We’ve just made it past one of the hottest summers on record and autumn couldn’t come soon enough. No longer limited to the confines of air-conditioned spaces, there’s a real sense of freedom that only comes with the feel of cooler temperatures outside. But once out, what do you do next? We got that covered for you as we’ve explored various options whether that’s in and around the city or if you’re in the mood to venture further away, there’s always something fun to do.

CITY LIVING

Step Out

Among life’s simplest pleasures, stepping outside for a walk when the weather is pleasant undoubtedly ranks high on the list. The various knock-on health benefits related to walking aside, just stepping away from our desks and not staring at screens for an uninterrupted period, whether that be a quick 30 minutes to an hour or more, boosts your overall mood. It’s a quick and easy daily fix we could all use! Luckily for us in Doha, there are several good walking routes dotted around the city, such as: Aspire Park, Al Bidda Park, Al Khor Corniche, Dafna Park, Katara Hills, Oxygen Park and Hotel Park. Additionally, for those with pets it’s the best opportunity to take your furry friends outside and get them some much-needed exercise and it also opens opportunities to meet and socialise with other pet owners.
GO: Do check the park or location’s own information regarding timings, rules, etc, before visiting.

Best Foot Forward

For those looking to up the intensity, there’s no better way to kick off your day than to head outside for a run. So, lace up your trainers, grab a bottle of water and don’t forget to put on some sunscreen (yes, you will need it even on the seemingly coolest of days). The endorphins alone will make the early start worth it as you then settle into your regular schedule for the day energised and ready to tackle whatever comes your way. Again, the various locations mentioned before double up as great options to head on out to for a run, but other good choices include Crescent Park, Doha Corniche and Al Gharrafa Park (which offers temperaturecontrolled tunnels). GO: For those who prefer to run along with company, joining a running club is the perfect solution.
Check out @qtrrun, @qtrrun.ladies, @vrc.qa on Instagram, and @dohabayrunningclub or Doha-She Runs This Town on Facebook for more information.

Wheels of Steel

Shifting gears! Qatar over the years has undergone a steady transformation and has become much more cycling-friendly, you can now find many dedicated bicycle routes emerging across the city thanks to the focused efforts by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). Some of the best routes include the Olympic Cycling Track, Doha Festival City Cycling Track, C-Ring Road to Hamad International Airport route, and the Lusail International Circuit that opens its doors to cyclists, walkers, and runners on Tuesdays (women and children only) and Wednesdays.
GO: For those interested in joining a cycling club visit the Facebook pages of Qatar Cycling Club, Qatar Cycling Community, and the Doha ChiQlistas (women only) for more information.

On The Up

Climbing is an immensely exciting and challenging way to push your body and mind through the process of moving in a completely new way, since it’s not often we come across an object that requires us to vertically scale it! Located at Aspire Zone, EsQalar Sports is the only climbing facility in Qatar which offers climbing programmes tailored for people of all ages and different levels. Whether a beginner or an expert, a kid or an adult, you are guaranteed to have a fun experience. The company runs daily classes for adults and kids. But if you’re a total beginner they also offer a trial session/one hour session at QR50 for two climbs per person and one hour session with unlimited climbing for QR150 per adult and QR100 per child, the packages include gear and instructor.
GO: Visit @esqalarsports on Instagram for more information. Advance booking is necessary.

Hit The Green

Fancy getting in a swing? Then spending a day playing golf on one of the many meticulously manicured greens in Qatar is an ideal way to truly make most of the pleasant weather. Visit the Championship course at Doha Golf Club that’s a treat for players of all levels or the nine-hole floodlit one that affords stunning views of West Bay Lagoon. Another great option providing a world-class golfing experience is the Education City Golf Club where you’ll find three distinct courses – an 18- hole Championship course, a nine-hole par-three course, and a captivating six-hole Championship course, giving golfers varying levels of challenge. Moreover, it also boasts a state-ofthe-art training facility that’s equipped with an array of advanced tools designed to refine every aspect of a golfer’s game.
GO: Visit www.dohagolfclub.com and www.ecgolf.com for more information.

