If you’ve read my previous posts, you already know I went to Qatar and had a short but great time. If you’re just catching up, welcome. Read all Qatar posts here. On my 3rd day of the trip, I went for the afternoon/evening Qatar Desert safari.
If you would rather skip reading entirely, go watch the vlog now to see all the action from that day.
Now let’s talk about the Qatar desert safari!
First, I Almost Didn’t Make It…
I was running late and literally running in 40°C Doha heat. You know how people say the early bird catches the worm? I was the very late bird that day. I missed the train, had to wait for the next one, and was counting down every single minute, hoping the tour group would be kind enough to wait.
I had booked a group tour, so my pickup point wasn’t my hotel; it was the Qatar National Museum. I had actually visited the museum the day before, so I figured finding the group would be straightforward. It was not. The map (pickup link sent) directed me to the wrong exit and I spent a good 15 minutes going in and out of that station, calling the tour company with help from a very patient metro attendant, before I finally found them at the actual museum entrance.
By the time I joined everyone, I had already lost about 15 minutes of my life to confusion and mild panic, so I didn’t even bother filming the start. We just set off.
If you’re planning to do the same tour and you’re coming by metro, here’s what I wish someone had told me: take the National Museum metro exit, turn left, and the vehicle will be right there by the roundabout. You’re welcome.
What Happens Before the Qatar Desert Safari Actually Starts
Our first stop was a staging area before the actual dunes – a shaded, tent-like structure where we waited while the team deflated the tyres on the 4×4 vehicles. Apparently, this is necessary because lower tyre pressure helps the vehicle grip the sand better during the dune bashing. I didn’t know this before, now i know.
Some people grabbed tea while we waited. Given that it was 40 degrees and I had already been under the sun too long, I stuck to my drinking water bottle. Qatar weather does not joke, and if you’re going during the summer, please carry water everywhere. Stay hydrated!
Dune Bashing in Qatar: Nothing Could Have Prepared Me!
So I genuinely thought the Qatar desert safari dune bashing was going to be a casual drive over a few dunes. Like a bumpy road trip, maybe. I kept thinking, okay, we’ll go over a couple of dunes and head back. I was so wrong.
Dune bashing in Qatar is an entire experience. The driver takes the 4×4 up steep dunes and drops down the other side at angles that make your stomach leave your body. It’s wild. It’s fast. It’s the kind of thing where you look at the person next to you like “are we actually okay?” and they’re just laughing. I had no words.
If you’re prone to motion sickness, please take something before you go. If you love adrenaline, you will absolutely love this. It was chaotic in the best possible way and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Khor Al Adaid: Qatar’s Inland Sea
At some point during the dune bashing, we caught a glimpse of water in the distance, and I genuinely did a double-take. Water? In the middle of the desert? Yes.
That’s Khor Al Adaid, also called the Inland Sea. It’s an inlet of the Persian Gulf that cuts right into the southeastern corner of Qatar, on the border with Saudi Arabia. The dunes surround the water, and it is one of the most surreal, beautiful things I have ever seen with my own eyes. We could also see white salt deposits on the ground around it.
We first saw it from above while still in the vehicle, and then later got to go all the way down to the water’s edge. The breeze there was something else – strong enough that I genuinely joked it was trying to carry me away. I stood there for a while just taking it in because nothing I’d seen in photos had prepared me for it in real life.
Sand Boarding: I Crashed and I’m Not Ashamed!
After the Inland Sea, we headed to the sandboarding section. Think snowboarding but on sand dunes, and trust me when I say it looks easier than it is.
I was feeling very confident going down the slope. And then I made the mistake of trying to raise one hand to do a little something for the camera. One hand. That’s all it took. I crashed dramatically!
Here is what I learned: if both your hands are on the board, you land safely. The moment you lift even one hand, you are going down. Everyone who kept their hands on the board was fine. The rest of us, myself included, became scapegoats. Would I do it again? Yes. But I will keep both hands firmly in place next time.
