On this final information to go to Yemen mainland (Hadramout Governate) I put collectively a Yemen itinerary and present you all of the locations of curiosity and extra. I made a decision to go after I visited Djibouti earlier the identical 12 months and I had the very best Yemini meals there. You may assume Yemen is totally unsafe. You may assume that it’s inconceivable to go to mainland Yemen however solely Socotra Island. That is all not true. On the time of writing the south (which is definitely the east) of Yemen, Hadramout Governate round Seiyun, is protected to go to. It’s additionally the placement of Shibam which is dubbed the Manhattan of the Center East and a UNESCO World Heritage Website. This Yemen itinerary has a deal with the Hadramout governate.
Be part of me on this go to to Yemen and I’m certain you need to journey to Yemen as effectively. Until you don’t want journey or exit of your consolation zone. You want an open thoughts. I cannot cowl political concepts right here however simply what Yemen has to supply for a traveller and what to anticipate. One factor is certain: I used to be shocked by its magnificence and the hospitality of the Yemeni folks.
Learn how to plan a visit to Yemen
Travelling to Yemen solo is feasible. This implies and not using a group, however you want a neighborhood company to rearrange a automotive with driver and information. You additionally want an company to rearrange all of the formalities. I used Kais from Yemen Touring Company who is extremely really helpful, answered all my questions and effectively organized my journey to Yemen. Contact me for his WhatsApp quantity. I’ll cowl all of the specifics on tips on how to plan a visit to Yemen in a separate article.
Yemen itinerary pre-arrival day: Arriving to Cairo
A visit to Yemen isn’t like an everyday journey round Europe and it wants a lot of planning. To keep away from my positioning flight messing up my schedule I opted to reach a day early in Cairo in order that I might have a day buffer. I flew in from Amsterdam with EgyptAir. I booked an affordable award ticked with my Aegean Miles & Bonus miles. The very best Star Alliance program. I stayed on the Meridien Lodge Cairo Airport which I used earlier than. I simply stayed on the lodge all day working however if you wish to exit a day try my High Day Journeys from Cairo article.
Day 1 Yemen itinerary: Flight from Caïro to Seiyun & Yemen immigration
Yemenia (Yemen Airways) makes use of terminal 1 at Cairo Airport which is the outdated terminal and a bit chaotic. I assumed it made sense to be there 2 hours earlier than the flight, however this resulted in me ready for 1.5 hours with nothing to do. There are 3 x-ray scans earlier than you board and the final one is on the gate. It went chaotic in a clean method. Lastly, the airplane departed about 25 minutes late. The flight to Seiyun takes 3-3.5 hours. About an hour within the flight a sizzling meal was served by the pleasant workers. Fairly commonplace: Rice with meat, some veggies, bread, and a small cake. Many of the flight is over the empty quarter, though simply infinite desert, I loved trying down and see it cross by. Simply earlier than touchdown I used to be fortunate to have a fowl’s eye view of Shibam, a UNESCO World Heritage Website. It was a clean flight general.
On arrival in Seiyun immigration was clean however took a little bit of time. Attempt to deplane quick and be in entrance of the queues. Sure, two queues as man and ladies go individually. First cease checks in case you have the visa paper and safety clearance. They then do one thing on a pc and scan the printed copies. At that time I obtained a bit confused as there have been 2 extra counters however on the similar time the, I feel, man in command of every thing got here to me “are you Mr. from Hollandi”. Then, he put me in entrance of all others. At cease two a photograph and fingerprints had been taken and cease three was the ultimate visa stamp into the passport. Every little thing collectively took most likely 20 minutes. Baggage was quick and the driving force picked me up and we had been on our approach to Seiyun.
It was late afternoon, and I had a little bit of time left to purchase native garments earlier than checking in on the Hawta Palace Lodge. It’s an incredible lodge in an outdated heritage conventional Yemen complicated. Verify the Hawta Palace Lodge web site for extra info. After some kebab and Yemeni espresso, I went to mattress early as a result of the subsequent day can be a protracted drive east.
Day 2 Yemen itinerary: Eastwards looking Tombs & Shrines
Wadi Hadramout is stuffed with essential tombs and shrines of prophets and students of the Islam. Immediately we’ll discover these, and the start line is the tomb of Hud (pronounce hood) about 2 hours drive east from Seiyun. Hud was a prophet in historic Arabia and talked about within the Quran. He was a peasant of the Advert folks however when these folks began to worship different gods Hud saved praying to the one true God. God then turned him right into a Prophet. The tomb is within the Hadramout valley. It’s a small white constructing with contained in the tomb of Hud. There’s a small city on the base of the mountain which annually involves life when pilgrims come for celebrations. Pilgrims from all all over the world go to, even after I was there a big group from South East Asia was there as effectively. After an hour it was time to drive to Tarim. However first a cease for a scrumptious Yemeni lunch with stewed camel meat and way more.