Need Some Speed?

Still reeling from the electrifying Qatar Grand Prix that took place last month? How about experiencing a sliver of that high-speed excitement for yourself as you get behind the wheel of a gokart and blaze around the circuit in an attempt to set a new lap record. The Lusail Circuit Sports Club is the ideal place to enjoy a genuine racing experience on an amazing outdoor track that’s situated in a bend of the official motor racing circuit! Also, there’s a separate racing track for kids. So, get your family and friends together and prepare to experience a thrilling karting session. Its open on Thursdays and Fridays from 5pm to 10pm. For adults, a 12-minute karting session is priced at QR125, while for kids a 10-minute session is QR50. Online booking is necessary.
GO: Visit www.lcsc.qa/karting or @lusailcircuit on Instagram for more information.

Wet and Wild

With the blistering summer heat now behind us and before the actual chill of winter arrives, we find ourselves in a very specific sweet spot that allows for water parks to become a superappealing choice for a great day out with the entire family. Fortunately for us, located within the Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas is one of the largest theme parks in the Middle East – The Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park. Featuring 19 wonderful attractions with more than 30 different rides and slides including the Whizzard Mat Race, Surf Dunes, Wave Pool and its signature ride The King Cobra, there’s unlimited fun to be had. The park is open from 10am to 5pm and tickets are priced at QR195 for adults, QR150 for kids and QR500 for a family of four.
GO: Visit www.salwabeachresort.qa/en/desert-falls-wateradventure-park/ for more information.

DESERT DAYS

Bash That Beast

Stepping away from the city, the desert provides another interesting possibility to explore and try experiences you may not have previously considered. Dune bashing is an immensely thrilling and adrenaline-charged activity. Jump into a 4×4 vehicle and crash through and ride over the golden sands of the breathtaking Qatari desert. There’ll also be a timely break for tea and you may even spot Saudi Arabia far over the horizon, and truly take in the beautiful sun-soaked surroundings. Qatar Gold Dune Safari organises regular trips that are four hours long and also provide a convenient hotel, port or airport pickup and dropoff service for packages priced around QR300.
GO: Look up Qatar Gold Dune Safari for more information and to make bookings.

Do It All

Why just be a passenger when you can take things into your own hands! Hop on a dune buggy and head out into expansive desert and start your cruise across the large dunes. Or make things even more fun and try sandboarding, yeah you read that right. This activity seamlessly blends surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding in a unique way and the outcome is you finally living out your extreme sports dream. Or take a step back and experience the desert from the back of a camel and get a glimpse of how life was for a Bedouin or a nomad. Check out Falcon Tours Qatar for all these activities in various different packages and also do a really cool night-time tour.
GO: Visit www.falcontoursqatar.com for more information or to make bookings.

Under Canvas

Whether a native or an expat, you haven’t truly experienced Qatar if you haven’t tried camping in the country’s vast desert region. A hallmark of the natural beauty of the Middle East, go properly prepared and you might just be lucky enough to have a wonderful and unforgettable experience.. Desert camping is an adventure for those who like to try new things and once there, you’re sure to get in touch with nature, encounter wildlife and see the stars in the sky like never before, there’s nothing quite like it! Gather your tribe and make arrangements yourselves to camp close to the impressive Inland Sea or Khor Al Adaid, a UNESCO recognised site, that lies to the south of the city, and is one of the few places in the world where the sea encroaches into the desert, an amazing sight to behold! Or pick a tour company and you can go glamping in style with everything from accommodation, food and activities on tap.
GO: Visit www.arabian-adventures.com, www.desertsafaridoha.com or www.regencysealinecamp.com for more information or to make a booking.

