Page 155 - HH Oct-Nov 2023

W “THERE’S A CAMPFIRE EACH NIGHT, AND

ithin 45 minutes from the
Mandarin Oriental (my home for
THE NEXT MORNING, IF YOU FEEL LIKE
four days) in Doha, I arrive at a
HEADING OUT INTO THE DUNES OVER, YOU
desert camp: a few tiny tents where
we get to drink ‘karak’ (hot sweet
tea), observed by the local falcon, a
couple of camels which we can ride if we want to, and some CAN HAVE A GO AT SAND-BOARDING.”
kind men who help our driver reduce the air pressure of our
Land Cruiser tyres. Sparkling in the expanse, on a coast just arranged back
For those who do not know, tyres need to be flatter than from the sea, is another desert camp, the Regency Sealine
on the pitch to evade getting trapped. You don’t want to get Camp. We head there for some icy beverages. Imagine it like
stranded in the heat, do you? the Boho Social of the desert. The aqua sea looks like
Tyres flattened, we get back in the car and set off, training somewhat you’d see on a picture-perfect holiday. We end up
directly at a dune as sharp as a crag. having some mint tea and kebabs, and bounce back to Doha.
Up we go at quite a thrash, Arabic songs playing on radio. Behind here, sand sports are the craze. Manifold
And then, like on a rollercoaster, unexpectedly we are operators offer trips from Doha, for activities ranging from
gliding down the other side of it. Over and again, we incline sand-skiing and sand-boarding to dune bashing in 4x4
up a dune, or thunder along the side of one, and slide down a jeeps.
sandy grade as if it’s a red run in the Alps. You can stay for half a day or overnight, or numerous
It’s accurately exciting, swaying from sideways and nights if you are after the complete Arabic glamping
escaping sand bumps. Maximum speed is about 40mph, experience. There’s a campfire each night, and the next
“else you can misplace the car’s bumpers,” jokes our driver, morning, if you feel like heading out into the dunes over,
as he tempos to another peak. you can have a go at sand-boarding.
The locals like the desert when it’s breezy, so that the There’s nothing near the camp for a long way so the
dune surfaces are brushed as suave as glass, offering a sand only thing that could distract you is a nomadic camel. Truly,
show for spectators. an oasis.

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