A Complete Guide To Your Vacation In Al-Khor

Being one of the oldest cities in Qatar, much older than Doha as well, Al-Khor has a population of a mere 31,000. This is a city that boasts of some of the most amazing attractions that visitors can find on their trip to Qatar.

From scintillating beaches and hotels to some new additions to the list of places to visit in Al-Khor, travelers can find ample opportunities for fun and calm outings here.

So in case you are planning a trip to Qatar and wondering about the top Al-Khor attractions, here's our detailed Al-Khor travel guide for you to help you with your travel.

Best Time To Visit In Al-Khor

Thinking about the best time to visit in Al-Khor? Well, you might want to know about the weather conditions in the city.

Al-Khor is one of those regions in the world where summers are usually longer than usual. The temperatures during the summer months are pretty which makes it not an ideal time for Al-Khor sightseeing. This is a time when the city receives virtually no precipitation at all.

So, if you're planning to visit Al-Khor during this time, you might want to change your plans a bit. Besides, here's what you need to know about weather patterns in this part of the world.

1.Al-Khor experiences dry weather from January to as long as November with August being the driest month of all.

2. If you're planning to visit in the month of July to witness the Al-Khor tourist attractions, well, it might be a bad idea unless you love hot temperatures. July is considered the warmest month in Al-Khor as this is a time when temperatures can climb up to at least 42 degrees Celsius.

3. Traveling to Al-Khor during December? You're in for a tough time. While the City remains dry throughout most of the year, December is the month when Al-Khor experiences heavy rainfall in most of its parts all around the month. In fact, December is the wettest month in Al-Khor which makes it very tough for travelers to either head for sightseeing or shopping in Al-Khor.

4. Now you know about the wettest and the driest month in Al-Khor. Ever wondered about the coldest time to visit here? Well, if you wish to experience the rare cold weather of Al-Khor, then visiting during the month of January would be perfect to say the least. In fact, January is officially the coldest month in Al-Khor.

This is a time when temperatures around the city reach an average maximum of 20 degrees Celsius, making it an ideal time for Al-Khor sightseeing.

Suggested Read: Al Qamra Beach Park Is Ready Again For Your Welcome

Top Al-Khor Tourist Attractions To Watch Out For

Now when it comes to the top tourist spots in Al-Khor, travelers have plenty of opportunities for the taking. Whether you wish to go shopping or want to spend some quality time with your family, this is a city that has everything in spite of a number of renovations going around. So, here are the top attractions for your varied travel needs in Al-Khor.

Shopping In Al-Khor

Though being an old city, much older than Doha, Al-Khor still has many modern spots like malls for shopping on your travels in Qatar. Here's our take on the few top ones.

Suggested Read: Finest Places to Go Shopping in Doha

Al-Khor Mall-  

Stretching over an area of 55,016.67 square meters, the Al-Khor Mall is the first-ever mall and the largest shopping mall in the city of Al-Khor. Visitors coming here can get to see the finest of shopping outlets and dining options all in one premise.

The mall is a paradise for those who wish to go shopping in Al-Khor and has more than 100 outlets for visitors to choose from. Not only this, but there are various dining options available for the tourists which serve not only the modern cuisines but also the traditional Qatari dishes that are a real treat to the taste buds.

In case you want some entertainment while you move around shopping in Al-Khor mall, there are multiplexes and a family entertainment center to keep you busy all day. Although the mall doesn't feature amongst the prominent malls of Qatar, it is one gem of a spot for the natives of Al-Khor and travelers should consider heading here if shopping in Al-Khor is concerned.

As for the suggested duration of your time spent at the mall, the ideal duration should be about 2-3 hours as assessed by the natives and other travelers themselves. Al-Khor mall is open from Sunday to Wednesday from 10 AM to 10 PM, and from Thursday to Saturday from 10 AM to 11 PM.

Suggested Read: Finest Resorts to Stay in Doha & Al-Khor

Top 5 Attractions In Al-Khor

Now when it comes to sightseeing, Al-Khor is a city that is home to some of the best places to visit in Qatar. Some of them even feature in the top 20 places of Qatar. Here's our take on the same.  

1. Al-Thakira

Being one of the most popular sites in Qatar as far as kayaking is concerned, Al-Thakira is a small town located just 7 kms northeast of the Al-Khor city. The town is famous for its natural tree growth and a beach which is surrounded by mangroves all over.

