7-Day Circular Tour of Three Gulf Countries: Qatar + Bahrain + Saudi Arabia (Thursday · Starts in Riyadh · Optional 4 days)

Itinerary details

<Saudi History and Natural Wonders> Guests joining the tour on this day are advised to take the metro to the Riyadh hotel for the group meeting. Metro route directions are provided below. After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Saudi National Museum, the country's national-level museum, which presents the history of the Arabian Peninsula; explore Murabba Palace, a former palace of the Saudi royal family, and the ancient city of Diriyah, birthplace of the First Saudi State and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Lunch at your own expense at a traditional Najdi restaurant recommended by the guide.) In the afternoon, an optional excursion is recommended: the Edge of the World, a popular Saudi natural wonder where you can look out over the desert from a plateau. The excursion takes approximately 6 hours and is without a guide; USD 130/person. Those who do not join the optional excursion can enjoy free time and afternoon tea at the 100% Coffee Factory (at your own expense). Then view Kingdom Centre Tower from outside (optional entry, payable on site; ticket: USD 31/person), a landmark tower in old Riyadh. Stop for photos at Kingdom Centre, a landmark skyscraper in Riyadh (dinner at your own expense here). Overnight in Riyadh. Complete directions from Riyadh Airport to the hotel Hotel name: Braira Al Weezarat Nearest metro station: Al Wizarat Station (Line 5, Green Line), Walk about 220 meters from the station exit to the hotel. The Ministry of Defense building is opposite the hotel. Metro operating hours: 05:30-24:00; one-way ticket: SAR 4, first class: SAR 10 How to buy tickets: station ticket counters or the Darb mobile app

Meals

Breakfast: at your own expense Lunch: at your own expense Dinner: at your own expense

Accommodation

Local 4-star hotel

Attraction details

National Museum of Saudi Arabia

National Museum of Saudi Arabia

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Located in Riyadh, the National Museum of Saudi Arabia is an important venue for learning about the history and culture of the Arabian Peninsula.

Edge of the World

Edge of the World

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The Edge of the World lies northwest of Riyadh and forms part of the Tuwaiq Escarpment. It is a famous geological wonder in the Saudi desert. Here, the plateau ends in a vast, sheer cliff, overlooking an endless desert plain below. The expansive views gave the site its name, “Edge of the World.”

Itinerary details

<Across the desert, back to Doha> Enjoy a packed breakfast from the hotel, then return to Doha. The journey is about 650 km and takes 8 hours (excluding border crossing time), crossing the desert of the Arabian Plateau. (Pay for lunch and dinner at a casual restaurant recommended by the guide along the way.) Overnight in Doha.

Meals

Breakfast: at the hotel Lunch: at your own expense Dinner: at your own expense

Accommodation

Local 4-star hotel

Itinerary details

<First Impressions of the City> After breakfast at the hotel, stroll along the waterfront and through the CBD, taking in city landmarks on the Persian Gulf coast and the modern skyline. See the exterior of the National Museum of Qatar, whose design is inspired by the desert rose and which houses a large collection of Gulf artifacts (optional entry; pay on site; admission is USD 7.5 per person). Visit the Education City Mosque, a strikingly designed building with a simple white exterior, and the nearby National Library, whose interior is impressive (lunch at the library is recommended; pay on site). Explore the Westwalk waterfront promenade, Asian Games Village, and Torch Tower, an iconic World Cup landmark. Then head to Villaggio Mall, Qatar’s popular indoor mall with a Venetian theme (dinner at your own expense). Overnight in Doha. Half of the exhibition halls at the Qatar National Museum are currently open. If all halls open later, ticket prices will be adjusted accordingly; please refer to prices announced on site.

Meals

Breakfast: at the hotel Lunch: at your own expense Dinner: at your own expense

Accommodation

Local 4-star hotel

Attraction details

Villaggio Mall

Villaggio Mall

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Built especially for the Asian Games, this became one of the world’s shopping malls. The entire mall is a replica of The Venetian in Las Vegas, USA, complete with an artificial river and gondola-style boats. It also offers a wide selection of global brands.

Education City Mosque

Education City Mosque

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Also known as the Modern Mosque, it is located in Doha's Education City. The mosque features a distinctive white, three-story ceiling patterned like a starry sky, paired with a majestic blue carpet. Professors dedicated to Islamic culture chant and deliver sermons inside. Through the vast, solemn space visitors see and the sincere devotion they hear, the mosque showcases the power of knowledge and faith interwoven.

Itinerary details

<Ancient and Modern City Highlights> After breakfast at the hotel, visit Katara Cultural Village, home to art galleries and a waterfront amphitheater and a cultural landmark of Qatar; and The Pearl, a luxurious waterfront development built on reclaimed land, lined with mansions and yachts. Then head to Lusail, the new city that hosted the 2022 World Cup, and view Lusail Stadium from outside, the golden bowl-shaped venue that hosted the World Cup final. Visit VENDOME MALL, a vast luxury shopping complex (lunch at your own expense here). View the Museum of Islamic Art from outside, designed by master architect I. M. Pei and featuring collections spanning a millennium of Islamic civilization (optional entry, payable on site; ticket: USD 15/person). Stop for photos at Mina District, then see the Emir's Palace from the vehicle and admire its regal architecture. An optional evening activity is recommended: a dhow cruise with a dinner of grilled lamb chops, enjoying views of Doha at night across the Persian Gulf. The experience takes approximately 2 hours and costs USD 80/person. Those who do not join the optional activity can explore Souq Waqif at their leisure and experience the bustle of a traditional Arab market (dinner at your own expense here). Overnight in Doha.

