★ 2 · last edited Dec 11, 2019
Route to Mauritania
Location verified location
Route to Mauritania
Open the interactive map
This is the route that runs along the Moroccan coast down to Mauritania and beyond. A "classic" (regulated) route for those looking to reach Sub-Saharan Africa from Morocco.
Overview
This is the route that runs along the Moroccan coast down to Mauritania and beyond. A "classic" (regulated) route for those looking to reach Sub-Saharan Africa from Morocco with their own vehicle.
Key Points
- Type of place: scenic route.
- Tourist interest: (worth seeing).
- Theme:
- Location:
- Local time:
- Main towns:
- Length: Approximately 1,300 km.
- Altitude: Sea level.
- Website:
Climate and weather
The route
What to see and do
Itinerary
- km 0/km 1,320: Guelmim
This city can be considered the arrival/departure point.
- km 150/km 1,170: El Ouatia
Better known and more popular than its neighbor Tan-Tan, this small fishing port, officially called El Ouatia, has developed a seaside tourism industry.
- km 260/km 1,060: Khenifiss National Park
This site near Tarfaya borders the ocean and features beautiful dunes, among other things. It is a nesting area for birds.
- km 340/km 980: Tarfaya
This town in the former Spanish territory of Cape Juby is famous for hosting the "aviator-writer" Antoine de Saint-Exupéry for 18 months during the Aéropostale era. A small monument and museum are dedicated to him.
- km 435/km 885: Laayoune
The main city and "claimed capital" of Western Sahara. However, it doesn’t offer much of tourist interest and is often seen merely as a stopover for those traveling to Mauritania.
- km 620/km 700: Boujdour
This small town south of Laâyoune is built in one of the region’s most beautiful natural sites.
- km 970/km 350: Dakhla
A large fishing port at the end of a peninsula. Its climate and landscapes, where sea and desert meet, make it a popular holiday spot for many campervanners. The area is also known for surfing, windsurfing, and sea fishing.
- km 0/km 1,320: Dakhla National Park
This park south of the city of the same name is known for its beautiful coastline, where large colonies of pink flamingos, migratory birds, dolphins, and especially monk seals nest. Scuba diving is also possible here.
- km 1,320/km 0: Nouadhibou
Arrival/departure point. This is the first Mauritanian city after the border.