Traveling in Western Sahara
 

We are currently touring Morocco on motorcycle . In Casablanca now. Locals are encouraging us the avoid the Western Sahara. Security concerns. Any advice?

I was in the WS for a few weeks in April and everything was fine security wise (we had other dramas to worry about). This was my 3rd trip and all without any safety concerns

Have the locals given any specific concerns or just general? There's always alarming mention of kidnap/terrorism on the Foreign Office travel advisories but it's very general and not updated regularly.


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We have spent the last 2 weeks in Western Sahara (with our last day being today) fixing a bike and traveling from the Mauri border north. Absolutely no issues and met some wonderful caring people. I wouldn't think twice going back.

We just rode south through Western Sahara and now in Mauri. No issues and cheap petrol.

Don't call it Western Sahara at checkpoints, call it Morocco. We had a laminated Google map of our trip and when the policeman saw the border line and Western Sahara written, he tore the map off my bike and tried to scrunch it up. Don't let this put you off, the rest of the checkpoints were fine.

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This past week, I rode south along the N1 highway to Dakhla in "the Southern Provinces" (don't say "Western Sahara", that's politically incorrect in Morocco).

I had absolutely no security concerns whatsoever. In fact, I felt a heck of a lot safer between Laayoune and Dakhla that I would have felt at home anywhere in Canada, simply because there are police checkpoints everywhere all along that route. I think I stopped 15 times between Laayoune and Dakhla to show my passport to police. The whole region is very heavily policed to ensure security.

The economy appears to be booming down here, especially in Laayoune and Dakhla. Times are good, there are lots of tourists, and there are lots of new businesses (hotels, restaurants, etc.) opening up to look after the visitors.

Having said all that, the ride from Laayoune south to Dakhla was boring as heck, and there really isn't much to see in Dakhla or on the route to Dakhla.

Michael

PS: Michelin has released a new (2018 printing) version of their Morocco map that does not show any partition between Morocco and the former Western Sahara. On the cover, it shows the entire area as being 'Morocco'. So if you want to take a map, get the newest edition of the Michelin map.