| Places of Interest |
|
Sana'a | Wadi Dhar | al-Raudha | Shibam-Kaukaban | Thula
Manakhah | Beit al Faqih | Zabid | Khokha | al Makha | Taiz
al Djanad mosque | Yufrus | Wadi Dhahab | Djiblah
Wadi Hadhramaut | Shibam | Sa'yun | Tarim | Wadi Doan
al Mukalla | Aden
| Marib | Baraqish | Bir Ali | Habban | Hajjah
Saada | Shaharah
| al Tawilah |
|
Sana’a
 One of
the oldest urban settlements of mankind, probably founded by Sham - son of Noah, since
1984 declared by UNESCO as "World Heritage of Mankind", sightseeing of the old
city, the souk with its different branches and caravansaries, visit of the National
Museum  |
Wadi Dhar
Leisure place of the people of Sana’a, famous for its rock palace of the Imam and its
fruit gardens, every Friday wedding dances on the plateau, visit of the palace, small
walking trip through the Wadi and the village Al-Gabel. |
Al-Raudha
Literally the garden city of Sana’a,
interesting the architecture of the Imam Gasim Mosque from the 17th cent. and the rural
clay houses made in the Sana’a style and the vineyards, every Sunday - market. |
Shibam/Kaukaban
Together with Thula Himyarite capital of the Yafur dynasty until the beginning of Islam
(7th/8th cent.), retreat place of the imams in the 16th cent. during the First Ottoman
Conquest, visit of fortress town Kaukaban, from there marvelous open view over the whole
surrounding area, small walk downhill to Shibam |
Thula/Hababah
Fortress town of the imams in the 16th cent.,
2800m high, visit of Thula, archetype of the Yemeni stone architecture. Near to Thula,
village Hababah with its impressive cisterns |
Manakhah,
Al-Hoteip, Al-Hajjarah
Walking to / from Al Hoteip, pilgrimage place of Ismaeli sect, and passing the village
Kahel to / from fortress Al Hajjarah, Manakhah is center of the Haraz region with the
3000m high mountain Djabal Shibam |
Beit Al
Faqih
Fridays, biggest weekly regional market of the Yemen in the Africa-like coastal plain of
Tihama. |
Zabid
Former capital and first university of Arabia in the 9th cent., in the 16th cent. seat of
the Ottoman governor, visit of the old city with its mosques and citadel |
Khokha
Fishing village with palm woods along the Red
Sea, swimming is possible, facultative boat cruise in the Red Sea, diving possible |
Al-Makha
Former coffee port of the Yemen, impressive landscape along the coast between Al-Khokha
and Al-Makha |
Taiz
Situated on the foot of the 3000m high mountain Djabal Saber; famous for its beautiful
mosques from the 13th / 14th cent., visit of the Ashrafyah-mosque, the souks and the
National museum, drive upon the mountain Djabal Saber |
Al-Djanad
– Mosque
This mosque was built in the lifetime of the
Prophet Mohamed. It is a courtyard mosque and together with the Great Mosque in
Sana’a one of the oldest mosques of Islam. Both mosques are built after the model of
the Kaaba-mosque in Mecca |
Yufrus
Ibn
Alwan, a holy person and teacher of Sufism, built this courtyard mosque with a Quranic
school in the 13th cent.. The mosque has an impressive architecture and stands
majestically in the landscape. This holy place is together with Al-Djanadyah - mosque a
place of pilgrimage, both are near Taiz. |
Wadi Dhabab
This fertile subtropical oasis is situated
between Taiz and Yafrus. Every Sunday the villagers of this region meet each other here at
the market. |
Djiblah
Capital of the Yemen in the 11th cent. under the rule of the unique queen in Islam,
situated in the green Mountain-Yemen, walk through the 1000 year old town, visit of the
perimeter of the Queen Arwa Mosque |
Wadi
Hadhramaut
In
ancient times the Hadhramaut was called the "Holy Land". Many graves from
pre-Islamic prophets (ex. HUD in Quran = Eber in Old Testament) and other saints still
reflect those times. The Wadi Hadhramaut can only be entered through Rub Al Khali
desert/Marib and the mountain plateau Al-Djol /Al-Mukalla -is a fertile oasis surrounded
with date-palms and majestic sand-rock mountains. Situated in this cultural landscape are
the three cities Shibam, Sa’yun
and Tarim.
Shibam
Capital of the ancient kingdom Hadhramaut after the fall of the town Shabwah, founded in
the 3rd cent, a town with unique clay houses and impressive art work on wooden doors and
windows, visit of the town, before sunset a walk along the mountain situated opposite the
town in order to enjoy the skyscraper-silhouette of Shibam in the evensong
Sa’yun
Center of the Wadi Hadhramaut and former residence of the Kathiri sultans, The palace of
the sultan has a folklore and an archaeological museum, visit of the market, the
handicraft market and the palace with its museums
Tarim
Spiritual center of the Hadhramaut since the 10th cent., romantic town with many palaces
and mosques, walk through the city, visit of the Ahgaf library which has old manuscripts
of the Quran. |
Wadi Doan
Tropical valley deriving from the Wadi
Hadhramaut - surrounded by date-palms, the two old clay towns Khoreibah and Al-Hajjarein
are the end-points of the Wadi. Visit of both cities |
Al-Mukalla
Capital of the governorate Hadhramaut, situated on the Indian Ocean, visit of the old city
and the souks. The old houses still have artistic work on the wooden doors and
windows |
Aden
An
urban settlement since ancient times. The legends say, that Cain and Abel founded Aden,
natural harbor and economical center of the Yemen in the future. Visit of the impressive
ancient cisterns. "The Tanks", the palace of the sultan, the Aideroos-mosque,
the house of Rimbaud, the Tawahi quarter, the Gold Mohur coast and the market, boat cruise
(see Aden Mövenpick Hotel) |
Marib
Situated on the beginning of the Rub Al-Khali desert, former Capital of the ancient empire
of the Queen of Sheba, Now capital of the governorate Marib near the big oil fields, visit
of the old city, the temples, the remains of the 3000 years Old Dam and the new dam. |
Baraqish
Former capital of the ancient kingdom
Ma’een, caravan station on the ancient incense road, 2400 year old city wall with
inscriptions, excavation of an temple, sightseeing. |
Bir Ali
Former ancient incense port Qana on the Indian Ocean, possibility of swimming. |
Habban
Former Jewish silversmith settlement in the
outer Hadhramaut, impressive old clay houses, visit of the old city. |
Hajjah
Fortress of the imams in the 16th and 20th
cent., one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes of the Yemen between Kohlan and
Hajjah. |
Saada
Foundation of the Imamate in 892, interesting clay architecture, walk on the city wall,
ancient rock drawings and picturesque clay villages in the surrounding of Saada. |
Shaharah
A
place of escape for the imams in the 19th cent., 2800m above sealable, walk downhill over
the famous bridge which connects the two peaks Fish and Amer. |
Al-Tawilah
Town built upon a mountain, surrounded with
one of the most beautiful terrace landscapes of the Yemen, visit of the city with its
interesting old stone houses and souk. |
