Surfing in Dakhla: The Best Wave Spots

I’m Romano. I’m known mostly for kitesurf — instructor since 2008, living in Dakhla since 2017 — but the question I get most outside the big-wind season is about surfing. The answer is simple: yes, you surf here, and there are lovely waves for those who know where and when to go.

The confusion comes from Dakhla’s reputation. Everyone knows the lagoon: flat water, wind, a paradise for kite and wingfoil. But the peninsula has two faces. To the east, the sheltered lagoon; to the west, the open Atlantic and its swell. The camp sits right in the centre, which keeps us equally close to both — we pick the day’s plan by the wind and the tide.

The key thing for surfing is the wind. Dakhla gets more than 330 windy days a year, often 25–35 knots in summer. So it’s no accident that the best surf sessions land when the wind eases, or on the spots where it blows offshore (from land out to sea) and grooms the wave instead of chopping it up. That’s exactly what we watch for: the no-kite day becomes the surf day.

Below are my favourite wave spots around the camp, each with when it works (tide and wind), which level it suits, and the board I’d bring. This is what I tell our guests over breakfast when the forecast calls for a lull.

If I could keep only one pure surf spot, it would be Aarich. It’s the northernmost of our spots, about an hour’s drive — and good news, it stays reachable in a normal car, no 4x4 needed. You go for the day, boards on the roof, and you usually come home grinning.

What makes Aarich special is its tall sand cliffs. They shelter the bay from the wind and keep the waves beautiful, clean and well-shaped, even on days when it’s blowing elsewhere. That’s exactly what you want for surfing: a smooth wave, a right or a left that peels, instead of the chop the wind lays down all over Dakhla.

When it works: Aarich is our safe bet on windy days, precisely because the cliffs do the filtering. It’s an all-levels spot — beginners find manageable waves, advanced surfers get real walls to draw lines on when the swell fills in. As everywhere here, size depends on the day’s swell and tide; we check that together before we leave.

The board: to get started or for small conditions, go for a mid-length or a funboard, even a mini-mal — volume forgives and paddles well. Advanced surfers will want a shortboard on days when the swell has energy. When in doubt, bring the board with a touch more volume: at Aarich you mostly want to keep catching waves.

White Dune is the spot people are still talking about at dinner. It’s about 45 minutes from camp, 4x4 only — the track and the sand are part of the trip. You don’t come here just for the waves: you come for the setting, a huge white dune plunging into the water, one of Dakhla’s finest sights.

This spot works at both high and low tide, but the magic moment is big high tide. Then the water rises to the foot of the dune and you can literally surf around it, and even jump off it. It’s as much adventure as surfing — the kind of session you don’t forget.

When it works: aim for a big high tide for the spectacular version; at lower tide the spot stays surfable in a different register. Since it’s an exposed 4x4 spot, we always time the outing to the day’s tide and swell — which is exactly why it helps to go with someone who knows the place.

The board: it’s an all-levels spot, so match it to the swell. A mid-length or funboard is the most versatile choice to enjoy the setting without overthinking; advanced surfers will bring a shortboard on the good days. Pack something that paddles comfortably — there’s ground to cover between peaks.

Not every wave spot calls for an expedition. West Point is our go-to on the doorstep, just 3–5 minutes from camp in a normal car. It’s first and foremost an ocean-side wave spot, with side-onshore wind: you kite and wingfoil here, but you also surf. It’s the perfect reflex for an end-of-day session with no drive.

West Point I rate intermediate to advanced. The side-onshore wind and the ocean-side wave ask for a bit of ease; if you’re new to surfing, we’ll favour the more sheltered Aarich. For the board, a shortboard or a mid-length depending on the swell and your level.

Gold Point takes a little more earning: 4x4-only access, and I keep it for intermediate to advanced surfers. It’s an ocean-side spot with real waves and a small flat-water area, side-onshore wind. You go there when you want to commit in the wave — it’s the spot for confident riders, not the ideal first outing for a true beginner.

A word on La Sarga, ~30 minutes by 4x4: it isn’t a pure wave spot, but a genuine Swiss army knife blending flat water and waves, with a rescue boat and offshore wind. If you’re splitting your stay between surf and towed sports, it’s an excellent compromise. Every spot’s detail, with photos, is on our our spots page.

For surfing in Dakhla, two things run the show: the wind and the tide. The wind first — you surf best when it eases, or when it turns offshore and holds the wave open. That’s why Aarich, protected by its cliffs, saves so many windy days, and why the calmer kite days become our best surf days.

The tide next. Some spots change face completely with the hour: White Dune gives its spectacular version at big high tide, and everywhere the size and shape of the wave shift with the tidal range. Rather than guessing, we read the forecast together the night before and again in the morning, over breakfast.

On level: beginners and surfers wanting easy waves, head to Aarich, the most forgiving thanks to its natural shelter. Intermediates, you can taste it all, from Aarich to White Dune depending on the swell. Advanced surfers, West Point and Gold Point on the ocean side give you room to commit. Either way, we match the spot to the day, never the other way round.

On gear and wetsuit: Dakhla’s water is cool because of the Atlantic current, without being icy. In summer (roughly May to October) a shorty or a 3/2 mm is plenty; in winter (November to April) go for a 3/2 or a 5/4 mm. When in doubt, bring the slightly warmer option: you cool down fast between sets. I’d rather stay cautious about exact water temperatures — message us and I’ll tell you what I’m wearing right now.

The upside of being based in the centre of the peninsula is that we’re close to both the lagoon and the ocean waves. In practice, you can spend a morning kiting on flat water and an afternoon surfing on the ocean side in the same day, without crossing the whole region. West Point is 3–5 minutes away; even the 4x4 wave spots stay reasonable outings by Dakhla’s standards.

No car? We drive you. Several of our best surf spots need a 4x4 (White Dune, Gold Point), and the track isn’t something you improvise; going with someone who knows the area changes everything. Aarich and West Point, on the other hand, are reachable in a normal car — we can help you rent one through our partner Baie Car if you’d rather explore on your own.

Surfing is just one way to enjoy the water here: between swells there’s kite, wingfoil, windsurf, and even land sailing, the easiest wind sport to learn — I run it in-house in about twenty minutes. You’ll find it all, along with desert excursions, on our our activities page.

To set up your base: we welcome you across our five rooms, all en-suite, from the cosy Art Room to the roomy Fireplace Bungalow — see them on our rooms. Breakfast is €6, and Karima’s cooking waits for you in the evening. A question about the current swell, your board, or the best window to surf? Write to us via the contact page — it’s often me who answers, spot by spot. See you on the water. — Romano