Western Sahara is not a tourist destination, and no organized tourist industry exists.

Western Sahara is located in Northern Africa on the Atlantic Ocean, and surrounded by Algeria to the east, Morocco to the north and Mauritania to the south. Its large coastline is mostly rocky and not fit for beaches or travel. The the area of the country is around 260,000 sq. km. (103,000 sq. mi.) and consists mostly of low, flat desert, with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast. With a population of only around 390,000 people, Western Sahara is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world. The largest city is El Aaiún (Laayoune) and is home to about 200,000 people, a little over half the population in Western Sahara.

Map of Africa      

Western Sahara was portioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, when Spain left the area. Morocco acquired the northern two-thirds of the territory, Mauritania the rest. In August 1979 Mauritania abandoned all clams to its portion, after pressure from Polisario guerrillas, and Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter. The Polisario Front still controls a small area bordering Algeria and claims to run this area as the Free Zone on behalf of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). A UN administered cease-fire between Morocco and the Polisario Front has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and the parties have rejected other proposals.

Western Sahara is hot and dry, consequently rain is rare, but flash floods occur.

Western Sahara is not a tourist destination, and no organized tourist industry exists.