CITIES: SANA'A, TAIZ, WADI AL-DHABAB, KHAWKHA, ZABID, HODEIDAH, WADI SURDUD, MAHWIT, TAWILLA, KAWKABAN, SHIBAM, THULA, HAJJAH, KOHLAN, AMRAN, WADI DHAR, MARIB, RAMLAT AL-SAB'ATAYN (EMPTY QUARTER), OLD SHABWA, SEYUN, AYNAT, TARIM, SHIBAM, AL-HAJARAIN, WADI DOAN, MUKALLA, 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: Sana'a, Ibb, Jibla & Taiz [B, L, D] Depart Sana'a for Taiz 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 Taiz, this afternoon, explore Taiz 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 & walk through the old market "Suq" with its exotic wares. (Lunch in Ibb)

DAY 4: Taiz, Wadi Al-Dhabab & Khawkha [B, L, D] In the morning you will visit the old Palace of Imam Ahmed, now a museum preserving his curious lifestyle. Drive to visit Wadi Al-Dhabab area & depart Taiz for Khawkha where we will stay overnight. Enjoy the afternoon boat ride, swimming & the night fresh fish barbecue at the seaside of the Red Sea in Khawkha (lunch in Khawkha)

DAY 5: Khawkha, Al-Jarrahi Market, Zabid & Hodeidah [B, L, D] Depart Khawkha to visit the Tuesday market of Al-Jarrahi, continue 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. Continue on to Hodeidah for overnight. (Lunch in Zabid)

DAY 6: Fish market, Wadi Surdud & Mahwit [B, L, D] Early morning you will visit the traditional fish market at the southern part of the city then depart Hodeidah & drive on rough gravel roads across Wadi Surdud all the way up the mountains of Al-Mahwit, afternoon tour of the city & overnight. (Lunch in Mahwit)

DAY 7: Mahwit, Tawilla, Kawkaban, Shibam, Thula & Hajjah [B, L, D] Depart Mahwit for Hajjah via Tawilla, the town is dwarfed by a large rocky outcrop of weathered sandstone whose peaks are surrounded with fortifications and whose lower slopes are littered with a jumble of giant boulders. In some cases houses have been partially excavated from the solid rock. Drive to visit Kawkaban, Shibam & Thula. Continue in the afternoon to Hajjah via Wadi Al-Ashmour, overnight in Hajjah. (Lunch in Kawkaban)

DAY 8: Hajjah, Kohlan, Amran, Wadi Dhar & Old Sana'a night tour [B, L, D] A morning tour of Hajjah City, visit Al-Qahirah citadel then depart Hajjah to visit Kohlan, see its foundations, fortifications and defensive tower cisterns, on to Wadi Dhar to visit Dar Al-Hajjar. Continue to Sana'a, at 2000 hrs depart hotel for a night tour in the old city of Sana'a, back your hotel for overnight. (Picnic lunch)

DAY 9: 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 10: The Desert (Empty Quarter), Old Shabwa & Seyun [B, L, D] Early morning depart Marib for Wadi Hadramaut, via Safer & Ramlat Al-Sab'atayn (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. Visit the ancient city of Shabwa & continue to Seyun for a two-night stay. (Picnic lunch)

DAY 11: Seyun, Aynat, Tarim, Shibam & 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. 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. 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 Tarim)

DAY 12: Seyun, 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 on to Mukalla for an overnight. (Picnic lunch)

DAY 13: Mukalla & fly Sana'a [B, L, D] Explore Mukalla, the former capital of Quaiti Sultanate. See Husn Al-Ghuwayzi & Ma'in Palace which is currently Mukalla Museum. From Mukalla, depending on the departure flight schedule, you may take an optional tour to Ghail Bawazir. PM flight to Sana'a for an overnight stay (lunch at typical restaurant)

DAY 14: 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 15: Departure [B] Transfer to airport for departure.