Sightseeing tour in the capital of Qatar - Doha (3.5 hours, with an English-speaking guide, by individual air-conditioned vehicle). The streets of the Old City with mosques and Arab houses, the unforgettable flavor of the eastern market, where the exotic smells of all kinds of spices are mixed with the smell of incense, leather and perfume. Visit the Corniche (seven kilometers of coastal esplanade in the city center), a golf club, falcon, camel and gold markets, and the old bazaar.
Guided tour for a group of two: USD 270.

Jeep safari in the south of Qatar. 75 kilometers through the desert, a spectacular descent from sand dunes (some of them are as high as a 20-storey building). Jeep ride on the sand, swimming in the Inland Sea, lunch or BBQ dinner in an Arab tent. You can relax on carpets and pillows with a cup of coffee or fruit, take pictures in national dress, ride camels or sandboarding boards.
The cost of the excursion for a group of 2 people is 480 USD (6-7 hours with lunch or dinner). Attention: Your jeep will ride in a convoy of several more cars. Solitary trips to the desert in Qatar are prohibited.
Departure at 09.00 or 14.00.

Overnight in a Bedouin tent is possible, supplement 60 USD per person (sleeping bags and breakfast provided). An extraordinary sunset that can be seen in the desert, combined with the whisper of moving sands and the sparkling surface of the sea, will end this exciting day, and in the morning you will be woken up to meet an equally amazing sunrise.

Traditional fishing boat cruise- dhow. A great option to see the city from the sea in the atmosphere of lapping waves and traditional Arabic music. The cost of the excursion is 100 USD per person, departure at 15:00 - 16:00 (the tour is conducted as part of a combined group, at least 15 people in a group).

Fishing 40 km from the coast, morning (at 06:00) or evening (14:00) for 4-5 hours with the provision of equipment - 145 USD per person (as part of a combined group, at least 6 people).

Ride on north of Qatar(4 hours) with a visit to the Al-Zubara Fort, which is located at the extreme northern point of the country, as well as the Al-Khor Museum, the old mosque and mangroves in Dakir and the archaeological site, where you can find rock paintings of the ancient inhabitants of the island. The cost of the excursion for a group of 2 people is 360 USD.

Ride on West Coast Qatar(4 hours) with a visit to the fort on the Zekrit Peninsula, Umbrella Rock and oil wells in Dukhan. The cost of the excursion for a group of 2 people is 360 USD.

Trip to Shahanyu(4 hours) with a visit to the equestrian club, camel breeding farms and (with a good coincidence) antelopes and the Sheikh Faizal Museum (only on weekdays). The cost of the excursion is 146 USD per person, departure at 09:00 (as part of a combined group).

All excursions are conducted with an English speaking guide. Entrance fees included. The penalty for canceling an order in more than 3 working days is 50% of the tour cost, in less than 3 working days - 100% of the tour cost. Weekends are Friday (in Qatar), Saturday and Sunday.

Supplement for a Russian-speaking guide - 200 USD for 4 hours, 380 USD for 8 hours

Change in Qatar: what to do, what to try, how to behave

Many travelers fly Qatar Airways from Ukraine to Asian and Arab countries via Qatar. We have prepared a detailed material on what to see during long transplant what rules to follow in order to avoid problems with the law, and what bonuses from the carrier should be counted on.

Benefits for Qatar Airways Passengers

If you dock lasting between 5 and 12 hours, you can get a voucher for a free tour of.

Buses for up to 33 people leave 4 times a day. Registration of participants starts at 6:00 and, as a rule, seats are quickly dismantled. You need to contact the Doha City Tour counter in Hall B, between Mont Blanc and WH Smith stores.

1 /1

The duration of the excursion is 2 hours 45 minutes, it is conducted on English language... The route includes the following attractions:

• Katara Cultural Village;
• Souq Waqif market;
• Museum of Islamic Art.

Some passengers have a free hotel room for long-term connections.

To do this, you need to meet two criteria:

• docking in Doha from 8 to 24 hours is forced, i.e. there are no Qatar Airways flights that you could have taken off earlier;
• the route does not include Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.

Whether you will be provided with a number also depends on the class of service and tariff. We recommend that you clarify the information in advance by contacting a representative of the airline.

Do I need a visa to enter the city

Citizens of Ukraine do not need a visa, they receive a stamp at the airport free of charge, which allows them to stay in the country for up to 30 days. Requirements are minimal: a passport, valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry, and a ticket for a flight from Qatar.

