Discovering Doha: FAM trip highlights
Doha: where the city meets the coast, culture meets innovation, and adventure is never far way.
Read all about our Partnerships Marketing Lead, Georgina’s, recent visit to the Qatari capital on a FAM trip organised by Visit Qatar and Qatar Airways.
Day one: Flying with Qatar Airways
After enjoying a delicious breakfast in the Executive Lounge at Manchester Airport, we made our way to board our Qatar Airways flight. Travelling in Economy, there was generous amount of space, meaning we could stretch out and relax. I definitely made the most of the in-flight entertainment and, of course, the impressive high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi!
After a restful journey from Manchester, we were instantly welcomed by the Middle Eastern heat (a world away from the autumnal weather back home!), which was a wonderful surprise. After a short transfer, we arrived at our hotel, Park Hyatt, located in Msheireb Downtown.
A beautiful hotel with spacious rooms and all the amenities you could possibly need! The hotel also boasts a rooftop bar, where sweeping skyline views provided the perfect backdrop for dinner. Here, we enjoyed several courses of Japanese-style cuisine, including soup, sushi and salads. A personal highlight was the cheesecake – just the fuel we needed for the rest of the trip!
Day two: Hotel inspections and embracing tradition
The day began with a hotel inspection at The Ned, a stunning boutique hotel located on the Corniche waterfront. We visited a selection of rooms, each designed with timeless elegance and luxurious amenities, before exploring the hotel’s modern gym, outdoor swimming pool and various eateries.
Afterwards, we headed to Sharq Hotel & Spa, a fabulous collection of whitewashed villas offering access to a private beach, two outdoor swimming pools and an impressive wellness centre designed to resemble an ancient Arabian village. Here, we also enjoyed lunch and sampled date pudding for the first time – a must-try when visiting Doha!
Next on the agenda was a visit to Embrace Doha, located in Souq Al Wakrah. This independent, women-run cultural house offers an array of experiences to help visitors discover more about Qatari culture and society. Here, we took part in a bakhoor-mixing workshop, learning the art of blending fragrant ingredients such as oud, rose, amber and musk!
We returned to the Park Hyatt to freshen up before heading to the nearby Souq Waqif, a marketplace selling an array of goods, from spices and scents to falcons! After meandering around the souq, we ventured to Parisa, a Persian restaurant, for dinner and enjoyed another delicious meal!
Day three: Dune bashing, waterparks and The Ritz
Day three got off to an eventful start with a spot of dune bashing in the desert! The off-roading adventure took us through a myriad of sand dunes in a 4x4 before heading towards the Khor Al Adaid Inland Sea, near the Saudi Arabian border.
After an hour or so of exploring the hidden dunes, we headed to the sea for a swim. Stepping into the warm seawater and getting straight back out because it was too hot was truly a first for me!
Following this, we transferred to our hotel for the night – Rixos Premium Qetaifan Island North, an all-inclusive resort with complimentary access to Qatar’s largest waterpark, making it a great choice for family holidaymakers.
We concluded the day with a visit to The Ritz-Carlton, located on its own private island in the West Bay Lagoon. We toured a selection of rooms, including their suites and signature suites, which were the epitome of luxury! Dinner that evening was at STK, located within the hotel, where we enjoyed a sharing menu alongside stunning skyline views.
Day four: Venice of the desert, Raffles and The Fairmont
On our final full day in Doha, we ventured to The Pearl Island, often called the Venice of the desert. We meandered through the picturesque neighbourhood, filled with a network of canals, walkways and low-rise pastel-coloured buildings – very much inspired by Italy’s Venice.
Afterwards, we ventured to Gewan Island’s Crystal Walk, which hosts the world’s longest climate-controlled retail walkway – that’s right, outdoor air conditioning! We popped into the stylish café Catch, where a local convinced us that we had to try the trending mille-feuille dessert. Made with crispy layers of pastry, a creamy filling and topped with milk and white chocolate, it’s a must-try when visiting this area.
Next on the agenda was a sunset cruise aboard an authentic Arabic dhow. For two hours, we sailed on the tranquil waters and, as the sun dipped below the horizon, enjoyed views of iconic Doha landmarks, including The Pearl, West Bay and the Corniche.
Later, we checked into our final hotel, The Fairmont, a luxury five-star hotel inside the iconic horseshoe-shaped Katara Towers in the Marina District of Lusail City. Boasting spacious bedrooms with timeless décor and modern technology, alongside breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf, it was the perfect place to unwind.
We also visited its sister hotel, Raffles, which boasts 132 suites, 24/7 butler service and crystal mini-bars! We explored the rooftop pool and secluded spa suites, which offer a private salon, sauna, hammam, jacuzzi, outdoor swimming pool and treatment space.
Day five: Qatar’s history and home time!
After a relaxing morning enjoying our rooms at The Fairmont and breakfast, we headed to the National Museum of Qatar. Housed in a striking building inspired by the desert rose, the museum tells the story of Qatar and its people. The morning was filled with interactive exhibitions connecting ancestral traditions, evolving cities and modern achievements.
It was then time to return to the famous Hamad International Airport, home to over 200 retail and dining outlets, along with The Orchard, a tropical garden filled with lush plants, trees and walkways. It’s little wonder that DOH won Best Airport in the Middle East for the 11th time at the 2025 Skytrax World Airport Awards! After some lunch, we boarded the plane back to Manchester.
It was also a pleasure to share the experience with such a lovely group. Thank you to our hosts and everyone who made the trip so memorable!
I’ve come away with plenty of inspiration and one thing for sure…I'll be back Doha!