Anyone who has had the privilege of doing so, at this point decades ago, defines Yemen as one of the most beautiful journeys in the world. Over the past 20 years, the country has been plagued by serious internal conflicts, famines and socio-economic problems, making travelling impossible. The situation is far from stable, but there is a ray of light: in the eastern region of Hadramawt, one of the most beautiful in the country, the situation is slowly improving. And this is where our 6-day expedition will take place to discover the remote valleys of the Wadi Dawat. From canyons and mud villages perched on rocky spurs, to the ante litteram skyscrapers of Shibam, the mythical “Manhattan of the desert”
THE BHS TOUCH
While we wait to return to Sana’a, Yemen’s mythical capital that is now inaccessible, we are ready to bring travelling back to the country! With a local guide, we will be among the very first Westerners to set foot in these breathtaking lands since over 10 years. We will be based in the village of Haid Al-Jazil, one of the most remote and spectacular villages in Yemen where time seems to have been stopped. And from the desert, seeing the magical silhouette of the mud skyscrapers of Shibam suddenly appear will seem like an extraordinary mirage
DAY 1: we’ll meet up in Cairo and spend the night at the hotel in Cairo
DAY 2: continuing the journey with flight to Seiyun. Arrival in Yemen, meet up with local contacts at the airport, customs procedures and transfer to the city of Hawta. Dinner and spend the night in Hawta
Morning: visit of the museum of the Sultan’s Palace, and transfer to the city of Tarim, a historical Sufi city built in mud. Visit of the small market of Tarim and the mosque of Al-Mihdar. Lunch in Tarim
Afternoon: drive to the shrine of the Prophet Hud, one of the most beautiful historical Sufi shrines in the Aynat area. Visit of the complex, main place of pilgrimage in Yemen for the Sufis. Return to Hawta
Morning: transfer to Shibam. The historic capital of Hadramawt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site called “the Manhattan of the desert”. The city is built entirely of mud with 500 buildings that reach the height of 5-9 floors. Dating back to the sixteenth century: they are therefore real skyscrapers of antiquity, which makes up one of the most incredible skylines in the world
Afternoon: transfer to the Wadi Dawan with a stop at Al-Hajjrain, and in the city of Sif. Onward journey to Haid Al-Jazil, a small village perched on a rocky spur in the middle of the valley. We’ll be able to admire the most beautiful and iconic panorama of the entire Wadi Dawan
Morning: easy and wonderful hike of about 1 hour to the village of Hawfah in the Wadi Dawan, from the top of the mountain to the end The village of Hawfah. Travel to the village of Buqshan with its incredible colourful palaces
Afternoon: drive to the Buddha area to admire another beautiful panorama of the Wadi Doa’n, with pit stops in the various villages (such as Qarn Majed) on the way. Travel to the city of Al-Khuraiba and then return to Haid Al-Jazil for the sunset: seeing the sun go down between the mountains, in a peaceful silence interrupted only by the distant songs of Haid Al-Jazil’s muzzin. This will be one of the most exciting experiences of the trip
Evening: dinner and spend overnight in Haid Al-Jazil