Citizens of countries with which there is no agreement on visa-free entry, having bought tickets for Qatar Airways flights, can issue a transit visa for free (when connecting for 5 hours or more). You can apply online on the airline's website.

Should girls go out into the city unaccompanied

Since Qatar is a Muslim country, many are concerned about this issue. But, in fact, there is no reason to worry: Qatar is one of the five safest countries in the world, tourists have nothing to fear, regardless of gender. The maximum that you can provoke (for example, by appearing in the city center in short shorts) is a remark. If you don't want to use by public transport, call a taxi, it is relatively inexpensive here.

Transport in Doha

The most convenient way for tourists to travel around the capital is a taxi (locals prefer private cars). Cost: € 0.9 plus € 0.3 per kilometer. When ordering by phone, an additional fee of € 0.9 will be charged.

1 /1

An alternative option is to rent a car (from € 15 per day). It will take credit card, copy of passport and driving license of national or international standard. It is more profitable to follow the rules, the fines are very high: a conversation on a mobile while driving, for example, will cost an offender € 45, and a ride on a red one - € 660.

Public transport is represented only by buses - clean, new, air-conditioned. A ride within the city costs between € 0.7 and € 2, depending on the distance.

From Hamad International Airport to the center can be reached by taxi in 30 minutes. Standard rate: € 6 plus € 0.3 per kilometer from 5:00 to 21:00 (€ 0.4 per kilometer the rest of the time). The second option is one of the city buses that connect the airport to different parts of Doha. To pay for the fare, use the Karwa Smartcard, which can be bought at the Mowasalat information desk in the baggage claim area or from the driver. € 2.3 costs a card that allows you to make 2 trips within the city within 24 hours, € 4.5 - unlimited city bus pass for 24 hours. The card must be applied to the device for validation twice: when boarding the bus and when leaving.

Currency and its exchange

State currency - Qatari rial, indicative rate for 01/04/18: 100 QAR = € 22. At the airport or any bank branch, you can withdraw rials from your card, if necessary (cards are in use, cash may be needed only in the markets). There are usually two languages ​​available at ATMs: Arabic and English.

You can buy rials at banks, exchange offices at the airport and city center, in some hotels. Please note that banks are generally open on weekdays only, open early (7: 30-8: 30) and have a long lunch break. The weekend in Qatar is Friday and Saturday, the week starts on Sunday.

What to see in Doha

If you are only in the capital for a day, the best option for exploring the city would be organized excursion or rent a car with a driver. Here are the main attractions not to be missed:

• Embankment. The 7 km long pedestrian zone stretches along the bay, from here you can see skyscrapers, the building of the Museum of Islamic Art and other interesting city buildings.

1 /1

• Pearl-Qatar - artificial island with an area of ​​about 4 million m². Expensive boutiques are concentrated here (Roberto Cavalli, Alexander McQueen, Giorgio Armani, Kenzo, Balenciaga and others), as well as restaurants offering Italian, Lebanese, French, American, Japanese and other cuisines.

1 /1

• Katara Cultural Village (West Bay Lagoon area) is an ethno-village, on the territory of which there are theaters, cinemas and galleries, where works of Qatari artists are exhibited. In the evenings, musicians and dance groups perform here, sometimes master classes on traditional crafts are held. Admission is free, the territory of the complex is open around the clock.

1 /1

• Museum of Islamic Art (Corniche). Within its walls are kept masterpieces created over 14 centuries: paintings, ceramics, manuscripts, textiles. Temporary exhibitions are often held here, to visit which you need to buy a ticket; admission to the permanent exhibition is free. The museum is open from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm (Friday from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm).

1 /1

• Museum of Contemporary Art Mathaf. The collection contains about 6,000 items reflecting the trends in the development of Islamic art from 1840 to the present day. Open from 9:00 to 19:00 (Friday from 13:30 to 19:00), admission is free.

1 /1

For those who stay in Doha for a few days and are ready to leave the capital, we recommend visiting:

• Al Zubarah - a restored 18th century fort included in the list World heritage UNESCO. Located 106 kilometers from the capital, on the northwestern coast of the country. Once this settlement was considered one of the most important centers of navigation and trade in the Persian Gulf.

