joellebohringerTo visit Failaka island is arguably one of the coolest things to see in Kuwait. Yet, it is notoriously hard to get to. As a local of Kuwait, I’m sharing exactly how you can travel to Failaka Island independently.
What is Failaka Island?
Failaka Island is a small Island off the coast of Kuwait. It was first inhabited by the ancient Dilmun civilization in 2000 BC. In 400 BC, it was taken over by Alexander the Great and his troops, and renamed Ikarus. The island arguably has some of the most diverse ruins in the world. Archeologists have found Dilmun sites, Babylonian temples, Greek temples to Artemis, early Christian churches, and early Islamic mosques on the island – all on an island that is only 16 square miles!
It was continuously inhabited from 2000 BC until 1991, when Iraq invaded Kuwait. Failaka Island was one of the first places that Iraqi soldiers invaded, and they held the island as a base throughout the invasion. The nearly 3,000 inhabitants of the island at the time were evacuated to mainland Kuwait city. Today, their houses still lay abandoned, as if frozen in time over the past 30+ years, and you can see the destruction razed by the invading army.
What is there to see when you visit Failaka Island?
Ancient Dilmun Sites
Across Failaka Island, there are 7 archeological sites recognized by UNESCO. The most accessible of the sites are of an ancient city of the Dilmun civilization. Keep reading to learn how to explore this site.
The Tank Graveyard of Iraqi Armory
After Saddam Hussein’s troops were kicked out of Kuwait following the 1991 Iraqi Invasion, all of their tanks and machinery were left on Failaka Island. Today, Kuwaitis have gathered all of the remaining tanks and equipment in one area. The tanks are completely open to explore, and you can even climb inside.
The Abandoned City of Failaka
Before the Iraqi invasion, Failaka was home to nearly 3,000 Kuwaitis. All of the homes and businesses were left abandoned at the start of the invasion. Today, you can walk around and explore all of the homes and businesses. It reminds me a lot of Chernobyl. The National Bank (Bank Al Watani) is especially interesting to explore, as it was the most damaged by tank fire.
While it was an undoubtedly sad event, Kuwait rehoused and relocated all of the original inhabitants of the island to the mainland, where the continue to live.
The Royal Camel Farm on Failaka
Today, the island is largely controlled by the Kuwaiti government and the royal family. A small camel herd lives on the island, and according to my Kuwaiti husband, you can tell it is a collection of the royal family’s camels because of the specific brand that they have on their back leg. Keeping camels is still a very popular activity for many Kuwaitis, but this is something that foreigners often cannot easily access.
Shepards take care of the camels, and they are more than excited to meet foreigners and show them the camel. If you visit during milking time, they’ll even prepare a fresh glass of camel milk for you.
Detailed Guide How to Visit Failaka Island
Despite a lack of information available online about how to get to Failaka Island, it is surprisingly easy. There are 2 ferrys daily that go and come from Failaka through the Ikarus Marine company. Read below for the steps of how to plan the perfect day on Failaka.
1. Look at Ikarus Marine Instagram Page
The main difficulty in planning a visit to Failaka Island is that the timings of the Ikarus ferry change each day based on the tides. Luckily, they post their schedule on their instagram at the beginning of each month. Check out the ferry company’s instagram page here. The page is entirely in Arabic, but each month’s schedule is located in the story highlight area named “جدول الرحلات”. The schedule looks like the photo below. Next to each date, it shows the departure and arrival time of the ferry.
2. Go to the Ferry Marina and Purchase Tickets
The Ikarus Ferry leaves each day from this location. I recommend arriving an hour before the scheduled departure time, as you will need to purchase your ticket in advance. Near the boats, you will see a small office labelled as Ikarus Marine. You need to go there to purchase your ticket. The desk is usually staffed by a small team of young Kuwaitis who speak English well, and who are very helpful. Be sure to bring a digital copy of your passport, as the company must have a copy of your ID to let you onboard, per the requirements of the Kuwaiti coast guard!
The ticket price is 15 KD per person (about $48) for a return ticket.
3. Arrive on the Island and Purchase Bus Tour
Once you arrive, the excitement of your visit to Failaka island begins! You will land at the Island’s small and slightly abandoned heritage resort. The resort was built as an attempt to provide entertainment on Failaka Island for local Kuwaiti families. It is largely vacant. Near the ferry dock, there is a decent restaurant that I recommend getting lunch at. They accept even accept foreign card transactions.
However, your first place to go is to the nearby “heritage village”. It is about a 5 minute walk from the ferry drop off point. Here, you can enter the small convenience store, and you can ask to do the bus tour of the Island. This tour takes you to:
- The Iraqi Tank Graveyard
- The abandoned and destroyed National Bank of Kuwait
- The royal family’s camel farm
If there are other people interested in doing the tour, they may sell you a seat on the bus for 3KD (about $10) per person. However, if you are travelling independently, I have been asked to pay 20 KD before for a “private tour”. It is technically possible to walk to the tank graveyard, but it takes more than 1.5 hours to walk there, and it can take up your entire day on the island.
4. Explore the Abandoned City
After you get back from the bus tour, you can explore the abandoned streets of Failaka. Most of the abandoned houses are open, and you can walk through them. I’ve found so many items frozen in time from when families fled in 1991.
5. Walk to the Dilmun Burial Sites
All of the archeological sites on the island are technically still under archeological excavation, so they are not directly open to the public. However, I have found that the site guard’s will often let curious tourists in to see the sites at this location. You can easily walk through the abandoned city to get here,and it is about a 30 minute walk from the ferry drop off location. It is not guaranteed that the guard will let you in, but it is worth a try.
6. Return to the Ferry Drop off Location
Make sure you allot enough time to return to the ferry pier before your ferry departs. If you miss the ferry, there are really no options for getting back to mainland Kuwait, so make sure you are waiting near the pier at least 20 minutes before the ferry is scheduled to depart!
Enjoyed learning how to travel to Failaka Island? Check out more of my destination guides here.
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