VIDEO: Have you gone camping in Qatar?
Have you ever gone camping in Qatar before? The country’s vast deserts make it an ideal place for camping. The winter camping season generally runs between the cooler months of October and April.
The most popular means of camping in Qatar is organised tours. Several reputed companies offer desert camping experiences in a safe and secure environment. Such trips are more advisable for short-term visitors and newbies. They get to live the excitement of the desert minus possible hardships.
A second way to camp in the desert, more popular among resident Qataris, is by erecting semi-permanent winter camps along the coast (for which a license is required).
Such winter desert camps are just like weekend cottages in Europe, licensed and maintained by the government. Such campsites will have all modern amenities like water tanks, generators, and other comforts of home.
And then there’s the third way, the most exciting of all — camping by yourself. In the true tradition of Bedouins, you can follow the stars and prepare your own camp. But it is always advisable to go in groups and have people with prior camping experience with you.
Pitching a tent in Qatar’s deserts is not as difficult as in other parts of the world and security is mostly never a concern.
There are several great areas to camp in Qatar.
Ras Abrouq peninsula
Located in the north of Dukhan on the east coast, it’s a great place to pitch tent. The landscape is filled with white limestone structures and shallow seas ideal for swimming.
Inland sea
The inland sea at Khor Al Adaid is an hour’s drive away from the industrial city of Mesaieed. The only downside is that you will need a four-wheel drive to go on this trip.
Umm Tais National Park
It is filled with flat and sandy beaches. It is also a favourite spot for kite surfers. For the history buffs, there’re plenty of archeological sites to see.
So are you feeling adventurous yet? Make sure you have these items with you when you go camping. This is just a basic checklist and in no way exhaustive.
- 1. Tent with pegs
- 2. Sleeping bags
- 3. Air mattresses
- 4. Cooler
- 5. Barbecue and charcoal briquettes
- 6. Cooking utensils, dishes, cups, mugs
- 7. First aid kit
- 8. Sunscreen
- 9. Bug spray,
10.Torches/flashlights
11.Canopy for shade
12.Tow rope
13.Shovel
14.Smartphone or GPS device
15.Mobile phone car charger
The most impotant thing, campers shall leave NO TRACE on their camp sites!!!
No waste, no plastics, no bones, no soda cans, no mineral water bottle, damaged items (chairs, tents, etc.) and anything else
most importantly your car should be in good shape for desert (4x4) but GPS will be challenge in here..
Smartphone or GPS device, mobile phone, car charger, torches/flashlights, cooler.
Indeed, true Bedouins used to have these things for ages. But the most important is drinking water!