One of the world’s smallest countries, this emirate is a peninsula surrounded by the Arabian Sea while sharing a land border with Saudi Arabia. It enthusiastically celebrates its history and culture while focusing on the future which is firmly rooted in education, sustainability, and opportunities for its people regardless of gender.
Historically, it was a top producer of natural pearls and now enjoys wealth through its petroleum and gas resources. It is ruled by an Emir who cares deeply for his people and for the ability of the country to compete in the world market.
The host of World Cup 2022, they’ve built new luxury hotels and upgraded current accommodations. The city has world class dining options and a myriad of cultural and active adventures. Qatar and its capital city are stunning destinations on their own, but they are fantastic when visited as a stopover destination on your way to Africa, Asia, Seychelles, and Mauritius. In fact, Qatar Airways is offering stopover packages as low as $14 per person per night for accommodations.
Here are just a few of my experiences over the past week.
Souq Waqif – This historic market is a charming maze of winding alleys, vintage shops, food vendors, gold, pearls, textiles, spices, falcons, camels and Arabian horses. I personally bought gold and a beautifully embroidered pashmina. My colleagues bought pearls, spices, herbs and traditional dresses. The Parisa Restaurant is iconic and a delicious choice for Arabian cuisine.
Dune Bashing – This is an exhilarating 4-wheeling experience in the sandy desert near the Inland Sea. I didn’t scream, but I did make a few noises as we slid, skidded and seemed like we would flip on our side navigating the dunes. Don’t try this on your own – the skilled drivers know what they’re doing!
Zekreet – Rock formations and the East-West art installation are worth the 4-wheel drive trip in the desert. This area is home to movie filming.
Museums – There are too many to go into detail, but I loved the modern approach with artifacts plus videos and interactive experiences that make the history and stories come to life.
Accommodations – Qatar has beautiful luxury hotels, modern architecture sharing space with historic structures, and a focus on sustainability in construction and use of natural resources.
Falconry – UNESCO added falconry to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for Middle Eastern culture.
Qatar is a Muslim country and modesty in dress and behavior is expected. Alcohol is served in many hotels but cannot be brought into the country – even duty free. Guests in the country are expected to abide by a few easy requests – dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered, particularly in museums and public areas – ladies cover hair in mosques), save PDA for private moments, and respect other cultural norms. Swimsuits are OK at hotel pools and adventure experiences are OK with shorts and t-shirts.
Qatar Airways has non-stop flights from LA and other US gateways. If culture and adventure have been on your travel list, Qatar is the destination for you.
Helen Jordan is the owner of Jordan Luxury Travel, an independent affiliate of Brownell Travel, a member of Virtuoso. She can be reached at [email protected].
