Western Sahara
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic · Northern Africa
Western Sahara is an area on the west coast of North Africa. A former Spanish colony, its governance is disputed between Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). After a UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991 ended a war between the two, Morocco ended up de facto controlling about 80% of the disputed area, with SADR controlling the region around the Mauritanian and Algerian borders. The Berm is the de facto border between the two administrations, and the areas around it are full of landmines.
Guide content adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Western Sahara". Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Weather
Live39°C
Clear sky · feels like 40°C
- 26%
- 22 km/h
- AQI 218
- SunClear sky24° / 40°
- MonClear sky22° / 39°
- TueClear sky22° / 38°
- WedPartly cloudy23° / 42°
Measured at the country centroid, not a specific city.
Money
LiveAlgerian dinar (DZD)
- $1 USD
- دج133.0
- €1 EUR
- دج153.5
Reference rates for 2026-08-08. Indicative — not the rate a bureau will give you.
What a trip to Western Sahara costs
Visas, flights, beds, food and everything in between, priced for your party and your dates. Every line shows its own arithmetic, so you can disagree with the parts you know better than we do.
Your trip
8 days on the ground
Estimated cost
$2,154
$1,077 per person · $135 per person per day
- $100
Visa & entry
$50 × 2 — typical tourist visa or eVisa fee
- $978
Flights
$489 return × 2 · 3,405 km
- $430
Accommodation
$61/night × 7 nights × 1 room · Standard
- $208
Food & drink
$13/person/day × 8 days × 2
- $80
Local transport
$5/person/day × 8 days × 2
- $16
SIM & internet
$8 per person, once × 2
- $144
Attractions
$9/person/day × 8 days × 2
- $38
Travel insurance
$2/person/day × 8 days × 2
- Subtotal
- $1,994
- Miscellaneous (8%)
- $160
- Total
- $2,154
Budget at a glance
Per day
$269
Per person
$1,077
Family of 4
$4,308
7 days
$2,154
14 days
$3,063
30 days
$5,141
The 7, 14 and 30-day figures re-price the whole trip at that length — flights and visas do not repeat, so a month is far from four times a week.
A planning estimate, not a quote — ground costs are modelled from a cost tier for Western Sahara, not scraped from live inventory. Your settings are saved to this device.
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Western Sahara’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Western Sahara set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Moroccan Consulate General in the UK.
Passport validity requirements
Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Dual nationals
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
Visa requirements
You can travel without a visa for visits to the Moroccan-administered parts of Western Sahara and Morocco for up to 90 days.
Travel is restricted. Organised groups are generally permitted, but independent travellers could be turned back at the border.
Make sure you get your passport stamped.
When first arriving in Morocco/Western Sahara, make sure you get a passport stamp from the Moroccan border control authorities. You may have difficulty leaving the country without a stamp.
Vaccine requirements
For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Western Sahara guide.
Customs rules
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Western Sahara. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. Check Moroccan customs rules (in French) for the Moroccan-administered parts of Western Sahara.
Source: UK FCDO, published 2026-06-29 under the Open Government Licence.
Getting help
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
Emergency services in Western Sahara
Telephone: 150 (ambulance, fire, police)
Contact your travel provider and insurer
Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
Refunds and changes to travel
For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
- where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
- how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim
Support from FCDO
FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
- getting help if you’re a victim of crime
- what to do if you’re in hospital
- if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack
Contacting FCDO
Help abroad
See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.
Help in the UK
You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
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