Things to See in Qatar

Understandably promoted as the major attraction in Qatar, this 'inland sea' is actually a huge salt-water inlet jutting into the desert and surrounded by kilometres of towering sand dunes. The best time to visit the dunes is in the late afternoon, but to appreciate the area fully it's best to camp overnight.

Al-Shahaniya is a good place to see camels roaming around the desert and camels racing in a purpose-built stadium. If you have a car - a 4WD is not necessary - it's fun to drive alongside the 18km (11mi) racetrack during the race.

Al-Zubara occupies an important place in Qatari history as it was formerly a large commercial region in the 18th century. All that remains is a fort, which has been restored and converted into the Al-Zubara Regional Museum. It has some bleak views from the towers.