CITIES: SANA'A, WADI DHAR, THULA, KAWKABAN, HABABAH, SHIBAM, MARIB, SEYUN, AYNAT, TARIM & SHIBAM

ITINERARY

DAY 1: Arrival Arrive into the medieval city of Sana'a, at the airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a 2-night stay.

DAY 2: Sana'a [B, L, D] A full day exploration of Sana'a, including a visit to the National Museum, Haddah and the ancient quarter of this fascinating Arabian city with its intricately decorated mosques and unique multi-storyed houses (Lunch at typical restaurant)

DAY 3: Sana'a, Marib, Sana'a [B, L, D] Traveling 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 (Awam 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. (Lunch in Marib)

DAY 4: Sana'a, fly Seyun & Shibam [B, L, D] Fly to Seyun, the capital of Wadi Hadramaut where the mighty Sultan's palace dominates the town. On arrival, you will be taken to your hotel for a two-night stay. Explore Seyun, the former capital of Kathiri Sultanate & wander around the traditional "Suq" with its handicrafts and home-ground produce. In the afternoon there will be an excursion to the "desert Manhattan" Shibam an awe inspiring town of ancient sky-scrapers soaring out of the desert which UNESCO has declared a protected world monument. (Lunch in Seyun)

DAY 5: Aynat, Tarim & Seyun [B, L, D] Today there will be a full day excursion to the serenely peaceful village of Aynat known for its religious tombs and shrines. On the way you will pass through an area well known for its production of gypsum and will be able to watch the furnaces and workmen in action. On the way back, you will visit Tarim the capital of Kinda Kings. You will be taken around Al-Kaff Palace (Tarim Museum), Al-Muhdar Mosque & Bin Yahya Palace. Rest at the old summer Palace, which is now the Al-Qubba Palace hotel before returning to Seyun for overnight. (Lunch in Tarim)

DAY 6: Seyun & fly Sana'a [B, L, D] A morning visit to the Palace of Sultan Al-Kathiri built of clay & brick and decorated with gypsum, PM flight to Sana'a, transfer to your hotel for dinner & overnight. (Lunch in Seyun)

DAY 7: Wadi Dhar, Thula, Kawkaban, Shibam & Sana'a [B, L, D] Drive to visit Dar Al-Hajjar, the summer palace of Imam Yahya at Wadi Dhar then continue heading northwest to visit Thula a fortress town with its original walls, a prime example of Arabs use of stone, as a building material is nearly intact. Continue to Hababah before traveling through volcanic landscapes to visit Kawkaban & Shibam. 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 back to Sana'a for a farewell dinner at a typical Yemeni restaurant, back to your hotel for overnight. (Lunch in Kawkaban)

DAY 8: Departure [B] Transfer to airport for departure.