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With Qatar Airways offering great packages for a day or multi-day layover in Doha, it has never been easier to visit Qatar. And while you are taking advantage of these, you would be remiss not to include a day trip from Doha in your itinerary.
Why take a day trip from Doha
Doha is a wonderful city with plenty to offer, but there’s much more to Qatar than just its capital city. This day trip from Doha takes you through the captivating landscapes of North and West Qatar. Here’s what you can expect to see and experience along the way.
How to get to North and West Qatar
The best way to see North and West Qatar is to book a day trip. I took one through Get Your Guide, which offers pick up and drop off from your accommodation in Doha, and all transport to each location. As a solo traveller, this was a great option. The tour was made up of five people, and we had a wonderful day together.
Alternatively, if you want to take the trip to North and West Qatar independently, then there are plenty of options to hire a car. You can collect either from the airport or from various locations in the city centre. Hiring your own car gives you full flexibility over your itinerary and how long you want to spend in each location.
Day trip from Doha to North and West Qatar – trip overview
If you are looking to see stunning locations, dramatic landscapes, enormous sculptures and a lot of camels, then this is the day trip from Doha for you! Whether you are on an organised tour or self-driving, make sure not to miss these stops to get a real flavour of Qatar.
Upon leaving central Doha, start with a quick photo stop in Lusail City, just north of the city, for a snap of the two prominent twisting towers, the Lusail Plaza Towers.
Following this, make sure to check out the following places in North and West Qatar. The locations are roughly in the North and West, but this order will give you the perfect one-day itinerary.
North Qatar: Al Khor harbour and fish market, Al Thakira mangroves, Al Jumail abandoned village, Al Zubara fort
West Qatar: Zekreet Peninsula, East West / West East, Al Shahahniya Racetrack
North Qatar – What to see on a day trip from Doha
The following stops are all roughly located in, or towards, the North of Qatar.
Al Khor Harbour and fish market
Al Khor is a traditional harbour that was once a hub for pearl diving and fishing. Today, it is still an active port, and you can see fishing boats in action. It is also where a lot of dhow boat day and overnight trips depart from. Right next door is the Al Khor fish market, which offers a glimpse into local life. Fresh seafood is sold directly from the boats to the market stalls.
Al Thakira Mangroves
A surprising spot, in a land known for being dry and devoid of greenery. The Al Thakira Mangroves are one of the largest and oldest natural mangrove forests in Qatar. It is rich is biodiversity, with birds, fish, and crabs all living among the tangled roots.
Just offshore is Purple Island, which gets its name from the ancient purple dye that was once produced here. Archaeological evidence suggests that the island was used by early settlers to extract Tyrian purple, a valuable dye made from crushed murex sea snails.
Al Jumail Abandoned Village
Al Jumail is an abandoned fishing village, which was once inhabited by the Al Kubaisi family. The village dates back to the early 19th century and was abandoned around the mid-20th century. You can explore the ruins, which are slowly being rebuilt to preserve what a traditional village in Qatar would have been like. The first building that has been completed is the small mosque in the centre of the village.
Al Zubara Fort
Al Zubara Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a historic military fortress. It was built in 1938 by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Jassim Al Thani. Originally used as a coast guard station, it has now been restored as a museum. You can explore its thick walls, walk along them, enter the watchtowers, and there are exhibits showcasing artefacts from the nearby Al Zubarah Archaeological Site. The fort is a really interesting insight into Qatar’s trading and pearling past. On clear days, you can even see the country of Bahrain from this point.
West Qatar – What to see on a day trip from Doha
Leaving North Qatar and heading towards the west of the country, before making a loop back to Doha. Don’t miss these spots.
Zekreet Peninsula
The Zekreet Peninsula lies about 90 KM west of Doha and is a stunning and dramatic desert landscape. It is known for its striking ‘mushroom’ rock formations, which were formed naturally by the wind sculpting the ancient limestone. It is an incredibly unique place, so make sure to take some time to explore various formations. Its setting has also caught the eye of filmmakers, with scenes from films such as Transformers being shot here.
Note: This area is only accessible by 4×4 vehicles, so if you are self-driving, this needs to be considered.
East West / West East
Located in the Zekreet Peninsula, this impressive desert sculpture cannot be missed. East West / West East is formed of 4 enormous steel plates looming tall above the desert. Each one is 14 M high and over a metre wide. They are set over a distance of one kilometre, and even have their own security team!
Al Shahahniya Racetrack
Your final stop for the day is the Al Shahahniya racetrack, where you will see more camels than you ever thought possible. Camel racing is a huge industry in Qatar, and you will see camels training here every day. It is incredibly modern, with races featuring camels ridden by robotic jockeys. This technology that replaces human riders was introduced in 2005 to enhance safety and efficiency. To be honest, still not really sure how it works!
Other alternatives for a day trip from Doha
North and West Qatar is not the only day trip from Doha you can take. One of the most popular alternative options is to visit the desert. Get picked up from your hotel and head out into the desert of Qatar for an action-packed day of dune bashing, sandboarding and a chance to visit the Inland Sea. This is the perfect adrenaline-boosting day!
Top Tip: Enjoy this day trip to the desert with a safari guide in an air-conditioned 4WD, with hotel transfers from Doha
Where to stay in Doha
Doha is the ideal base for exploring Qatar, and with many accommodation options, you will be spoilt for choice.
WHERE TO STAY IN DOHA:
Budget: Green Garden Hotel – A clean, comfortable, and affordable option in central Doha. Green Garden Hotel is ideal for short stays and is within easy reach of major attractions like Souq Waqif and the Corniche.
Mid-range: Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery – Stylish and perfectly located near Souq Waqif and the Museum of Islamic Art, Alwadi offers modern rooms, excellent service, and a rooftop bar with views over the city.
Luxury: Mondrian Doha – Bold, artistic, and unapologetically unique, it is a luxury hotel that blends high design with comfort. Expect statement interiors, indulgent dining, and a truly memorable stay.
Blogger transparency: I worked with Get Your Guide, who offered me this tour; however, there was no obligation to create a blog post. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Useful travel tools and links
To help you plan your trip, here are some of my favourite useful travel tools and links I use on a daily basis to travel:
- Hostelworld: The place to book hostels and cheaper accommodation. Perfect for backpacking trips. With 24 hour cancellation options, and easy to manage from your account.
- Booking.com: One of the largest places to search for hotels around the world. Often with free cancellation options.
- Hotels.com: Also a fantastic place to source hotels, and they offer a loyalty programme.
- Expedia: Another option for hotels as well as a great place to search for flights, car hire and more.
- Skyscanner: The best place to search for flights to find the best rates.
- GetYourGuide: Easy access to book a wide range of curated tours, activities, and experiences around the world.
- Viator: A great place to search for group tours and day trips. Part of the TripAdvisor brand.
- KnowRoaming: eSIMs are a game changer for travel. Purchase before you go and be connected as soon as you land. KnowRoaming eSIM plans keep you and your devices seamlessly connected in 200+ international destinations.
- G Adventures: The ‘go to’ for all group travel tour adventures. Perfect for solo travellers.
- Amazon: Link to my storefront with ALL the useful gadgets and items I couldn’t travel without.
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