Khor Al Adaid inland sea
The only place on earth where the desert runs straight down into the sea.
Duration
6 hrs – 8 hrs
Best time
Mid-afternoon departure
Open
Every day
Entry price
To confirm
Khor Al Adaid is called the Inland Sea: an arm of the Gulf reaching some twenty kilometres inland, ringed by dunes that drop straight into the salt water. It is one of the few places in the world where desert meets sea like this.
The site is a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Getting there means crossing soft sand dunes, which requires a deflated four-wheel drive and a driver who knows the ground — the crossing is the main event of the trip, and it is rough.
Getting there
Sixty kilometres south-east of Doha, near the Saudi border. Four-wheel-drive access only, with a licensed operator.
What the price covers
reached by 4x4 with a guide, price depends on the operator
Rules on site
The dune driving is rough: not advised with back or neck problems, or in pregnancy. No independent access — it is a border area, and the dunes bog an ordinary car within metres.