You know Qatar has unbelievable Stopover hotel deals from AU$21 a night. You probably know Qatar has intriguing attractions to explore, shops to splurge at, and sand dunes for 4WD adventures. But we bet you don’t know about these six unexpected stopover experiences to add to your trip! Check them out.
Whether it’s your first time to Qatar or your fifth, there’s plenty to see. While attractions like bustling Souq Waqif, the culturally enriching Katari Village, and the fabulous National Museum are well worth your time, there are some lesser-known Qatar tours to add to your stopover, too.
We’ve selected our top 6 unexpected tours that reveal how diverse a Qatar stopover can be.
#6 Discover Al Safliya Island
Experience Doha from a different perspective on this exciting cruise tour to Al Safliya Island. Once aboard your Al Safliya Island tour dhow boat, turn your attention from Doha’s dramatic skyline towards Al Safliya’s attractive island landscape.
Uninhabited, Al Safliya makes for an idyllic 3-hour tour, including time to swim, sunbathe, and enjoy watersports. Jet skiing, banana boat rides, and paddleboarding anyone?
The tour also includes an Arabian meal on the beach in a pretty set-up. Choose to go for breakfast (October to May) or dinner. From AU$105 per person.
#5 Discover Championship Golf
If you prefer a fairway over a beach, you’ll love the Discover Championship Golf tour. Doha Golf Club isn’t just a quality course; it’s one with spectacular views, too!
Access two golf courses – including an 18-hole championship course – driving range, sports courts, leisure activities, plus dining options. There are even pro coaches available if you’d like to work on your par.
Accessing Doha Golf Club from many Qatar Stopover Hotels is effortless; reach the club from West Bay, the Pearl, and Lusail. From AU$225 per person.
#4 Discover the Mangroves of Qatar
It surprises many visitors to find a lush natural wonder nestled amid the rolling dunes and glitzy Doha skyline. The Al Thakira Mangrove Forest is one of Qatar’s oldest forests and an ideal place to rejuvenate on your Qatar Stopover stay.
Experience Al Thakira’s diverse ecosystem on the 2-hour Discover the Mangroves of Qatar tour. After an introduction to kayaking (perfect if you’re a novice), paddle between the mangroves while learning about Al Thakira’s ecosystem.
An Arabian tent experience at a Bedouin camp rounds out this experience perfectly. From AU$100 per person.
#3 Zero to Hero kitesurfing course
Most of us arrive at our stopover destination worn out from the first flight, slightly dreading the second, and believing all we’ll gain from the break is rest and a leg stretch.
Not so in Qatar. Especially on the Zero to Hero kitesurfing course at Fuwairit Beach. Arrive an every day (slightly worn out) human, depart a kitesurfing hero!
For eight hours (over two days), you’ll learn the skills to kitesurf like a pro. Like the theory of kitesurfing, kit set-up, plus practising staying upright, getting airborne, and controlled stops.
Now that’s how you beat jetlag and impress your mates back home on a stopover break! From AU$980 per person.
#2 Discover the Whale Sharks of Qatar
The Discover the Whale Sharks of Qatar tour is a must-do if you’re visiting between mid-May and August.
Witnessing these gentle giants glide through the Arabian Gulf is mesmerising. The rejuvenation you feel from being on a luxury catamaran (max 40 guests) while seeing the world’s largest fish makes for a 2-for-1 stopover bonus!
This 2.5-hour ecotour is a brilliant introduction to whale sharks. With around 300 migrating through the Arabian Gulf annually, Qatar is one of the best places in the world to see them. Your tour also includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks. From AU$380 per person.
#1 Discover Iftar in the Desert
An incredible way to learn more about Ramadan, Arabic traditions, and Bedouin heritage, the 4-hour Discover Iftar in the Desert tour is our top pick for trips to Qatar between 10 March and 9 April 2024.
Heading to the picturesque desert dunes, you’ll indulge in an authentic Iftar meal with a gorgeous Arabian-style set-up.
Iftar is the fast-breaking Ramadan feast shared with friends and family during this holy month. With hot and cold starters, a main course with kabesh with chicken, the garlic-fried wonder of shesh tawouq, and spiced meat leave your bellies full and soul happy. Leave space for katayef, a Ramadan sweet dumpling with cream and syrup! From AU$110 per person.
There are four other Iftar tours during these dates: Discover Iftar on Al Safliya Island, a private tour with meal at the Museum of Islamic Art, plus The Bistro and Sharq Village host Iftar meals.
Stopover for great events, too
These unexpected tours are not the only way to spice up your Qatar stopover, there’s always plenty on the country’s event calendar.
For unique Qatari events, the Arabian Horse Festival (February) and Local Dates Festival (August) are top of the list. Sports-wise, we’d love to catch the Moto GP Grand Prix (March), Artistic Gymnastics (April), and Formula 1(November). For creative souls, the Arab Design Now exhibit (June) is sure to inspire.
Learn more
To access all Qatar Stopover 2.0 options, head to the Qatar Airways trade portal.
Check out Karryon’s Matt Leedham’s recent stopover review here.
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