Southern Bahrain tour: Tree of Life, camel farm, Riffa Fort

Four landmarks across Bahrain's desert in one morning, from camels to a tree that has no water

A guided tour of southern Bahrain covering four distinct sites: a working camel farm where you feed and photograph the animals, the Tree of Life standing isolated in the desert for over 400 years, the Bahrain International Circuit (home of the Formula One Grand Prix), and Riffa Fort with its 19th-century palace views. The tour runs three hours with hotel pickup, a professional driver, a licensed guide in your choice of language, and refreshments included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore southern Bahrain's key sites

• Visit camel farm and feed camels
• Tour Bahrain International Circuit
• See the first oil well in Arabian Gulf
• Visit the Tree of Life in desert
• Explore historic Riffa Fort

The experience

You start at a camel farm that once belonged to the late uncle of Bahrain's king, home to over 500 camels. The animals are accustomed to visitors, so you can photograph them and feed them directly. Bring a camera ready. From there the route moves through the Sakhir desert to the Bahrain International Circuit, the track that hosted the country's first Formula One Grand Prix in 2004 and remains the only F1 venue in the Middle East. You stop for photos, then continue past the oil fields to the first oil well ever drilled in the Arabian Gulf, which struck oil on June 2, 1932.

The Tree of Life stands alone on a 25-foot sandy hill at the highest point of the island, a mesquite that has survived over 400 years without any visible water source or nearby vegetation. At 32 feet tall, it has endured extreme heat and drought in a landscape otherwise bare. Your guide explains how this is possible and the cultural significance of the tree to Bahrain. The final stop is Riffa Fort, built in the 19th century as a residence for Shaikh Salman Bin Ahmed Al Fateh Al Khalifa, where the views across the region are the reason most visitors linger.

Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or one of four other languages and answers questions throughout. Hotel pickup is included, along with transportation in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle and refreshments during the tour. The whole route takes three hours.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• transportation in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle with a professional driver.
• a licensed guide fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and four additional languages.
• refreshments during the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except FridayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendly

Operated by Best of Bahrain - DMC - Tours & Activities

Is this one for you?The tour moves between four stops across three hours without long walks at any single site, so it suits a free afternoon or a first morning in Bahrain when you want to see the landmarks without committing a full day.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I feed the camels at the farm, or is it just photos?

The camel farm visit includes both: you can photograph the animals and feed them directly, since they are accustomed to visitors. Bring a camera ready for close shots.

Why does the Tree of Life survive in the desert with no water?

The Tree of Life has stood alone for over 400 years in Bahrain's desert without an apparent water source, which is why it is considered a natural wonder. Your guide explains the conditions that allow it to survive in that harsh landscape.

Is the Bahrain International Circuit still an active F1 track?

The Bahrain International Circuit continues to host major motorsport events and crowds. It first held the Formula One Grand Prix in 2004, making it the first F1 track in the Middle East, and remains a platform for motorsports in the region.

What is included in the tour price?

Transportation, hotel pickup, a professional driver, a licensed guide in your chosen language, and refreshments are all included in the three-hour tour.

Is this tour accessible for people with mobility concerns?

Yes, the vehicle is wheelchair accessible, all tour areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and infants or small children can travel in a pram or stroller.