Top Adventure Beaches

From fishing to kayaking, exploring ancient rocks to climbing them, there are a host of beaches in Qatar that will suit those with a taste for adventure.

If you are looking for something different to do, check out these short descriptions of Qatar’s top adventure beaches:

Al Maroona

Al Maroona (also known as 42km Beach or French Beach) is a perfect place to go if you are looking for a natural, wild beach. The soft golden sand – ideal for building sandcastles - leads into a shallow sea. Where the water gets deeper, swimming and snorkelling are great activities for the crystal clear blue water. There is plenty of wildlife to discover from a variety of fish, ghost crabs, hermit crabs, starfish and the occasional turtle.

Around 90 km north of Doha, the journey takes about 75 minutes; the beach is accessed via the Al Shamal Road from Doha. The last part of the trip is on a bumpy track - 4x4 vehicles are best for the journey.

Amenities

There are no amenities at the beach, so you need to take everything that you are going to need with you. Food, water and something to shade you should be at the top of your list.

Round and About

Set in the North-East of Qatar, this is a great place for exploring and hiking.

Qatar’s most impressive rock carving site, Al Jassasiya, is nearby. These neolithic petroglyphs comprise a total of 874 carvings located on several rocky ridges. The carvings include numerous designs, such as ships, footprints and rosettes - a design unique to the region.

Useful Information

• The beach is available 24 hours a day, there is no entry fee.
• When parking, take care - the beach is made up of very soft sand. Park on the sandy ground just before the beach.

Getting There From Doha

1. Head north out of Doha on the Al Shamal Road;
2. Exit the Al Shamal Road north of Al Khor where you will see a blue signpost for Al Maroona. Follow the signposted road, which runs north, parallel with the Al Shamal Road;
3. At the next blue sign for Maroona, turn right and follow the narrow, straight road for 6 km until the road veers to the left and onto a dirt track;
4. Follow the dirt track and telegraph poles towards a large white castle-like house. Just before the white house turn left towards the sea;
5. The beach is in front of you between two large private properties.

Al Thakhira

Al Thakhira beach is part of a large nature reserve - designated as such in 2006 - located to the north of Al Khor. The reserve is made up of stretches of golden sand, mangroves and salt marshes. The mangrove forest is one of the largest and oldest in Qatar; its presence, in stark contrast to the surrounding desert, attracts an abundance of wildlife, including flamingos, herons, other waders and sea turtles.

The soft sand, shallow waters provide an excellent place for paddling and exploring the shoreline; though the soft, muddy sand makes getting out to the deep water for swimming a less viable option. The mangroves, with their maze of waterways, provide the perfect place for kayakers looking for adventure and wildlife. And, the salt marshes provide an ideal spot for bird watching.

Al Thakhira Nature Reserve is not to be confused with Al Thakhira Family Beach, located close by on the shores of Al Dhakira town. The nature reserve has none of the amenities serving the family beach, which has a long promenade and a cycle route running alongside it with a variety of seating areas and sunshades, and a children's park.

The beach is located to the north of Al Kohr approximately 65 km from Doha. The journey takes just over an hour, and the beach can be accessed from the Al Khor Coastal Road. The last few hundred meters of the trip is on a bumpy dirt track - 4x4 vehicles are best for the journey.

Amenities

There are no amenities at the nature reserve, so everything that you might need should be taken with you. Take plenty of water, food and sunscreen. You may also consider taking something to shade yourself with.

Round and About

Al Dhakira town is nearby and has most of the usual facilities - shops, supermarkets, food kiosks and restaurants, and play parks.

Kayaking is a great way to explore the mangroves. Several tour operators offer morning and afternoon trips and provide all the equipment you need. You will need to book these beforehand.

Useful Information

• The beach is available 24 hours a day, there is no entry fee.
• When parking, take care - salt marshes become treacherous when wet. A small wadi adjacent to the beach provides a good place to park.

Getting There From Doha

1. Head north out of Doha on the Al Khor Coastal Road;
2. Follow Al Khor Coastal Road to Al Khor;
3. Drive straight through the town, and at the northern end of the Corniche take the road north east to Al Dhakira;
4. Just after Al Khor Hospital, take a left at the roundabout;
5. Follow the road round the coast and take a dirt track road down into the mangroves and the beach.

