Overview

Yemen is considered a gem among the Arabian countries. Saudi Arabia encompasses the northern ranges of the Republic of Yemen. Oman is to the east of Yemen and the Gulf of Aden is to the south. The Red Sea skirts the entire western region of the country.

There are two offshore islands belonging to Yemen, namely Karam and Perim that are located in the southern area of the Red Sea. The country is mostly covered with mountains, so agricultural activity takes place in terraces on the hillsides. In the center of the country is the towering Hadramaut mountain range that dominates the landscape. These mountains rise quickly in central Yemen, ranging in height from approximately 656 feet to 13,123 feet, which is the highest point of Jabal Nabi Shauib. However, there is a plain area near the coast, a quasi-desert, on the western side of the country called Tihama. On the eastern side of the country lies the Empty Quarter (Rub al-Khali), where the mountains drop off into a desert on the Arabian Penisula. Despite the semi-desert nature of the coastal plain, the beaches at the coast attract large crowds of tourists and resort communities.

Yemen is blessed with impressive natural scenery. The country is replete with a variety of landscapes ranging from towering mountains to sparkling sandy beaches. Fertile valleys of fruit trees contrast with plains that are almost identical to deserts. The varied architecture in Yemen is a classic example of pre-Islamic and Islamic era structures. The towns and cities are known for their souks, spice markets, mosques and ancient city walls.

Activities & Attractions

Yemen has many places of interest for tourists. The city of Sana, which has many beautiful sights and plenty of mud fortified buildings, is a must include in your itinerary. The palace at Wadi Dhar and the Wadi Hadramaut (known as Shibam or the "Manhattan in the desert") are famous tourist spots. The Haraz Mountains and al-Mahwit are excellent for a trekking expedition.

While in Yemen, you can take part in a variety of activities that include horse and camel racing, diving, paragliding, trekking, and hiking. Diving and sailing are quite popular in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. With historical settlements dating back to thousands of years, the country is replete with fascinating archeological sites. If you are of the adventurous sort, you will enjoy camping in this fascinating land. It is also abundant in different species of flora and fauna.

Lodging

You can easily find accommodation facilities close to a number of restaurants and shopping locations in Yemen. Many of them feature some truly amazing ancient architecture.

Transportation

It is best to employ a guide or hire a four wheel-drive vehicle. Although the busses within the city run quite frequently, taxi services are the most convenient and turn out to be economical too. The ports in the local area are connected by ferries that you can use to get around.