Getting In and Around

Visas: You do not need a separate visa to enter Western Sahara, though you will need a Moroccan visa. At the border between Morocco and Western Sahara, you may have your passport checked, but it will not be stamped. See the visa requirements for Morocco.

Transportation: It is best to hire your own vehicle and driver if you are planning on traveling around Western Sahara or across borders between Western Sahara and Morocco. Roads in Western Sahara are usually not in very good condition, and many are unpaved.

Buses run regularly between Marrakech and other Moroccan cities to major towns in Western Sahara. There are also ground taxis, which are small minibuses, that take passengers between several of Western Sahara’s largest towns; travel in ground taxis is far from comfortable, though.
If you’re flying into Western Sahara, the easiest way is via Morocco. Fly Royal Air Maroc into El Aaiún or Dakhla from Casablanca or Agadir.

Mobile Phones: Few land lines and even fewer mobile phones are available in Western Sahara. It is unlikely that mobile phones with international plans will work here, especially in areas farther from the border with Morocco.

Safety and Security

Because Western Sahara is so sparsely populated, and because both Morocco and the Polisario are in control, there is no Western Saharan police force or emergency services. There is an obvious Moroccan military presence in the Moroccan-controlled territory. Beware of minefields is these areas.

The United Nations Mission for a Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) is based in El Aaiún, so that city does tend to be safer for foreigners than others and has more-accessible medical services. Check out the U.S. Department of State’s consular website’s entry on Morocco for more detailed security information about Western Sahara.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has created a security ratings system called the Ibrahim Index, wherein scores are based on each country’s quality of government. Before traveling to Western Sahara or anywhere on the continent, check the index and do your research.