Meals

Breakfast: at the hotel Lunch: at your own expense Dinner: at your own expense

Accommodation

Local 4-star hotel

Attraction details

Museum of Islamic Art

Museum of Islamic Art

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Located on an artificial island off the coastline of Doha, Qatar’s capital, this museum covers 45,000 square meters and is one of the most comprehensive museums dedicated to Islamic art to date. It was the final masterpiece of renowned 20th-century Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei. The museum’s exterior walls are built from white limestone, reflecting over the azure sea to create a striking sense of grandeur. Beneath the vast silver dome in the museum’s atrium, 150-foot-high glass walls line the space, offering views of the blue sea and golden sands.

Katara Cultural Village

Katara Cultural Village

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Unlike folk villages in other countries, this place brings together numerous art galleries, avant-garde art, an open-air theater, concert halls, and popular culture exhibitions. It can be called the “798” of the Arab world. It preserves and showcases the traditional cultural aesthetics of Qatar and the Arab world to a great extent, and is also a great place to pose for photos.

Souq Waqif

Souq Waqif

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This is one of Qatar’s larger and older settlements, with the character of a seaside Bedouin marketplace. The streets are lined with bustling shops and open-air stalls. Water-pipe cafes and game rooms are filled with locals enjoying a leisurely pace of life. There is everything from craft and antique shops to traditional clothing stores and all kinds of unusual curiosities. The Eastern atmosphere is accompanied by the enticing aromas of spices and coffee, making visitors reluctant to leave.

VENDOME MALL

VENDOME MALL

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VENDOME MALL is located in Lusail, Qatar. Its French palace-style architecture houses shopping, dining, leisure, and entertainment facilities.

Itinerary details

<Cross the sea to Bahrain> Depart after breakfast at the hotel and drive across the 【King Fahd Causeway】 to Manama, the capital of Bahrain. The journey is 395 km and takes approximately 5.5 hours by car (excluding border crossing). This causeway crosses the Persian Gulf and connects Qatar and Bahrain. (Lunch is at your own expense at a simple restaurant recommended by the guide along the way.) Upon arrival, visit 【Bahrain Bay】, then enjoy some leisure time and shopping at 【The Avenues Mall】 (dinner is at your own expense). Overnight in Manama.

Meals

Breakfast: at the hotel Lunch: at your own expense Dinner: at your own expense

Accommodation

Local 4-star hotel

Attraction details

King Fahd Causeway

King Fahd Causeway

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The King Fahd Causeway, also known as the Bahrain Causeway, spans Bahrain Bay in the Persian Gulf. This cross-border road link across the sea connects Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and is Bahrain’s land route to the outside world. It is jointly managed and operated by the two countries.

Itinerary details

<In-Depth Tour of Bahrain's Heritage Sites> After breakfast at the hotel, visit Al-Fateh Grand Mosque, one of the world's largest single-domed mosques, with a majestic and solemn white dome. Then visit the Bahrain National Museum to discover the ancient Dilmun civilization of the Gulf. (Lunch at your own expense at a restaurant recommended by the guide.) In the afternoon, explore Bahrain Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ancient Dilmun civilization settlement; visit the Pearl Museum to learn about Bahrain's long history of pearl harvesting; stop for photos at Bab Al Bahrain; and stroll through Manama Souq to experience local life (dinner at your own expense here). Overnight in Manama.

Meals

Breakfast: at the hotel Lunch: at your own expense Dinner: at your own expense

Accommodation

Local 4-star hotel

Attraction details

Manama Old Souq

Manama Old Souq

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Manama Old Souq is located in the old town of Bahrain’s capital, Manama. It is a historic traditional open-air market and a landmark of local life and Gulf trading culture.

Bab Al Bahrain

Bab Al Bahrain

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Bab Al Bahrain stands in Manama Customs Square and is one of the most iconic landmarks in Bahrain's capital, Manama. Its Arabic name means “Gateway of Bahrain.” Completed in 1949 and renovated in 1986, the building blends Gulf Islamic architectural elements with modern styles. Its simple yet striking white facade features a monumental central arch, with Bahrain's coat of arms above the main entrance.

Itinerary details

<On the Way to Saudi Arabia's Capital> After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, covering 472 km in approximately 6 hours (excluding border crossing time). (Lunch at your own expense at a casual restaurant recommended by the guide along the way.) In the evening, head to Riyadh Boulevard City, a popular entertainment and leisure district in Riyadh with a modern Middle Eastern vibe (dinner at your own expense here).

Important notes

Note: All times shown on this webpage are for reference only. Actual arrival times may be delayed due to circumstances beyond our control, such as weather, traffic congestion, traffic accidents, festivals or sporting events, civil unrest, or strikes. We appreciate your understanding. If you have onward travel plans involving other transportation to another city, we strongly recommend allowing at least 3 hours of extra time to avoid inconvenience caused by delays. Our company accepts no responsibility for losses arising from travel arrangements you make yourself without allowing sufficient extra time. Thank you for your understanding.

Meals

Breakfast: at the hotel Lunch: at your own expense Dinner: at your own expense

Accommodation

None

Attraction details

Riyadh Boulevard

Riyadh Boulevard

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Riyadh Boulevard is located in the Hittin district in northern Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, along Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al Awwal Road. It is a flagship cultural and tourism district and a central hub for Riyadh Season events.