ALL AT SEA

Take To The Waves

A great way to get outside, get fit and have an absolute blast while doing it is Kitesurfing! This is one of those rare activities that gives you a first-hand understanding of the power of wind and then simultaneously allows you to control that power and generate speed to surf the face of a wave with minimum pressure. Pull this off and you’ll be reeling with an immense feeling of awe and freedom, so why not give it a try! But where? One answer is Fuwairit Kite Beach, a paradise for kite surfers that earlier this year hosted the Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup 2023, it doesn’t get more legit than this. Located an easy hour’s drive north of Doha or Hamad International Airport, Fuwairit Kite Beach offers accommodation and lessons for kitesurfing enthusiasts from those who are new all the way through to seasoned professionals.
GO: Visit https://fkb.qa/ for more information or to make a booking.

All A Board

As a peninsula surrounded by the Arabian Sea, Qatar is an ideal location to experience some of the best water sports. So, dive right in and try something new! Both wakeboarding and wake surfing let riders’ trail behind a boat, riding the boat’s wake. Check out Code Wake a leading wake surf and wakeboard centre in Qatar that has licensed instructors, new boats and quality equipment. Based in Porto Arabia on the Pearl, they offer lessons priced at QR700 to beginners as well as professionals and also offer ladies only sessions with a female coach and instructor. On the other hand, if you’re a person that enjoys taking things slow and experiencing everything around you in a more gentle way, then kayaking might just be what you’re looking for! It’s the best way to explore the flora and fauna of the country’s magnificent natural reserves at the Inland Sea, Al Thakira Mangroves and Purple Island (Al Khor Island). Tour operators offer sunrise and moonlit trips along with training, equipment and guides. You can book your experience with AquaSports Qatar with different packages for adults and kids.
GO: Visit https://code-wake.com/ and www.aquasportsq.com for more information or to make a booking.

Underwater Adventures

Fancy heading beneath the waves? Get your dive suit on and head for the horizon. Qatar is lucky to have the manmade GMC Reef which was launched in 2018 and attracts all manner of marine life and there are also a couple of offshore wrecks, the Pericles and the Mo. The country also offers the unique experience of the Inland Sea, where the dunes meet the water – an opportunity for a spot of dune bashing before you head underwater where you’re likely to spot Arabian blue angel fish and barracuda.
GO: Check out alghaisdiving.com and 365adventures.me for lessons and dive trips.

UP ABOVE

A Flying Bike

This one’s for the true adventure enthusiasts. Get ready to paratrike – a uniquely fascinating experience that’s a heady mix of calmness and adrenaline. A paratrike uses a tricycle that’s connected to a large paraglider that’s attached to a motorised propeller that then (I’m sure you already know where this is going) lets you take flight! The tricycle can have one or two seats depending on whether it’s for individual flights or two people together – don’t worry you can ride with a professional pilot. All that’s left is for you to do is lay back in your seat, once you gather your nerves, and enjoy the bird’s eye view. Sky Masters Sports Club are the leading providers of aerial adventures in Qatar. They run in two shifts from sunrise to 9am and then 2pm to sunset at Sealine Beach from Monday to Saturday and offer 10-minute, 20-minute and 30-minute rides at QR600, QR1,000 and QR1,400 respectively. The experience is available for everybody and doesn’t require any prior know how or special physical fitness. There’s also an option to fly with four friends at the same time, other than the usual two-person flight option.
GO: Visit https://skymasters.qa/ or skymasters.qa on Instagram for more information or to make a booking.

Up, Up And Away

If touching the sky is what you’ve always wanted to do, then why not do that and experience a sunrise like never before as you sail the Arabian skies on a hot air balloon ride. This offers a unique perspective of the world below that’s second to none, giving breathtaking views of Qatar’s landscapes and scenery that can’t be witnessed from anywhere else. Whether it’s your first time soaring in a hot air balloon or you’re a returning adventurer, the experience as a whole and the sights of natural beauty that you behold will never fail to astonish you. Check out the hot air balloon packages offered by Asfary that let you take to the skies and enjoy picturesque panoramic views for 45-minutes.
GO: Visit https://asfary.com for more information or to make a booking.