Updated 7 November 2026. These are places we visited while living in Qatar, rather than a guarantee of current access. Some stops involve protected heritage, rough ground or desert driving. Check current entry rules and weather, and choose outings that suit your family.

In this article I’m going to show you 11 things to do outside of Doha, Qatar, that we have personally been to.  Qatar has the advantage of being quite a small and accessible country. So you can easily jump in your car and visit a lot of these in one go. I will list them in no particular order and I’ll also pin each place so you can easily find them. 

If you’d like to watch our video on “11 Things to do outside of Doha” instead, head HERE now.

Just a quick note before we get started, most of these are remote open places to visit which means there are no facilities nearby. So, you will need to make sure you have a full tank of petrol, a ton of water and food for your visits. Additionally, don’t forget a rubbish bag to ensure all the rubbish you bring with you, leaves with you. 

1. Abandoned Villages

Qatars history pre oil relied on fishing and pearling, and yes, you can go to the museums and view artefacts and learn about the history. But what better way to take it all in than by driving up north and visiting some of its abandoned villages. 

The villages used to be inhabited by fisherman and pearl divers as late as the the 1970’s. Once the first oil reservoir was found under Qatari soil, people no longer had to face the daily hardships of life out there. As you can see, the villages were abandoned and forgotten, the harsh weather took care of the rest. 

There are a lot  to choose some of them being Al jemail, Al Khuwair, Al Ghariya, and Al Arish , being one of the largest with approximately 40 buildings in all.

The drive out here is roughly 1.5 hours long so come prepared to make a day of it.

2. Musfur Sinkhole

Dahl Al Misfir, also written as Musfur Sinkhole, is a natural cave west of Doha. Visit Qatar describes it as about 40 metres deep. The approach involves off-road driving, for which a 4×4 is recommended. The cave has loose rocks and steep drops, and official guidance advises against visiting with small children. Although our boys went down on our old visit, we no longer recommend repeating that as a family activity.

Do not climb fences, ignore closure signs or descend beyond your ability. If access or conditions are uncertain, choose another stop.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/cPMqXsAdAkHSXXFD9

3. Singing Sand Dunes

The singing sand dunes is a natural phenomenon where moving the sand in the sand dune produces an audible sound. Essentially, as the grains of sand collide and roll around each other they produce tiny shocks, put these shocks all together and you have a singing sand dune.

The sound depends on the sand and conditions, so it is not guaranteed on every visit. We enjoyed this area for its desert scenery as well as the unusual natural phenomenon.

This also has to be one of my favourite places to watch the sunset here in Qatar. Admiring the sand dunes and vast desert as the light changes over the landscape is a beautiful experience. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/LmvjJ9b8WXPYsuH19

4. Al Thakira Mangrove Forest

If you are looking for a quiet and peaceful green spot to relax at, you must visit the Al Thakira mangroves forest.

A guided kayak outing can be a way to see the mangroves without trampling their roots. Use an operator who provides suitable equipment and respects the habitat. Check tides and local access before visiting; we do not treat this area as a supervised swimming spot.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/WYqz2AxFCHC5y4Wb6

5. Zubarah Fort and Ruins

Just over 100km from doha you will find Qatars largest Unesco world heritage site. Al Zubarah was a thriving pearl fishing and trading port and it’s one of the best-preserved examples of a 18th and 19th centuries Gulf merchant town. 

Al Zubarah Fort and the archaeological site offer an introduction to the former trading settlement. Qatar Museums now lists the site as ticketed. Check current opening hours, visitor categories and the areas accessible on your date.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/UxdTXiNbTt67CUfi9

6. Beaches

Not many people arrive in Qatar knowing about its amazing beaches, particularly since they are mainly a fair drive away from its capital city. 

However, from turquoise water to fine sand beaches, with or without facilities, family friendly or single, close by or remote, paid or free, there’s something out here for everyone.

