Doha tour from Qatar Airways. Transfer in Qatar: what to do, what to try, how to behave. Should unaccompanied girls go out into the city

Bus tours from Doha to Umm Salal Ali are very popular. This is an archaeological area with burial mounds and mounds dating back to 3000 BC. They were left by ancient pre-Islamic tribes, and now more and more exhibits are being discovered during excavations.

Excursion to Al Khor

Be sure to visit Al-Khor - an open-air museum with mosques and towers, which, after restoration, were returned to their original appearance. From Al Khor, a very beautiful panorama of the ocean shore opens up, and nearby you can walk along Al Yasssia - this is a very beautiful natural landmark with rocky hills, wonderful landscapes and examples of rock art.

Cruise

If you want to get the maximum of pleasant impressions from the excursion, we advise you to give preference to the cruise. The traditional cruise program from Doha is a day cruise to Al Safaliyan Island. There is a similar route for the night - a romantic cruise with enjoying the lights of the night city and swimming in the open ocean. If you like fishing, you can go on a day tour "Fishing in the Persian Gulf".

Doha city tour

For transit passengers at Hamid Airport in Doha, the Doha City Tour is available, which visits the 4 most important

I fly a lot - I have at least 50 flights a year, so I know different life hacks from airlines, travel agencies and airports. Where to save money, where you can get something for free or as a gift. I'll try to write more about this.

So, I had to get from Ufa to Cape Town. The shortest flight - with two transfers, one is obligatory in Moscow. I chose to fly with Qatar Airways as the ticket was the cheapest - about 35 thousand. The journey took about 45 hours in total with a second transfer in Doha. There were two transfer options to choose from - 7 hours 50 minutes and 10 hours. I chose the second one and now I will explain why.

1. How to get a free hotel:

We go to the official website of the airlines:

For transit passengers with long-term connections at Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways provides hotel accommodation, visa processing, transfer and catering services.

This service is provided only subject to the following conditions:

• Forced connection (there are no other Qatar Airways flights with a connection less than 8 hours).
• Transit time in Doha is between 8 and 24 hours.
• The itinerary does not include departures or arrivals from the following cities: Abu Dhabi (AUH), Bahrain (BAH), Dubai (DXB), Dubai (DWC), Kuwait (KWI), Muscat (MCT), Ras Al Khaimah (RKT) and Sharjah (SHJ).

Unfortunately, the hotel was not supposed to be for me, as the cunning Arabs made the connection 7 hours and 50 minutes. For 10 minutes more docking - and I would have a hotel, a transfer, and food.

Interestingly, information about the free tour is not presented on the official website. More precisely, there is only the sale of paid tours and the price for a similar tour of the city is $ 21.

For a long connection between flights operated by Qatar Airways, the passenger can get a free city tour.

• the presence of a place for a stamp in the passport
• after the end of the tour before departure must be at least 3 hours

2. Where can I get a free tour?

You can find a desk for booking an excursion after you get off the plane and follow the arrows to the center of the airport. There is a huge bear in the center, it is impossible to pass by it. Next, you will see a huge billboard with advertising and from it to the right you need a little protium (30 meters) towards gates B. There will be a counter with the inscription: Doha City Tour and airline representatives.

3. Schedule of excursions.

4. How was it?

After reading on the forums, I found out that excursions are often snapped up like hot cakes and you need to get to the counter as early as possible to book a tour. My plane landed at 14:55, I planned to get on excursions at 18:00. at 15:25 I went to the counter, but there were no more seats. Although registration ended at 16:45. There was also no queue. But I was registered for a tour at 20:00 without any problems. I needed a passport and a boarding pass.

At 18:50 there was a meeting for an excursion. There were 45 of us, everyone was given vouchers to pass immigration without any problems. There were few Russians, about 5 people. Mostly Scandinavians, Filipinos and Indians.

Our guide accompanied us from the airport to the bus. The bus is large and comfortable.

There were no problems with immigration. Visa to Qatar has been canceled for Russians since last year. No questions were asked.

