The Arabia Felix of the Ancients holds unique wonders: the rammed-earth towers of old Sanaa, Shibam the "Manhattan of the desert" and above all Socotra, an island laboratory of evolution where umbrella-shaped dragon's blood trees and desert roses grow. The mainland remains closed to tourism by the conflict; only tightly organised tours now reach Socotra by special flight. Be sure to follow the official advice before considering this exceptional journey.
Itineraries
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Itineraries available in Asia
We don't sell an itinerary in Yemen yet. Here are the ones already on sale, for other countries.
Classic
Four days in Tokyo, one night in Hakone, five in Kyoto with a day trip to Nara, and a last one in Osaka, by train, subway and on foot.
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Classic
The northern island in two weeks: Sapporo, Otaru, the Furano hills, the Shiretoko Peninsula, the eastern lakes and Hakodate.
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Classic
Japan's hidden side in two weeks: Kinosaki Onsen, the Tottori dunes, Izumo, the Shimanami Kaido and the Iya valley.
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Module
Five days in Gyeonggi province: the cosmopolitan port of Incheon and the futuristic city of Songdo, the border island of Ganghwa and its dolmens, the UNESCO-listed fortresses of Namhansanseong and Hwaseong, the folk village and Everland.
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The right season
Socotra is visited from October to April: calm seas, 25 to 30 °C, dragon's blood trees under a limpid sky. From June to September, the summer monsoon sweeps the island with violent winds that suspend almost all activity, and the heat crushes the mainland. February-March offer the most turquoise lagoons and the most pleasant camps.
Quick guide
Socotra is reached by the weekly Abu Dhabi flight, as part of a compulsory organised tour. On the island, everything is done by 4x4 with a driver-guide, between tracks, beaches and plateaus.
The Yemeni rial (YER), but the Socotra tours are paid in cash dollars or euros, in advance or on the spot. No reliable ATM: leave with the entire budget in cash.
Arabic, with the Soqotri dialect on the island, a unique South Arabian language. The guides speak English; a few words of Arabic always please.
Almost no signal outside Hadibo: offline maps, photos of your documents and messages scheduled before departure. On Socotra, you live disconnected.
On Socotra, tented camps facing the beaches or homestays, with a few simple guesthouses in Hadibo. Comfort is rustic, the landscapes make you forget it.
A deeply conservative country: very covering dress for everyone, absolute discretion on politics and religion, and always ask before photographing anyone, women especially.
Must-sees
Socotra
The forest of umbrella dragon's blood trees at the edge of the Dirhur gorges: the island's most extraterrestrial landscape, at sundown above all.
Qalansiyah
A spit of white sand between turquoise lagoon and cliffs, regularly ranked among the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Socotra
White dunes pressed by the wind against the cliffs, at the edge of a limpid sea. You camp there and climb to the top at dawn.
Sanaa
Thousands of rammed-earth tower houses with gypsum windows, a UNESCO jewel inhabited for 2,500 years. Inaccessible while the conflict lasts.
Hadhramaut
The Manhattan of the desert: 500 eight-storey mud-brick buildings packed behind their 16th-century ramparts, UNESCO.
Socotra
Three kilometres of galleries adorned with formations and ancient inscriptions, above the island's north-east coast.
Pick a point on the map, or browse the list below.
Also on the map
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