Morocco, France and More Countries Are Connecting Travelers to Dakhla as the 1,055-Kilometre Atlantic-Sahara Road Trip Turns Heads and Puts the Desert Escape Within Easier Reach

Written By: Angana Dutta

Angana Dutta

Angana Dutta is a writer, journalist, and SEO content specialist with experience spanning travel, education, and digital media. She is a contributor to Travel And Tour World (TTW), where she produces engaging, search-driven travel stories for a global audience. She has also worked as a reporter with The Times of India and Pratidin Time, covering regional news and human-interest stories. Combining journalistic integrity with creative storytelling, Angana is passionate about culture, literature, and showcasing the unique heritage and destinations of Northeast India through impactful content.

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July 27, 2026 8:12 AM

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Starting in 2026, the Atlantic-Sahara road trip comes into the limelight. Morocco’s new 1,055-kilometer (655 miles) Tiznit–Dakhla Expressway, combined with new European access via air, brings the city of Dakhla into the international travel system. As such, this allows travelers to plan itineraries in Morocco with less travel restrictions. This also means that adventure travelers, road trip enthusiasts, and tourism operators now have to deal with more demand, as travelers have more options to determine itineraries involving long-distance overland journeys, compared to air-and-road combinations to northwestern Africa’s Atlantic-desert landscape.

Why the Atlantic-Sahara Road Trip Matters to Travellers

The Tiznit-Dakhla Expressway is important for more than just providing a new scenic travel option. This is a vital artery being built to link together the central and southern regions of Morocco.

According to Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment, the expressway will be about 1,055 km and cost approximately MAD 10 billion. This corridor is part of a larger strategy to connect Tiznit to Laayoune, Dakhla, and the road to the Mauritanian border.

The Moroccan government hopes this will attract more visitors and investors to the southern regions by improving road safety. For long distance, independent travelers and freight and tour operators, the new road will help reduce travel times and costs, which improves the overall safety and comfort of the journey.

For travelers, this is a further incentive to make the trip to a remote destination that has primarily been of interest to specialized surfers and adventure travelers, but now can be considered the end of a Morocco road trip.

What is officially confirmed about the Tiznit-Dakhla Expressway

Officially, the infrastructure has been stated by Moroccan sources to be the Tiznit-Dakhla Expressway. For the purposes of this article, we will use that name, and will not reference any of the alternate names being used in social media.

Considerable effort was needed for the construction. It generated approximately 2.5 million workdays, used 35 large construction companies, 15 engineering companies, 14 topographers, and 4 quality control laboratories, as stated by the Moroccan government.

The larger corridor is progressing. Construction on the Laayoune bypass bridge across the Oued Sakia El Hamra began February 2024. The bridge will be approximately 1,648 meters long and 21.4 meters wide, have 2 lanes in each direction, and an estimated cost of MAD 1.28 billion.

This means travelers should not consider the route a static attraction with uniform conditions year-round. Works and detours along with local restrictions may impact the different sections.

Morocco’s Tourism Boom Gives Dakhla a Bigger Global Platform

Morocco received 19.8 million tourists in 2025, with an increase of 14 percent (approximately 2.4 million more) and a new record was set in national tourism.

The trend continued into 2026. The Ministry of Tourism recorded 4.3 million for the first quarter of 2026, with an increase of 7 percent for the same period in 2025. March recorded 1.6 million arrivals, with an increase of 18 percent in year on year. ([MTAESS][4])

Dakhla stands to benefit from the current trend as travelers are seeking experiences which are not in the already established centers in Moroccan tourism. Better road access helps tour planners integrate the south along Agadir, Tiznit, Guelmim, Laayoune, and other locations along the Atlantic.

However, Dakhla is not rapidly becoming a large-scale extension of Marrakech. Its distance from Marrakech, isolated in the desert as it is, and its focus on specific outdoor activities, mean Dakhla still is a place that requires some prep to make the most of it.

Country wise access explains the growing interest in Dakhla

These country study figures combine the most recent official Moroccan tourism-market figures available, with data on scheduled flights. National visitor increases refer to Morocco as a whole, not just Dakhla.

| Italy | Italy now constitutes one of the fastest trade-growing destination source markets for Morocco. | Road journeys beyond that point will permanently depend on border, access and safety conditions south of the Moroccan border. | This is a specialized cross-border itinerary, not an ordinary sun-and-sand economy beach-road extension. |

Tourism market data can be accessed through the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism. Data on existing routes comes from the official airline booking and destination webpages. Timetables are subject to change according to operational and seasonal demands. (MTAESS)

Why Dakhla Tourism Could Be the Journey’s Greatest Reward

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Dakhla’s unique geography of the Atlantic and Sahara gives it a strikingly different environment from Morocco’s imperial cities and rugged mountains.