1 /1

• Khor Al Adaid - nature reserve with a unique ecosystem 60 kilometers from Doha. It is interesting because it is one of the few places on the planet where the sea meets the desert. To get here, you have to overcome the sand dunes.

1 /1

• The Dahl Al Misfir cave is 40 meters deep, the walls of which emit a faint phosphorescent glow. From Doha, you can get here by car in 45 minutes.
• Desert. If time is short, you can sign up for one of the express tours that start from the airport twice a day: at 9:00 and 14:00. Tour duration - 2.5 hours, cost - 250 QAR (€ 57) per person. You can reserve a seat one and a half hours before the start of the tour at the Discover Qatar Tours counter in Hall B. sand dunes in the vicinity of the capital.

Where to swim

There is a sea in Doha, but there are few public beaches, most belong to hotels. One of the most popular is Katara Beach in the Katara Cultural Village. For 25 QAR (€ 6) anyone can visit it, children under 16 are free. The beach is open from 10:30 to 22:00, swimming after sunset is prohibited. Women must wear shorts and a T-shirt, men must also wear shorts, swimming trunks or bikinis are not allowed on the beach. Available water activities: riding on gondolas, kayaks, "bananas" and catamarans, water skiing, wakeboarding, parasailing and others, there is a play area for children.

Some hotels open access to their beaches and pools for non-guests. For example, at Doha Marriott Hotel you will pay 139 QAR (€ 32), at Crowne Plaza Doha - 150-200 QAR (€ 35-45), at InterContinental Doha The City - 150-250 QAR (€ 35-57) per day. The price may include access to the gym and sauna, cocktails and even food - details can be found on the official websites.

What to try in Doha

The local cuisine has absorbed elements of Indian, Iranian, Syrian, Palestinian, North African - you will surely find something interesting. Here are some dishes noteworthy gourmets:

• machboos - spicy rice with seafood or meat
• hummus - chickpea snack with sesame paste (tahini), olive oil and lemon juice;
• ghuzi - whole roasted lamb with rice and nuts
• motabel - eggplant, garlic and tahini snack
• birani - rice with chicken or lamb.

For dessert, local fruits, halva or Umm Ali puff pastry are served.

Where to eat in Doha

If the budget is limited, kiosks with street food: sandwiches, shawarma and falafel. In Al Adhamiyah Iraqi Restaurant in the Souq Waqif market, for example, kebabs cost from € 9, salad - from € 4.

1 /1

There are also international chains in Doha: McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc. They are focused on the intersection of Doha's C-Ring and Salwa Road, in shopping centers.

The vast majority of Doha residents are expats, so there are national cuisines many countries. For example, at Yee Hwa (Al-Kinana Street, Doha Downtown Hotel Apartments) you can taste Japanese and Korean delicacies, Yum Yum (Al Ghanim Street, K108 Hotel) specializes in French cuisine, and New York Steakhouse (Al Wahda Street, West Bay City Center) specializes in American cuisine.

Among the top echelon establishments, Market by Jean-Georges (W Hotel, West Bay), whose chef is a holder of three Michelin stars, and Gordon Ramsay (St. Regis, West Bay), which received the title of Best Romantic Restaurant in 2013 ".

Very popular bus excursions from Doha to Umm Salal Ali. It is an archaeological area with mounds and mounds dating from the 3rd millennium BC. They were left by the ancient pre-Islamic tribes, and now more and more exhibits are being discovered during excavations.

Excursion to Al-Khor

Be sure to visit Al Khor - a museum under open air with mosques and towers, which, after restoration, returned to their original appearance. A very beautiful panorama of the ocean coast opens from Al Khor, and nearby you can walk along Al Yassasiya - this is a very beautiful natural landmark with rocky hills, wonderful landscapes and rock paintings.

Cruise

If you want to get the most out of the excursion, we advise you to give preference to the cruise. The traditional cruise program from Doha is a day cruise to Al Safaliyan Island. There is a similar route for the night - a romantic cruise enjoying the city lights at night and swimming in the open ocean. If you love fishing, you can go on the Gulf Fishing Day Tour.

Doha city tour

For transit passengers at Hamid Airport in Doha, a Doha City Tour is available, which includes 4 of the most important

I fly a lot - I have at least 50 flights a year, so I know different life hacks from airlines, travel agencies and airports. Where to save money, where you can get something for free or as a gift. I will try to write about this more often.

