MIDDLE EAST QATAR DESTINATIONS


Q


atar doesn’t do anything by halves, with mindboggling


levels of wealth and enormous oil and gas reserves making it the richest country in the world by quite some distance. So the fact that it has holidays


to suit every extreme, from daredevils who fancy speeding down sand dunes to spa lovers who want to be primped and pampered at every turn, is only to be expected. It’s relatively under-served by


leisure operators compared with its Middle East neighbours, and still predominantly used as a stopover rather than a standalone destination. But with 73 Qatar Airways flights from the UK to Doha each week – including a new eight-times-a-week service from Birmingham, starting March 30 – there are plenty of ways to work a short stopover in Doha into a longer holiday. For clients en route to a busy


itinerary in Australia or the Far East, Qatar can provide a relaxing pre or post-tour contrast, while those set for a beach stay in the Maldives can complement it with a couple of busier days devoted to sightseeing and activities.


QATAR


Take life as easy as you like in this stopover spot @Katie_McGonagle


w PAUSE: TAKE IT EASY Sightseeing: Doha is home to 90% of Qatar’s residents – with expats outnumbering the locals by five to one – so its manageable size means there’s no need to rush from one attraction to the next. One of the gentlest ways to enjoy the sights without having to lift a finger is a dhow cruise around the bay on a traditional sailing vessel of the type once used by pearl fishermen. It’s pleasant by day – provided


it’s not too hot – but the bay really comes to life at night,


25 February 2016 travelweekly.co.uk 53


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