5. Excursion program.

Since we boarded the bus when it was already dark, the route was adjusted and we went to places with lighting. But it wasn't hot. Free bottles of water were given out.

During the movement, the tour guide - a girl from the Philippines spoke about the country in English. It was interesting and a bit incomprehensible because of her accent.

Because it was dark, I didn't take many pictures. And the illumination of many buildings and skyscrapers was not bright. Plus - sand in the air, so many photos are blurry.

1 stop there was a blue mosque and a village of Katara. The stop was only 10 minutes, it was possible to walk, take pictures.

2 stop - the pearl of Qatar. Luxurious area for millionaires with luxury level shops. Here I did not take pictures, but simply enjoyed the sight of sports cars. The stop was 10 minutes too.

3 stop - Vakif Market. The stop was 30 minutes and it was magical. I plunged into the authentic culture of the Islamic world. Women in abayas walked around, accompanied by men in long national costumes. There was a rumble and bargaining. They sold souvenirs and there are smoke from hookahs. I didn’t walk around the market, but sat down in a cafe and managed to smoke a real hookah and drink tea. It came out to 1000 rubles.

But, suddenly, their system crashed and they stopped accepting cards. There was no change from 100 dollars either, and the exchangers are already closed.

The 30 minutes allocated for the tour had already passed and I was afraid that the bus would leave without me.

Fortunately, the system soon started working again and I was already running back to the bus, where they were just waiting for me.

The tour time was 3 hours, taking into account the road, even a little less. At 22:45 we were already back at the airport and went through immigration again.

Conclusion: in 3 hours I realized that I want to return to this country again for a more thorough visit. Of course, I want to see the country in daylight. By the way, if your connection is more than 8 hours, then you can take both the hotel and the tour.

Ukrainians, Belarusians are not needed. Citizens of these countries, as well as Moldova, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan, can stay in the country without a visa for 30 days.

It can also be extended then once for another 30 days. Thus, a transit visa for citizens of these states can not be issued.

You need to have with you: a passport that is valid for more than 6 months and a plane ticket for departure from Qatar.

Qatar is a country in the Middle East. This state is known not only for cultural attractions, but also for the Hamad International Airport in Doha Hamad International Airport DOH, where many travelers transfer to a connecting flight for a flight to another country.

The airport was opened in 2014. There is only one terminal on the territory of the terminal, which consists of such sectors as:

It should be noted initially that the terminal in Doha is very modern and well equipped. For a transplant, a transit visa to Qatar is not needed in the following cases:

1. The time interval between flights is less than 72 hours.
2. The traveler between flights is within the transit area of ​​the airport in Doha.

Airport Hamad International Airport DOH cooperates with many air carriers, but the largest airline is Qatar Airways, which is recognized as the best airline in the world.

Qatar Airways is a Qatari air travel company offering its passengers a free hotel service. But people can count on it only under such conditions:

1. Forced connection due to the fault of the air carrier. The time between transfers should be at least 8 hours.
2. Transfer in Doha. The interval between flights must be at least 8 hours, but not more than 24.
3. The traveler's itinerary does not include departures or arrivals from cities such as:

• Abu Dhabi.
• Sharjah.
• Bahrain.
• Dubai.
• Ras Al Khaimah.
• Kuwait.

This service can be provided in two ways:

It is worth remembering that booking a hotel through the airline's website does not guarantee entry into this state.

The issue of the entry of a foreign national into the territory of Qatar is decided exclusively by the employees of the migration authorities.

You may also be interested in information about and.

Transit visa for citizens of other states

If citizens of other states need to stay in Qatar from 5 to 96 hours, then he has the right to apply for a transit visa for 96 hours absolutely free of charge.

When transiting in Doha, Visa free is issued free of charge for 96 hours.

An application for a transit visa must be submitted at least one week before the day of departure to Qatar.

To apply for a transit visa to Qatar in 2019 online, you will need:

After submitting the papers, you should expect approval from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Qatar. On the airline's website, you can also track the readiness of the visa. After submitting the papers and sending them, the applicant is provided with a request number. This number is entered in the "visa tracking" column.