Camel Rides, Quad Bikes & Heading Back
After the sandboarding, we moved to another part of the desert where you could also do camel rides or quad biking. Nobody in our group opted for either, but they’re available and honestly, if you have the time and energy, why not? It’s the desert, you might as well go all the way.
After that, we started heading back to the city. It had been such a full day, and I genuinely couldn’t believe how much we’d seen and done. If you are looking for things to do in Doha Qatar, here are more!
Things To Do in Doha Qatar
How to Book the Same Tour For Your Qatar Desert Safari
If you’re visiting Doha and want to book this particular Qatar desert safari, I’ve got you covered. I booked via Expedia, but later realised they were also on GetYourGuide. You can use the platform that works best for you. Book here on GetYourGuide or here on Expedia.
If you’re doing hotel pickup, that’s probably the easiest option. If you’re meeting at the National Museum, as I did, take the National Museum metro exit, turn left, and the vehicle will be right there by the roundabout.
The South Korean Food Experience I Wasn’t Fully Ready For
After the desert safari, I was back on Al Jazeera Street where my hotel was, and I decided to finally eat South Korean food for the first time. I had been wanting to try it, and this felt like the perfect opportunity.
The restaurant was small and simple, nothing too fancy but I walked in excited. Here’s my honest, unfiltered review: The iced tea? Amazing. Cold and refreshing and exactly what I needed after a full day in the heat.
The prawns were interesting! They were buttered in a way I wasn’t expecting because the prawns I eat in Nigeria are just regular seasoned prawns. I ate them, but I had to mentally adjust.
The kimchi, though. Listen. I don’t like cabbage. I have never liked cabbage. Kimchi is fermented cabbage. I tried it, I respect it, but it’s not for me.
The soup was okay, but nothing that wowed me. I think I’d need to try South Korean food at a few more places before I can properly rate it because one restaurant isn’t enough of a sample.
Then the chopsticks saga. I tried to use the chopsticks because I wanted the local experience. They gave me traditional chopsticks – the kind that aren’t joined together at the top like the ones you sometimes get in some restaurants. I had to hold them myself, and it was not going well. I asked for help, they split it into two separate sticks, and then I had to figure it out on my own. I struggled. I tried. I eventually went back to the spoon. No shame. Payment was very easy and contactless, tap and done, which I appreciated.
Al Jazeera Street Doha After Dark
Since it was my last night in Doha, I decided to walk the full length of Al Jazeera Street. I had been going in one direction the whole trip and wanted to see what I’d been missing. Turns out, a lot.
This street has everything! hotels, restaurants, skincare stores, fashion boutiques. It’s busy and lively at almost any time and you can walk around comfortably regardless of the hour. I spotted La Maison Hotel , Millennium Plaza Doha and a bunch of other spots I would love to explore on a longer visit. If you’re planning a Doha trip and need a hotel with everything nearby, Al Jazeera Street is a solid base.
I Really Didn’t Want to Leave
I have to be honest, I didn’t want to leave. The Qatar desert safari alone was worth the trip. Doha got me good. Transportation is affordable, you can walk around at any hour and feel completely safe, the food scene is diverse, and there’s always something to do or see.
I love the Qatar stopover programme. If you’re flying Qatar Airways, you can book the Qatar stopover programme directly on their website and get to spend 4 days in Qatar at a fraction of the cost, however, certain nationalities may have to do this via an Agent. I plan to keep doing this every single time I pass through Doha and go to different spots each visit until I’ve covered everything.
I left for the airport two hours before my 7:45 am flight because it was my first time flying out of Hamad International Airport and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Better early than late.
I also made a video about my Qatar Airways flight back to Lagos, Nigeria – my very first time flying them.
If you want to see all of these in action, Subscribe so you don’t miss my travel vlogs if you haven’t already. Like the video and drop a comment.
Have you been to Qatar? Are you planning to go? Let me know below!
