Banana Island Resort Doha

Some escapes are a drive away. This one is a boat ride. Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara sits on its own crescent island off the coast, reached only by a luxury ferry, and the moment you step aboard, the city starts to fall away behind you.

This is a five-star island resort you can enjoy for a single day or a full stay. You get overwater villas, a long sweep of beach, pools, a spa, and an Adventure Park with the longest zipline in Qatar, all a short sail from central Doha.

You do not need to be a hotel guest to visit. A day pass gets you the return ferry, the beach and pool, and credit to spend. Here is what is on the island, what the pass includes, and how to plan it.

Why Banana Island Is Worth Your Time

Doha is a city of skylines and souqs, so an island resort where the only way in is by boat feels like a genuine change of pace. That contrast is the whole appeal.

The escape is real. Banana Island is a crescent-shaped resort island a short ferry ride offshore, with turquoise water, a sandy beach and even overwater villas of the kind you would expect in the Maldives, not a Gulf capital. Cross the water and the pace drops immediately, which is exactly what a day here is for.

It also does two things at once. It is a relaxation and wellness retreat, with pools, a spa and a quiet beach, and at the same time an adventure playground, with the country's longest zipline, rope courses and water sports. Whether you want to switch off or fill the day with activity, both are on offer.

And it is easy to sample. Thanks to the day pass, you can experience a five-star island resort for an afternoon without booking a room, which makes it one of the more memorable and accessible luxury day trips from the city.

Known for: A five-star island resort with overwater villas and the longest zipline in Qatar

Setting: A private crescent island off the coast of Doha, reached only by ferry

Operated by: Anantara, as Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara

Access: By luxury catamaran ferry from Al Shyoukh Terminal on the Corniche

Visit options: A bookable day pass, or an overnight stay in rooms, suites and villas

Best time: The cooler months from November to March, and book ahead for weekends

An Island You Reach Only by Boat

Part of what makes Banana Island special is simply getting there, because there is no road or bridge to it.

Access is by a luxury catamaran ferry that crosses from Al Shyoukh Terminal on the Doha Corniche, a smooth trip of around 20 to 30 minutes with the skyline shrinking behind you and the island rising ahead. Arriving by water, greeted with traditional music at the jetty, sets the tone in a way that pulling into a car park never could.

The island itself is designed for a resort escape. It holds around 141 sea-view rooms, suites, beach villas and overwater pool villas, the last of these a rarity in Qatar, perched over the water with steps straight down into the sea. Even on a day visit, walking the boardwalks past them is part of the experience.

Because the island is large, a complimentary golf cart service ferries you around, so you never have to walk far between the beach, the pools, the restaurants and the Adventure Park.

Things to Do on Banana Island

There is far more here than a beach. Pick your pace, from full-throttle to fully switched off.

The Adventure Park and Zipline

The island's headline attraction, and a highlight for families. It is home to the longest zipline in Qatar, along with rope courses, a giant swing, a free fall, a climbing wall, a bouncing net and a human slingshot. Lockers are available to rent while you play.

The Beach and Pools

The gentler heart of the resort. A pristine sandy beach and calm turquoise water sit alongside outdoor pools, a children's pool and a waterslide, with sun loungers for a full day of doing very little. This is where most day-trippers settle in.

Water Sports and Diving

For time on and under the water, the resort offers kayaking, scuba diving and other water activities in the clear Gulf around the island. It is a relaxed, resort-style setting to try something new or simply paddle out from the beach.

The Spa and Wellness

Banana Island leans into wellness, with the Anantara Spa offering massages and treatments, plus a fitness centre and steam facilities. It is the side of the island for anyone whose idea of a perfect day is pure relaxation.

Family Facilities

The resort is genuinely family friendly, with a children's pool, a waterslide, the Adventure Park and plenty of space, so it works as well for families with children as it does for couples or groups of friends.

The Day Pass Explained

You do not need to stay overnight to enjoy the island, and the day pass is how most visitors experience it. It covers the return luxury ferry from Al Shyoukh Port, plus full access to the beach, the pools and the Adventure Park, home to the longest zipline in Qatar.

