CITIES: SANA'A, WADI DHAR, THULA, SHIBAM, KAWKABAN, MARIB, RAMLAT AL-SAB'ATAYN (EMPTY QUARTER), AL-QTAN, SHIBAM, SEYUN, AYNAT, TARIM, AL-HAJARAIN, WADI DOUAN, MUKALLA, BIR ALI, HABBAN, ADEN, TAIZ, JIBLA, IBB, MANAKHA, AL- HOTEIB & AL-HAJJARAH

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: 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 dinner & overnight at your hotel (lunch in Kawkaban)

DAY 4: Sana'a, Marib [B, L, D] Traveling east 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. Overnight in Marib. (Lunch in Marib)

DAY 5: Desert drive, Al-Qtan, Shibam & Seyun [B, L, D] Early morning depart Marib for Wadi Hadramaut, via Safer & Abr desert (accompanied by a desert guide), crossing the undulating deserts, known for its stark and uncluttered beauty, is one of the most exciting, interesting and imaginable trips. En route we stop to visit 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, continue to Seyun for a two-night stay. (Picnic lunch)

DAY 6: Seyun, Aynat, Tarim & Seyun [B, L, D] Explore Seyun, the former capital of Kathiri Sultanate. You will see the Palace of Sultan Al-Kathiri built of clay & brick and decorated with gypsum then wander around the traditional "Suq" with its handicrafts and home-ground produce. Depart Seyun and drive to visit 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. Drive back to 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 Al-Qubba Palace hotel before returning to Seyun for overnight. (Lunch in Tarim)

DAY 7: Al-Hajarain, Wadi Douan & Mukalla [B, L, D] Depart Seyun for Mukalla via Wadi Douan, the most important and famous valley in Wadi Hadramaut. En route, visit Al-Hajarain, one of the most ancient & beautiful villages in this area. See the remarkable stone village, a top rocky slope of Wadi Hajarain. Continue to Mukalla for overnight. (Picnic lunch)

DAY 8: Mukalla, Bir Ali, Habban & Aden [B, L, D] Depart Mukalla and drive along the spectacular coast road to Bir Ali, surrounded by white sand dunes, green rocky mountains and black lava deposits. Following the coast through a mixture of volcanic landscape and occasional patches of sand dune, we turn inland to Wadi Mayfa'a then pass over a wide plain to reach Al-Rawda, where it may be possible to visit a weaving factory. Continue to Aden via Habban & Al-Mahfad, overnight at your hotel in Aden. (Picnic lunch or at local restaurant along the way)

DAY 9: Aden & Taiz [B, L, D] Explore Aden, the country's economic center, visit the massive & ancient Tawilla cisterns, built during the first millennium after Christ, the ethnographic museum, the archaeological museum and Aden minaret. Depart Aden for Taiz, in the afternoon explore the medieval capital of Yemen under the Rasulid Dynasty. A short drive to Jabel Saber then visit the fine Ashraffiya Mosque with its twin minarets and walk through the Suq, with its exotic wares, overnight at your hotel in Taiz. (Lunch in Taiz)

DAY 10: Taiz, Jibla, Ibb & Sana'a [B, L, D] In the morning visit the old Palace of Imam Ahmed, now a museum preserving his curious lifestyle then 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 to Sana'a for overnight. (Lunch in Ibb)

DAY 11: Manakha, Al-Hoteib, Al-Hajjarah & Sana'a [B, L, D] Traveling west, for a full day journey to Haraz region along Qa'a Bani Mudar where the best coffee plants are grown. 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 then Al-Hajjarah, an old fortified village where houses are built directly onto rock, enjoy a traditional Bara'a dance with the locals before returning back to Sana'a. Depart hotel at 1800 for a farewell dinner at a typical Yemeni restaurant, back to your hotel for overnight. (Lunch in Hajjarah or Manakha)

DAY 12: Departure [B] Transfer to airport for departure.