Bahrain History Tour: Dilmun Tombs, Fort & Military Museum

Four stops through three millennia: tombs, a mosque from 692 AD, a fort and a military museum

A guided tour of Manama's historical landmarks covers the Dilmun burial mounds near A'ali, Al Khamis Mosque (founded as early as 692 AD), Sheikh Salman bin Ahmed Al-Fateh Fort in Riffa, and the Bahrain Military Museum. The guide speaks English or Arabic. Hotel pickup and drop-off, all monument fees, bottled water and private vehicle transport are included. The tour runs four hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Bahrain's historical landmarks

• Visit Burial Mounds in A'ali
• Tour Al Khamis Mosque
• Explore Sheikh Salman bin Ahmed Al-Fateh Fort
• Visit Bahrain Military Museum
• Shop at Al Jasrah Handicraft Center

The experience

The tour starts at your hotel and moves through sites that anchor Bahrain's story from the third millennium BC onward. The Dilmun burial mounds near A'ali are the oldest stop: royal tombs from an ancient civilization that shaped the island's identity. Your guide walks you through what these mounds reveal about the people who built them and how that past still shapes Bahraini culture today.

Al Khamis Mosque stands as one of the region's oldest, with a foundation possibly laid in 692 AD, though inscriptions suggest the 11th century. The structure you see today was rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries when the minarets were added. From there, the tour moves to Riffa Fort (formally Sheikh Salman bin Ahmed Al-Fateh Fort) an architectural landmark tied directly to the ruling Al Khalifa family and a pivotal moment in Bahrain's history. The Bahrain Military Museum, opened in 2013, is divided into five halls: the Hall of Rulers, Forts Hall, Documents Hall, Horses Hall, and Old Weapons Hall. Walking through them traces how Bahrain was conquered by Ahmed Al Fateh and charts the military's evolution across the kingdom's history.

The final stop is Al Jasrah Handicraft Center, where local artisans work in traditional crafts. The center supports craftspeople keeping these skills alive and offers a look at the homemade products that carry Bahraini identity. Transport between all sites is by private vehicle, and bottled water is provided throughout the morning.

What’s included

• Local guide in English or Arabic.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private vehicle transport between all sites.
• entry fees to the Dilmun burial mounds, Al Khamis Mosque, Riffa Fort and Bahrain Military Museum.
• bottled water throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Friday and SaturdayDepartures at 09:00 and 09:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by FARHAT TOURS AND TRANSFERS SPC

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're new to Bahrain or have a free morning and want to understand how the island's ancient past shaped its present. The guide's depth on each site, not a quick drive-by, is what makes four hours feel complete, and the small group size keeps the pace conversational rather than rushed.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What are the Dilmun burial mounds, and why do they matter to Bahrain's history?

The Dilmun burial mounds near A'ali are royal tombs dating to the third millennium BC, when an ancient civilization shaped the island's culture and traditions. They stand as the oldest archaeological evidence on the tour and show how the ancients laid the foundation for present-day Bahrain.

When was Al Khamis Mosque built, and what can you see there today?

Al Khamis Mosque's foundation may date to 692 AD, though an inscription on the site suggests the 11th century. The structure was rebuilt twice (in the 14th and 15th centuries) when the minarets were constructed. You see the result of those centuries of rebuilding and use.

What does the Bahrain Military Museum cover?

The Bahrain Military Museum displays five halls charting the kingdom's military history: the Hall of Rulers traces the conquest by Ahmed Al Fateh and includes maps of the battles. The Forts Hall, Documents Hall, Horses Hall, and Old Weapons Hall each show a different layer of how Bahrain's defense force evolved from that conquest to the present day.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Manama are included, along with transport by private vehicle between all four sites and the handicraft center.

What's included in the price, and what should I budget separately?

The tour price covers all monument entry fees, bottled water, the guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, and private vehicle transport. Food, drinks and gratuities are not included.