Yemen

The major inhabited areas of the Hadhramaut are in long valleys of wadis and oases, fertile lands below the high plateau. There are numerous striking towns and villages with unique architecture, incorporating the landscape and pise de terre (rammed earth).
Highlights include the extraordinary Wadi Dawan where date palms fill the plain and buildings cling to the steep valley wall. The iconic Bait Bugsham palace, now a hotel, is painted in glorious pastel colours. However, the jewels in the crown are the high “skyscraper” mudbrick houses of Shibam, which has rightly been given the name “the Manhattan of the Desert”.
The region is also famed for it’s honey, the conical hats worn by the women of the district and for being the resting place of the prophet Hud, who was worshipped as a deity across Yemen before the arrival of Islam.

Linking the interior of the Hadhramaut with the coast is the ancient port of Al Mukalla. As the traditional place for trading frankincense to the rest of the world, the city has been developed over the centuries with traditional Arabian buildings, supplemented by Indian, Victorian and Modern quarters. The Sultan’s palace is now a museum and there are abandoned forts and guard towers for those exploring the outskirts of the old town.

It’s famed in history and legend as the Jewel Of Arabia and often coined the Galapagos Of The Middle East due to its immense array of wildlife and plant life. Socotra’s isolated position, in the Arabian Sea, makes it a unique habitat. It has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage sight for its biodiversity, with an extraordinary richness of flora and fauna. In the interior the Dixsam plateau and Homhil boast frankincense and dragons blood trees. Those wanting to bird watch or hike can find vultures, buzzards and flamingos as well as others that can only be found locally, such as Laughing Doves and Bruce’s Green Pigeons. The landscape and scenery are unmatched, offering unique views and dramatic terrain. Its an island of contrasts, with Aher Beach boasting golden dunes and blue waves, and scuba divers will find sea turtles and other creatures in waters as rich in life as the land. You can see much of the island by staying in a hotel and making day trips or an alternative is to camp in a different spot every night, in the tradition of the Bedouin of the island.

The largest city in Yemen it has been continuously occupied since before records began – legend claims it was founded by Shem, the son of Noah. Located in the heart of a fertile plain, the old city still has its pise de terre walls. The old city is a UNESCO World Hertiage site and is filled with examples of the unique historic architecture and facades. The Bab al-Yaman, the Yemen Gate, is a magnificent sight in itself, which leads to awe-inspiring views of the minarets and towers, along with traditional white washed buildings. The National Museum, a former palace, can be found here, as can over 100 mosques including the Great Mosque of Sana’a. Finally no visit is complete without seeing the bustling souq, which is teeming with life, sounds, smells and examples of Yemeni craftmanship.