Join fellow Logger alumni and parents on the trip of a lifetime to visit the city of Doha, Qatar, led by Professor of Anthropology Andrew Gardner. Participants will spend 10 days exploring the art, history, culture, cosmopolitanism, and architecture of this vibrant city on the Arabian Peninsula.
Join Us in Doha
TRIP DETAILS
- Travel Dates: To be announced
- Cost: To be announced
Cost includes accommodations, excursions, and most meals. Does not include airfare or travel arrangements to and from Doha.
Why Travel with Puget Sound?
When you book an experience with Puget Sound Alumni Tours, you get to explore less-traveled regions of the globe with expert faculty members, enabling you to gain a new perspective and deeply immerse yourself in the places you visit. See the world and expand your knowledge with our Alumni Tours program.
Accommodations
We will stay at one of the Tivoli Boutique Hotels, located in the middle of Souq Waqif, a pedestrian-friendly Middle Eastern bazaar in the heart of the city. The hotels features comfortable rooms, a pool, and room service. We will dine as a group each evening and enjoy a lively discussion in one of the many restaurants in Souq Waqif, with opportunities to sample Persian, Iraqi, Indian, Yemeni, Moroccan, Lebanese, and Turkish cuisine, among others.
Excursions
Spend 10 days exploring the cosmopolitan city of Doha and the nation of Qatar, learn about its history and development, wander through museums and stunning examples of modern architecture, visit archeological sites, enjoy cuisine from around the world, and experience the natural beauty of Qatar’s desert and waterways. Along the way, you’ll meet regional scholars, Qatari locals, and transnational migrants as you gain a deep understanding of this remarkable city.
Souq Waqif
Richard Serra sculptures
Inland sea
Lunch with some of the migrant workers who make up 90% of Qatar's population.
Camel rides in the desert.
Dhow cruise on Doha Bay.
Stunning architecture abounds in Qatar.
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Itinerary
Itinerary is subject to change.
- Day 1: Travel to Doha
- Day 2: Arrive in Doha and gather for dinner at a restaurant in Souq Waqif (Flights typically arrive in the afternoon/evening from the U.S.)
- Day 3: First full day in Doha: Explore Souq Waqif and the waterfront Corniche park
- Day 4: Visit Fort Zubara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest archeological sites on the peninsula and explore Richard Serra’s remarkable desert sculptures, followed by a free afternoon and communal dinner
- Day 5: Guided tour of Msheireb, a newly constructed, sustainable urban development, and museums located in reconstructed historic homes, followed by a free afternoon and communal dinner
- Day 6: Attend a service at the Religious Complex and travel to Asian City to meet a group of transnational labor migrants and eat lunch together, followed by a free afternoon and communal dinner
- Day 7: Visit the Museum of Islamic Art, then visit Katara Cultural Village to explore art galleries, followed by a communal dinner in the village
- Day 8: Enjoy the natural beauty of Qatar’s Inland Sea near the border with Saudi Arabia, with opportunities for swimming, camel rides, and dune surfing, followed by a free afternoon and communal dinner
- Day 9: Tour the National Museum of Qatar followed by a guest lecture at our hotel about Qatari history and a communal dinner
- Day 10: Travel to Education City for a guest lecture followed by a communal dinner
- Day 11: Explore the city, waterfront, and markets, followed by a farewell dinner in Doha Bay and a tour of the bay on a traditional dhow
- Day 12: Depart from Doha to the United States or other destinations in the Middle East or Indian Ocean
Professor Andrew Gardner
Andrew Gardner is professor of anthropology in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology at the University of Puget Sound. A sociocultural anthropologist and ethnographer by training, for the past two decades Professor Gardner’s fieldwork has focused on the places, peoples, and societies that interact in the petroleum-rich states of the Arabian Peninsula. He has conducted extensive fieldwork in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar, throughout South Asia, and elsewhere.
Between 2008 and 2010 he also served as an assistant professor of anthropology at Qatar University. In addition to numerous journal articles and book chapters, he is the author of City of Strangers: Gulf Migration and the Indian Community in Bahrain (Cornell, 2010), and the newly-released The Fragmentary City: Migration, Modernity, and Difference in the Urban Landscape of Doha, Qatar (Cornell, 2024).
His longstanding scholarly pursuits explore transnational migration, urban planning, and urban life, as well as the social formations on both ends of the migration flows that lead to the Arabian Peninsula. A well-regarded speaker, Professor Gardner has led previous study abroad tours with students to Doha and Amsterdam.
About Qatar
Qatar is located on the Persian Gulf on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It’s remarkable growth and wealth is fueled by natural gas reserves, which has transformed the capital city, Doha, into a modern metropolis, peppered with a mix of traditional buildings and brand-new skyscrapers. In addition to its fascinating museums, dining, shopping, and cultural experiences, Qatar is also an ideal jumping-off point for further travel to points in Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean.
Ready to Pack Your Bags?
Let us know you're interested in this once-in-a-lifetime faculty-led alumni tour of Qatar!