After lunch it was a brief drive to Tarim with a brief cease simply exterior of Tarim in Aynat to see the Sufi scholar shrines. Tarim city is the Sufi Islamic historic heart. It’s house to the gorgeous Al-Midar mosque and it’s placing white mud-brick Minaret which is the tallest of Yemen. The city is constructed from mud bricks which is widespread all through Yemen. I wandered round city for about 40 minutes however sadly the market wasn’t opened but once more after noon’s break. After Tarim I visited Al-Hosaisa which is house to the shrines of two Sufi students each referred to as Ahmed. A big mosque of the identical title is positioned on the base of the mountain.
It was a little bit of a rush in Tarim and Aynat in order that I might be on time in Seiyun for the annual occasion Al-Houl. It’s devoted to the Sufi scholar Habib Ali Alhabshi. Folks from numerous cities collect in a procession and I used to be fortunate to see it. I really like such surprises that you’re immediately in the course of native celebrations. After all of the teams handed by I visited the Seiyun souk and acquired some Yemen gold. Yemen gold is pure honey. Be sure that somebody who is aware of about it helps you purchase it, so that you get the very best. It isn’t low-cost although however so good. As I used to be drained, I made a decision to only have some Kebab for dinner on the lodge. So many impressions already this primary day to course of so I went to mattress early.
Day 3 Yemen itinerary: Seiyun to Wadi Do’an with Shibam as spotlight
The precise concept was to go to the Sultan Al-Kathiri Palace the day past, however the museum was closed. This wasn’t an issue as a result of there was time at this time, I simply needed to get up an hour earlier. Not so my factor however I needed to see the museum. The Sultan Al-Kathiri Palace homes a small archaeological museum, a customs museum, and a photograph gallery with outdated photographs of Yemen. A small but informative museum which you shouldn’t miss. It was round 10AM after we lastly headed to, in my view, the spotlight of the journey: Shibam Hadramout, the Manhattan of Arabia. Shibam is a UNESCO World Heritage Website since 1982 and I now know why: It’s an incredible distinctive place.
Shibam is a novel metropolis in Wadi Hadramout because it’s fully constructed from mud bricks as much as eleven tales excessive. These skyscrapers home round 7000 folks and are constructed very shut to one another. The entire metropolis is surrounded by a wall. It’s superb to see that simply mud and wood beams are used to construct these homes. Vehicles can get in via the principle gate, however you’ll solely be capable of drive as much as the mosque and the principle sq.. The alleys should be explored on foot which you’ll cowl all of them in 2 hours.
Should you stroll the alleys, you’ll discover loads of goats. They reside on the bottom ground of lots of the buildings. Once I arrived, the goats had been the one residing beings I noticed in Shibam, however this modified. I obtained invited to see the inside of one of many homes. They’re vibrant and never sandy as the skin! Every ground has just a few rooms for the varied households residing collectively. The highest ground usually is for the newlyweds which transfer down as soon as one other couple marries. As soon as again exterior within the alleys the entire metropolis got here to life as a result of it was lunch time. All of a sudden there have been youngsters taking part in, retailers opened and ladies coming again with the goats from exterior town. These Hadhrami ladies put on pointy hats which is an attention-grabbing sight. All this actually gave impression of the life in Shibam.
Sure, there’s a viewpoint for Shibam on the different facet of the valley. Scroll to day 5 for the Shibam sundown, it’s magical! After a small lunch it was time to drive to Wadi Do’an which is a 3-hour drive away but when checkpoints cease you this could final many hours extra. I didn’t expertise any delays with a most of 10 minutes at one navy checkpoint.
Driving via Wadi Do’an there have been just a few photograph stops of Sif cities of which essentially the most attention-grabbing was Al-Haijrain. A metropolis constructed across the tip of a mountain. On day 4 there can be way more time to discover these cities and villages. It was round 5PM after I arrived simply earlier than sundown on the Haid Al-Jizil Resort Lodge. After a scrumptious oven hen, I went via among the photographs of the previous days, related to house for an replace and went to mattress early as the subsequent day can be a protracted one.
