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Sana'a:
One of the most ancient cities in the world. Many historians regard the city as the most
ancient "living" city in the world. Sightseeing places in the Old
City of Sana'a
are the unique multi-storey buildings with their fascinating plaster drawings. Therefore
UNESCO declared Sana'a to be one of the cultural heritages of the world.
Wadi Dhar:
A beautiful and fertile valley situated about 13 km from Sana'a. On the top of a high
rock lies the palace of Imam Yahia. Every Friday you can see traditional dagger-dances on
the occasion of marriages.
Manakha:
It lies 100 km from Sana'a in the Haraz heights and was during the 18th and
19th centuries
a center for the collection of coffee. Nowadays it is a commercial market for the
surrounding villages. Especially interesting are the village Al-Hajjara and a walk to
Kahel. These mountainous villages are situated in a beautiful environment. Not far
away there is a famous place called al-Hoteib, visited by thousands of followers of Ismaeli
sect.
Shibam-Kaukaban-Thula
50 km to the west of Sana'a lies Shibam with an interesting architecture, old Yemeni
relics, i.e. marble posts, more than 1000 years old, and caves in the mountains (market
every Friday). Kaukaban is a fortress on the top of a mountain. This place was well known
for its poetry and folk dances and songs. From there you have a fantastic
panoramic
view to Shibam. Thula is a small town below a fortress on the top of the mountain with a
completely preserved wall around. Most of its buildings are built of spotted stones.
Marib
This town involves the most outstanding symbols of the ancient Yemeni civilization. It was
the Capital of the famous Sabaean Kingdom, more than 1000 years BC, which is mentioned in
the Holy Bible and the Koran. Most interesting sites are four temples (sun and moon
temple), the old village of Marib and remains of the ancient dam. The four huge stone columns nearby the well represent the
4th temple.
Hadramout
Wadi Hadhramout is the largest and most fertile Wadi of the Arabian Peninsula (165-km) and was
once of the oldest and most flourishing Yemeni states.
Shibam Hadramout
Is known as Manhattan of Desert because of its 600 mud-built
"skyscrapers" seven or eight stories high. The citadel of Shibam
dates from the 13th century. The
biggest of the six mosques, dating from the 8th century, was built in the time of Caliph Harun
Arrashid. Unesco has declared Shibam as human heritage.
Say'un
The capital of Kathiri-Sultanate for the period of 1400-1967, and the largest city
of Wadi Hadhramout. The most important historical site is the Palace of Sultan
al-Kathiri,
built of clay bricks and decorated with gypsum by beautiful artistic elements reflecting
the Arabic Islamic and far east architectural elements. Say'un is surrounded by palm
groves and gardens and has a market of traditional handicrafts.
Tarim
Tarim was the capital of Kathiri Sultanate and was until recently known as a town of
knowledge and one of the most important religious teaching centers. Tarim has 365 mosques,
200 are practising till today. The highest minaret of the Arabian Peninsula is situated in
the north east of Tarim. Its architecture is formed by emigrants, and is characterized by
styles mixing southeast, Asian and local design.
Mukalla
Mukalla, situated in one of the gulf’s bays, is a picturesque town with
white painted mosques and patrician houses.
Socotra
3,579 km - 1,382miles. The Island is situated in the south-eastern reaches of the Gulf of Aden.
It is a very attractive island, famous for the Dragon's Blood Tree, the underwater life
and the traditional life of the people there.
Habban and Maifah
Habban town was a famous silver market in former times because of its Jewish
silversmiths. From Habban we go to the old ruins of “Meifaah”. The ruins tell
stories of fame and honor from past days.
Zabid
Once the seat of the famous al-Ashairi university which is believed to be the place where
algebra as a counting method was founded and developed.
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