the Guerguerat crossing — and the perfect starting point for our Saharan adventures toward Nouadhibou, the Adrar and the iron ore train.