Day 4 Yemen itinerary: A day in Wadi Do’an
The sundown from the Haid Al-Jizil Lodge should be magical when the solar lights up Wadi Do’an and Haid Al-Jizil city which is constructed on high of a rock. I say “should be” as I’m not a morning individual so I skipped this. After my regular breakfast (eggs, Yemini bread, inexperienced chili, and occasional) it was time for a hike from the mountain city into Wadi Do’an. The 1-hour lengthy stunning trek begins a couple of minutes’ drive from the lodge and takes you all the way down to Hawfah village. On the high you’ll be able to see only a little bit of the valley under and the extra you stroll down the extra the valley opens with superb views. With the numerous photograph stops it took about 80 minutes to achieve Hawfah village.
Hawfah village is a fantastic small mud brick village constructed on the base of the cliffs of Wadi Do’an. Strolling via the village you’ll get impression of how the folks spend their time throughout the day. From Hawfah village we drove a couple of minutes to Buqshan village to admire the Buqshan Palace. This palace, and one other subsequent to it, is a fantastic coloured palace owned by a wealthy household. The household now lives in Saudi Arabia however returns annually they usually maintain the village and people round.
Wadi Do’an may be very affluent and wealthy as a result of many profitable enterprise households going again a few years. Many now reside elsewhere, for instance in Saudi Arabia. One household, the Bin Laden household, you most likely have heard of. Their household house is in Al-Rubat, and I used to be capable of go to it travelling solo. Giant teams may appeal to the eye of individuals with dangerous intentions. Though it’s deserted it was attention-grabbing to see. Will I be in one of many spy-satellite images now? Locals even invited me to come back to their home for lunch, however I needed to politely decline that as extra was on this system at this time. Earlier than heading again to the lodge for lunch there have been just a few extra photograph stops together with Rehab city. This mud brick metropolis, which can be constructed on the base of the sandstone cliffs is surrounded by fields of inexperienced palm timber. A gorgeous view.
After lunch and an hour having fun with the infinity swimming pool it was time for a final drive via Wadi Do’an. Different cities I visited embrace in no explicit order Al-Khuraiba, Haid Al-Jizil, Qarn Majed and some others. Within the night it was time, but once more, for a scrumptious oven hen for dinner on the lodge. They solely serve this due to the dearth of tourism as of late. As soon as this modifications they may have a full-service restaurant once more. They was once absolutely booked all year long, and I hope this quickly modifications once more as a result of the realm is superb.
Day 5 Yemen itinerary: Highway journey again from Wadi Do’an to Seiyun
After breakfast it was time to depart Haid Al-Jizil lodge at round 08:30AM. It could be a 3–4-hour drive again to Seiyun if there have been no delays at checkpoints. I feel I stated “cease” to the driving force about 20 occasions to {photograph} extra villages, native life, and simply stunning panoramas. Once more, every thing went easily, so I had just a few hours on the Hawta Palace Lodge pool after lunch. I had lunch in probably the greatest eating places in Seiyun and at last was capable of style Saltah. It’s a dish from North Yemen however I needed to strive it not less than as soon as.
After pool time it was time to go again to Shibam for the magical sundown at the very best viewpoint. It’s positioned midway up the cliff reverse Shibam. The entire sandy riverbed was full of children taking part in soccer, Hadrami ladies coming again with goats once more, simply many individuals getting back from work. It was principally empty the opposite day, however within the late afternoon the entire valley obtained crowded. I watched the sundown, made a big gigapixel panorama photograph, and simply admired Shibam. This was most likely essentially the most memorable expertise in Yemen. It’s the actual magical Arabia.
After sundown, it was a 15-minute drive again to the Hawta Palace Lodge for dinner. I went to mattress early as a result of I needed to stand up at 3AM to depart at 4AM to the airport. It’s one thing I attempt to keep away from in any respect prices however with only one choice for a flight from Seiyun to Cairo I had no selection. I survived.
Day 6: The top of this Yemen highway journey itinerary
Each journey has and finish and so did my journey to Yemen. The flight to Cairo is at 07:00AM which meant I needed to wake-up already at 03:00AM which is one thing I actually hate. However I survived that in fact. It was only a brief trip from the Hawta Palace Lodge to the airport. I assumed it might be chaotic on the airport, however every thing went very clean. There are a number of passport and safety checks, however they’re quick and environment friendly. It was nonetheless earlier than 5AM after I was in ready space for the airplane to reach. The flight again was clean as effectively.
Yemen actually shocked me. I went in with an open thoughts, but it surely was simply superb. Having seen so many locations it usually occurs that locations are “regular”, however Yemen actually is totally different. The pleasant folks, its historic websites, nature, and every thing generally is a superb expertise. I might have beloved to remain longer and discover the north of Yemen. This space from Aden to Sana’a nevertheless isn’t protected now. I need to return quickly for a second go to as soon as doable.
I hope this Yemen itinerary journey report evokes you to go as effectively. Plan effectively and you’ll have an incredible time.
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