A powerful stream of hot air blows into my face. I cover myself with an arafat and as if through an Arabian brocade, sometimes rough in pattern, but unusually colorful and rich in color, I see the desert, which connects with the sea. There are only two such places on the planet: in Namibia and in Qatar. But in Namibia the sea is cold because of underwater currents, but in Qatar it is warm, gentle and ready to accept everyone, giving unforgettable impressions and rest for every taste.
Qatar mesmerizes and attracts, leaving no one indifferent. And it doesn't matter for what purpose you are here: on a business trip, at a competition or just come to relax for a week, gain strength and recharge your batteries.
Qatar has now become closer and more accessible. Since March, direct flights from Minsk have been flying here. This means that you can buy a ready-made package tour and boldly set off to explore the original and fascinating world of the Middle East.
The flight program on Belavia flights will last until June 3 this year. The company operates flights on Saturdays. Many agencies in Belarus offer tours for 7 nights. The approximate cost is from $680 per person. I recommend to study the offers and choose a hotel through the internal system travelhub.by.
Qatar is known for its white sand beaches and clear turquoise water. However, to get to most of the beaches, you will have to buy an entrance ticket. Almost all the beaches in Doha, the capital of Qatar, are a kind of beach clubs.
Often, buying a ticket to such a club, you immediately get not only a sunbed and umbrella, but also a deposit, that is, part of the amount you can safely spend on drinks and snacks during the vacation. Now I want to take you to those beaches that are especially fallen into my soul. Let's analyze their features and highlights, as well as study the prices.
B12 Beach Club Doha
I will start with the most atmospheric and attractive beach, according to most tourists and locals - B12 Beach Club Doha. The opening hours are from 10:00 to 18:00.
Here you will find stylish interiors and a variety of entertainment options for the whole family: beach volleyball, table tennis, soccer, tekball.
B12 Beach Club Doha features The Beach, an indoor restaurant with beachfront dining area that is open all day. There you can also find The Bistro food court, bright colorful loungers, a lounge and a VIP zone. Here popular DJs play sets or relaxing music appropriate to the atmosphere can be heard from the speakers. An inflatable water park is available for children - a playground with slides.
Don't forget that Qatar is a Muslim country with its own restrictions for tourists. But there are no special appearance requirements for women on the beach B12, you can sunbathe and swim in a standard European bikini.
Tickets cost 120 Qatari riyals (about $33) per person. For children under 18 years of age, admission is free. For this amount, you get a lounge chair, beach towel, water bottle, high-speed Wi-Fi and access to the water park on the water. 65 QAR ($18) of the amount is a deposit to take burgers, snacks, juices and cocktails: both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
Do you want to rest here during your trip? Feel free to stay at hotels like W Hotel Doha West Bay 5* or Wyndham Grand Doha West Bay Beach 5*. These hotels are located within walking distance of B12.
Doha Sands
The next beach club I will introduce is not far from the previous one. It is called Doha Sands. The beach here is very wide and spacious, with a gentle entrance to the sea and perfect sand. Opening hours are from 10.00 to 17.00.
Beach volleyball and various water sports are available on the clubhouse.
Women may visit the club in a regular bikini. There are no prohibitions on alcoholic drinks here either - they can be purchased for an additional fee at the club's bar. The entrance fee is 50 QAR (about $14), but it includes only an umbrella and a sunbed.
The closest hotels to Doha Sands are Intercontinental Doha The City 5*, Pullman Doha West Bay 5* and Retaj Al Rayyan 4*. Opting for them will give you a great view of the city.
Nammos Beach Club
Another beach club in Doha is the Nammos Beach Club. A premium club where you will find besides the beach a Greek restaurant with sea view, a bar and Dior prints in the decoration. The atmosphere here is quite refined - you can catch it in the details, in the movements of the staff and simply in the air. There are no restrictions on dress code, so you can relax in a bikini. The beach is open from 12:30 to 2:00.
The entrance fee is 300 QAR (about $82) per person. The price includes a sunbed, umbrella, towel, access to the cooling pool and... that's it.
Food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in the restaurant and bar are for an additional fee. As for prices, a glass of wine will cost from 80 to 120 QAR ($22 to $33), beer 0.33 liters - 44 QAR (about $13), tea and coffee - 20-40 QAR ($6-11).
