DESTINATIONS QATAR MIDDLE EAST
when the towering skyline lights up in a rainbow of colours, offering an unmistakeable contrast between Qatar’s contemporary, business-like face on one bank and its nod towards traditional architecture on the other. Local destination management company Travel Designer offers a two-hour dhow cruise with a barbecue from £22 for adults or £13 per child. Alternatively, try a gentle stroll along
the Corniche or, for an exciting way to get your bearings, take to the skies for a helicopter ride over Doha and see the West Bay skyline, man-made Pearl- Qatar island and the city centre all in one go (from £171 through local operator Qatar International Adventures). Spa: Fans of aromatherapy massages or sea-salt scrubs might not think they owe much to the world of football, but Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup – as well as sparking controversy in sporting circles – has prompted a boom in luxury hotel construction. New openings in the past couple of years have included the Shangri-La Hotel Doha, Marsa Malaz Kempinski on The Pearl, Meliá Doha, Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, plus The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa which opened its doors earlier this month. As befits these international brands,
many have a strong bent towards wellbeing. The Anantara resort, for example, is set on a private banana-
shaped island, a 20-minute boat ride from Doha, and has separate spa and wellness centres, with the former focusing on massage, beauty therapies and an array of spa treatments, while the latter offers longer programmes dedicated to detox, fitness and weight management. Culture: The Middle East often gets a bad rap for its relative lack of arts and culture, but the excellent Museum of Islamic Art should silence any critics. It’s worth a visit for the inspiring architecture alone – Louvre designer I M Pei came out of retirement to work on the project, taking his cue from traditional Arabian motifs – with a multi-storey entrance hall that is as striking as any New York or Paris gallery, and a jaw-dropping view across the West Bay. Inside, the displays range from Islamic art and Arabian folklore to
gold-embossed Chinese dragons and jewels and textiles from India, including some from Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal. Alternatively, Katara Cultural Village
hosts plays, concerts, film festivals and more, with a public beach suited to a relaxing-yet-educational day out.
w PLAY: FEEL THE HIGH Adventure: Dune-bashing isn’t exactly new territory for the Middle East, but dune-bashing along near-deserted stretches of sand with a sea view on the side is another story entirely. Rather than being right in the heart of the desert, as in some neighbouring destinations, here most dune-bashing excursions take place along the coast about an hour from Doha, revealing
ABOVE: Desert safari
LEFT: Banana Island Resort Doha BELOW: Central Doha
SAMPLE PRODUCT
Abercrombie & Kent offers five nights in a deluxe sea view room
at Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara from £1,495, including breakfast, BA flights and private transfers.
abercrombie
kent.co.uk
54
travelweekly.co.uk 25 February 2016
FAST FACT
The largest Nobu in the world opened at the Four Seasons Doha last year
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