Mainland Yemen and Socotra Island

2500 €, 11 Days

Yemen – you’ve probably heard of this country, but do you know more about it and its remarkable UNESCO World Heritage sites? On this combined tour, we will visit many of the traveler’s gems that Yemen has to offer. We will travel to Shibam to see the mud-brick skyscrapers, the "Manhattan of the Desert," built in the 16th century and still standing – silently watching history pass by at the slow pace of desert grains of sand. Next, we’ll visit the picturesque Wadi Doa'n Valley, with its date trees that grow here. We’ll explore the traditional villages and meet the beekeepers to taste their pure honey.

After the mainland Yemen tour, we will fly to Socotra, the amazing island with the famous trees that look like they’ve come from a sci-fi movie. This magnificent island boasts unique biodiversity, with over a third of its plant species found nowhere else. This trip will be especially interesting for tourists who are passionate about nature and biology. We will have the opportunity to spend time on the island and experience its beauty at its finest.

Yemen highlights:
♦ Shibam - a 16th-century town famous for its mud brick tower houses, included in the UNESCO World Heritage site
♦ Wadi Doa'n - a scenic valley known for its extensive palm gardens
♦ Tarim - an important pilgrimage site for Sufis
♦ Al-Mukalla - a vibrant port city, capital of the Hadramaut governorate

Socotra highlights:
♦ Homhil and Dixsam plateau - home of the famous Dragoon blood trees. Homhil has a landscape as from a prehostoric movie, while Dixsam is framed with the breathtaking mountain range of Hagier.
♦ Detwah lagoon - one of the most charming places on Socotra with its turquoise water, strong waves and beautiful sand dunes.
♦ Firhmin Forest - the last woodland comprised of Dragon's Blood trees.robably heard of this country, but do you know more about it and its remarkable UNESCO

Day 1. Cairo to Seiyun
We will take a flight from Cairo (Egypt) to Seiyun (Yemen). The best way is the whole group to meet in Cairo, so please make sure you have enough time there or even better - book an extra night in the city. When we arrive in Seiyun we will be picked up from the airport and we will go into town to exchange money and shop for some local clothing. Here in Yemen all men and women have to wear the local clothes, and we will make sure everyone looks nice. After we get our new looks, we will drive to the hotel for a check in and to refresh. In the afternoon we will go sighting around the Seiyun market. We will have dinner at the hotel and have a good night rest. -/L/D

Day 2. Seiyun - Aynat – Tarim
After brakfast we visit Sultan Palace in Seiyun and look around the local market. Afterwards we drive to visit Tarim town – the Sufi historical town built of mud. We will take a walk through Tarim's tiny market and the Al-Mihdar mosque, which has the world’s largest mud minaret. We will enjoy our lunch in Tarim, then drive to visit the Hood Prophet shrine. In the afternood we will drive back for dinner. B/L/D

Day 3. Tarim – Shibam – Wadi Doa'n
Today we are leaving heading towards the valley of Wadi Doa'n. The valley is known for its extensive date palm gardens and small villages with mud brick houses. On the way we will stop to explore the ancient walled city of Shibam. The town was first built in the 16th century and was an important caravan stop on the spice and incense route across the Arabian Peninsula. Its distinguishable mud brick tower houses have been preserved to this day and are now part of the UNESCO world heritage sites list. We will then continue to the village of Al Hajrain, where we will get the chance to meet some of the local beekeepers, as the region is famous for producing some of the finest honey in the world. Overnight at hotel in Wadi Doa'n. B/L/D

Day 4. Exploring one full day in Wadi Doa'n
Today we have a full day to explore the valley of Wadi Doa'n. One of the highlights of the day is the village of Beit Buqshan, known for its colorful palace. Overnight in Wadi Doa'n. B/L/D

Day 5. Contiuing crossing Wadi Doa'n to Mukalla
Easy start and drive to the coastal city of Al-Mukalla, Check in at the hotel and lunch in a seafood restaurant We will visit Mukhalla Old City. Overnight in Mukalla. B/L/D

