The Dakhla Oyster Farms

The Dakhla lagoon's clean, nutrient-rich water supports the Sahara's least probable agriculture: oyster farms whose racks stand in the shallows between dune shore and turquoise, producing a delicacy that has made the peninsula a fixture on gastronomic itineraries - the classic visit being a plank table at a farm shack, dozens shucked to order with lemon and the wind, the dunes across the water doing the decor. The farms tour their racks at low tide, the freshness is measured in minutes, and the desert-oyster paradox seasons every plate better than the lemon.

What you actually see

• The rack shallows - oyster lines standing in the lagoon.
• The shack tables - dozens shucked at the water's edge.
• The low-tide tours - the farming explained on the flats.
• The dune backdrop - Sahara framing the seafood.

When to go

October to May for terrace-comfortable wind and temperatures; the farms serve year round with tides setting the tour hours.

Honest expectations

It is a lunch pilgrimage, not a sight list - come hungry and unhurried; prices are fair for the singularity. The wind attends every table - anchor the napkins and enjoy the theatre.

Nearby

Dakhla town, the White Dune and the kite lagoons.