Touristic destination Qatar, formerly the land of Bedouin nomads and fishermen who were trading pearls, is the safest country in the world for tourists to travel. In the past ten years, the country was visited by over 2 million guests each year. Qatar is a small country, located on a peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf. Travelling to Qatar offers organised desert trips, where you can experience the landscape by quad bike or camel. Popular activities include water sports, such as diving near the wreck of a sunken ship, jet-skiing, kite-surfing, windsurfing and fishing. You can explore the country with a vehicle on land, sea or air, while going around the country is available through public transport and renting a private car. Read the latest tips for travelling in Qatar and experience this Arab country, whose modern life is characterised by a divide between traditional and modern culture.
The Arab country Qatar invites visitors with its natural and cultural heritage, which shows the development of the country's history. Getting to know the culture can be interesting for those who love history and also those, who want to spend their holiday by the seaside or one of the national parks. The past of life in Qatar can be seen at various archaeological sites, such as the petroglyphs in the Jebel Jassassiyeh area, at the famous Ras Abrouq cliff on the Abrouq Peninsula there, and around the Qala'at Fort at the Umm Al Maa archaeological site, which is known for its cemetery from periods of the Bronze Age. Some towers from the 19th and 20th centuries are also interesting starting points for sightseeing:
Relaxing on public beaches, such as the Sealine beach, Al Maroon beach and Khor al Adaid, as well as national parks Al Reem Reserve and Umm Tais national park, are all suitable for solo travellers, couples and families with children. After a break on some of the beaches and national parks, you can take a look at some of the permanent collections in a museum or an exhibition in a gallery. Check out the following museums and galleries in Qatar:
Fill your day in Qatar's capital, Doha, with a choice of four locations: Msheireb Downtown Doha, Souq Waqif, the Aspire Zone and the Qatar Pearl where there are a variety of international and local restaurants, shops, a market, sports studios and other activities to take part in. To experience the scene of Qatar, choose from the following activities at Doha venues:
Msheireb Downtown Doha is a district in the country's capital that combines a modern way of life with contemporary communities whose future is being developed with the latest technology, both in the workplace and in their own homes. Msheireb Downtown Doha is an area made up of office buildings, hotels, museums, shops, restaurants, residences and mosques, all built in a distinctive modern, oriental style of architecture, inspired by the West and the East.
Souq Waqif is a market near Souq Waqif Park next to Dhow Harbour, where Bedouins once traded animals and wool. The space was renovated in 2004 using traditional Qatar architectural methods, preserving the former appearance of the market. The market offers local spices, traditional clothing, handicrafts and souvenirs. The centre of Souq Waqif showcases the development of the pearl industry, as well as artworks by local and international artists at the Souq Waqif Art Centre.
Aspire Zone is a modern sports facility in the suburbs of Doha with a large park called Aspire Park. The Aspire Zone sports facility invites all sports enthusiasts with world-class sports venues and a variety of events for adults and children. On 880 square metres it offers jogging tracks and play areas for children. The entire sports complex area includes a sports academy and hospital, as well as five-star accommodation and restaurants.
The Pearl Qatar is an artificial island on which villas, hotels and residential complexes are built. The island offers visitors a wide choice of brands with shops, boutiques or showrooms displaying the latest fashion collections from high fashion names. The luxurious district with its bars, restaurants and boutiques is a popular destination for travellers, visitors and residents from abroad. The Qatari Pearl is divided into three main neighbourhoods: Qanat Quartier, Porto Arabia and Medina Centrale.
Explore the northern part of Qatar on a private tour and learn about the tropical mangrove tree around Al Thakhir, on the coast of Al Khor. Your guide will take you in an all-terrain vehicle to Al Zubara Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The desert tour is the right option for all adventurers and lovers of the sport of sand dune boarding. Riding a camel and taking a photo with a falcon is an experience that will remain a pleasant memory, along with the desert tour. Your trip can be enriched by a tour of Doha, where you can learn about the city's architectural features. You will visit Souq Waqif market, Qatar Pearl Island and take a Dhow boat trip on the Persian Gulf.
A four-hour trip takes you to the village of Zekreet, where you can see the mushroom-shaped rocks of the Mushroom Hills and the remains of the Zekreet Fort. You will also visit the archaeological site of Ras Abrouq and the sculptures of artist Richard Serra. The shorter two-hour trip introduces you to the Qatar Amphitheatre, the Opera House, the Qatar Plaza shopping centre, the Qatar Mosque and fast food on the streets of Doha. The tour can be attended by anyone between 2 and 69 years old. Enjoy an adventure in the desert on a quad bike and take time for some pictures. An adrenaline-fuelled quad bike ride is a unique experience in the desert, and it is hard to imagine Qatar without it. The ride is not suitable for people with medical conditions.
Experience an extraordinary night in the middle of the desert by the Inland Sea at a desert camp. You can experience camel riding, desert dune drives, sunsets with grilled meats, overnight camping and breakfast at sunrise. An insight into the past can be gained in Al Shahaniya with a visit to the city's Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, where you will see 15,000 exhibits. A part of the offer includes a look at a camel training session at the Al Shahaniyah camel racing track. Explore the collections of the Museum of Islamic Art, Msheireb Museum and the National Museum of Qatar on a five-hour tour to discover the treasures of Arab culture.
Before you go on a break to Qatar and enjoy some of the outdoor activities, read the article on the capital of Doha, titled Doha, the Capital of the Qatar Peninsula.
Wondering where to book affordable accommodation for your holiday in Qatar? Hostelling International gives you the possibility to book a night in an HI hostel with a swimming pool, a fitness centre and a business centre. Qatar Youth Hostel, which is open in Doha city centre, is located near the metro station. It only takes nine minutes to get there. Add to your HI and Qatar experience with a book on phrases and a Lonely Planet dictionary. Middle East Phrasebook & Dictionary contains 3500 keywords with phrases in 8 languages. The book makes it easier to communicate at your destination of choice, as well as helping you order food in a restaurant. Experience the Middle East with this book.
Wherever you go, your trip can be safe, with simple and customisable international travel insurance for solo travellers and families. Get travel insurance through World Nomads and get a policy with 24-hour assistance and transport for medical emergencies, as well as cover for more than 220 sports and leisure activities on snow, water, air and land. The insurance policy may include, among other things, coverage for experiential activities, such as au pairs – part-time or voluntary work with children, working in a bar, fruit picking, office work, teaching and some other work abroad. Protect yourself or your family with World Nomads travel insurance.
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