An exciting and little-known Arab country with an ancient and unique culture, historic sights and old palaces, bazaars, deserted beaches and scenic desert wilderness, Yemen is slowly modernizing into an interesting tourism destination. Travel in Yemen is not easy, and currently the political situation in the country remains volatile, but visiting Yemen can be very rewarding for those wishing to get to know this ancient and mysterious land and its friendly people.
A traditional Arab country located between Saudi Arabia and Oman in the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen is home to mountains, deserts, beaches as well as coral reefs and over 200 islands. The ancient mountain capital Sana'a and the historic port city of Aden are the most visited destinations in Yemen. As a country that has been inhabited for more than 30,000 years and has been home to several ancient civilizations, Islamic Yemen has immensely rich history and plenty of gorgeous historic and cultural sites to explore. Unfortunately, Yemen has experienced a lot of political upheaval in recent decades, and all parts of the country are not safe to travel to. Yemen has a good road network but the tourism facilities there are undeveloped and limited in quality and distribution.
Other Yemeni destinations include the historic city of Zabid that used to be the capital of Yemen from the 13th to the 15th Century, and is now a World Heritage Site. The 16th Century desert city of Shibam is another World Heritage Site in Yemen with an impressive city wall and towers rising out of the cliff. The Red Sea and the Indian Ocean coasts of Yemen offer vast empty beaches that are great for surfing and rich coral reefs. Socotra Archipelago between Yemen and Somalia is one of the most isolated places on Earth. Detached from the African continent six million years ago, these four islands have a unique flora and fauna. This unexplored part of Yemen, great for surfing and ecotourism, is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve and World Heritage Site often referred to as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean for its many endemic species.
How to get there. There are flights to Yemen from most Middle Eastern and Western European countries, as well as from Russia and several African and Asian cities. International flights to Yemen usually arrive in Sana'a, but also Aden has an international airport. You can travel to Yemen by bus from Oman or Saudi Arabia. There are no commercial boat or rail connections to Yemen, but driving to Yemen is possible from the neighboring countries. However, travel in Yemen is restricted and there is a good amount of bureaucracy to be handled.
Local transportation. There are several domestic air routes in Yemen, as well as an efficient and comfortable bus service between Yemeni cities and a shared taxi system that is common in the Middle East.
A traditional Arab country located between Saudi Arabia and Oman in the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen is home to mountains, deserts, beaches as well as coral reefs and over 200 islands. The ancient mountain capital Sana'a and the historic port city of Aden are the most visited destinations in Yemen. As a country that has been inhabited for more than 30,000 years and has been home to several ancient civilizations, Islamic Yemen has immensely rich history and plenty of gorgeous historic and cultural sites to explore. Unfortunately, Yemen has experienced a lot of political upheaval in recent decades, and all parts of the country are not safe to travel to. Yemen has a good road network but the tourism facilities there are undeveloped and limited in quality and distribution.
Attractions of Yemen: ancient history, rich culture and empty beaches
Yemen offers a great deal of historic sights, unique culture and nature to be discovered. However, it is very important to respect local customs and to ask permission before taking photos of local people or their houses. The capital city of Yemen, Sana'a is home to an ancient walled city and a World Heritage Site that could be called a living museum. Surrounded by magnificent mountains, Sana'a has amazing old architecture as well as over 100 mosques. The port city of Aden in the desert coast of Southern Yemen has been a British colony and used to be a capital of independent South Yemen. It is more open to foreign influences than the rest of the country and hosts beach resorts, some nightlife and possibilities for surfing and birdwatching.Other Yemeni destinations include the historic city of Zabid that used to be the capital of Yemen from the 13th to the 15th Century, and is now a World Heritage Site. The 16th Century desert city of Shibam is another World Heritage Site in Yemen with an impressive city wall and towers rising out of the cliff. The Red Sea and the Indian Ocean coasts of Yemen offer vast empty beaches that are great for surfing and rich coral reefs. Socotra Archipelago between Yemen and Somalia is one of the most isolated places on Earth. Detached from the African continent six million years ago, these four islands have a unique flora and fauna. This unexplored part of Yemen, great for surfing and ecotourism, is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve and World Heritage Site often referred to as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean for its many endemic species.
Yemen travel information and practical tips
The climate in Yemen varies from hot and dry deserts in the east to hot and humid Red Sea coast and temperate highland areas in the west, where it can be cold at night during the winter. In general, the weather in Yemen is mostly sunny and tropically warm. The best times to visit Yemen are in spring and autumn.How to get there. There are flights to Yemen from most Middle Eastern and Western European countries, as well as from Russia and several African and Asian cities. International flights to Yemen usually arrive in Sana'a, but also Aden has an international airport. You can travel to Yemen by bus from Oman or Saudi Arabia. There are no commercial boat or rail connections to Yemen, but driving to Yemen is possible from the neighboring countries. However, travel in Yemen is restricted and there is a good amount of bureaucracy to be handled.
Local transportation. There are several domestic air routes in Yemen, as well as an efficient and comfortable bus service between Yemeni cities and a shared taxi system that is common in the Middle East.
Photo: ninjawil, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
Private taxis are also available and can be hired for longer journeys. However, you need a travel permit to travel in Yemen outside the capital Sana'a. This needs to be purchased in advance, which makes it often more convenient to travel on a package tour or rent a car with a driver from a local travel agency. Travel permits are designed to prevent foreigners to venture into areas experiencing political unrest that can be dangerous.
Accommodation and restaurants are available in all parts of Yemen, but good-quality hotels are concentrated in the few major cities, and are not that numerous. Nightlife possibilities in Yemen are very limited. Only a small number of people in Yemen can speak English, so in case you plan to travel in Yemen independently, a local guide or some Arabic skills are needed.
Safety & restrictions. Unfortunately, Yemen is not currently very safe country to travel to. The political situation in Yemen is tense and there is a constant threat of terrorist attacks, kidnappings and violent conflicts. Travel to northern Sa'dah region should be especially avoided. Local tribes in Yemen have kidnapped foreign tourists several times, usually trying to use them as hostages in their political struggles with the Yemeni government. Tribal unrest has caused several areas to be designated off-limits for all foreigners or those without military escorts. All visitors to Yemen should exercise caution and monitor the news for recent developments before visiting Yemen. Always ask local advice about possible unsafe areas. Yemen is a very traditional Muslim country and respecting local customs is essential for your safety. Homosexuality is a crime and punishment for it is death.
Short history of Yemen
Yemen is one of the world's oldest centers of civilization. Situated along important ancient trade routes, Yemen has had several ancient states in its area from 2300 BC onwards, including the Sabaean, Awsanian, Hadramawtian and Himyar kingdoms. Ancient Romans gave the area the name of Arabia Felix (Happy Arabia) for its lucrative spice trade. Later on, Yemen was part of The Ethiopian kingdom of Axum and Persia. Yemenis were converted into Islam in the 7th Century AC, after which the country was part of the Islamic caliphate. Following its decline, there were various small kingdoms in Yemen, many of which survived until the 1960s.More recent times. In the 19th Century, North Yemen became part of the Ottoman Empire, and the British occupied the port of Aden that became a British colony in 1839. North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and became a republic after a revolution in 1962. The British withdrew from Southern Yemen in 1967 and it became an independent socialist state. The North and South Yemen were formally united in 1990. Today, Yemen remains a poor and highly traditional society with many tribal chiefdoms.
