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Voykit pocket guide · Western Sahara
Smara
Spend a half‑day in Smara for a quick look at the mosque ruins and market; longer stays are not recommended due to security and limited services.
Smara is a small oasis town on the Moroccan‑controlled side of the Berm. Its sights are limited to a historic mosque, a local market and a few cafés. Security checks, land‑mine zones and scarce accommodation mean a brief visit (half‑day to one full day) fits most itineraries.
- Country
- Western Sahara
- Best months
- check
- Avoid
- check
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MAD
- Money
- The Moroccan dirham (MAD) is used in the Moroccan-administered areas. Cards work in larger hotels and kite camps; elsewhere use cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget MAD 150–250 excl. bed · Mid MAD 250–400 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Moroccan SIMs (Maroc Telecom, Orange, inwi) work; buy in town with your passport.
- Emergency
- Police 19 · Gendarmerie 177 · Ambulance 15
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 220 V · 50 Hz · European plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10%.; Kite instructor: MAD 50–100 per session if you wish.
- Water
- Drink bottled water; desalinated tap water tastes salty.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and camps.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bottled water (0.5 L) | MAD 5–8 |
| Coffee in café | MAD 8–12 |
| Camel meat kebab | MAD 20–35 |
| Maro (rice & camel stew) | MAD 30–45 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EUN · Hassan I Airport (Laayoune)
- Closest commercial airport, about 120 km (75 mi) north on N1Closest commercial airport, about 75 mi (120 km) north on N1
Typical fares
- Laayoune → Smara bus (CTM/Supratours)
- about MAD 120, 2 h (check)
- Taxi within Smara (10 km)
- ≈ MAD 30
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk is easiest; small taxis and mini‑buses run within town. No public transport beyond the town centre.
See and do
Known for
- Mosquée Cheikh Maelainin ruins
- Zaouyya of Cheikh Malainine
- Local market and camel dishes
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Akhfenir | Ask police for direction; road is paved but no signage | ≈ 2 h each way |
| Laayoune | N1 coastal road, bus or shared taxi | ≈ 3 h each way |
Sleep
- Hotels on Boulevard Hassan II
- Basic rooms about USD 15 per night (≈ 150 MAD); ask for recommendation if a place declines.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | سمح ليsamḥ li |
| Thank you | شكراshukran |
| How much is it? | بكم هذا؟bikamm hādhā? |
| Can I have water? | ممكن ماء؟mumkin māʔ? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Salam alaykum', handshake with men; avoid: Political small talk
- Tea: Accept the three glasses; avoid: Refusing
- Photos: Ask first; avoid: Checkpoints and police
Scams and watch-outs
- Land‑mine fields lie 30–50 km west of the Berm; stay on the main road.
- Police and military may stop you; avoid residential neighbourhoods and photography of everyday life.
- Roads to remote destinations lack signs; follow police advice.
Smara is generally safe for brief visits if you stay on the main road, respect military checkpoints and avoid the mine‑risk zone west of the Berm.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Smara yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mosquée Cheikh Maelainin ruins
- Zaouyya of Cheikh Malainine
- Local market and camel dishes
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Western Sahara tourism authority: www.saharawest.gov.ma/en/
- Wikivoyage: Smara, revision 5249888 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5249888
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/smara). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.