Dakhla: White Dune & Imlili Pools 4x4 Desert Tour

The White Dune rises alone in the Dakhla desert, where sand meets ocean

You ride into the Dakhla desert in a private 4x4, stop at Imlili pools and Puerto Rico beach for a swim, climb the White Dune for the view where sand meets ocean, visit the Assmae spring, and finish with fresh oysters at a working farm. The whole day is about two and a half hours of driving spread across five stops, with water and a turban included, and lunch available if you're staying in town.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Dakhla desert and coastal sites

• Visit Imili desert pools
• Swim at Puerto Rico beach
• Explore White Dune
• Visit Assmae spring
• Taste oysters at Talha Mar

The experience

The 4x4 leaves Dakhla early, heading into the Moroccan Sahara with an air-conditioned vehicle and a driver who knows the routes. You'll spend about two and a half hours moving between stops: the engine running, the landscape shifting from town to open desert. Water and a turban come with you. The first real moment is the Imlili pools, small bodies of water hidden in the dunes where fish live in what feels like the middle of nowhere. It's the kind of place that doesn't photograph the way it feels to stand there.

Then comes Puerto Rico beach, where the desert actually meets the ocean and you can swim if you want to. The contrast is strange: sand that goes on forever, and then suddenly water. After that, the White Dune itself appears. It's a single massive dune that stays pale because of wind corridors that keep it from darkening like the rest of the sand around it. The panorama from up there is the whole tour in one view: desert on one side, ocean on the other, and this impossible white slope between them. You stand there and understand why people come back to Dakhla just for this.

The Assmae spring comes next: sulfurous water that's warm and meant to be good for you, though the smell takes a moment to get used to. Then the day ends at Talha Mar, an oyster farm and restaurant where the owner cooks what was just pulled from the water. Fresh oysters, seafood, fish baked in the oven. This part only happens if your hotel is in Dakhla city itself, so confirm that when you book. The driver speaks some English, Spanish or French, though availability varies. It's worth asking ahead.

What’s included

• Your tour includes hotel pickup from Dakhla, an air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle, bottled water throughout the day, a turban, and all fees and taxes.
• Stops at Imlili pools, Puerto Rico beach, the White Dune, Assmae spring, and Talha Mar oyster farm are part of the itinerary.
• Fresh oysters and seafood lunch at the farm restaurant are included if your accommodation is in Dakhla city.

Before you book

Lasts 7h, runs every day at 10:30, from US$ 216 per group, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and Arabic, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:30

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 44 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Go Booking Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main desert and ocean sights around Dakhla without arranging a vehicle or navigating the dunes yourself: the fixed stops and included transport mean you see the White Dune, swim at the beach, and eat fresh oysters without planning the route.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.

How long is the Dakhla desert tour?

About two and a half hours of driving time, spread across multiple stops throughout the day.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch at the oyster farm is only available if your hotel is in Dakhla city. Confirm this when booking.

Can I swim during the tour?

Yes, there's a stop at Puerto Rico beach where you can swim.

What's included in the tour?

Bottled water, an air-conditioned 4x4, a turban, and all fees and taxes. Hotel pickup is included.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Yes. Infants can use a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available.

What is the White Dune?

A massive sand dune near Dakhla that stays pale white because of natural wind corridors. It overlooks both desert and ocean.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.