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Doha-based destination management company ‘365 Adventures by Peninsula Compass Tourism’ catered to some 900 guests in the desert over the past weekend coinciding with Qatar National Day.The company, which provides custom-tailored adventures for adventure enthusiasts and others seeking one-of-a-kind experience, said this has been their biggest weekend ever.
The 900 guests were divided into four distinct groups. The first group, a small company of 28 locals, were treated to an overnight camping experience at the Al Thakhira beach where they stayed in an ''eco-camp'', the first of its kind in the Middle East. During their stay, the group got to experience the unique sounds of African drumming set against the backdrop of a beautiful night sky, and in the morning, kayaking with the sunrise, navigating their way through Al Thakira’s famous mangrove forests.
“There is nothing quite like the resonating sound of African drums to accompany a night in the outdoors, warm by the campfire and contemplating life and its many mysteries,” said Meraj M Qureish, managing partner of 365 Adventures. "Both melodious and melancholic, the sound of African drums can be a life-affirming experience and it’s something we take delight in providing. After a pleasant night with music, nothing really wakes you up like kayaking at sunrise," he added.
Mohammed, one of the guests with the first group, said, “I have lived in Qatar for all my life and I didn''t know there was a place where such experiences can be had. Every minute I spent at Al Thakhira was special but my favourite was the opportunity to see flamingos. My time with 365 Adventures really opened my eyes to a different side of the country I grew up in and for that, I''ll always be grateful to them.”
“365 Adventures is also proud to be able to say that we are the first tour group in the Middle East to make use of ''eco-camps'',” added Meraj. “As the world evolves, we as humans have a duty to protect it as much as we can. At 365 Adventures, we have always given priority to green initiatives. The eco-camp we used for this camping experience is the first of its kind in the Middle East and is powered entirely by clean energy. 365 Adventures is also committed to the preservation of our country’s beautiful mangrove forests and we have programmes in place to educate people about the importance of these forests,” said Meraj.
The second group, mostly comprising fans of the Monterrey and Flamengo clubs and coming from different countries and ethnicities, wanted to experience the famous Arab hospitality and the delights of the desert. They were treated to an evening filled with shared food, hot Arabic tea and a number of activities in the desert.
The football fans enjoyed camel-riding and dune-bashing with multiple photo stops, in one of the few places in the world where sand dunes meet the sea. They also had the chance to hold falcons, which have historical and cultural significance in Qatar.
“You always hear about the Arab culture but nothing really prepares you to experience it in person. There were more than 700 people that night. Meraj interacted with as many of us as he could, and by the end of the whole thing, I could say he was a life-long friend of mine and I actually felt a little sad when it was time to part. I am already making plans to return, perhaps with a group of friends and spend more time in the desert,” remarked Gabriel Smith, a Monterrey fan.
365 Adventures’ busy weekend didn’t end there. After their time with the large crowd of enthusiastic football fans, the tour operators provided a group of around 200 people living and working in Qatar a chance to experience a special event with a Christmas theme.
The tour wrapped up as they hosted famous Mexican musician and comedian Franco Escamilla and his entourage to a desert retreat. Escamilla, who is popular all over Latin America with more than 3.2 million followers on his Instagram, his manager and their friends enjoyed fresh Arabic coffee and tea and genial conversation in the desert.
The group also got a chance to enjoy karak, black tea with a mixture of spices and herbs, that has become an intrinsic part of the Qatari tradition. They also learned how to make karak tea. For dinner, the comedian and his friends took charge and made Mexican barbecue, which was accompanied by salsa made from fresh ingredients acquired from local farms in Qatar.
“This has been the busiest weekend of our lives, but that is a good sign,” said Meraj. “Ever since the government opened up the visa process for over 80 nationalities, there has been a veritable surge of tourists and with every passing day, Qatar is becoming a premier tourism destination,” he noted.