In fact, this is one of the very few places in Qatar where travelers can find such a large number of mangroves growing. Not only this, the Al-Thakira Beach is renowned as a popular nesting ground for sea turtles. The beach requires renovations and clean-ups from time to time and is kept closed during the nesting period of turtles.

Visitors come here often for Kayaking at the Al-Thakira Natural Reserve. The picturesque views of the reserve are telling and this is one place that has to be a go to pick for travelers wanting to go Kayaking.

What else? The town is home to the Fardhat Al Thakhira Harbor which serves the fishing industry here and another significant site as far as the fishing industry is concerned.

2. Farkeh Beach

Being the nearest beach to the Al-Khor town, the Farkeh beach is a renowned spot for family outings and other activities. Located at a distance of just 2 kilometers from the nearby Al-Khor Mall, visitors headed for Al-Khor sightseeing can commute to the beach without much hassle.

However, if you're wondering about swimming on this beach, well, it might be a bad idea as the beach is not quite well-suited for swimming with all the fishing boats using it as a pathway. Not only this, but it is also one of the most shallow beaches in Qatar with the depth being somewhere around 50 meters in high tide.

There are two separate sections on the beach, one for the families and other only for women. The Farkeh beach even has a playing area for children with other facilities like washrooms available right at the place.  

3. Purple Island

Located in very close proximity to the town of Al-Khor, the Purple Island is one of those off-beat places in Qatar that boast of their natural beauty and every traveler wanting a peaceful outing should consider visiting.

The beach is surrounded by mangroves growing around and is a popular spot for those who wish to view small sea shell crabs and fossils.

But having said that, reaching this beach isn't as simple. There used to be a causeway heading straight to the beach. However, that has now been dismantled and if any visitor wishes to reach there, he/she will have to walk-through knee-deep water with sand and slippery rocks in order to reach the main area of the beach.  

Suggested Read: Purple Island In Qatar: Explore This Natural Gem For A Mesmerizing Experience

4. Al-Khor Park

Another of those Qatar tourist attractions perfect for Al-Khor sightseeing is the Al-Khor park. Located in a region where the breeze blowing around is usually fresh, the Al-Khor park is home to some of the most amazing attractions that travelers can find with family.

The park has a small zoo, a fully shaded playground for children, and a lush green open lawn for the families to sit there and relax. The best about the park is that there are many multi cuisine restaurants and food stalls in the park itself that serve amazing food according to your preference.

As for the entry fee? Well, the visitors only have to pay a nominal fee to enter the park which seems nothing when compared to the attractions awaiting inside.

Suggested Read: Explore the wildlife of Qatar at Al Khor Family Park & Zoo

5. Al Tawasul Traditional Park

Last but not the least in our list of best places to visit in Qatar, the Al Tawasul Traditional Park can also be called the mini version of the Al-Khor park. The park has a football field, a children's playing area along with an athlete walkway.

It has been recently opened to the public and has all kinds of trees and plants growing around it. Spreading over 28,500 square meters, Al Tawasul even has various other facilities to house animals like chicken, birds, etc.

So in case you're looking for a perfect spot for Al-Khor sightseeing to visit with your family and or just wish to spend some peaceful time at the lawn, this could be your perfect place for the same.

How To Reach Al-Khor?

Reaching to the city of Al-Khor isn't a big hassle if you know the right mode of travel. Being one of the most popular travel destinations around the world, Qatar has direct cheap flights from virtually all destinations across the globe. Not only this, but it is, in fact, one of the largest transit gateways for overseas travelers in the world today.

Speaking of Al-Khor, well, here are the different options of traveling to the city.

By Air-

Tourists traveling to Al-Khor can book a direct flight to Qatar and arrive at the Hamad International Airport in Doha. From where there are taxis available which will take you to the city of Al-Khor. An ideal route to take from Doha to Al-Khor is the newly opened Al-Khor road which reduces the travel time by up to 60%.

Likewise, if you're traveling specifically to Al-Khor, then taking direct flights to Al-Khor is another option that travelers can try. There are flights available to Al-Khor airport straight at reasonable prices.

Though being a small town, Al-Khor attracts thousands of travelers every year owing to some of the unique sites this city has. From the grand Al-Khor mall to the mesmerizing Al-Thakira Natural Reserve, Al-Khor continues to make additions to the city and show huge potential for the future. Being in close proximity to the capital, Doha, the place certainly deserves a visit. So, why not plan your next trip to Qatar and include Al-Khor in it?

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