There is also an opportunity to rent a VIP cabana for the whole day for up to 10 people. It will cost about 10,000 QAR ($2,747). The price includes an area with a Jacuzzi and TV, drinks, food and private access to the beach.
Nearby is the Raffles Doha 5* hotel. This is a luxury hotel in the legendary towers of Qatar with deluxe rooms, personal butlers and services for the whole family.
The Diplomatic Club
Diplomatic Beach Club is located just five minutes from the Mondrian Doha 5* hotel. You can visit the territory of the club from 08:00 to 01:00. There are no restrictions on beachwear for women.
Here tourists can get comfortable sun beds, umbrellas and the opportunity to relax, rest, sunbathe, enjoy the sea in the heart of the capital of Qatar.
The entrance fee is 100 QAR (about $27). The club has a swimming pool, fitness center, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath and hairdresser - all for an additional fee. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will also be charged separately.
974 Beach Club
974 Beach Club is located near Ras Bu Abboud Metro (Gold Line). It is open from 10.00 to 18.00.
On the territory you can find colorful designs, bars, restaurants, lounges and play areas for children. There is also a wide beach strip with a comfortable entrance to the sea.
Entrance fee is 35 QAR (approximately $9) for adults, children are free. There are no restrictions on dress, you can wear a bikini.
Intercontinental Doha Beach 5
Along with beach clubs, some hotels in Doha give you the opportunity to use their own beaches if you come in "from the street". For example, the Intercontinental Doha Beach 5* hotel has two beach zones at once.
For a general zone ticket, you will have to pay 200 QAR ($55) for men, 100 QAR ($27) for women and 50 QAR ($14) for children. The second zone is for adult tourists only. You have to pay 250 QAR ($64) to enter the Adults Only area.
For this money you can get a sunbed, umbrella and towel. If you want to have a snack or a drink, it's an extra charge. There are no prohibitions on appearance or alcoholic beverages.
Katara Beach
So are there no free municipal beaches in Qatar at all? This is the question that arises when we get acquainted with beach clubs. Of course, there are free beaches.
And one of them is located in Doha itself. It is Katara Beach, a small beach near the city center, located next to Katara Cultural Village. Entrance is free, but women can visit the beach only in a covered burkini.
Even if you come in a long T-shirt and cycling shorts, you will not be allowed to swim: your knees must be completely covered. Men are also required to wear shorts that cover their knees.
The beach area has standard entertainment - catamarans, boats, parasailing. There is a café where you can buy a snack and a playground for children.
Khor Al Udeid Beach
The rest of Qatar's free beaches - picturesque, with cliffs, mangroves and majestic sand dunes - are located in various corners at some distance from the capital of Qatar. To get to them, it is necessary either to study the transportation routes well, or - what is easier and more reliable - to rent a car
The very first place to go by car is of course Khor Al Udeid Beach, a natural reserve on the border of desert and endless water. It is one of the most beautiful places in the country.
Khor Al Udeid is an inland sea, of which there are only two on the planet. The Qatar Sea is connected to the Persian Gulf by a narrow deep channel about ten kilometers long. You can reach it only by dunes. But it is hard to believe it until you see and feel the waves caressing and the surf beating.
And while driving through the desert, you think: "Well, what other sea could there be here?" And the sea is real about 15 kilometers from north to south and 12 kilometers from east to west. It is a natural wonder of Qatar, a reserve with a natural ecosystem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a unique place in the world where the sea penetrates deep into the heart of the hot desert.
In these picturesque places you can settle down, as the locals like to do, right on the sand with your tent, barbecue, a couple of kilos of meat for kebabs, vegetables, rice and dates. Qataris have a great time here barbecuing and talking under the starry desert sky.
For those ready to splurge, there is an opportunity to book a room at the luxurious Regency Sealine Camp Hotel, which stands right on the beach. It has its own private beach equipped with countless chic cabanas with white canopies. The entertainment is standard and worth trying at least once is the desert jeep and buggy races.
The atmosphere of this place is sacred. To understand this cocktail of emotions, which you experience when you are here, you should definitely visit Khor Al Udeid Beach, sit on the shore and listen to the noise of the dunes, squeaking sand and splashing warm waves. Here you can also watch the local population: Bedouins who came here for a weekend in a caravan of 5-6 "Landcruisers" of the latest model, the same Bedouins that 30 years ago came here in camel caravans and slept in the open air.
