The brand-new experience is a collaboration between an Anantara resort and Qatar Airways’ destination management company.

Travelers breaking up the long journey between Southeast Asia and Europe with a stopover in Qatar will get to catch a glimpse of the country’s rich marine life, thanks to the latest guest experience from Discover Qatar and the offshore Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara. Named “The Whale Sharks of Qatar – Daily Explorer,” the just-launched excursion brings up to 25 guests out into the Arabian Gulf in the comfort of a high-speed luxury catamaran, giving visitors and local residents alike the chance to view one of the largest known congregations of whale sharks on the planet.

From April to September, hundreds of whale sharks gather to feed close to the surface in the cooler waters off the northeast coast of Qatar. Once the vessel reaches the area where the enormous fish are found, tour participants will have two hours to view the slow-moving gentle giants from the fore and aft decks, before the cruise back to shore. Discover Qatar will provide a whale shark expert to educate guests about the majestic creatures through an interactive lecture, while a professional photographer will also be on board to capture the whole experience on camera. During the trip, a continental breakfast and sandwich buffet lunch are served, along with snacks and a selection of hot and cold drinks.

Operated by Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, the spacious catamarans come equipped with plush seating areas as well as wall-mounted TVs and Wi-Fi. The new whale shark excursions depart five times a week from Al Ruwais Port in the north of Qatar and can be booked via whalesharksofqatar.com.