7-day Travel in Yemen – Hadhramaut Classic Tour

8 am morning pick-up in Salalah (hotel or airport). Drive to the border of Oman and Yemen. The Yemen border crossing is usually hassle-free, but unfortunately, it is very unpredictable how long it takes to cross, from 30 minutes to 4 hours. You have to be flexible on this first day of your trip. Your guide will try his best to have a good time and start presenting you with the country, explaining the history and local culture. After crossing the border, and if you have time, our guide will make sure you go to the local qat market, and you will enjoy a local restaurant before heading to the hotel and rest, preparing yourself for the next day. Overnight in Saba Tourist Hotel.

Today we traverse part of the Yemeni Rub’ al Khali desert until we reach the city of Tarim. The first stop will be to visit Nabi Hud Shrine, one of Yemen’s most significant pilgrimage sites. The religious site runs around graves and the shrine of the prophet Hud. The panoramic panorama from the top of the mountain is spectacular and worth the climb. While you visit Yemen, these are the type of places you will enjoy seeing the Yemen people’s way of life. Upon arrival in Tarim, visit the famous Al-Muhdhar Mosque and the local qat market. Overnight in Pearl Hotel.

After breakfast, we start our journey deep into Hadhramaut’s heart, and we start the day with a quick visit to the Qabr Ahmad al Habashi, the mausoleum of an important Yemeni religious figure. Dress appropriately, don’t stand out, and although you cannot go inside the mosque, profit to go up the stairs to see the fantastic view of the mosque from above after we head to Shibam, undoubtedly one of the highlights of the trip and probably one of the main reasons you book a Yemen tour in the first place. The Old Walled City of Shibam is a 16th-century mud-brick city and the oldest metropolis in the world to use vertical construction. The mud-brick buildings reach up to sixteen flights. There are no words to describe such a place. The total number of buildings in Shibam is 444. The highest building is 29 meters high. Finally, we reach Seiyun, located in the middle of the Hadhramaut Valley and the biggest and most important city in the area. Overnight in Alahqaf Tourist Hotel.

This is the day to fully explore the stunning Wadi Dawan Desert Valley. This gorgeous valley is renowned for its beauty, with an extensive open area with desert, rocky cliffs, and scenic mud-brick villages. You will have the chance to visit the two most important towns, Al-Hajarayn and Sif. Besides Shibam, these two desert towns are our favorite in terms of architecture. You can explore both towns on your own and notice how friendly the people are. What to see in Al-Hajarayn: Mountain viewpoint, wooden doors and windows, main mosque, and the entrance gate. What to see in Sif: Mountain viewpoint, mosque, the old city, Al-Amoudi Musnaah house, Mohammad Ba-Ali house, Al-Mshaekh A’al Hasan Ben Badr house, and Jahlan mosque. Overnight in Hayd Aljazeel Resort with a swimming pool and fabulous views over Hayd Aljazeel village.

After breakfast and enjoying the views of the rock village below, we start our day heading towards the coast of Yemen. We will reach Al-Mukalla, founded in 1035 as a fishing settlement. This is Yemen’s biggest eastern city and the gate to the historical Hadhramaut region to the north. Visit the Waterfront of Al Mukalla, the incredible Al-Ghwayzi Fort, the port area, and Mae’en sultan’s palace, now converted into a museum. Overnight in Grand Yemen Tourist Hotel.

After a small Al Mukalla city tour, you start your Yemen road trip along the Arabian Sea. From Al-Mukalla, you are taken to the city of Al-Ghaydah. The landscapes are impressive, with a mix of giant sand dunes and rocky mountains, wild camels, and little white-painted villages. Overnight in Gulf Stars Tourist Hotel.

Last day of your trip, and hopefully, we will cross the southern Yemen-Oman border quickly without any issues. Again, borders in this part of the world are very unpredictable, and we can’t determine an exact duration of how long it will take. Count from 1 hour to 4 hours in the worst-case scenario. You will be dropped off at your hotel in Salalah (not included). Don’t book a flight out of Oman on the day of arrival from Yemen. We must ensure you get your flight back home and can afford a few-hours delay to arrive in Salalah. Book a hotel in Salalah in advance.