If the issuance of transit is approved, then a notification will be sent to the person's email address. He will need to print this visa. The document is presented at the stage of customs and passport control. This permit must be retained for the duration of your stay in Qatar.

This visa is valid for 90 days. This means that you can cross the Qatari border with it for 3 months from the date of its issuance. Such permission cannot be extended. If necessary, a person will have to reopen a visa.

Opening a long-term visa

Citizens of all CIS countries can open a long-term visa to enter Qatar at the diplomatic mission of this republic at the place of actual residence of the applicant.

It should be noted that this visa is not a transit visa. It allows you to stay in Qatar for the number of days for which the hotel room is booked. Such a visa is suitable for those Russians who want to stay in the country for more than 2 months.

To open a visa you will need:

1. International passport.
2. Application form in triplicate.
3. Photos.
4. Receipt confirming payment of the $33 duty.

Key aspects in transit

Check-in for the flight begins 48 hours before the departure of the aircraft.

Qatar Airways checks baggage "through". This means that the traveler does not have to pick up luggage during the transfer and fix it again.

At check-in, a boarding pass is issued in envelopes of different colors:

1. A green envelope means that the time interval between flights is very short. After the plane arrives, such travelers are met by a bus and transported to another sector for check-in for a connecting flight.
2. An orange envelope means that a person has enough time for a transplant. With such an envelope, travelers are met by airline employees and escorted to the sector from where the next flight departs.
3. A yellow envelope means that the traveler will have to independently transfer to a connecting flight. According to the rules, such envelopes are issued to foreign residents who have an interval between transfers of more than 3 hours. They also provide coupons for free meals at Doha Airport.

To get a coupon, you should go to the counter with the inscription Transfer. To exchange a food stamp, you should contact the Food Court. This is not to say that free meals at the airport can be called too chic. Many note that an Arabic dish is served for lunch, which is based on rice, a piece of meat or a product made from it, and a roll. The food package also includes a bottle of water.

All popular excursions are collected in one place. Below is a list of the best excursions in and around the city that will allow you to get to know the city and see all the unique sights.

We offer a variety of excursions to choose from. Bus and walking tours, for the whole day or for several hours, in the fresh air or with a visit to museums excursions around.

From $75 per person

Duration: 4 hours

Camel Track, Sheikh Faisal Museum & Equestrian Club Tour

Visit the Faisal Sheikh Museum and view all types of antiques collected since the 1960s. Travel in camel tracks and understand how the camels were properly trained. Stop at the equestrian club for the priceless and stunning Arabian horses.

Guests will be picked up from their hotel/address in an air-conditioned coach accompanied by an English speaking guide.

First of all of the list is the Sheikh Faisal Museum. The museum is located 45 km west of this Doha, and it is a private collection of cars and goods of a member of the Qatar Royal family.

The museum consists of five halls, but will soon double in size. Sheikh Faisal has been collecting antiques since the 1960s. His museum has more than three thousand exhibits, all magnificently displayed. In addition to this great museum, the property also includes a wide variety of animals and games, including the rare oryx.

Next stop will be the camel racing tracks where camel training or racing can be seen in season. Camels have robotic jockeys strapped to their backs.

On the way back to Doha, we visit the Equestrian Club or the Amiri Stables, where the priceless magnificent racehorses from the Emir are cared for and stabled.

Opening hours

From 09.00 to 13.00

From 15.00 to 19.00

requirement

A minimum of 4 adults must be booked in order for the tour to take effect.

(48 hours notice required for permits)

Transfer in Qatar: what to do, what to try, how to behave

Many travelers fly with Qatar Airways from Ukraine to Asian and Arab countries via Qatar. We have prepared detailed material on what to see during a long transfer, what rules to follow in order to avoid problems with the law, and what bonuses from the carrier you should count on.

Benefits for Qatar Airways Passengers

When docking lasting from 5 to 12 hours, you can get a voucher for a free tour of.

Buses for up to 33 people leave 4 times a day. Registration of participants starts at 6:00 and, as a rule, places are quickly sorted out. You need to go to the Doha City Tour counter in Hall B, between Mont Blanc and WH Smith stores.

