Yemen (Mainland)

Note: this is a rough sample itinerary and may vary its order or parts of it based on our local crew’s guidance and knowledge of the situation in every region and for safety purposes.

Day 1: Arrival in Seiyun

• We’ll fly from Cairo to Seiyun airport, then drive to our hotel, check-in, and go into town to buy local clothes, exchange some money, and explore the bazaar before enjoying our first Yemeni feast for dinner.
• Overnight: Seiyun

Day 2: Seiyun, Aynat, Tarim

• After breakfast, we will drive to visit Old Seiyun town, the Sultan Al-Kathiri Palace Museum, and the Old Seiyun market, stopping to photograph Al-Fals Palace. We’ll have lunch at a restaurant in Tarim. Afterward, we’ll visit the historical Islamic shrines in Aynat, then drive back to Tarim, the Islamic historical town of Sufism, to photograph Al-Mihdar Mosque and visit the traditional market. We will end the day with a visit to a beautiful viewpoint of Tarim town before driving back to Hawta.
• Overnight: Seiyun

Day 3: Shibam

• Today, we’ll leave Hawta and drive to the beautiful town of Shibam Hadramout, also known as the “Manhattan of Arabia.” We’ll explore the town and go inside beautifully restored high-rise buildings for a view over Shibam and Wadi Hadhramaut. We will visit the Shibam museum and the handicraft center, where we can see dress weaving and woodworkers. We’ll stroll through Shibam to see the different mosques and special buildings, and walk around the city wall before heading towards Wadi Doan.

Day 4: Wadi Doan

• After breakfast, we will visit the most beautiful part of Yemen, Wadi Doan. We will explore Al-Hajjrain and Sif towns, then drive up to Haid Al-Jizil to enjoy its stunning panorama. In the late afternoon, we’ll drive to photograph the viewpoint of Buqshan village and visit the village. We’ll then return to the hotel to photograph the sunset from the Haid Al-Jizil viewpoint.
• Overnight: Wadi Doan

Day 5: Wadi Doan to Shibam

• After breakfast, we will start a wonderful trek down to Hawfah village, which takes about one hour. This beautiful trek from the top of the mountain down to Hawfah village offers stunning panoramas and viewpoints. We will then drive to another beautiful viewpoint of Wadi Doan called the Rehab area. Before reaching Rehab, we’ll stop to photograph villages like Qarn Majed and others along the way.
• Overnight: Wadi Doan

Day 6: Wadi Doan to Mukalla

• Today, we will drive to Mukalla city. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a traditional seafood meal, followed by a stroll around the port and a visit to the city’s fortress, Al-Ghawizi. We will also stop to photograph Khoor Mukalla and have a chance to visit Old Mukalla town and its old market. And we will have the best sunset with a beautiful view of the Arabian Sea.
• Overnight: Mukalla

Day 7:  Socotra

• We will depart very early in the morning for our flight to Socotra, a unique and breathtaking island known for its distinct flora and fauna. Upon arrival, we will head to Arher Beach, a stunning location where giant sand dunes meet the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea. Here, we will spend the day exploring the natural beauty of the area, swimming, and relaxing on the pristine beach. We can also hike up the sand dunes for spectacular views of the coastline and the island’s rugged landscape.
• In the evening, we will set up camp on Arher Beach, where we will enjoy a picnic dinner under the stars, soaking in the tranquil atmosphere of this remote paradise.
• Overnight: Socotra (camp)

Day 8: Fly Out

• Today we will fly out from Socotra to Abu Dhabi and the Expedition will end.