Day 6. Fly Mukalla – to Socotra - Diksam Plateau- Derhur Canyon- Fermhin Forest- Amaq sandy beach, Dagub Cave, Zahaq and Hayf sand dunes
Today we have a morning flight from Mukalla to Socotra, we will be transfered to the airport of Mukalla and picked up from the Socotra airport. After we pass all the document checks, we will drive to Diksam Plateau and Gorge which is definitely the most spectacular limestone landscape feature on the island. The Gorge drops 700 m (2295 ft) vertically to the valley floor. We will walk along the edge of the gorge to see attractive stands of Dragon's Blood Trees and the extensive limestone pavement. Sections of the plateau have partially slipped into the gorge, leaving 'lost worlds' accessible only to buzzards and vultures.
The plateau is home to nomadic Bedouin herdsmen who move from one site to another with their herds. We will be welcomed by them with a cup of tea, where we can observe the many houses built into ledges where the plateau meets the gorge. The forest in Diksom is the last Dragon's Blood woodland. Nowhere else in the world can one find Dragon's Blood Trees in such densities as growing here. Local people will show us how they used to collect - and still collect on a smaller scale -the precious red resin of the trees. After Dixam Plateau, the road plunges 400 m (1312 ft) into a profound chasm slicing through the granite, giving a completely different atmosphere from the airy heights of the plateau. The lush canyon floor has been planted with palm trees, in the shade of which lay Bruce's Green Pigeons and Laughing Doves. We can refresh ourselves by swimming in the wadi's deep pool, escaping the midday heat
In the afternoon, we head to the south, to Ameq sandy beach, where we can swim in the clear water of the Indian Ocean. Lunch at Dagub cave, which overlooks a scattering of traditional villages below. The cave has many stalactites, stalagmites and pools of water. We visit the colossal sand dunes of Hayf and Zahek, pushed up against the mountainside by the seasonal winds of Socotra.
Dinner and overnight at Amaq Beach. B/L/D

Day 7. Socotra - Arher freshwater creek and beach
After breakfast we will drive to Arher where a fresh creek coming out from granite massive is meeting sea water on the beach. You can relax on green grass around the creek, swim in the sea or if you feel fit you can climb a huge sand dune to get a fantastic view over this charming spot. Arher is one of the best spots for Paragliding and thus you can paraglide if you have your own paragliding equipment. Dinner and overnight at Arher. B/L/D

Day 8. Socotra - Hoq Cave - Homhil Terrestrial Protected Area
We will make an early start to drive to the base of Hoq cave in Terbak village. Before the sunshine gets too hot, we will walk up to the entrance of the cave. It is more than 3 km long with a water pool at the end and holds a wealth of Socotri history. Inside, you will see stalactites, stalagmites and crystalline formations. Ancient writings on the cave walls and also what appears to be a picture of an old trading ship have been preserved over the ages by a calcite glaze.
Our afternoon’s destination is Homhil, a protected area with fabulous sceneries that give you a kind of prehistoric feeling. We will stop at Qaria lagoon en-route. It is the largest lagoon on the island and we will hopefully see flamingos, herons and greenshanks.
The trek to Homhil starts at the bottom of a spectacular ravine on the sea level. The trek is of medium difficulty and won’t take more than 1,5 hours. You will have enough strength to enjoy the view back towards the sea where we have started ascending.
Once at Homhil, we can choose from a selection of walking trails. You will be astonished by the prehistoric atmosphere of the landscape rich with dragon blood trees and bottle trees. You will be addressed by local children who sell dragon blood raisin and frankincense. One of the trails leads to a viewpoint with a natural pool with almost freezing green and blue water. Dinner and overnight will be camping at Homhil. B/L/D

Day 9. Socotra - Qalansia - Detwah Lagoon
Today we will drive to the west of the island to a little fisherman’s town of Qalansiya. It consists of traditional Socotri houses, narrow alleyways and a beach full of fishing boats ready to set off for today’s catch or to take you to Shu’ab beach. We will continue to Detwah lagoon, a marine protected area renowned for its magic landscape. You will be charmed by a white sandy tongue surrounded by turquoise waters of the bay. You can swim there and enjoy the paradise.
There is also an array of sea birds to be seen in the lagoon. Dinner and overnight at Detwah. B/L/D

Day 10. Socotra - Golden Beach of Shuab
After breakfast in Detwah, we will go for a boat trip to Shu’ab. We will surely meet some spinner dolphins along the way with cormorants flying over our heads. Once at Shu’ab, we visit a mangrove area. We will have a lunch on the long and clean Shu’ab beach. In the afternoon, you can swim in this pristine place. In late afternoon, we take a boat ride back to Qalansyia. Line fishing is possible from the boat if you want to catch your dinner. Dinner and night in Adeeb eco camp near Hadibo. B/L/D

Day 11. Fly back Socotra to Abu Dhabi
Today is our last day, we will catch a flight from Socotra to Abu Dhabi and leave Yemen.

Please note: the flight form Mukalla to Socotra is not included in the price, we will assist you with its purchase.

Price Includes:
airport transfers
transportation by air-conditioned 4x4car
accommodation
food according to the description (B-breakfast/L-lunch/D-dinner)
visa
water during the trips
entrance fees
travel permits
tour leader from Penguin Travel at min. 10 people
English speaking guide

Not Included:
international flights Cairo-Seiyun and Socotra-Abu Dhabi
flight Mukalla-Socotra (150$ per person - we will assist with this ticket)
food not mentioned in the itinerary
tips to drivers and guides
personal expenses
everything else not mentioned in the itinerary

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