With Manama as its capital, Bahrain lies on the Gulf Coast just off the east coast of Saudi Arabia. It is an archipelago of flat islands, with the main island providing a unique supply of freshwater both offshore and on land. The main island is connected to the mainland by the King Fahad causeway, a 24 km-long bridge linking Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.
Arabic is the official language, although English is widely spoken and there are many interesting sites to visit such as the Bahrain National Museum which displays relics of the past Dilmun civilization.
One may also visit the tombs of Sar and A’Ali as well as the amazing town of A’Ali where nearly 200,000 ancient burial mounds mark the landscape.
The Bahrain Fort is a Portuguese fort built during the 16th century, which offers strategic views over the sea. The House of Beit al-Jasra is a magnificent example of traditional Bahraini architecture built with local materials such as coral stone.
The Al-Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve is an amazing man-made achievement of a lush garden surrounded by an arid desert landscape.
Rainfall is rare and may occur during the winter. The Spring and Autumn months are ideal with milder temperatures, for in June through to October the temperature can reach 42°C, while in the winter between December to April temperatures vary from 10° to 20°C.