Some of our favourites are Fuwairit Beach, Dukhan beach, Azerbajaini Beach Maroona beach and Wakra beach. 

7. EAST-WEST / WEST-EAST

Located a 1.5 hour drive from doha, off roading into the vast desert, you will find a quite unusual and unique art installation by Richard Serra. 

The sculpture, named East-West West-East, was installed in 2014 and it appears in an empty corridor between limestone cliffs. This monument features four monolithic steel plates 10 cm thick, towering between 14.7 and 16.7 m tall. The four steel plates are precisely aligned and because they are adjusted for the topography, they are all level with each other.

They really bring a stunning perspective to the vastness of the environment. I truly recommend reading up on Richard Serra’s vision and process before visiting as there is no information on site.

Also while you are here, make sure to pack your walking shoes and take some time to check out the mushroom-like rock formations of Zekreet. Our boys had the best time Climbing and we even camped here for a night. The landscape is truly magnificent. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/wZDuw9VtxesAyTiQA

8. Purple Island

Purple island, also known as al Khor island, is the perfect spot for nature lovers to visit. The name Purple Island, comes from this islands history as a prominent site for dye production, particularly purple dye. The purple dye was extracted from crushed molluscs found in the area. 

Purple Island is near Al Khor, north of Doha. The official visitor page includes the correct location and directions. Check access and tides before visiting, wear suitable footwear and bring supplies; do not assume every route is suitable for every vehicle.

Location: Purple Island: official location and directions

9. Inland Sea

Located nearly 100km from Doha, you will find Qatars most popular and extraordinary camping spot. This shallow salty inlet lies between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and it is surrounded by breathtaking sand dunes. This is a true place where the sand dunes meet the sea. 

Reaching the Inland Sea involves desert driving. Use a suitable 4×4 and an experienced local driver or reputable tour operator; do not interpret an informal route called a “highway” as a paved or straightforward public road. Check weather, tides, access restrictions and your vehicle’s insurance conditions.

If you’d like to know more about the Inland Sea and camping there, watch this video HERE.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/qmjPSccEDzSwjpJ79

10. Al Jassasiya Petroglyphs

Al Jassasiya is the most impressive of a dozen rock-carving sites in Qatar and located just over an hours drive from Doha. Rock carvings, known as ‘petroglyphs’, can be found along the coast of Qatar. The limestone carvings consist mainly of cup marks, boats, footprints and enigmatic symbols and signs.

The petroglyphs are located in a very vast area so they are not very easy to find. The site does not yet have markings or signs for visitors or clear paths. However, it is an excellent place to come and explore, and  you are sure to find some along the way.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/h4jmW2GGVfQm2QJQ8

11. Umm Bab Clay Quarry 

The clay quarry is a record of our past visit, not a recommendation to enter a working or restricted industrial site. We have not verified current public access or ground stability. Do not enter without permission or climb the excavated towers; choose another destination if access is unclear.

The drive here is over one hour long from Doha. This place is the result of human excavation so although this is not a natural place, it is still super cool to see. For some strange reason, when the operators first started excavating, they did so around the existing trees. This then continued to be duplicated through out the site. As you can see, now the place has been left with clay towers about 5-10 meters high with solitary trees standing at the top.

If you’d like to see more, we share our visit to the Umm Bab Clay Quarry HERE. 

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/LQeNSCikJBzbgHa4A

Last Things to Consider

Lastly, please don’t forget to leave each location how you found it and to bring back all your rubbish with you. Unfortunately, a lot of these places are plagued by plastic bottles and other rubbish. So let’s all do our best to look after these destinations.

I hope you have enjoyed our list. If you know of any other must see places outside of Doha, please leave us a comment below and we will make sure to add it to our to do list . 

If you’d like to know more about our experience in Qatar, make sure to read Our First Impressions of Qatar.

Watch our original day-trip ideas

The video preserves our original experience. The corrected access and family-safety information above should take priority over older comments in the footage.