Qatar

With kilometres of untouched sands to footprint, a firm favourite is Al Safliya Island: a natural paradise with crystal clear waters where the focus is on complete and utter tranquility. One non-negotiable tourist destination is Khor al Adaid – Qatar’s famous inland sea. Take a 4×4 drive across undulating sand dunes to where the sight of a massive body of rippling water never fails to amaze, as does the variety of marine and birdlife, wandering oryx and gazelles. Qatar is also known for its large congregations of whale sharks that seasonally gather off the north-east coast. While
these magnificent creatures are the biggest fish in the ocean, their underwater displays are both graceful and majestic.

The country capital, Doha is a city in constant development. Cultural attractions include the I M Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art, which houses one of the most comprehensive global collections of its kind. A high-profile destination of another kind, The Pearl-Qatar is a multi-billion-dollar manmade island and waterfront community that includes a Mediterranean-style marina, residences, five-star hotels and designer boutiques. It’s also a hotspot for world cuisine with a little bit of
everything to try from chic European inspired restaurants to Middle Eastern flavours and cafés where coffee and people watching is the done thing.

From the ultra-modernity of future forward Qatar to age-old tradition, the opportunity to attend a camel racing meet is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A staple on the local sporting scene since the early 1970s, camel racing is taken extremely seriously and comes with a generous prize purse. One of the most fun things to do is to do as the locals do and follow the race by driving parallel to the track to get close to the action. Adrenaline fiends can also get their fix in the picturesque village of Zekreet, which is a magnet for the kitesurfing community but also offers paragliding experiences for a different perspective on the limestone topography and clear blue
waters below.