Recommendations

VISA: The nearest town to the Dakhla refugee camp festival is the city of Tindouf (Algeria). The festival requests a collective visa for all guests. The registration form asks for basic information for the visa name, passport number, nationality and profession.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: A valid passport is necessary.

Your passport must have a validity of at least six months left on it on the day of the trip.

FLIGHT: Most visitors to the festival travel to Tindouf on a chartered Air Algerie flight. The flight time is four hours plus a technical stopover in the city of Oran. Passengers must remain on board during the stopover.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION: Dakhla is located approximately 200km from the Tindouf Airport. The Polisario Front will meet guests at the airport and take them to the camp.

STAY: Visitors stay with Sahrawi families in their "haimas" or traditional Sahrawi tents and eat home-cooked, traditional Sahrawi meals there. The homestays, meals and transportation are coordinated by the Polisario Front and festival organizers. The refugee camps lack electricity installations, although most families have small generators powered by solar panels. Bottled water is readily available and visitors must pay for their own.

HEALTH AND HYGIENE: Vaccines are not necessary or required. Please bring all necessary medication, if you are taking any. Inhalers are a must for asthma sufferers because of the desert sand and dust. Homes have no running water and have outhouses. Wet wipes are especially useful for personal hygiene, as are hand sanitizers. Bring plenty of sunscreen and a hat or a head wrap for protection from a strong, desert sun.

TEMPERATURE: The day and night temperature differences in the desert vary enormously. Daily temperatures in May are in the 90's (F) or mid-30´s (C) and nighttime temperatures are in the mid-50's (F) or around 12 (C).

CURRENCY: Algerian Dinar. Euros are also accepted.


WHAT TO PACK: Comfortable clothing and shoes are recommended, as well as a warm jacket for the evening and baseball caps or sunhats. BEDDING: Families provide basic bedding and blankets but some visitors may prefer to bring their own sleeping bag. Luggage must not exceed 20 kg.

GIFTS AND DONATIONS Visitors can bring DVD films to donate to the DVD libraries. We recommend that you take small gifts for the host family: basic medicines, toiletries, snacks, tinned food, school materials (no text books please), batteries, lighters, flashlights and small items for children such as balloons. "Liberated" cell phones with charger are extremely useful. Many guests leave some personal items behind for the families.

For further questions please call or write the festival:

(+34) 91-532 11 80

(+34) 654-469 799 (English)

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