Is Bahrain worth visiting? This is the first thing which comes to the mind when we hear of this Middle Eastern country. Bahrain is one of the emerging destinations in the tourist map of the Middle East currently, offering some of the most immersive experiences from enriching history, old civilizations, and deep-rooted cultures to culinary delights to the tourists. Bahrain is definitely worth visiting if you are looking for unique travel experiences. Bahrain literally means “Two Seas”, is an archipelago of 33 islands, located off the coast of Saudi Arabia.

The close proximity, less than an hour from Dubai by air makes Bahrain as the preferred destination for weekend travelers, especially for those living in Dubai. This small yet enchanting destination is alluring and flaunts rich island life. Whether it is the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Manama’s huge expat population, striking desert dunes, alluring views of the islands, rapidly growing culinary scene or sights of high rise buildings, Bahrain offers multi-layers of experiences. More than anything, the excellent connectivity of GulfAir from various cities of the world is making Bahrain easily accessible.

If you are travelling to Bahrain for the very first time, here are the top experiences you should indulge in. Bahrain will amaze you with its splendid and unforgettable unique experiences.

Diving for Pearls

Bahrain was once the biggest supplier of 80% of the world’s pearl market. Tourists can now explore the 400 square miles of oyster beds and experience the pearl diving in Bahrain. This is one of the most unique experiences one should indulge in when in Bahrain.You can delve deep into the Arabian Gulf and experience pearl snorkelling. If you are lucky enough, you might come across a pearl which you can just keep it as a souvenir. This is one of the exclusive experiences you can take back from this amazing country.

Experience Ahmed Al Fateh Grand Mosque

When in Bahrain, visiting grand mosque is absolutely mandatory. It is one of the top tourist attractions in Manama. It is one of the largest mosques in the world, having the capacity to accommodate over 7,000 worshippers at a time. The Al faith Grand mosque was built using marble from Italy, teak wood from India, and glass from Austria. One of the attractive features of the mosque is the fibreglass dome, which is the largest in the world. The impressive architectural details of the mosque are something one should experience in Bahrain. The mosque is open for tours daily from 9am to 4pm (except Fridays). It is advisable to dress moderately while visiting the mosque.

Visit Souqs

One of the things about the Middle East that makes them stand apart is their traditional markets known as Souq. Whether in Iran, Qatar or in Bahrain, you will be amazed by these markets, selling all kind of products from souvenirs, clothing, food, lamps, spices, dates, artefacts, colourful mosaic lamps, wooden chests, Abayas , scarves and gold. You name it and they have it. So when in Bahrain, visiting Manama Souq is mandatory. The narrow alleyways and the colourful shops selling all kinds of goods also give you a rare glimpse of the bygone era. Don’t forget to buy Exotic Persian rugs, Arabic perfumes, Bakhoor and other homewares. If you are a gold lover, visiting Gold City in Manama souq is a must. Bahrain’s gold is said to be of the most premium quality. So, indulge in shopaholic mood while exploring Manama souq.

Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is one of Bahrain’s major tourist destinations, located in the middle of the desert. This mysterious tree has survived for hundreds of years with no obvious source of water.This lonesome tree has captivated locals for centuries and has now become one of the must visit tourist spots in the country. The age of the tree is more than 400 years which makes it one of the remarkable natural wonders of the world. With 32 feet in height, the tree has continued growing-despite the harsh temperatures, lack of fresh water, and nutrients. The Tree Of Life is located 2 kilometres away from Jebel Dukhan.

Relish Bahrain Food

The Bahrain cuisine is a medley of flavours wrapped with a variety of spices. Due to its huge population of expats in the country, you will not just get to indulge in the traditional Bahrain food, but lip-smacking international cuisines as well. Bahrain has slowly become one of the exciting culinary destinations in the world, housing some of the world famous restaurants and cafes. One should not miss the epic Bahraini breakfast.The balaleet, sweet vermicelli with a hint of cardamom and egg pancakes are amust have in your breakfast. You will often see Khubus, traditional Bahrain bread on the breakfast table. It is extremely soft when taken out hot from the oven.There are a few Bahrain dishes one should not miss and one of them is the popular Machboos, a mixture of fragrant rice with meat. For a lavish dinner, don’t forget to have Qouzi, a sumptuous preparation of stuffed lamb with rice. If you enjoy dessert, you will definitely love the traditional Halwa Bahraini, made of corn starch and rapeseed oil unlike semolina or flour.

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