Moroccan National Tourist Office advertising highlights the lagoon, beaches, and desert, as well as diving and other water sports. They also promote the city as a leading destination of kitesurfing and wind-powered sports. (Visit Morocco)

Dakhla’s long trip is well worth the rewards it offers, with:

• Kitesurfing and windsurfing in the lagoon
• Beach time in the Atlantic, away from the larger resort cities
• Desert and coastal ecosystem photography
• Nature-based activities around the peninsula
• Long road trips through the southern Moroccan terrain
• Air and road holidays for those short on time to complete the full land-trip

The road should not be misrepresented as a beachside motorway. It can be long stretches of open and under populated terrain. The real beauty is the contrast of what is available of ocean, desert, lagoons and far away settlements.

How the Atlantic-Sahara Road Trip Could Evolve Southern Tourism

Developing pathways may allow tourism spending to extend beyond Morocco’s primary entry points. Visitors utilizing the corridor may generate demand for lodging, sustenance, fuel, guides, vehicular assistance, and activities across several communities, as opposed to a single resort.

Moroccan tourism was projected to sustain about 894,000 direct jobs in 2025, a projected increase of 16 percent from figures recorded in 2019, representing approximately 125,000 direct jobs created over that time frame. Enhanced regional linkages can aid in sustaining that employment, but the freeway cannot be solely responsible for tourism growth in the country. ([Observatoire du Tourisme][7])

Dakhla may also benefit from the corridor to expand its offerings beyond sports tourism. Longer visitor stays may help stimulate demand for cultural and gastronomic tourism, eco-tourism, and small group and self-drive adventures.

For the tourism trade, a completed 1,055-kilometre drive may not be the most marketable product. An easier to sell option may consist of a flight to Dakhla with a guided tour of the region’s highlights, with a southbound drive and flight home.

What Travelers Should Do

Travelers should prepare for the passage as a major expedition, not an impulsive detour out to the coast.

• Check live flight schedules. Services may be seasonal or only on certain days. Confirm the flight before paying for hotels and ground transport.
• Know the rebooking and refund policies. Separate flight bookings may incur extra risk if the first service is delayed. A later airline may not guarantee an independently booked connection.
• *Add more time to calculate the travel time. Full route is at 1,055 kilometers. With construction, weather delays, breaks, and local checks, the route will take longer.
• Check the conditions of the vehicle. Ask the rental company if traveling southern and far away is allowed, and is there construction coverage for the full itinerary.
• Bring the necessary supplies. Water, fuel, phone, offline navigation, and emergency kits are necessities for the longer and less populated areas.
• Daytime travel is preferred. Long areas of sparsely populated desert need good visibility, and require frequent breaks and realistic goals for the distance.
• Look at the official travel guidelines. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have travel bans for all areas of the Berm and south east of the Berm. Travelers should check the new official map to avoid leaving the predetermined travel route.
• Check the border restrictions independently. Anyone continuing toward Mauritania should check their passport, visa, vehicle and the border travel requirements before departing along this route.*

Frequently Asked Questions

Just how long is the Tiznit-Dakhla Expressway? 1,055 kilometers?

Yes, Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment states the Tiznit-Dakhla road project is close to 1,055 kilometers in length. The corridor is an element of a broader north to south connectivity scheme to ease way, trade and region access. ([Equipement][1])

Are there direct flights from Europe to Dakhla?

Yes, the latest official airline pages show the route from Paris-Orly and Marseille and Dakhla is in the Binter Canary Islands network. The routes, frequency and times of operations vary, therefore, travelers should confirm the exact information for their dates before purchasing tickets. ([Transavia][9])

Is the Atlantic-Sahara road trip for all travelers?

Not really. The road trip is for self-drive travelers that are coordinated, organized, and willing to travel the long distance. If limited travel time is the issue, then flying to Dakhla to enjoy the lagoon and desert can be organized through a local guided excursion.

Author’s Observation

The Atlantic-Sahara road trip is a unique and defining travel experience in Morocco. This road trip combines a major travel corridor with an increasing level of European access to a remote and naturally beautiful destination. Distance and access to Dakhla should be considered as a natural and integral component of the trip. The most sustainable and responsible way to look at new developments is to consider the road and air links offer an exciting and new way to plan a trip to the southern Morocco.

Those looking to travel to Dakhla should compare flights, review safety guidelines, and consider realistic driving distances before creating a multi-day travel itinerary.

It’s estimated that the construction of the Dakhla – Tiznit Expressway will create over 30,000 direct jobs and over 150,000 indirect jobs. The fully operational road will significantly reduce travel time to Dakhla.

The Moroccan tourism sector is set to become a world leader by reaching over 20 million tourists per year by 2025.

Dakhla is the most popular destination in southern Morocco.

Detailed tourism reports are published by the Maroc Observatory.

The UK Foreign Office has information about travelling to Western Sahara.

You can book flights to Dakhla through Transavia.