As of September 2026, the daytime pass is listed at QAR 395 per adult (ages 12 and above) and QAR 150 per child (ages 3 to 11). The adult pass also includes QAR 200 of dining credit and a QAR 70 activity credit, while children's passes cover only the ferry, beach and pool access. The daytime ferry departs at 10:00am and returns at 5:00pm, with a separate sunset package on later sailings.

A few things to know before booking. The zipline is excluded from the QAR 70 credit, so riding it costs extra on the day, and bookings are non-refundable and non-cancellable. Passes sell out on weekends and school holidays, so reserve ahead, and always confirm current prices and times on the official Anantara website before you visit.

Eat, Drink and Relax

You will eat well here. The resort has a spread of restaurants and cafes across the island, and the day pass includes restaurant credit to put towards a meal, so lunch is built into the visit.

The credit is generous but fixed, spent at a single restaurant with no change given, so it is worth choosing where you eat with that in mind. Beyond the credit, you can simply pay for anything extra you fancy through the day, from a coffee by the pool to a longer sit-down meal.

With the beach, the pools and the restaurants all linked by the golf cart service, it is easy to drift between relaxing, eating and playing without ever feeling rushed.

Visitor Essentials

Access: By ferry only from Al Shyoukh Terminal on the Corniche. There is no road or bridge to the island.

Day pass: As of September 2026, around QAR 395 per adult and QAR 150 per child, under-2s free. Includes return ferry, beach and pool access, plus credit for adults.

Booking: Advance booking is required, and bookings are non-refundable. Weekends and holidays sell out.

Ferry time: Roughly 20 to 30 minutes each way, with set departure and return sailings.

Arrive early: Get to the terminal at least 20 to 30 minutes before your sailing to check in.

Getting around: A free golf cart service runs across the island. Lockers are available at the Adventure Park.

Best time: November to March for the weather. Book the earlier sailing to get a full day.

Good to know: The zipline is excluded from the activity credit and needs a separate charge on the day.

H2: Getting Here

Ferry terminal: All visits start at Al Shyoukh Terminal on the Doha Corniche, near the Museum of Islamic Art and close to Souq Waqif in central Doha.

Taxi: The simplest way to the terminal, a short ride from most of central Doha and around 15 to 25 minutes from West Bay or The Pearl. If you want to weigh up the metro, taxis and car hire first, our getting around Doha guide breaks down the options.

Car: Parking, including valet, is available at the terminal for those driving.

The crossing: From the terminal, the resort's own luxury ferry takes you the rest of the way, about 20 to 30 minutes across the water.

Make a Day of It

Banana Island works best as a full day escape, so give it the whole day rather than squeezing it in.

Book the earlier ferry to make the most of the island, and start with the beach and pools while it is quiet. Fit the Adventure Park and the zipline into the cooler parts of the day, use your restaurant credit for a relaxed lunch, and leave time for the spa or a last swim before the return sailing.

Because the ferry leaves from central Doha, it pairs neatly with the old town. Combine your island day with an evening at Souq Waqif, a short distance from the terminal, for spice lanes, rooftop dining and a completely different side of the city once you are back on the mainland.

Stay Overnight

For more than a day, Banana Island is a destination in its own right. Staying over lets you enjoy the resort once the day-trippers have left, and the overwater pool villas are the standout, a rare Maldives-style experience in Qatar.

If you would rather base yourself in the city and visit on a day pass, central Doha, West Bay and The Pearl all offer easy access to the ferry terminal. Our guide to accommodation in Doha covers the best areas to stay.

Nearby Places to Visit

Doha Corniche: Where the ferry departs, the waterfront promenade curving along Doha Bay.

Souq Waqif: Near the ferry terminal, the restored old market, at its best after dark.

Museum of Islamic Art: Beside the terminal on its own island at the end of the Corniche.

West Bay: Doha's high-rise district across the bay, with the skyline and dining.

The Pearl-Qatar: A man-made island to the north, with a marina and waterfront dining.

Katara Cultural Village: A coastal cultural district with mosques, galleries and a beach.