Dakhla Desert Meets Ocean — Lagoon and Atlantic Adventure

Your day begins with a pickup directly from your hotel or camp in Dakhla — one of the most extraordinary and otherworldly destinations in all of Morocco, a long narrow peninsula jutting into a vast turquoise lagoon at the southern edge of the Western Sahara, where the desert meets the ocean in a landscape unlike anything else on earth.

Your dedicated local driver and tour companion will take you on a full day exploration of the Dakhla peninsula and its surrounding landscapes — a journey through one of the most remote, beautiful and unspoiled corners of North Africa.

The morning begins at the Dakhla lagoon — the heart and soul of this extraordinary destination. The lagoon stretches for over 40 km along the eastern side of the peninsula, its shallow turquoise waters separated from the open Atlantic by a thin strip of golden sand. The combination of consistent wind, flat water and warm temperatures has made Dakhla one of the world's premier kitesurfing and windsurfing destinations, attracting wave riders from around the globe every year. Whether you are an experienced kitesurfer, a complete beginner or simply someone who wants to stand at the edge of this extraordinary body of water and take it all in, the lagoon is one of those places that immediately makes you understand why people travel to the ends of the earth.

Your companion will take you to the best viewpoints over the lagoon — the dunes above the western shore where you can see the full sweep of the turquoise water against the golden desert — and introduce you to the kitesurfing community that has made Dakhla its home. If you wish to try kitesurfing or windsurfing, your companion can arrange a lesson or session with one of the trusted local schools on the day at an additional cost.

From the lagoon your companion drives you to the Atlantic side of the peninsula — a completely different world from the sheltered lagoon, where the full force of the open ocean crashes against wild beaches of extraordinary beauty. You will walk the Atlantic shore, feel the power of the waves and understand why this stretch of coast is considered one of the most dramatic and untamed in all of Africa.

Your companion will then take you to explore the town of Dakhla itself — a fascinating and unique community at the meeting point of Moroccan and Saharan culture, where the influence of the Western Sahara's nomadic Sahrawi people gives the city a character completely unlike any other Moroccan town. Your companion will share the history and the remarkable story of this remote city — its colonial past, its complex political present and the extraordinary natural wealth of its surrounding waters, which are among the most productive fishing grounds in the world.

Lunch is at one of the wonderful fish restaurants or lagoon-side cafes in or around Dakhla — your companion will recommend the best spots for the freshest fish, grilled seafood and local Sahrawi specialities — lunch is at your own expense.

The afternoon takes you south of the city to the most dramatic desert-meets-ocean landscapes of the peninsula — where bare Saharan dunes roll directly into the Atlantic surf, creating a juxtaposition of landscapes so extraordinary that it feels almost impossible. Your companion will take you to the best viewpoints and give you time to walk, explore and simply be present in one of the most remote and beautiful places in Morocco.

Your companion then drives you back to your hotel or camp in Dakhla as the sun begins to set over the lagoon — one of the most beautiful sunsets in all of Morocco, the turquoise water turning to gold and then deep rose as the day comes to an end.