Dukhan

Dukhan beach is remote from Qatar’s usual tourist attractions, but it is a popular, clean and sandy beach with clear blue water.

The beach is open to all and attracts people from all over the country, especially for camping trips, picnics and barbeques. It is a perfect place for walking, swimming and snorkelling - there are reefs just offshore to explore, and there are plenty of fish in the sea. Surfing is also possible - Dukhan has some of the highest tides in Qatar. The beach to the south is equipped with wooden shades.

The beach is located near Dukhan City on the West coast of the Qatar peninsula, approximately 80 kilometres from Doha. The journey takes around an hour; the beach is accessed via the Dukhan Highway.

Amenities

Other than the wooden sunshades and bins, there are no amenities at the beach, so you need to take everything that you are going to need with you. Food and plenty of water should be at the top of your list.

Round and About

The beach is near to Dukhan City where you will find local shops, restaurants, toilets and a petrol station.

Mystery Village, with its beautiful scenery, ancient rocks and deserted forts, Film City, and the Brouq Nature Reserve, with its steel sculptures, are reasonably close by (see Zekreet Beach for more information).

Useful Information

• The beach is available 24 hours a day with no entry fees.
• Although Dukhan beach is sandy, there are sharp rocks under the water, so it is best to wear beach shoes.
• Park in the car parking spaces on Beach Road.

Getting There From Doha

1. Head West out of Doha on the Al Rayyan Road and join the Dukhan Highway at Ar Rayyan;
2. Leave the highway at Dukhan;
3. Go straight over the next 4 roundabouts;
4. At the final roundabout go left onto Beach Road which runs alongside the public beach.

Fuwairit

Fuwairit Beach is one of Qatar’s most beautiful, wild and undeveloped public beaches. Its calm seas, shallow waters, white sand dotted with shells, attract plenty of visitors to this remote spot. Camping, barbeques and picnics are popular at the beach, as are swimming, snorkelling and kite surfing. Shallow waters make a safe haven for kids to play in, and swimmers can easily wade out to deeper clear blue water.

There are plenty of fish, crabs and other wildlife to spot in the water and along the shore. Dolphins have been spotted in the water, and the beach is a protected hawksbill turtle nesting site.

There are also interesting rock formations along the coast. Known locally as ‘jebel’, mountain in Arabic, these small rocky hills lead right into the water's edge. With overhangs and a myriad of cracks and holds, the rocks provide a great place for climbers to practice their bouldering skills. Climbing near the water should only take place at low-tide.

Fuwairit Beach is close to the northern tip of the Qatar peninsula, approximately 100 km from Doha. The journey takes over an hour, and the beach is accessed via the Al Sharma and Fuwairit Roads. The last part of the journey is over a rough dirt track.

Amenities

Take food and plenty of water to this beach as there are no amenities here. Shading is recommended too.

Round and About

Al Ghariyah Public and Swimming beaches are located just to the North of Fuwairit. These are also nice beaches to visit if you are in the area.

Useful Information

• The beach is available 24 hours a day with no entry fees.
• During the weekend, mornings are quieter and less crowded.
• Part of the beach is closed and fenced off, by the Ministry of Environment, from April to August for the turtle nesting season.
• Park on the expanse of flat and before the beach.

Getting There From Doha

1. Head north out of Doha on the Doha Expressway and join the Al Shamal Road;
2. Leave the Al Shamal Road (Exit 79) onto the Fuwairit Road heading east;
3. Just before Fuwairit join the Fuwairit Beach Road, a rough dirt track, which will take you to the beach.

Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea)

Khor Al Adaid, commonly known as the Inland Sea, is one of Qatar’s most beautiful natural wonders. Amid the dry desert, enormous rolling sand dunes, with clear blue skies above, give way to the vivid blue waters of this international treasure.

This inland lagoon is one of the few places in the world where the sea encroaches so deeply into the desert - its unique features making it incomparable with any other lagoonal system anywhere else in the world. The lagoon, which measures 15 km long by 12 km wide, is fed from the sea by a 10 km long, narrow, deep channel, though the lagoon itself is quite shallow.