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The duration of the tour is 2 hours 45 minutes, it is conducted in English. The route includes the following attractions:

• Katara Cultural Village;
• Souq Waqif market;
• museum of Islamic art.

Some passengers with a long connection are provided with a free hotel room.

To do this, you need to meet two criteria:

• connection in Doha from 8 to 24 hours is forced, i.e. there are no Qatar Airways flights that you could take earlier;
• itinerary does not include Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.

Whether you get a room also depends on the class of service and fare. We recommend that you first clarify the information by contacting an airline representative.

Do I need a visa to enter the city

Citizens of Ukraine do not need a visa, they receive a stamp at the airport for free, allowing them to stay in the country for up to 30 days. The requirements are minimal: a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry, and a ticket for a flight from Qatar.

Citizens of countries with which there is no agreement on visa-free entry, having bought tickets for Qatar Airways flights, can obtain a transit visa for free (with a connection of 5 hours or more). You can apply online on the airline's website.

Should unaccompanied girls go out into the city

Since Qatar is a Muslim country, many are concerned about this issue. But, in fact, there is no reason to worry: Qatar is one of the five safest countries in the world, tourists have nothing to fear here, regardless of gender. The maximum that you can provoke (for example, appearing in the city center in short shorts) is a remark. If you do not want to use public transport, call a taxi, it is relatively inexpensive here.

Transport in Doha

The most convenient way to move around the capital for tourists is a taxi (locals prefer private cars). Cost: €0.9 plus €0.3 per kilometer. Phone orders are subject to an additional fee of €0.9.

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An alternative option is to rent a car (from €15 per day). You will need a credit card, a copy of your passport and a driver's license of national or international standard. It is more profitable to follow the rules, the fines are very high: talking on a mobile while driving, for example, will cost the violator €45, and driving a red light - €660.

Public transport is represented only by buses - clean, new, air-conditioned. A trip within the city costs between €0.7 and €2, depending on the distance.

From Hamad International Airport to the center can be reached by taxi in 30 minutes. Standard fare: €6 plus €0.3 per kilometer from 05:00 to 21:00 (€0.4 per km otherwise). The second option is one of the city buses that connect the airport with different areas of Doha. To pay for the fare, use Karwa Smartcard, which can be bought at the Mowasalat information desk in the baggage claim area or from the driver. €2.3 is a card that allows you to make 2 trips within the city within 24 hours, €4.5 is an unlimited travel card for city buses for 24 hours. The card must be applied to the validation device twice: when boarding the bus and when exiting.

Currency and its exchange

The state currency is the Qatari rial, the approximate exchange rate on 01/04/18 is 100 QAR = €22. At the airport or any bank branch, you can withdraw riyals from your card if necessary (cards are in use, cash may be needed only in the markets). There are usually two languages ​​available at ATMs: Arabic and English.

You can buy rials in banks, exchange offices at the airport and city center, in some hotels. Please note that banks are usually open only on weekdays, open early (7:30-8:30) and have a long lunch break. Weekends in Qatar are Friday and Saturday, the week starts on Sunday.

What to see in Doha

If you are in the capital for just a day, the best way to get to know the city would be an organized tour or car rental with a driver. Here are the main attractions not to be missed:

• Embankment. A 7-kilometer pedestrian zone stretches along the bay, from here you can see skyscrapers, the building of the Museum of Islamic Art and other interesting city buildings.

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• Pearl-Qatar is an artificial island with an area of ​​about 4 million m². Expensive boutiques are concentrated here (Roberto Cavalli, Alexander McQueen, Giorgio Armani, Kenzo, Balenciaga and others), as well as restaurants serving Italian, Lebanese, French, American, Japanese and other cuisines.

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• Katara Cultural Village (West Bay Lagoon area) is an ethno-village, on the territory of which there are theaters, cinemas and galleries where works of Qatari artists are exhibited. In the evenings, musicians and dance groups perform here, sometimes master classes in traditional crafts are held. Admission is free, the territory of the complex is open around the clock.

