Travel news: Go birdwatching in Portugal this spring

Plus: Qatar Airways adds new RAK route; Explore rural Ireland with new package; Go wild with a Tanzania adventure; Doha welcomes City Centre Rotana.

Birdwatching is the focus of a new Portugal package from Headwater. Courtesy Headwater
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Search out the historical and cultural region of Alentejo's vast species of birds with a Portuguese package from Headwater. The seven-night Birding in the Alentejo package combines gentle walking with birdwatching, exploring the northern inland plains as well as the south-western coast. Travellers will stay with a qualified birding guide at a lakeside quinta (a large country house). The package costs from £1,048 (Dh5,583) per person, excluding international flights, but including accommodation, half-board, local transfers, fully guided walking and birding week, and taxes. For more information, visit www.headwater.com.

Qatar Airways adds new RAK route

Qatar Airways has launched its first direct service between Doha and Ras Al Khaimah. The new route is the airline's fifth UAE destination. The journey takes about 45 minutes, and runs four times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). Return flights cost from Dh605 per person, including taxes. For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com.

Explore rural Ireland with new package

See the countryside of the Emerald Isle with Sherpa Expeditions' seven- or nine-day Wicklow Way package in Ireland. The self-guided walking tour starts in south-west County Wicklow, and runs through rural communities, old market towns and eventually into Dublin. Travellers will explore Ireland's oldest waymarked trail, the Wicklow Mountains, Mullacor mountain, and Glendalough, known as the "valley of the two lakes". The package costs from £705 (Dh3,755) per person, excluding international flights, and including accommodation, some meals, luggage transfers between hotels and taxes. For more information, visit www.sherpaexpeditions.com.

Go wild with a Tanzania adventure

Explore East Africa with World Expedition's Tanzania Wildlife Adventure package. The four-day excursion takes in the Ngorongoro Crater and the abundant bird life at Lake Manyara, and includes a morning drive to Tarangire National Park. Guests will stay in self-contained tents, situated on wooden platforms, all with private facilities. The package costs from £850 (Dh4,528) per person, excluding international fights, but including accommodations, meals, an experienced game driver and taxes. For more details visit, www.worldexpeditions.co.uk.

Doha welcomes City Centre Rotana

The City Centre Rotana is now open in the Qatari capital Doha. The new hotel is located in the heart of the city, and features 381 rooms, an outdoor terrace, swimming pool, and a fitness and wellness club. Guests have several on-site dining options, including the American-themed Boston restaurant and lounge, all-day dining at Olive Oil, the Oriental restaurant Misk, the pool bar Aquarius and the lobby lounge Caramel. Rooms cost from 637.50 Qatari riyals (Dh643) per person, including taxes. For more details, visit www.rotana.com.

alane@thenational.ae

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