Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
AROUND KUWAIT
Kuwait, to all intents and purposes, is a city-state wherein most of the attractions and activ-
ities are centred in the capital. There are few towns outside Kuwait City and even less in
the way of physical attractions in the oil-producing interior.
Despite these drawbacks, however, Kuwait is comprised of a long and beautiful stretch
of coast, and future tourist developments include the multi-billion-dollar holiday resort and
entertainment complex on Failaka Island, expected to take 10 years or so to complete.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Failaka Island
OFFLINE MAP
Failaka Island has some of the most significant archaeological sites in the Gulf. With a his-
tory dating from the Bronze Age, evidence of Dilmun and Greek settlements, a classical
name to die for (the Greeks called it 'Ikaros') and a strategic location at the mouth of one
of the Gulf's best natural harbours, this island could and should be considered one of
Kuwait's top tourist attractions.
Alas, recent history has deemed otherwise. First, the Iraqis established a heavily fortified
base on Failaka, paying scant regard to the relics over which they strewed their hardware,
and then the island was billeted by Allied forces with equally pitiful regard for antiquities.
Thanks to the new resort, the island is once again open to visitors and is beginning to as-
sume its rightful importance at last.
Sleeping
Ikaros Hotel$$
RESORT
( 2224 4988;
www.failakaheritagevillage.com
;
s/d KD35/50; )
If you like Failaka Island enough to
stay, this hotel has a range of facilities in the so-called Failaka Heritage Village, including a
children's zoo, lake, horse-riding, camel rides and various water sports. Home-made crafts
are produced in the living heritage village and are available for sale.
The hotel, which has made a good job of refurbishing the old police station, offers tradi-
tional houses that sleep five to 15 people. The resort also offers day rates of KD13 per adult
and KD10 per child on Friday, Saturday and public holidays and operates a catamaran ser-