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• Museum of Islamic Art (Corniche). Within its walls are kept masterpieces created over 14 centuries: paintings, ceramics, manuscripts, textiles. Temporary exhibitions are often held here, to visit which you need to buy a ticket, admission to the permanent exhibition is free. The museum is open from 8:30 to 19:00 (Friday from 14:00 to 19:00).

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• Museum of Contemporary Art Mathaf. The collection contains about 6,000 items reflecting the development trends of Islamic art from 1840 to the present day. Open from 9:00 to 19:00 (Friday from 13:30 to 19:00), admission is free.

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For those who stay in Doha for a few days and are ready to leave the capital, we recommend visiting:

• Al Zubarah is a restored 18th century fort included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located 106 kilometers from the capital, on the northwestern coast of the country. Once this settlement was considered one of the most important centers of navigation and trade in the Persian Gulf.

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• Khor Al Adaid is a nature reserve with a unique ecosystem 60 kilometers from Doha. It is interesting because this is one of the few places on the planet where the sea meets the desert. To get here, you have to overcome the sand dunes.

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• Dahl Al Misfir Cave, 40 meters deep, whose walls emit a faint phosphorescent glow. From Doha, you can get here by car in 45 minutes.
• Desert. If time is short, you can sign up for one of the express tours that start from the airport twice a day: at 9:00 and 14:00. Tour duration - 2.5 hours, cost - 250 QAR (€57) per person. Reservations can be made an hour and a half before the start of the tour at the Discover Qatar Tours desk in Hall B. For 1250 QAR (€285) per car, you can have a private sand dune safari around the capital.

Where to swim

There is a sea in Doha, but there are few public beaches, most belong to hotels. One of the most popular is Katara Beach on the territory of Katara Cultural Village. For 25 QAR (€6) anyone can visit it, children under 16 years old are admitted free. The beach is open from 10:30 to 22:00, swimming after sunset is prohibited. Women must wear shorts and a T-shirt, men must also wear shorts, swimming trunks or bikinis are not allowed on the beach. Water activities are available: gondola, kayak, banana and catamaran rides, water skiing, wakeboarding, parasailing and others, there is a play area for children.

Some hotels open access to their beaches and pools for those who are not guests. For example, at Doha Marriott Hotel you will pay 139 QAR (€32), at Crowne Plaza Doha - 150-200 QAR (€35-45), at InterContinental Doha The City - 150-250 QAR (€35-57) per day. The price may include access to the gym and sauna, cocktails and even food - details can be found on the official websites.

What to try in Doha

Local cuisine has absorbed elements of Indian, Iranian, Syrian, Palestinian, North African - you will definitely find something interesting. Here are a few dishes worthy of the attention of gourmets:

• machboos - spicy rice with seafood or meat;
• hummus - a chickpea snack with the addition of sesame paste (tahini), olive oil and lemon juice;
• ghuzi - roasted whole lamb with rice and nuts;
• motabel - an appetizer of eggplant, garlic and tahini;
• birani - rice with chicken or lamb meat.

For dessert, local fruits, halva or Umm Ali puff pastry are served.

Where to eat in Doha

If the budget is limited, kiosks with street food will help out: sandwiches, shawarma and falafel. At Al Adhamiyah Iraqi Restaurant at the Souq Waqif market, for example, a kebab costs from €9, a salad from €4.

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There are also institutions of international chains in Doha: McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut and others. They are concentrated at the intersection of Doha's C-Ring and Salwa Road, in shopping centers.

The vast majority of Doha residents are expats, so the national cuisines of many countries are represented here. For example, Yee Hwa (Al-Kinana Street, Doha Downtown Hotel Apartments) serves Japanese and Korean delicacies, Yum Yum (Al Ghanim Street, K108 Hotel) specializes in French cuisine, and New York Steakhouse (Al Wahda Street, West Bay City Center) - in American.

High-end establishments include Market by Jean-Georges (W Hotel, West Bay), whose chef is a 3-Michelin-starred chef, and Gordon Ramsay (St. Regis, West Bay), who won Best Romantic Restaurant in 2013. ".