Al Thakhira Beach

Al Thakhira Beach is a mangrove-lined shore about 7 km north-east of Al Khor and 60 km north of Doha in Qatar, inside the Al Thakhira Nature Reserve. Entry is free, and two to three hours suits kayakers, birdwatchers and families using the waterfront walkway and park.

Al Thakhira is a coastal town about 7 kilometres northeast of Al Khor and roughly 60 kilometres north of Doha. Its beach runs for about 10 kilometres, much of it fringed by salt flats, with calm, shallow water between the mangroves.

The coast between Al Thakhira and Al Khor holds about 1,392 hectares of grey mangroves, the most densely populated mangrove habitat in Qatar. The government designated the Al Thakhira Nature Reserve in 2006, with mangroves covering about 14 square kilometres of it. Offshore, the mangrove island of Umm Al Far was once a mooring place for Qatari and Bahraini boats.

Kayaking through the mangrove channels is the main activity, and birdwatchers look for herons, egrets and terns, while the shallows are used for fishing. Sea turtles regularly nest on the beach in late spring and early summer.

On land, a promenade 1.8 kilometres long and 2 metres wide opened along the waterfront in March 2019, and Al Thakhira Park, opened in 2009, covers about 14,580 square metres with space for families.

There is no fee to visit the beach; kayak trips are run by private operators and should be booked ahead, with times set by the tide. The months from November to March are the most comfortable for paddling and bring more migrant birds, while summer visits are best early in the morning. Do not cut or damage the mangroves, which are nursery grounds for fish and birds.

The drive from Doha takes about 50 minutes, north to Al Khor and then north-east to Al Thakhira, with parking near the jetty. Mowasalat buses reach Al Khor, and a taxi covers the last stretch. The paved waterfront walkway is level, while the shore itself is muddy and uneven. Driving on the salt flats is prohibited. Purple Island is 10 km away and Al Farkiya Beach 8 km, which makes an easy pairing for a day on the north-east coast.

Besides kayaks, guided operators offer stand-up paddleboards, and some run overnight trips with a campfire, stargazing and a dawn paddle. Visit Qatar names flamingos, gulls, cormorants and waders among the birds, and calls the reserve a favoured resting place for flamingos. At low tide the roots of the grey mangrove, Avicennia marina, show through the sand, and wooden walkways make good sunrise and sunset photo spots. Picnickers may bring a grill and fishing is popular with local families, but visitors should not walk into the forest itself, which damages the trees.