Things to do in Al Thakhira

On Qatar’s eastern coastline, visit Simaisma Beach, a long, wide stretch of sand with playground facilities for kids and barbecue and fly-fishing opportunities for all. Stroll along the beach to look for shells and watch seabirds as they flit among the mangroves dotting the shoreline.

Families in particular enjoy Al Khor Beach for its convenient amenities, making a beach day fun for kids and parents. Waters at the shore are shallow, meaning children can splash and play safely. Let your little ones frolic in the sand or water and use the facilities of the small playground.

Bring the family to see cows on a visit to Baladna Farm, a huge dairy facility. Even if you were raised on a farm, the state-of-the-art facility will be immensely impressive. Up to 24,000 cows live here in comfort at a site that covers nearly 600 acres (240 hectares).

The well of Ain Hleetan served an essential need for drinking water for the Al Mahanda tribe that settled along the Persian Gulf coast in an area that would become Al Khor. About 150 years ago, after stumbling across a spring while hunting, residents built the well. Visit Ain Hleetan well to see what was sometimes identified as “the Doctor” for its healthful properties.

At first glance, an Al Jassasiya visit may seem anticlimactic, given the barren desert setting and lack of signage, yet dig a bit further and you’ll soon discover the astonishing petroglyphs for which this site is renowned. While petroglyphs can be found along Qatar’s coast and on Al Hawar Island in Bahrain, the Al Jassasiya site is the most impressive.