If you’re heading to Qatar for the World Cup this December, there’s much more than football on offer...
Football fans heading to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in December can get their kicks away from the pitch with a range of experiences on dry land and in the warm waters of the Persian Gulf.
From adrenaline-fuelled kitesurfing to a round of golf via a serene hot air balloon flight, there’s plenty to keep England and either Welsh or Scottish supporters entertained on non-match days.
On the water
The Gulf around Qatar has clear water and an average temperature of 27C so is ideal for supporting marine life and for watersports. Kitesurfing: Fuwairit Beach is one of Qatar’s most popular locations for this combination of surfing, wakeboarding and windsurfing.
It’s a popular sport in Qatar and the northern site is a 1hr 15min drive from the capital Doha.
More info and booking: £61 for two hours, or £102 per day. aquasportsq.com and bluepearlexperience. com/kitesurfing Scuba diving: People have been heading underwater in Qatar since the 19th century, when pearl diving was a key source of income.
Today’s divers, whether novice or expert, can explore beautiful coral reefs teeming with life and mysterious shipwrecks.
More info and booking: Price from £157 for a four-hour tour. poseidondivecenter.pdcqatar.com and qatarmarine.net Kayaking: The best way to discover the natural formation of the Al Thakira Mangroves, north of Doha, is by kayak. This way, you can explore the flora and fauna of the country’s natural reserves at the Inland Sea by the border with Saudi Arabia. Visitors can paddle through the tranquil waters to spot herons and flamingos sheltering in the salt-encrusted tree branches. Tour operators offer sunrise and moonlit trips along with training and guides. More info and booking: Sunrise or sunset kayak tour, £30. aquasportsq.com
In the desert
There’s more to the desert south of Doha than just miles of sand, with sedate and speedy activities. Dune bashing: Get your heart racing on a 4x4 desert safari where a professional driver blasts up and down the dunes.
Be warned, it can be a very lively ride, so if it’s a bit much, ask the driver to tone it down.
A 4x4 desert safari can also include the “singing” sand dunes of Mesaieed and the Inland Sea, the only place in the world where the sea encroaches the desert. There are also opportunities to stay overnight in a traditional Bedouin camp.
More info and booking: from £63 based on three people; overnight camping from £134 based on four people. 365adventures.me/desertsafari-qatar Camel ride: The ships of the desert play an integral role in Qatar’s history and heritage, having been part of daily life for nomadic Bedouin tribes for centuries.
Rides are available across the country – usually after 4pm as the sun is less intense – but for a taste of tradition join a camel tour of the desert around the Inland Sea.
More info and booking: rides from £5. inlandseatours.com/camel-ridedoha-qatar Sandboarding: As the name suggests, it’s basically snowboarding on sand. Riders can traverse dunes against the blue backdrop of the Inland Sea, a UNESCO world heritage site.
More info and booking: from £76 based on two people. viator.com
In the sky
A bird’s eye view over Qatar offers the most spectacular view of its natural wonders and landscapes. Skydiving: One for real adrenaline junkies, taking in the views from 12,000ft all the way down to the dropzone at Ash Shafallahiyah, which offers some of the best, consistent weather for parachuting in the region.
Tandem jumps with an experienced instructor are available.
More info and booking: from £338. skydiveqatar.com Hot air balloon: Join a sunrise trip for unforgettable views of Doha and the desert landscapes.
Qatar has also staged balloon festivals with sunrise and nightglow experiences.
More info and booking: from £202. 365adventures.me/hot-air-balloon Paratriking: For the uninitiated, a paratrike is a buggy with three wheels powered – just a gentle speed – by both a motor and propeller and supported by a paraglider.
Riders can sit back, relax and take in the views over Sealine Beach at 500-1,000ft with a licensed pilot.
More info and booking: from £132. 365adventures. me/paratrike
Humps, bunkers and flumes
You’ve been in the water, in the desert and in the sky, but still want more? Try these three.
Camel racing:
World Cup fans can swap football for races at the Al Shahaniya track.
Professional camel racing has been run in Qatar since 1972 and there’s a TV channel dedicated to it. Races take place weekly and feature camels with remotecontrolled, toddler-sized robot jockeys, clothed in colourful silks. See the stables, watch the action from the grandstand or experience it up close alongside the track in a 4x4. More info and booking: from £60. 365adventures.me/camel-racingexperience Golf: some of the finest courses in the Middle East await, equipped with state-of-the-art-facilities for scratch players or high handicappers. Education City Golf Club in Doha has three main courses designed by two-time Masters winner José María Olazábal, the first Trackman driving range in the region, and numerous learning programmes. Doha Golf Club, also in the capital and one of the oldest clubs in the region, having opened in 1998, it prides itself as the “oasis in the heart of the city”. Play at dawn and dusk under night
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lighting and take in the dramatic skyscraper skyline views.
More info and booking: round at Education City, £70; round at Doha Golf Club, £101. ecgolf.com, dohagolfclub.com Water park: Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park at the Hilton Salwa Resort, on the southwest coast, covers 14 acres and features 28 slides and rides, including torrent rivers, surfing dunes and rapid slides. Once you’ve dried off, there’s go-karting and laser tag.
More info and booking: child (below 1.2 metres in height) £30, including second child free; adult £40 including second adult free. salwabeachresort.qa All prices per person unless indicated