So, I needed to get from Ufa to Cape Town. The shortest flight is with two transfers, one must be in Moscow. I decided to fly by Qatar Airlines, as the ticket was the cheapest - about 35 thousand. The journey took about 45 hours in total with the second change in Doha. There were two options to choose from - 7 hours 50 minutes and 10 hours. I chose the second one and now I will explain why.

1. How to get a free hotel:

We go to the official website of the airlines:

For transit passengers with a long-term connection in international airport Hamad Qatar Airways provides hotel accommodation, visa processing, transfers and meals.

This service is provided only if the following conditions are met:

• Forced connection (there are no other Qatar Airways flights with connections less than 8 hours).
• Transit times in Doha are between 8 and 24 hours.
• The itinerary does not include departures or arrivals from the following cities: Abu Dhabi (AUH), Bahrain (BAH), Dubai (DXB), Dubai (DWC), Kuwait (KWI), Muscat (MCT), Ras Al Khaimah (RKT) and Sharjah (SHJ).

Unfortunately, the hotel was not supposed to me, as the cunning Arabs made the connection at 7 hours and 50 minutes. For 10 minutes, there would be more docking - and I would have a hotel, a transfer, and food.

Interestingly, the official website does not provide information about a free tour. More precisely, there is only a sale of paid excursions and the price for a similar city tour is $ 21.

For extended connections between flights operated by Qatar Airways, the passenger can get a free city tour.

• availability of a place for a stamp in the passport
• after the end of the excursion, there must be at least 3 hours before departure

2. Where can I arrange a free tour?

You can find a counter for arranging an excursion after you have left the plane and followed the arrows to the center of the airport. There is a huge bear in the center, it is impossible to pass by it. Next, you will see a huge billboard with an advertisement and from it to the right you need a little protium (30 meters) towards gate B. There will be a counter with the inscription: Doha City Tour and representatives of the airline.

3. Schedule of excursions.

4. How was it?

After reading on the forums, I found out that excursions are often snapped up like hot cakes and you need to come to the counter as early as possible to book your excursion. My plane landed at 14:55, I planned to get on excursions at 18:00. at 15:25 I went to the counter, but there were no more places. Although registration ended at 4:45 pm. There was no queue either. But I was registered for the excursion at 20:00 without any problems. I needed a passport and boarding pass.

At 18:50 there was a collection for an excursion. There were 45 of us, all were handed vouchers for immigration without problems. There were not many Russians, about 5 people. Mostly - Scandinavians, Filipinos and Indians.

Our guide accompanied us from the airport to the bus. The bus is large and comfortable.

There were no problems with immigration. A visa to Qatar has been canceled for Russians since last year. No questions were asked.

5. The excursion program.

Since we got on the bus when it was already dark, the route was adjusted and we went to places with lighting. But it was not hot. Bottles of water were given free.

During the movement, the tour guide - a girl from the Philippines spoke about the country in English. It was interesting and a little confusing because of her accent.

Due to the fact that it was dark, I took little pictures. And the illumination of many buildings and skyscrapers was not bright. Plus - there is sand in the air, so many of the photos are blurry.

1 stop there was a blue mosque and a Qatar village. The stop was only 10 minutes, you could walk, take pictures.

2 stop - the pearl of Qatar. Luxurious area for millionaires with luxury shops calling. Here I didn’t take pictures, but simply enjoyed watching sports cars. The stop was 10 minutes too.

3 stop - Waqif Market. The stop was 30 minutes and it was magical. I immersed myself in the authentic culture of the Islamic world. Women in abayas walked around, accompanied by men in long national costumes. There was a hum and bargaining. They sold souvenirs and there is smoke from hookahs. I didn't walk around the market, but sat down in a cafe and managed to smoke a real hookah and drink tea. It came out for 1000 rubles.

But, suddenly, their system crashed and they stopped accepting cards. There was no change with 100 dollars either, and the exchangers were already closed.

The 30 minutes allocated for the excursion had already passed and I was afraid that the bus would leave without me.

Fortunately, the system soon started working again and I was already running back to the bus, where only me was expected.

The excursion time was 3 hours, taking into account the road, even a little less. At 22:45 we already returned to the airport and went to immigration again.

Output: in 3 hours I realized that I want to return to this country again for a more thorough visit. Of course, I want to see the country in daylight. By the way, if your connection is more than 8 hours, then you can take both the hotel and the excursion.