Doha – A “Surprise” In The Desert

Today we take a day nonstop flight for Doha, arriving Doha in the afternoon. On arrival, transfer and check into  the hotel. Later in the evening simply absorb the atmosphere of the Middle East. You can take a leisurely stroll  along the promenade, the Doha Corniche, from the museum of Islamic arts to west bay simply enjoying the  view. Here, The permanent art Installation of 7 by Richard Sierra can’t be missed. Also You can capture  the panoramic view of the skyscrapers. The Doha skyline is the most impressive in the world!

Places to Visit: Stroll along the promenade

Today our tour will include…. National Museum of Qatar – An Architectural wonder designed by famous French architect, Jean Nouvel, the National Museum of Qatar is a museum was opened to the public on 28th of March 2019. The design was said to be inspired by the Desert Rose which grows around the original twentieth century palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani who was once the Emir of Qatar.
Post Lunch break we visit Qatar National Library – An Architectural wonder by Rem Koolhaas, which features tiers of marble bookcases set within a single open-plan space. “We designed the space so you can see all the books in a panorama,” said OMA co-founder Rem Koolhaas
In the evening we walk around Souq Waqif & Falcon Souq. Souq Waqif – When you walk down the lively streets of Souq Waqif you’re immediately transported into another time.
Falcon is a status symbol of Qatar, At the Falcon Souq, there are dozens of shops that specialize in falcons.
It’s quite a sight to behold.
Places to Visit: National Museum of Qatar, Qatar National Library, Souq Waqif & Falcon Souq

Our touring today will include The Museum of Islamic Art – Designed by the legendary Chinese-born architect, I. M.  Pei; the same man who created the John F Kennedy Library and the famous glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris. The  Museum of Islamic Art is a museum on one end of seven-kilometer-long Corniche in Doha. To further emphasize on the  importance of this building, I. M. Pei was brought out of retirement at age 91 to design the museum that now has a park,  workshops for schools and the general public, and a library that provides information about Islamic Arts in English and  Arabic languages. The Museum occupies an area of 45,000 meter square on an artificial peninsula on the south-end of Doha  Bay.
Post lunch break… Our next halt shall be Abdulla Islamic Cultural Center features a mosque with lectures and Arabic  language classes coupled with educational trips. It is one of the most famous places in Qatar, thanks to the promotion of the  country’s culture and religion. The spiral shape of the minaret is the standout out feature of this iconic building and it not  only makes the building beautiful, it makes it stand out among other surrounding structures.
In the evening we try a dhow cruise around the bay for a different vantage point.

Places to visit… The Museum of Islamic Art, Abdulla Islamic Cultural Center & Dhow cruise around the bay
Places to Visit: Stroll along the promenade

Today we have long list of places to visit and drive past. We begin with The Pearl Qatar – a man-made island that  became the epitome of luxury. You can see here how the wealthy are living. The yachts, high-end stores and villas in  gated communities give you an interesting insight into how the upper-class lives. Our next halt shall be at The Katara  Cultural Village, also known as the Valley of Cultures and is the number one place to visit for all thespians, art and  architecture enthusiasts, as well as for people passionate about learning other traditions. Later on the way back to city  center we take a short halt at The Barzan Towers – the recently restored towers were built between 1910 and 1916.  Barzan means ‘the high place’ and the towers may have served as a lookout to protect local water sources and as an  observatory to determine the dates of the lunar calendar.
During the drive past many interesting architectural designs…. Aspire Tower, Barjeel Tower, Pigeon Towers, Tornado Tower & Burj Doha Our next halt shall be at The Aspire Park – a visionary project which has brought the much-needed greenery right in the  city surrounded by vast desert. A very big park with an artificial lake and plenty of walking and jogging space. And the last  place to visit… walkable from Aspire Park – The Villaggio Mall – the biggest and the world class shopping destination in  Doha, The interior of the mall is Venetian themed with a 150-meter long indoor canal with gondolas. The Mall is so big that  it will take few hours to explore all of the shops, which range from normal retail to high-end luxury products.

Places to visit… The Pearl Qatar, The Katara Cultural Village, The Barzan Towers, The Aspire Park, The  Villaggio Mall
Places to Visit: Stroll along the promenade

After breakfast, we leave for airport to board the flight to hometown. Tour concludes.