Dakhla, Western Sahara
Dakhla sits on a roughly 40 km peninsula in Western Sahara that forms the Bay of Rio de Oro (Oued Eddahab), where Atlantic lagoon waters meet Saharan desert. More about Dakhla →
Cruise Ships in Dakhla
No ships are scheduled in Dakhla yet
New calls appear here as cruise lines publish them.
Getting to the Dakhla cruise port
Boulevard Mohammed V / Dakhla town center → Dakhla Port (Nouveau port)
7 km · 10–15 min by car
Short road trip from the main town avenue to the Nouveau port commercial/fishing complex on the bay. Taxis are the practical option for cruise passengers; walking is about 6.5 km and roughly 90 minutes, so not realistic with limited shore time.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Driving to the port
ANP notes road access via national road RD 1 and air access at Dakhla Airport about 5 km from the port. Airport routes were not researched for this port-of-call profile.
Eating in Dakhla
- Coffee per item
- MAD 12–30
Primary currency is Moroccan Dirham (MAD); cash is widely needed for cafes, taxis and smaller restaurants. Only coffee met the three-menu rule; other meal prices omitted.
Where to eat
Boulevard Mohammed V / town center
Main waterfront avenue with cafes and restaurants (including Samarkand and nearby spots) used by visitors in town.
Ave Al Walae cafe strip
Specialty coffee area including MARH Coffee Roasters, useful for a quick espresso stop ashore.
Dakhla lagoon / South Bay
Lagoon-side hotels and kite camps with restaurants such as Le Cactus at Dakhla South Bay; farther from the commercial port than town center.
About Dakhla
Dakhla sits on a roughly 40 km peninsula in Western Sahara that forms the Bay of Rio de Oro (Oued Eddahab), where Atlantic lagoon waters meet Saharan desert. Formerly Villa Cisneros, the town is a fishing and watersports hub known for kitesurfing, windsurfing and surfing on lagoon and ocean beaches, plus flamingo and other birdlife around the bay.
Tourism boards highlight Porto Rico and Foum El Bouir beaches, Dragon Island (Herne), oyster parks and desert side trips such as the Sebkha d’Imlili and Asmaa hot spring. Cruise calls remain limited but scheduled overnight stops appear on current West Africa itineraries. Visitors find a compact Atlantic Sahara town rather than a large resort city. Check the ship schedule for upcoming calls.
- Climate
- Dakhla sits where Atlantic lagoon shores meet Saharan desert on a southern peninsula. Visit Morocco (ONMT) describes a mild, sunny climate along this Atlantic Sahara coast that supports visits year-round.
- Time zone
- Western European Time
- Currency
- Moroccan Dirham (MAD)