For visitors to Saudi Arabia looking to add another dimension to their journey, the island nation of Bahrain makes for an easy side trip. Bahrain is a small island where everything is within easy driving distance. Enjoy a day packed with sights and highlights from oil to nature and from history to local life on the market.

Programme Details

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Bahrain is a well-kept secret worth exploring. A full day allows you to see and feel most of the highlights and really understand this mini kingdom. The distances are small and traffic is generally light.

Starting from the hotel, head first into ‘the countryside’ to the circuit of the Grand Prix of Bahrain. Feel the vibe overlooking the track from one of the stands and wander around the small welcome center showcasing grand moments of this annual race since 2004. After the circuit it feels like entering the desert. This is where oil was first found and is still pumped up constantly. Bahrain is one of few places where one can actually drive in between the working pumps and see it all up close.

On a small hill is an unusual sight; The Tree of Life, a 440 year old acacia tree, which is a symbol for Bahraini. They love to come to these parts to picnic and camp out in the cooler months. On the way back into town, admire local pottery at one of the workshops. Bahrain gets a lot of visitors from neighboring emirates and Saudi Arabia who like to enjoy a type of drink not always allowed in their countries and bring back colorful pottery as souvenirs.

Downtown Manama is the area around ‘Bab Bahrain’ or the Gate to Bahrain. Now surrounded by  reclaimed land, in the old days the ships moored here and merchants entered the Kingdom through the gate. Hence the market was right here and the narrow streets and alleys are still a lively neighborhood. Enjoy a local lunch and browse the shops around.

When the call to prayer sounds the mosques get busy. The Ahmed Al_fateh or Grand Mosque offers insights into Islam, how it came to be and how it shapes the days and lives of nearly all people in the Middle East. Walk around and ask your guide anything and everything. After the spiritual heart, let's explore the business heart of Bahrain at the Financial Harbor. It feels like being in London’s Canary Wharf on a sunny day, glass and steel and trendy coffee shops catering to the suits and ties of the business elite.

In the setting sun, explore Bahrain Fort, actually one of several that protected the small island kingdom. With its 14 gates and thick walls it protected the merchants and their families in the Portuguese times when ships passed through the Gulf in search of gold and spices. These days it has become a park and museum. (L)

Inclusions:

🥘 Lunch

Notes:

Transfers from Bahrain Airport or Dammam not included; supplement applies.

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