When I found out paratriking in Qatar was a thing, I was surprised and knew I wanted to try it while I was in the country.
I’ll admit that I was extremely nervous and backed out a few times, but I’m happy to share that I finally faced my fear and went paratriking!
In this blog post, I’ll share everything about my experience paratriking in Qatar and what you need to know if you’re considering trying it for yourself.
Disclaimer: All views are of my own accord and this post is not sponsored, as I fully paid for this experience.
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How to Book
I booked my paratriking in Qatar experience through Skymasters Sports Club, which seems to be the most reputable paratriking company in Qatar.
Their website is easy to navigate and lays out all of the options you can choose from.
Once you select the package of your choice, you can choose the date and time you want, create an account to keep track of your booking, and a member of the team will contact you via WhatsApp to confirm your flight time.
You can also use this opportunity to ask additional questions, as they are extremely responsive.
The team did an incredible job during the booking process, answering all my questions and concerns and making me feel prepared to embark on the experience.
It’s worth noting that I recommend booking directly with Skymasters and sorting out transport either yourself or with the company, because the paratriking experiences I saw offered through third-party activity sites charged more for transport alone than for the experience itself.
Getting to Skymasters Sports Club in Sealine
To reach the location where the paratriking experience will take place, you will need to go to the Skymasters office in Sealine.
The office is located about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Doha’s city center.
I went with a friend, and we did get lost on the way there because the instructions are a bit confusing.
However, again, the Skymasters staff was very responsive, and we were able to call, get back on track, and make it to the office a little after our originally scheduled flight time.
We were told to aim to arrive 15 minutes before our flight, but I would recommend 30 minutes to account for extra time in case you get lost.
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My friend has a driver who took us to the office, and I would recommend driving if you have your own vehicle in Qatar, or renting a car, as it will likely be significantly cheaper than adding transportation to your package or taking an Uber.
Skymasters offers private round-trip transportation for 450 QAR ($123.83) for up to 4 people, which is not too bad if you are doing this experience with a group and can split the cost, or if you just want to pay the full amount outright for convenience.
The Cost of Paratriking in Qatar
The cost for paratriking in Qatar depends on the flight time you choose.
Skymasters offers three different packages with flight times of 20, 30, and 40 minutes.
I selected the Economy Sky Tour package, 20 minutes for 650 QAR ($178.85), and while at first I was concerned it wouldn’t be enough time, I ended up very happy with it. I would recommend selecting this package if you aren’t sure about the experience in general and feel a bit nervous about it.
I opted for a video recording with no editing for an additional 100 QAR ($27.52), bringing my total to 750 QAR ($206.37).
It isn’t the cheapest experience in Qatar, but for the overall experience and what the activity actually is, I think it is worth the price.
Before the Flight
Once we arrived at the office, we were taken inside, where we signed a waiver, paid the flight fees, and were then taken outside to meet the pilot.
The Paratriking Flight Experience
As I was walking up to the paratrike, I was a bit caught off guard, as I did not expect it to be so small or to have so little to hold onto.
The pilot allowed me to strap in first and gave me a pair of headphones so I could clearly hear him during the flight, and then we took off.
The takeoff wasn’t that scary, but as we got higher into the air, I did start to get super nervous.
During the first few minutes, it was very difficult for me to move or even want to use my camera, but I eventually got used to being up in the air and was comfortably recording the experience, looking down, and really enjoying the views.
My pilot was great and asked me if I was okay several times during the flight, which was very reassuring. He also went above and beyond to capture footage of me while in the air!
While we stayed high up the majority of the time, the pilot did go down lower at points where I was able to see clear views of the dunes and water, as the Sealine area is known to be one of the very few places in the world where the desert meets the sea, so that was really great to see.
February is my birthday month, so I chose to add a happy birthday banner, which is free to add when you book the experience. It was waiting for me when I landed, and my pilot also pointed it out while we were up in the air, which was a thoughtful touch.
What to Wear
I went paratriking in Qatar in February, which is considered winter season here, and the weather is cooler in the morning with winds, so I wore a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, sneakers, and a jacket.
I was not planning to wear my jacket while in the air, but the staff recommended it, saying it would be cold in the air. The winds were definitely a bit strong, so I am very happy that I listened.
During the summertime, I imagine it’s much warmer with a few winds, so you likely won’t need a jacket. However, you can reach out to the staff for more information on what they recommend wearing, though modest attire is encouraged.
What to Bring
There are not many items that I would encourage bringing, but these are the ones I found to be useful for this experience:
- A phone strap
- A small fanny pack
- Your phone or camera
You can keep any items you bring inside the office, so you can bring any size bag you want, as you aren’t allowed to bring them on the flight.
I had my iPhone and DJI Osmo Pocket 3 with me during my flight and struggled to keep my iPhone comfortably secure between my jacket and legs.
I filmed most of the experience on my DJI camera because it was easier to hold and felt a lot more stable than my iPhone did, though I managed to get a few selfies with it.
I would bring whatever feels most secure to hold, but I do agree it is best to bring a phone strap or pouch to store your device in while up there, especially if you get nervous.
After the Flight
Once I landed back on the ground, I went back inside, and the videos the pilot captured on a GoPro were transferred to my phone via AirDrop.
I went paratriking with another person who took their flight after mine, so I was able to wait upstairs on the office’s rooftop while they were in the air.
If you’re traveling with a large group, I imagine there would be more than one pilot available so that at least two flights could be operating at the same time, but I’m not sure if that is the case.
Otherwise, you could be waiting a while for each person to finish their flight, as it takes 20 to 40 minutes per flight.
There are also some cafés nearby that you can visit while waiting, as we did stop by one after both of our flights.
Paratrike Training Classes
While waiting, I also had time to look around the office and speak to the first Qatari woman paratrike pilot, who was explaining to me that they do offer training lessons for those who want to learn how to fly a paratrike, which I thought was really cool.
If I were going to be in Qatar any longer, it would definitely be a hobby I would have considered pursuing, as aviation in several forms has caught my attention lately.
Training does not take too long and seems to depend on how fast a learner you are.
Once you are trained, you can either buy your own paratrike or rent equipment from the office and they will store it for you there.
So if you’re thinking about picking up a new hobby in Qatar, this may be it!
Would I Recommend Paratriking in Qatar?
I would absolutely recommend paratriking in Qatar.
This is definitely one of the more unique things to do in Qatar. I am so happy I decided to face my fears and do it, as it was a beautiful and fun experience in the end.
As I mentioned, I am not one to do thrilling experiences like this , but I did it and had a blast so if you’re thinking about it, I would say go ahead and book your flight today.
It is a bit pricey at 450 QAR+, but I would say it is worth doing at least once, and I would do it again.
As always, I am happy to answer any questions that you may have about paratriking in Qatar in the comments below within 12-24 hours!