“Whether you have lived in Qatar all your life or are simply here for a week or two, we can assure you that the country always has new things for you to see and at 365 Adventures, we know exactly how to show it to you. If you’re interested, feel free to contact us to learn more,” continued Meraj.
The 900 guests were divided into four distinct groups. The first group, a small company of 28 locals, were treated to an overnight camping experience at the Al Thakhira beach where they stayed in an ''eco-camp'', the first of its kind in the Middle East. During their stay, the group got to experience the unique sounds of African drumming set against the backdrop of a beautiful night sky, and in the morning, kayaking with the sunrise, navigating their way through Al Thakira’s famous mangrove forests.
“There is nothing quite like the resonating sound of African drums to accompany a night in the outdoors, warm by the campfire and contemplating life and its many mysteries,” said Meraj M Qureish, managing partner of 365 Adventures. "Both melodious and melancholic, the sound of African drums can be a life-affirming experience and it’s something we take delight in providing. After a pleasant night with music, nothing really wakes you up like kayaking at sunrise," he added.
Mohammed, one of the guests with the first group, said, “I have lived in Qatar for all my life and I didn''t know there was a place where such experiences can be had. Every minute I spent at Al Thakhira was special but my favourite was the opportunity to see flamingos. My time with 365 Adventures really opened my eyes to a different side of the country I grew up in and for that, I''ll always be grateful to them.”
“365 Adventures is also proud to be able to say that we are the first tour group in the Middle East to make use of ''eco-camps'',” added Meraj. “As the world evolves, we as humans have a duty to protect it as much as we can. At 365 Adventures, we have always given priority to green initiatives. The eco-camp we used for this camping experience is the first of its kind in the Middle East and is powered entirely by clean energy. 365 Adventures is also committed to the preservation of our country’s beautiful mangrove forests and we have programmes in place to educate people about the importance of these forests,” said Meraj.
The second group, mostly comprising fans of the Monterrey and Flamengo clubs and coming from different countries and ethnicities, wanted to experience the famous Arab hospitality and the delights of the desert. They were treated to an evening filled with shared food, hot Arabic tea and a number of activities in the desert.
The football fans enjoyed camel-riding and dune-bashing with multiple photo stops, in one of the few places in the world where sand dunes meet the sea. They also had the chance to hold falcons, which have historical and cultural significance in Qatar.
“You always hear about the Arab culture but nothing really prepares you to experience it in person. There were more than 700 people that night. Meraj interacted with as many of us as he could, and by the end of the whole thing, I could say he was a life-long friend of mine and I actually felt a little sad when it was time to part. I am already making plans to return, perhaps with a group of friends and spend more time in the desert,” remarked Gabriel Smith, a Monterrey fan.
365 Adventures’ busy weekend didn’t end there. After their time with the large crowd of enthusiastic football fans, the tour operators provided a group of around 200 people living and working in Qatar a chance to experience a special event with a Christmas theme.
The tour wrapped up as they hosted famous Mexican musician and comedian Franco Escamilla and his entourage to a desert retreat. Escamilla, who is popular all over Latin America with more than 3.2 million followers on his Instagram, his manager and their friends enjoyed fresh Arabic coffee and tea and genial conversation in the desert.
The group also got a chance to enjoy karak, black tea with a mixture of spices and herbs, that has become an intrinsic part of the Qatari tradition. They also learned how to make karak tea. For dinner, the comedian and his friends took charge and made Mexican barbecue, which was accompanied by salsa made from fresh ingredients acquired from local farms in Qatar.
“This has been the busiest weekend of our lives, but that is a good sign,” said Meraj. “Ever since the government opened up the visa process for over 80 nationalities, there has been a veritable surge of tourists and with every passing day, Qatar is becoming a premier tourism destination,” he noted.
“Whether you have lived in Qatar all your life or are simply here for a week or two, we can assure you that the country always has new things for you to see and at 365 Adventures, we know exactly how to show it to you. If you’re interested, feel free to contact us to learn more,” continued Meraj.