Astoundingly picturesque, Khor Al Adaid is recognised by UNESCO as a nature reserve with a unique ecosystem. It is home to a variety of birds, land animals, and marine life - some of which have rare or threatened status.

Visitors to the Inland Sea are attracted by the extraordinary and scenic landscape, to relax on the beach, picnic, BBQ, swim, fish, explore the dunes, as well as to stargaze on overnight camping trips. For the more adventurous, there is dune bashing and sand-boarding.

The Inland Sea lies approximately 90 km from Doha to the south-west of Qatar. The southern side of the lake marks the country’s natural border with Suadi Arabia. The beach is accessed via the Sealine Beach Road and the Inland Sea Off-Road. Over 30 km of the route is over desert tracks, desert and sand dunes. So, the best vehicle to travel in is a 4x4. You can do it yourself, but going on an organised tour is probably the safest way.

Amenities

There are no amenities at the Inland Sea so take everything that you need with you, especially if you are planning to camp there. Plenty of water, sunscreen and something for shade are top recommendations.

Round and About

There is plenty to do at Khor Al Adaid. The water is clear, calm and perfect for paddling, swimming and fishing.

However, if you like to explore, there are an abundance of rocky ridges and crags, raised plateaus, coastal sabkha (salt flats), salt hillocks and moving sand dunes to discover.

There is an array of plant life – 40 species not normally found together in a single location; wildlife – lizards, snakes, gazelles, Oryx, camels, flamingos, cormorants, seagulls, terns, ospreys and migrating waterfowl; and, marine life - marine reptiles, crustaceans, molluscs, porpoises, dolphins, Bryde’s whales, fish, turtles and dugong species, coral and seagrass to spot.

And, for a bit of culture, visitors can also take a look at the various archaeological and heritage sites around the area.

Useful Information

• Visiting the Inland Sea is free if you drive there under your own steam. The best time to visit is from November to April.
• Commercial fishing is prohibited, but you can fish for yourself for pleasure.
• Several tour companies offer day and overnight camping trips into the desert. Tour operators offer a variety of amenities and facilities, and activities, for a fee.

Getting There From Doha

1. Head south out of Doha from the Al Corniche onto the Ras Abu Abboud Expressway and G Ring Road;
2. Turn off the G Ring Road, going south, towards Mesaieed;
3. At Mesaieed pick up the Mesaieed City Road;
4. In Mesaieed, at the Mesaieed Souq crossroads, turn right and pick up the Sealine Beach Road;
5. Stay on this road all the way to the Sealine Resort;
6. Drive to the Inland Sea Off Road and continue on it until reaching the Inland Sea - don’t forget to let some air out of your tyres before going off road.

Sealine

Sealine Beach is located at the southern end of the Qatar peninsula just after the town of Mesaieed. The beach, fringed by date trees and set against a backdrop of some impressive dunes, is made up of acres of white sand.

The long sandy beach is very popular with visitors and gets extremely busy on the weekend. People come to picnic and BBQ with family and friends, and to swim in the clear seas. Camel rides, for a fee, are also a popular past-time on the beach.

Behind the beach are towering sand dunes - climb to the top of a perfect view of the sea and the desert.

Sealine Beach is located approximately 50 km south of Doha. The journey takes around 45 minutes and is accessed via the Mesaieed Road and the Sealine Beach Road.

Amenities

There are no amenities such as toilets, showers, shading, cafes and restaurants at the beach, so take everything that you need with you. There are, however, a couple of food kiosks for snacks and fast food.

Round and About

Adjacent to the beach and clustered around the Sealine Beach Resort are several shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as a mosque, an ATM and a petrol station.

You can also rent equipment such as sand boards, dune buggies and quad bikes at the same location. Doha Bus operates a desert safari on a monster bus from a shop next to the resort.

Sealine Resort with its tidy beach, pools, all-day dining and sports facilities, is a great place to stop for lunch. On the weekend you can get Brunch and a Day Pass to use all the facilities.

Regency Sealine Camp is a luxury glamping facility nearby in the desert. If you fancy stopping over for the night, it is a perfect place to try camping like a local.

