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Route from Smara to Zag (Western Sahara) Route from Smara to Zag (Western Sahara)
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Morocco Topics specific to Morocco, including Western Sahara west of the berm
Photo by Lois Pryce, fueling up in Tunisia

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  #1  
Old 5 Jul 2016
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Route from Smara to Zag (Western Sahara)
Hello guys,

I have been adviced to ask here. We are going to take a road trip on a rented car in Morocco and Western Sahara. One direction will be along the coast (Marrakech -> Dakhla) and the way back will be from Dakhla -> Smara -> Zag -> Assa -> Tata -> Ouarzazate -> Marrakech (Approximately). I've learnt from forums that we should focus on route from Smara to Zag.

What should we consider and what should we be aware of on this route? If we have a map of the route and 4x4 rented car, could be there any problems? Especially with getting lost or something else?

Some people say that it's a bad idea to go there but many people like this route and say that it's ok.

PS: Do you have, somebody, experiences with renting 4x4 car in Marrakech? We have a little budget.

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  #2  
Old 5 Jul 2016
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Zag is off limits to Tourists as far as I know. The road out from Smara to Zag is one of the old Spanish roads from the days of their interest in the WS.

In 2013 the road had a fresh coat of asphalt when we joined it at roughly 27° 7'51.89"N, 10°51'19.57"W. Probably just upgraded for the military running out to the Berm a bit further East.
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  #3  
Old 5 Jul 2016
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Originally Posted by TheWarden View Post
Zag is off limits to Tourists as far as I know. The road out from Smara to Zag is one of the old Spanish roads from the days of their interest in the WS.

In 2013 the road had a fresh coat of asphalt when we joined it at roughly 27° 7'51.89"N, 10°51'19.57"W. Probably just upgraded for the military running out to the Berm a bit further East.
Thank you for your answer. What do you exactly mean by Zag is off limits? I didn't find any information that tourists are forbidden to go there or that there is too dangerous. In fact, we would just go through, if necessary, without stopping by. I'm asking because I didn't find anything on google.

In fact, I've read about possible problems on the route between Zag and Smara but not in Zag.
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Old 5 Jul 2016
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About 6km east of the coordinates I posted above you will reach the end of the Moroccan WS and the Sand Berm. I suspect the army will not let you travel any further east than the berm.

I also believe that the road from Assa to Zag is closed for tourists
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  #5  
Old 5 Jul 2016
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You might be better going Smara to Assa (red route) and then south to Zag on the green route per the map above that I previously posted on TA. Zag is the location of the more northerly red fuel cans symbol.

The military will turn you back if you get too close to the berms.
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Last edited by Tim Cullis; 6 Jul 2016 at 12:34.
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Old 6 Jul 2016
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Originally Posted by Tim Cullis View Post


You might be better going Smara to Assa (red route) and then south to Zag on the green route per the map above that I previously posted on TA. Zag is the location of the more northerly red fuel cans symbol.

The military will turn you back if you get too close to the berms.
Thanks, I saw your map but I have been confused by the red route. It would be ok for us to go red route but I can't see it anywhere - on google maps or satellite so I'm not sure if we will know which way we should go. If the route is clearly see (so we can't get lost (especially because of mines)), we will go this route. We don't need to go to Zag at all but I though that there are only two routes (Smara -> Zag .... or Smara -> Tantan ... ).

PS: What's the elephant icon on the map?
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  #7  
Old 6 Jul 2016
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Hi

We used that route in March 2016 and did not have any problems ...
we met military on two occasions when we further south and east of your route and a long long way off road

See our Facebook Dublin Dakar

Good Luck
Maurice
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