15 great Doha road trips

Mission: Dune bash like a pro
Destination: The Southern dunes
How to get there: Drive south towards Khor Al-Adaid until you see sand.
Journey time: 40 minutes

Heading south of Doha brings you into the sandy Laurence of Arabia territory most people think of when they picture ‘desert’. It’s actually only one kind of desert the country has to offer, but it’s an experience. The sand is soft and white and rolling, and actually does shift. This time of year, there’s a brisk breeze as well, keeping it nice and cool instead of blazing hatefully hot. Most people round off their trip with a stop at the Inland sea, and the two missions can easily be combined. While there is a road to get directly to the sea, dune bashing is a time honoured Doha tradition that’s floundered many a vehicle: you can either take your own or rent a quad bike or driver for the day. Many tour companies offer packaged trips with experienced drivers, or ask around: friends who’ve been here a while tend to know how to do this. If you do it on your own, there’s an area just before you reach the dunes where people let the air out of their tyres before braving the sand. Be careful about rolling however: this can be a dangerous activity, so make sure you’re buckled up and don’t take too many chances too quickly. It’s a good idea to go in a convoy, not just for safety and fun but to help each other out should you get stuck in the sand. Just remember: most Qatar car insurance is invalid once off-road!

Extra tip: Don’t forget your shovel and rope.When we’ve gotten stuck (it happens to the best of us) these items helped get us out. So did the random strangers who helped us – while laughing at us. Not sure you want to risk your car? Just before the turn off to Sealine there’s a group offering camel rides for a small fee – you can complete your trip by hopping on board and pretending to be Laurence of Arabia, dune bashing, old school style.