Bucket list type of experiences doesn't come on a daily basis. But sadly, the cost of living life away from the comfort of home is way above average and isn't afford by many. So instead of riding the hot air balloon during sunset over the vast desert, we usually end up snuggling in the sofa while watching Netflix—just because that's the more affordable and convenient option of the two.
If you haven’t heard about the term “bucket list” yet, then it's basically a tally of all the goals you want to achieve, dreams you want to fulfill, and life experiences you desire to stumble into before you die.
Although death is the least of this article's concern, we'd still want to let you know that it doesn't matter if your bucket list is made up of the most extreme activities or the completely-toned down and unrecognized ones. For as long as you have a vision of life away from your comfort zone that you're willing to materialize no matter what happens, then everything's possible.
If you don't want to look back with regret, you must create your own bucket list and start checking things off!
Don't worry. If you're in Qatar and have zero idea on how and where to start, we've prepared a list of the five bucket list-worthy activities just for you (plus some special mentions) so keep on scrolling down!
It's not anymore surprising why people in Qatar have quickly developed a fondness for snow and the cold weather in general. Besides the high humidity being experienced in the country for most of the year, Qatar is also made up of desert terrains in majority, making it prone to sandstorms and hurricanes.
If you're constantly in the lookout for a respite from the hot weather, then look no more as Subzero Ice Lounge, a high-concept ice cafe, has opened recently at The Pearl Qatar.
The glacial atmosphere gives visitors the feeling as if they are sitting inside an Igloo, where the temperature reaches 9 degrees below zero. Interestingly, the benches and tables are also made of ice they are covered with thick fabric sheets and tables have holes to keep the served coffee cup hot.
Cafe-goers, according to The Peninsula, are provided with gloves, winter shoes and heavy Arabian coats known as ‘Farwa’ to protect them from the extreme cold inside.
"We serve delicious hot drinks such as hot chocolate, cappuccino, apple cinnamon drink, sahlab, and ginger pineapple drink among others," says Qatari founder Abdulaziz Al Hammadi.
Special mention: Take advantage of the winter season by camping the Arab-way at National Tourism Council's Al Enna winter camp project located at Sealine!
Have you guys ever thought of watching your favourite movies in the middle of nowhere? What about out in the desert where the temperature tends to reach the most extreme level?
Well, if this out-of-the-box idea makes you excited, then you might wanna know that Cinema In The Wild (CITW), a group of passionate and equally-talented cinephiles, is turning the 'movie screening in the desert' concept in Qatar a reality!
They've screened the classic 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly' at Zekreet recently and they'll for sure be holding more desert film marathons in the near future! So if you're keen to know more about the CITW team and their upcoming screenings, make sure to follow them on their Instagram page.
Special mention: Aspire launched the first drive-in cinema in the country during the last quarter of 2017. If this one's still in operation, it could be a great substitute to CITW if the thought of watching a movie in the wilderness still sounds weird to you a bit.
A Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF)-favourite for many years now, we last saw the Dinner In the Sky concept during QIFF 2017 and the experience was unlike any other.
Brought to visitors by Four Seasons Hotel Doha, the over the top thrill of having dinner approximately 50 meters above ground allows foodies to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view overlooking the city’s skyline and the Arabian Gulf, all complemented by dishes prepared by Four Seasons’ Chefs.
For the duration of 40 minutes, the dinner table teems with a complete meal with just the right combination from the starter comprising sweet chili sea scallops and smoked salmon tartar with dill cream to the main course with three choices of grilled Angus beef tenderloin, grilled baby chicken and vegetable lasagna to the dessert white chocolate passion fruit mousse with berries.
We hope to see the Dinner in the Sky feature back to QIFF 2019 once it kicks off its 10th edition this coming March 20-30, 2019 at its new home—Education City's Oxygen Park!
Special mentions: Take your Iftar or Suhoor to a whole new level on a helipad! (Shangri-La Doha and Fraser Suites West Bay are great options if you want to try doing this)
You might have heard about a highly-accessible natural wonder just 40-45 kilometers off Doha called Musfur Sinkhole as we've listed down seven truths about it more than a year ago.
According to an article from Offbeat Qatar, the Musfur Sinkhole is the largest known of the still accessible sinkhole caves in Qatar, which is relatively easy to reach and explore as it's located just approximately 45kms from the capital if you head west to Salwa Road for about 13 miles until you see the signboard for Umm Ash Shubrum. It is recommended to use a map app or GPS system to locate the exact spot.
The temperature drops as you start to climb down, offering a much-needed break from the desert heat. With that said, a visit during the summer months in Qatar (May till mid-October) is the most recommended.
One of the least expected activities you can do inside is the lesser-known sport of rock climbing, or bouldering to be precise. Also, as the sinkhole's interior provides a cool feeling despite Qatar's mostly temperate quality, you can even do yoga inside for meditation purposes.
So if you're looking for a temporary respite from the humid weather in this part of the globe, then you might have already found the best spot! Just don't forget to pick up your own trash if you're planning to camp insider—we can't stress this enough!
Special mention: Ride a traditional dhow to one of Qatar's gorgeous manmade islands, or try to scuba dive! Qatar, surprisingly, offers lots of not-so-extreme activities that you and the whole family can choose from!
Qatar's only skydiving facility, Skydive Qatar (SDQ), has been around for quite some time now and they even had to relaunch their new season last year but 2019 is a different story for the SDQ team as they're going full blast this time around for anyone who's interested to go out there, ride a helicopter, strap a parachute on their body, jump, and have the experience of a lifetime.
SDQ accepts both enthusiasts and professionals at their Um Al Shkhot Airfield dropzone and there's no basic knowledge required if you're planning to go for the most common and preferred—the tandem skydive! This is the quickest and easiest way to experience the thrill of freefall at over 120 miles per hour, while securely attached in a harness to one of SDQ'S world-class instructors.
Included in the package is a video footage of yourself flying on free air, captured by SDQ's talented camera flyers so that you can re-live every sensational second again and again, and share it with your friends and family around the world!
Special mentions: If the cost of skydiving is a little too much for you, you can tone it down a bit by enjoying a helicopter ride while overlooking Doha or trying out Mall of Qatar's Wind Tunnel (if it's still operational)!
How many of these five bucket lists (and their special mentions) have you already tried doing in Qatar? And how was the experience like for you? Drop us a line in the comments and also, don't forget to like and share this article—it keeps us going!
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