Muharraq Pearling Path Cultural Walking Tour
Description
This tour is the ultimate Bahraini cultural experience which combines unique aspects to introduce Bahrain's culture, history, and golden era of the pearling industry. This tour will take them to see the sea where pearl drivers used to set their journey looking for pearls, then visiting beautiful traditional Bahraini houses that tell extraordinary stories relating to Bahrain's precious pearls. Finally, the tour finishes off in a gorgeous Bahraini traditional restaurant where guests indulge themselves with the famous traditional Bahraini breakfast.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Bu Maher Fort Visitor’s Center is the starting point to discovering more about the Pearling Path that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The center contains a three-dimensional display that guides the viewer though the history of the path and the houses which formed it from the early beginnings to the main pearling traders.
Al Ghus House – the pearl diver house – is thought to have been built by a boat captain (Nukhidhah), a captain’s second-in-command, or perhaps a master boatbuilder in the first decade of the 20th century and is said to have been inhabited and used by related divers.
Badr Ghulum Suleiman was a traditional folk medicine therapist and barber who set up his business in Muharraq in 1912. In the absence of modern medical services in Muharraq, Badr Ghulum’s residence, progressively gained the character of a small health clinic, and today it contains the city’s earliest remaining structures built for the purpose of medical provision.
Situated in the old city of Muharraq along the Pearling, testimony of an Island Economy pathway , Dar Almuharraq is a training and research centre for traditional folk music and has a space for cultural and musical events. An extension to Dal Jinaa, the three- storey building enveloped with a steel mesh, which also acts as a cooling device shading the building from direct sunlight. The mesh can be lifted on the ground floor, opening it up directly to the street and reinforcing its role as an open majlis to the city.
Al Jalahma family was involved in a wide range of key professions in the pearling economy, from the diver and hauler to pearl trader (Tajir) and grand pearl merchant (Tawwash). Al Jalahma House, built on the northern tip of Muharraq city at the gateway to Al Halah Island before the age of land reclamations, was the family’s home. It offers a prototype of a large, complex residence in which women, as a result of multiple marriages, made up the majority of household members. Consequently, the house provides a unique opportunity to explore the female perspective on the pearling economy.
Al Alawi House is an example of residential architecture built with wealth derived from the supply trade that underpinned the pearling industry. It has Muharraq’s only remaining functioning wind tower apart from the palace of the former ruler, Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa.
Fakhro House was the luxury residence of Yousif Abdulrahman Fakhro, a successful timber and boat merchant at the height of the pearling boom. The original scale and rich detail of Fakhro House invites comparisons to the elaborate houses built by the grand pearl merchants, and also offers a unique example of a family home that in early land reclamation practices gradually expanded into the sea as need required.
Guests will have a traditional Bahraini dinner in a traditional Bahraini house/restaurant. It is only valid for the Ramadan month.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(40)
We booked the afternoon tour, but happily moved to the morning event at Khaled’s request, starting at the National Museum with a boat trip across to Muharraq. Khaled was a warm, engaging guide, informative throughout as we went from interesting house to house on the Pearling Path, finishing with an excellent Bahraini breakfast at Al Sedra cafe in Muharraq. Picked up bar and restaurant recommendations for the rest of our trip too.
Thoroughly enjoyed this tour and Khaled is a fantastic tour guide, in fact this is the second tour we have done with him. He is super friendly and so knowledgeable, and delivers such interesting information about the pearling history and Bahraini history and culture. The Bahraini breakfast was delicious and great to experience something so authentic. The boat trip was fantastic and was able to see beautiful views of the sea and landscape. Loved seeing the cultural houses and admiring the artwork and traditional features. Would highly recommend!
The tour was a super insightful journey along the Pearling Path through Muharraq. Khaled was a beacon of knowledge and answered all our questions kindly and richly. The khubz snack was a delicious surprise too! I feel much more connected with Bahrain and its history and culture after this experience. Thank you for this experience!
This guy is amazing, the tour was well paced. He’s super kind and nice learnt a lot!! The breakfast was also delightful. Would highly recommend
The experience was great, very informative, enjoyed every moment about it. Actually exceeded my expectations to be honest. I saw how beautiful muharraq is and i loved it. Totally worth every penny spent & would totally recommend.
What a fun tour!!!! The entire experience from the initial boat ride, to the street snack, every house and for me the trees and the doors, I loved it all. Khaled is an amazing guide! His personality and demeanor are perfect for this. Really came off as informative and relatable. It was a wonderful experience learning about the history of pearl diving in Bahrain.
Khaled is excellent!! Very comfortable stroll through Muhrraq and the 100 year old homes of pearl industry families. No information overload. You get a very good understanding of how Bahraini's survived before public water and electricity was accessible. Restrooms available throughout. Nice snack halfway thru and a delicious brunch at the end. Highly recommend!!
Fantastic experience! I learned so much on this walk. The food was amazing too! I definitely would recommend this walk to anyone who wants to learn more about Muharraq!
Fabulous trip hosted by Khalid who was extremely responsive before the tour, offered several methods of payment, provided super interesting stories throughout the entire tour and treated us to a lovely brunch at the end of the walk. Highly recommend this and I would probably do this again when I come back to visitm
We had a very enjoyable time with Khaled on his tour of the pearl divers path. We learned about the life and times of the pearl divers and how things changed with the discovery of oil as we wended our way through the streets and alleys. To top it off we had a great brunch of Bahraini food.
