An Adventure into Yemen

Tour Highlights:

Round trip air from the U.S. Domestic flights in Egypt All transfers and sight-seeing operated by private cars and guides visit Sana'a Thula Shibam Kawkaban Tawilla Mahwit Wadi Surdud Al-Hajjarah Beit-AlFaqih, Zabid Khawkha Camel Trek Taiz Jibla IbbMaribDinner at a local HomeAccommodations based on the Best Available in each city

Depart U.S.A. from New York (JFK) airport on board wide body scheduled airline flight to Sana'a, all meals and beverages served on board flight.

Arrive at the medieval city of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, considered to be the birthplace of Arab nationhood. Airport assistance and transfer to Taj Hotel located in the city center, within walking distance from the ancient city of Sana'a for dinner & overnight.(D)

Taj Talha Hotel

Breakfast, a full day exploration of Sana'a covering a visit to the National Museum, Haddah & the ancient quarter of this fascinating Arabian city, with its intricately decorated mosques, 1000-year old city walls, the hidden gardens, the old traditional product class market "Suq" and unique multiple-storied houses. In the evening you will be met and transferred to a local home for a traditional dinner and to get acquainted with the local people. Tour the home and engage in a friendly social discussion to get to know the people of Yemen and their way of life. Later you will be transferred back to your hotel for an overnight. (B,D)

Views of the ancient city and the architecture

Breakfast then depart Sana'a for Mahwit via Thula, a nearly intact fortress town with its original walls, a prime example of Arab's use of stone, as a building material. Drive to visit Shibam then Kawkaban. Dating far back into antiquity Kawkaban is the upper town of Shibam and can be reached by a paved path which follows the flank of the cliff. At 3000m Kawkaban dominates the region. Shibam lower down is the former capital of the Yaffouride Dynasty (861 - 956 AD). Drive to visit Tawilla & continue to Mahwit, late afternoon. Enjoy a short trek around Mahwit, dinner & overnight at Mahwit hotel in Mahwit.(B,D)

Fortress town of Thula

Breakfast, Wadi Surdud, Manakha, Al-Hoteib & Al-Hajjarah. Depart Mahwit for Manakha via Wadi Surdud. Haraz region, an area of High Mountain ranges where villages and coffee plantations cling to steep slopes. Its capital, Manakha, is a large market town full of narrow alleys, Suqs and attractive four-story houses. Drive to visit the fortified medieval villages of Al-Hoteib & Al-Hajjarah, where houses are built directly onto rock. At night, share the local community traditional group dances, dinner & overnight at Hajjarah hotel, Hajjarah.(B,D)

Fortified village of Al-Hajjarah

Breakfast, Beit Al-Faqih, Zabid & Khawkha Depart Hajjarah for Tihama where we stop to visit the Friday traditional market of Bait Al-Faqih, which is considered one of the biggest and most important traditional markets in the country. Drive to visit Zabid, an important early Islamic Center of learning, where Algebra is said to have been invented. In Zabid, see the finely decorated old houses and the 10th century mosque. In the afternoon, drive to the Red Sea village of Khawkha for overnight. Enjoy the (traditional) boat ride & swimming in the Red Sea, dinner of fresh fish barbecue & overnight at Mokha Marine Village.(B,D)

Early morning wakeup (breakfast at 0630) drive to Zabid where you will start your half day (3-4 hours) camel trek heading west to Al-Tohita via the following villages (Al-Soudor, Al-Roa'ah, Al-Maja'ar, Al-Jowea'a, & Noubat Al-Aheef). Depart (in vehicles) to Taiz, explore the medieval capital of Yemen under the Rasulid Dynasty. A short drive to Jabel Saber, visit the fine Ashraffiya Mosque with its twin minarets and walk through the old Suq with its exotic wares, dinner & overnight at Taj Shamsan hotel.(B,D)

The scenic route between Taiz and Ibb

Breakfast, then visit old Palace of Imam Ahmed, now a museum preserving his curious lifestyle. Depart Taiz for Sana'a via Jibla, this picturesque village was the capital of Queen Arwa Bint Ahmed in the 11th century. Here you can see the great mosque with its column prayer hall, and the finely decorated tomb of the Queen. Drive to visit Ibb, then continue in the afternoon to Sana'a for dinner & overnight at Taj Sheba hotel.(B,D)

Breakfast, then travel east for a full day journey to Marib, the legendary capital of the kingdom of Sheba. See the remains of the Temple of the Moon God (Awan Temple) and the Throne of Bilquis (Bar'an Temple). See also the surviving stonework of the famous dam on which the prosperity of the kingdom of Sheba depended for more than a thousand years and the ancient city of Marib. Back to Sana'a, farewell dinner at typical Yemeni restaurant & overnight at Taj Sheba hotel.(B,D)

Temple of the Moon God ( Awam Temple)

Breakfast, then you will be met by our representative and transferred to Sana'a airport, and helped through your check-in and immigration formalities for your international flight back home. Arrive New York (JFK) airport the same day. (B)