Email address: [email protected]
© SAIGA Tours
Start
Jan 23, 2025
Seiyun
Seiyun
2025-01-23
End
Jan 28, 2025
Seiyun
Seiyun
2025-01-28
Duration
6 days
Price
US$3100.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
When you hear about travel to Yemen, most people are talking about heading to Socotra. Well, most people aren’t travelling to Yemen at all actually, but those who are are mostly thinking about Socotra. Because of the civil war, sadly mainland Yemen has been largely off the cards for a long time. We however, are here to show you what mainland Yemen has to offer, and take you to some absolutely amazing places that a lot of people have discounted. While the west of the country is still largely off-limits, we will take you on a road trip in the centre of the country which has remained fairly stable throughout the conflict.
We will show you the epic sites such as the ‘Manhattan of the Desert’, the famous colour palaces of the many desert villages and the spectacular Wadi Dawan.
The situation in Yemen is definitely improving and we hope that we will be able to explore more and more of this country in the near future as it becomes ever safer to do so!
If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.
INCLUSIONS:
|
✓ |
Yemen tourist visa and all required permissions |
|
✓ |
Accommodation in twin share as per itinerary, breakfast included |
|
✓ |
Transport, beginning and ending in Seiyun |
|
✓ |
Meals as per itinerary |
|
✓ |
Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the itinerary |
|
✓ |
SAIGA guide, local guides, and all required security precautions |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: USD 650
EXCLUSIONS:
|
⨯ |
Flights to and from Seiyun |
|
⨯ |
Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities |
|
⨯ |
Any COVID related expenses or other travel expenses |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Take a roadtrip along the awe-inspiring Mehri Coast
See for yourself the ancient mud skyscrapers of the Manhattan of the Desert
Itinerary
Day 1Thu Jan 23
Cairo, Seiyun
- Today we will fly from Cairo, Egypt to Seiyun, Yemen (flight not included in tour price).
- We will arrive in Yemen in the late afternoon, and from the airport we will go to Hawta Palace Hotel.
- Welcome dinner and o vernight in Hawta Palace Hotel.
Day 2Fri Jan 24
Seiyun, Al Mukalla
- After an early breakfast, we will visit Seiyun Old Town, where we'll buy local Yemeni clothes so we can all fit in.
- Dressed up in our new attire, we will drive via Wadi Sah towards the coast to Al Mukalla, the main city in Yemen, and home to one of the most important ports in the country.
- Arriving in Al Mukalla, we will eat a traditional meal from the area - a seafood lover's dream!
- After dinner we'll take a stroll around the port. We'll check out the city’s fortress Al Ghawazi Fort , and stop to photograph Khoor Mukalla. We'll also visit the old town of Al Mukalla and the old market.
- Dinner and overnight at the Ramada Mukalla Hotel.
Day 3Sat Jan 25
Al Mukalla, Hawfa, Buqshan, Wadi Dawan
-
In the morning we will visit the Al Mukalla's fish and fruit and vegetables market.
-
We then continue our journey to Wadi Dawan, a jaw-dropping valley dotted with old traditional villages.
- We'll arrive and check into the Al Jizil Resort Hotel which has absolutely mind-blowing panorama views over Wadi Dawan.
- After lunch we will drive a short distance to begin a one hour morning trek to the beautiful Hawfa village. Don’t worry the trek is all downhill and will give some of the most amazing views! It is absolutely well worth it, however if for any reason you’re not comfortable with this you can of course come in the car and meet us afterwards.
- We will then continue on to the beautiful, coloured buildings Buqshan village.
- We'll visit Buqshan Palace itself, where from the top we'll get unbeatable views of the village and surroundings.
- We return back to Wadi Dawan to watch the sunset from the amazing Haid Al Jizil viewpoint.
- Overnight at Haid Al Jizil Resort in Wadi Dawan.
Day 4Sun Jan 26
Haid Al Jizil, Wadi Dawan, Shibam
-
Departing Haid Al Jizil in the morning, we'll drive to the end of Wadi Dawan to the town of Ribad - the original hometown of the Bin Laden family.
- We will then continue on foot to Qarht Bahumaish, the last village in Wadi Dawan.
- After lunch we’ll continue on to even more views of Wadi Dawan, stopping for photos on the way of course.
- Lunch today will be at another beautiful viewpoint, this time a place called Rehab, which faces the picturesque village of Qarn Majed.
- We then continue on to Al-Khuraiba, Sif and Hajjran which offer some of the best examples of unique Yemeni architecture.
- It's from Hajjran that we'll be able to see the sunset over Shibam, the famous 'Manhattan of the Desert', which will likely be one of your highlights of Yemen.
- Overnight at Hawta Palace Hotel.
Day 5Mon Jan 27
Shibam, Seiyun, Tarim, Al Hawta
-
In the morning we’ll set out to fully explore the Manhattan of the Desert and see up close the amazing mud skyscrapers that give it its name. This will absolutely be a highlight – if you were going to do one thing in Yemen, make it this!
- We'll be able to climb one of the buildings, and will also visit a handicrafts centre.
- We then continue onto Seiyun where we will visit the old town, the honey market, Souq Al-Handal, Sultan Al-Kathiri palace, Al Fals Palace and the local fruit and vegetable market.
- We then continue to Tarim, a small town built out of mud by Sufi Muslims. We will stop in a local market and Mosque and then head higher up for a view over the city, before having lunch in a Najdi restaurant.
- Tarim is the centre of Islamic Sufism in Yemen, making it truly special in a region where Sufism is not so common anymore.
- Afterwards we head to the town of Aynat which holds one of the most beautiful Islamic shrines in Yemen.
- Evening and sunset will be spent at a viewpoint overlooking Tarim.
- We then drive back to Al Hawta.
- Overnight in Al Hawta.
Other Tours
North Korea Day of the Shining Star Short Tour
This is your chance to get a quick snapshot of North Korea in the winter, during the Day of the Shining Star.
North Korea Day of the Shining Star Tour
Come and experience the wintery landscape of a DPRK winter while celebrating the Day of the Shining Star (Kim Jong Il’s birthday)!
Syria New Year Budget Tour
New Year in Damascus, how cool's that! We'll throw in Bosra, Palmyra and Krak for you too, in this whirlwind tour of Syria.
Syria New Year Tour
What better way to bring in the New Year than with the bustling nightlife of the Damascus old town? But that's not all, we'll still take you to all our favourite spots around the rest of the country too!