The Inland Sea, a lagoon amid the desert, fed by the sea, is a relatively short drive south of Sealine Beach. It is a great place to explore, take on the dunes and spend a night camping under the stars.

Useful Information

• The beach is available 24 hours a day with no entry fees.
• Park on the sandy ground at the family beach.
• The beach often suffers from large amounts of litter being left by visitors - there are bins available to help keep the beach clean for everyone.

Getting There From Doha

1. Head south out of Doha from the Al Corniche onto the Ras Abu Abboud Expressway and G Ring Road.
2. Merge onto Mesaieed Road going south.
3. At Mesaieed pick up the Mesaieed City Road.
4. At Mesaieed, at the Souq, turn right and pick up the Sealine Beach Road.
5. Stay on this road all the way to the Seaine Resort.
6. Go straight past the resort down the coast to the public beach.

Zekreet

Zekreet (also known as Ras Abrouq or Bir Zekreet) has two remote beaches – North and West - at the top of the Zekreet peninsula on the west coast of Qatar. Zekreet West Beach is set in a picturesque half-moon bay, while North Beach sits almost at the very tip of Qatar, jutting out into the Persian Gulf.

Zekreet peninsula is one of the most interesting places in Qatar and is full of interesting places to explore. The beaches are clean with clear, turquoise water, shallow at low tide. Each beach has a fair amount of golden sand, though there are plenty of rocks as well. The backdrop to most stretches of beach is made up of striking eroded rock formations, hence the rocky beaches.

Most people travel to this remote destination to explore the unique and fascinating landscape, to spend the day relaxing on its peaceful beaches, or to camp overnight. The beaches are safe for children but are not swimming beaches - instead, they attract many kite and windsurfers. Many people venture out to hike in and climb the rocky hills too.

The beaches are located north of Zekreet village on the west coast about 95 kilometres from Doha. The journey can take up to 2 hours, and the area is accessed via the Dukhan Highway. You can drive to Zekreet in a sedan, but to explore the peninsula, it is recommended that you have a 4x4 vehicle.

Amenities

There are no amenities at Zekreet’s beaches, so take everything that you need with you, especially if you are planning to camp there. Plenty of water, sunscreen and something for shade are highly recommended.

The nearest facilities are in Dukhan.

Round and About

Zekreet’s landscape is made up of open desert, rock and eroded rock formations that create strange and arresting pillars and mesas across the peninsula. Perfect for hiking and climbing, this area has become something of a climbing haven on the weekends.

Some of the rock formations, namely those at Mystery Village just south of West Beach, have small circular huts on top of them. They are part of an abandoned film set from a Qatari soap opera. The rest of the film set is slightly further south. Film City, as it is known, is a replica Arabian city in the middle of the desert. It's a fun place to explore while you're in the area.

Another oddity for the middle of the desert is a piece of modern art by American artist, Richard Serra. The 50ft steel columns run for more than a mile.

Much of the peninsula is designated as a nature reserve, the Brouq National Reserve. You can spot camels, Oryx, gazelle, deer, ostriches and flamingos.

The archaeological remains of Zekreet Fort and also be found outside Zekreet village.

Useful Information

• The beaches are available 24 hours a day with no entry fees.
• Although the beaches are sandy, there are sharp rocks along the beach and under the water, so it is best to wear beach shoes.
• Park on the firm sandy ground at the beach.
• Keep clear of ostriches, in the breeding season they can be aggressive.

Getting There From Doha

1. Head West out of Doha on the Al Rayyan Road and join the Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street;
2. Join the Dukham Highway at Ar Rayyan;
3. Leave the Highway at the major junction after about 55km and join the Zekreet Beach/UNESCO Reserve Road;
4. Head North on the Beach/UNESCO Reserve Road;
5. Bear left after Mystery City to go to Zekreet West Beach and right to go to Zekreet North Beach.

KEEP QATAR’S BEACHES CLEAN - TAKE YOUR RUBBISH AWAY WITH YOU!

Need more facilities on your seaside jaunt or somewhere with something for the kids? Click on the following articles to find out more:

• Best Beaches for Facilities
• Great Family Beaches