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Country

Morocco (Western Sahara — disputed)

Places1Spots9Schools19Seasonevery monthsomewhere in the countryBeginners1 placewhere a spot record says a beginner can ride

When to go

month by month, from the towns' own wind series

  1. Jan74
  2. Feb74
  3. Mar84
  4. Apr87
  5. May94
  6. Jun87
  7. Jul94
  8. Aug89
  9. Sep95
  10. Oct79
  11. Nov68
  12. Dec65

share of days the windiest town in season is windy

September is the strongest month on this page: Dakhla at 95% of days, from the Oyster Farm / Secret Spot series.

modelled

A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.

Which place is yours

the most spots first

Dakhla9 spots · 19 schools · every monthlagoonflat waterwavesbeginner-friendlybuzzing scene4x4 neededgear rentalmid-range12 min from the airportWorld-class

The cards are in the order of how many spots each place holds. None of them carries a wind score: the atlas scores wind reliability one spot at a time, against a named weather station and the distance to it, and a place that groups several spots has no single station to stand behind one number.The month calendar above is what this page can say about the wind.

The same places as the cards above, by name, in the order this country guide lists them rather than the biggest first.

Destinations

Dakhla

Visa & entry

eu passport90 days visa-free, no fee (2026)
us passport90 days visa-free, no fee (2026, same source)
uk passport90 days visa-free — source specifies this applies to 'British citizens'; status of other British nationality classes (BOTC, BN(O), etc.) not confirmed
notesDakhla is in Western Sahara (disputed territory, administered by Morocco, not recognized internationally as sovereign Moroccan territory by all states); Moroccan visa and passport-control rules apply for entry via Dakhla Airport (VIL) or overland. No separate territorial entry procedure for Western Sahara is published.

Money

currencyMoroccan Dirham (MAD)
card acceptanceReportedly widely accepted in hotels and agencies in the cities; cash (MAD) is the norm for small vendors, taxis and local kite operations in a town the size of Dakhla.
atm networks fees limitsMAD is a closed currency: it cannot legally be imported or exported beyond a MAD 2,000 tolerance for tourists; look for Maestro/Cirrus/Plus logos on ATMs; Al Barid Bank charged no ATM fee as of March 2024, other banks ~MAD 30/withdrawal; small-town ATMs (Dakhla included) may not be refilled over weekends
scams
  • Vendors and porters try to charge for cabin luggage that is actually free to carry aboard: refuse
  • Unofficial street money-changers — use banks/official bureaux de change

SIM & internet

id required for simPassport reportedly required to register a SIM under Moroccan law
notesMaroc Telecom, Orange Maroc and Inwi are the three national operators; their relative coverage in Western Sahara and Dakhla, and eSIM availability there, is unclear for 2026.

Insurance

kite excluded by standard policiesStandard travel and medical policies generally exclude kitesurfing as an 'extreme/watersport' activity unless a specific sports rider is added; this is the general rule across the atlas, not Morocco-specific.

Health

vaccinesAnti-cholera vaccination certificate may be required for visitors arriving from areas where cholera is prevalent; routine vaccines otherwise
mosquito disease seasonsMorocco, including Dakhla, is reportedly malaria-free.

Driving

road safetyDriving under the influence of alcohol is strictly illegal, even after a single drink
4x4 contextsSome access tracks around the Dakhla lagoon and peninsula are reportedly unpaved sand.
police stopsReportedly the route south to Dakhla through Western Sahara passes multiple gendarmerie and police checkpoints, with routine passport checks.

Regulation

protected areasThe Dakhla lagoon and bay reportedly sit within Oued Ed-Dahab National Park, a designated bird reserve.
otherA road sign near Dakhla specifically warns drivers to watch for kitesurfers who sometimes cross or crash near the road

Calendar & costs

holidays moving prices
  • Ramadan shifts about 11 days earlier each year and moves restaurant and shop hours and some transport schedules nationwide; the 2026 dates are unconfirmed.
currencyMAD

Kite bag rules for your airline

Morocco (Western Sahara — disputed)

Type the carrier you are flying: what it charges for a kite bag, and the year of the policy that says so.

Every carrier, with limits and what riders report at the counter →

Open questions

  • What does Royal Air Maroc charge for a kite bag to Dakhla?
  • What do the drone rules allow in Dakhla and Western Sahara?
  • Does Morocco offer a digital nomad visa, does it charge entry or eco taxes, and where does its tax residency day count sit?
  • Which SIM operator has the best coverage at Dakhla, and is eSIM available?
  • What are the emergency phone numbers in Dakhla?

Last updated September 2026