Updated April 2024

Border to Mauritania open both ways.
Borders with Algeria have been closed for decades.
More under the Morocco menu above.

Money Moroccan dirham exchange rates.

Price of fuel
About 14.8dh for unleaded, 15.8dh for diesel. In Western Sahara fuel is 30% cheaper except at the last fuel station at the Mauritanian frontier (but still cheaper than Mauritania).
World fuel prices.

Costs Moderate. It’s easy to get a basic hotel down south for 250 dirhams half-board per person. At that price I don’t bother with camping on a moto.

Languages Arabic, Berber, French, English.

Visas In most cases not required in advance. South Africa is an exception. Entry lasts 90 days.

Border formalities Straightforward from Spain or Mauritania. See getting there and immigration procedure (from the north).

The border with Algeria has been closed since 1996 and although Morocco may wish otherwise, it’s unlikely to re-open. If it ever does, it will probably be limited to locals and not foreign tourists (as with many other Saharan borders).

Mountain and Desert pistes
Morocco is more popular than ever and rightly so; it’s the best place to explore the fringes of the Sahara without a trans-Saharan commitment. And while not long, some of the routes are as scenically impressive as anything in the Sahara.
Over 10,000-km and 65 routes: it’s all in the full-colour edition of Morocco Overland.

The N1 Atlantic Highway passes Laayoune and Dakhla on the way to the Mauritanian border north of Nouadhibou. There is a temptation to shoot through, especially if you’re heading for West Africa, but slow down, look around, and you’ll find a few places to explore

In WS there are pistes and now roads going inland until you near the militarized Berm (wall; right) which separates the Moroccan-controlled coastal portion from the Polisario Free Zone inland (see this). Other people’s travel in WS here and here and here (with maps) and here, but be aware there are landmines in this area which are not always clearly marked.

In the Moroccan Sahara (coast road or elsewhere) checkpoints are frequent and handing out a pre-printed form with your details saves time. You can download a Word template for the form (as left) by clicking this.

From Morocco to Mauritania
There is a fuel station right on the frontier, 80-odd kms south of Motel Barabas where there is also fuel and food. The next fuel is up to double the price at the junction for Nouakchott. Because of this, the Mauritanians may not take well to stacks of jerrican full of Moroccan fuel. Be discreet.

For full details on the Moroccan-Mauritanian border see the Mauritania page.