Occupying the southern part of the Arabian peninsula, Yemen has been a crossroads of cultures for millennia – linking the Middle East to Africa. The country’s long coastline, along the Red, Sea, Indian Ocean and facing out towards East Africa, has been an important trading centre for centuries, with many coastal towns and a rich maritime heritage. Along the narrow lowland coast you find bustling ports and beautiful white sand beaches, looking out into the Gulf of Aden. In the dry desert highlands and the narrow wadis that run off them you can find a people and culture that are rarely. There are cities of mud built skyscrapers to explore, and small villages to discover, situated precariously on rocks and surrounded by date palms and lush greenery. Further from the shores of the mainland is the Yemeni island of Socotra – Known as the ‘Jewel of Arabia’ – a UNESCO world heritage site, recognised for its immense biodiversity and wildife. It has unrivalled scenery and many opportunities for swimming, scuba diving and hiking.
