Desert Delight Of Bahrain

OVERVIEW

Explore the attractions in the low desert plains that lie beyond the capital of Manama, a harsh landscape that hasn’t changed in centuries. Before leaving the city, you will pause for photos of the Bahrain World Trade Center, a skyscraper with highly-visible, eco-friendly wind turbines that link its twin towers. Although Bahrain is known more for processing crude oil than for its oil reserves, seeing the first oil well drilled there and the adjacent oil museum will offer great insight into the industry. Perhaps the most unusual sight in the barren desert will be the Tree of Life, a lone mesquite tree estimated to be 400 years old. It sits atop a hill and somehow ekes out moisture from the sand. Bahrain’s military history will come to light at Riffa Fort, an early 19th-century fortification where the sultan once lived. Its location was particularly strategic when the town of Riffa was Bahrain’s capital.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the first oil well drilled in Bahrain nearly 100 years ago and a nearby oil museum.
• Behold the Tree of Life, a lone mesquite tree that has survived 400 years in the desert.
• Delve into Bahrain’s military history at a 19th-century fort built in Riffa, the former capital.
• Pause for photos of the twin towers that make up the Bahrain World Trade Center.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.