Dawra - Possibly the middle of nowhere !!!! and other Western Sahara Hotel/Accommodation Reviews

A pleasant surprise to find this campground in what is virtually, the "middle of nowhere".
Luc and Martine, a Belgian couple have been running this place for almost 10 years and provide a very warm welcome. A tent "khaima" costs 125 DH for 2 people and another 45 DH per person extra. A mattress is provided p.p. and blankets can be rented. In January very necessary, as puddles of water outside the tent had ice on them the following morning. Dinner and breakfast can be taken in a huge Berber tent. We had local "foie gras" at 25 DH and camel on dates at 125 Dh for dinner. Luc is a bloody good cook, suffice it to say!!!
On the road from Tarfaya to Laayoune, you'll find some high antennae a few kms after the sign for Dawra. Shortly after there is a sign on your right for the camping. The track is easily negociable and is 4.5 kms to the campsite. I did it with my Renault 5 !!! The antennae on the main road are some 40 kms from Laayoune.

Unique Qualities: Lovely welcome and lovely food.

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Theme: Campground
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 00 212 679 25874
Address: Camping du Desert, BP 830, 70001 Laayoune, Sahara Occidental, Morocco
Directions: Detailed description for directions above.
Website: www.geocities.com/le_roi_bedouin/contact.html
Other Contact: leroibedouin@altern.org

This is not to be confused with the 4* Sahara Rgency which is priced way out of most of our pockets, especially for people on this sort of trip. Here the vast majority of Western Sahara travellers, overlanders, backpackers and such meet up, or can leave messages for others. Very nice and friendly atmosphere. Rooms are clean and not over-noisy. Showers and w.c's are shared but the men's and women's are separated.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Directions: On the main market square, 400 metres on the right after the roundabout where the "Sahara Regency" is.

On my second trip through here, knowing what was waiting for me in places like Boulanoir and Kiffa, in Mauritania, prompted us to splash out on this 4* hotel. Nothing really special, just hot water for showers and a small swimming pool on the roof.
Cost was 820 DH (around 75 euros) for a double room and half pension for 2. Reasonable considering the meals thrown in.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: 00 212 28 93 16 66
Address: avenue El Walae, Dakhla
Directions: Right in the centre of town, just off the main avenue at the first roundabout you come to.
Website: www.sahararegency.com
Other Contact: sahararegency@yahoo.fr

This is not a hotel tip as such, although there are rooms to be had, plus a restaurant, but this is the place for filling up your tank with de-taxed petrol or diesel before crossing into Mauritania. Roughly half the price of European diesel and petrol. Also the last chance of un-leaded before Nouakchott.

Unique Qualities: Please avoid the toilets in the restaurant. Even the rats keep away.....

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Theme: Motel

Directions: 245 kms from Dakhla and 79 kms from the Morocco/Mauritania border. Cannot be missed, just surges up out of nowhere, in the middle of nowhere.