Manhattan of the Desert | Hadhramaut, Yemen

Name: Manhattan of the Desert | Hadhramaut, Yemen
Start: 2025-02-01T20:30:00+04:00
End: 2025-02-06T18:15:00+04:00
Location: Dubai International Airport

Schedule

Sat, 01 Feb, 2025 at 08:30 pm to Thu, 06 Feb, 2025 at 06:15 pm

UTC+04:00

Location

Dubai International Airport | Dubai, DU

Nothing seizes the imagination or satisfies the wanderlust like an exploration of the treasures of Southern Yemen! One of the oldest areas of human civilization and often out of reach for even the most intrepid of travelers, the out-of-this-world architectural wonders and lost-in-time lifestyles of the Yemenis will capture an explorer’s heart.
https://vimeo.com/810003078
Bordered by the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in the west, Saudi in the north and Oman to the east, Yemen is a desert country with no permanent waterways and continuously elevated with high and dry mountains of jagged peaks and plateaus. The highland regions are interspersed with seasonal river valleys surrounded by some of the most uniquely structured villages on the planet, with small towns of a few dozen perched entirely on boulders to a sea of skyscrapers of mud on arid plateaus overlooking deep ravines.
Found on the steep escarpment of a broad plateau with sparse deeply sunk wadis throughout, the Hadhramis live in densely built towns and villages centred around wadis with buildings clung to the hillside or standing on plateaus at heights of 100 to 200 meters above the valley below.
Easily the most notable of these villages is Shibam Hadramout, the “Manhattan of the Desert”, with a population of nearly 7000 spread among 500 mud houses reaching as high as 11 stories! Built of mud bricks with wooden floors these adobe structures require constant repair to prevent the rains from washing away their mud coatings.
Wadi Doa’n contains numerous towns and villages along wadi banks, above surrounding terraces, and on top of plateaus with architectural gems that outshine even Hadramout, from the pint-sized Haid Al-Jazeel with less than 15 residents atop a boulder to the brightly coloured palaces of Bugshan.
The city of Tarim is considered the theological, juridical, and academic center of the Hadramout Valley and is estimated to contain the highest concentration of descendants of the Prophet Mohammad anywhere in the world! Inhabited since the Stone Age and filled with mosques, palaces, libraries, and tombs and most distinguished for producing numerous scholars from it’s many educational institutes.
Let’s go!!
Day 1 // Cairo to Seiyun
We’ll meet in Cairo for our flight to Seiyun Airport, after arrival and immigration formalities, transfer to Al-Hawta Palace hotel. We’ll take a quick visit to Alfalas Palace for photographs before dinner and overnight in Seiyun.
Day 2 // Aynat to Tarim
In the morning we’ll head to the Qaber Nabi Hood Prophet shrine followed by the walk around the Aynat area before lunch. Afterwards we head onwards to the town of Tarim, a Sufi village built in mud. After a stroll through the local markets and Al-Mihdar mosque, we’ll head back to Seiyun. Overnight in Al-Hawta Palace hotel.
Day 3 // Shibam Hadramout
Today we depart Seiyoun with a quick visit to the Al-Kathiri Palace before heading to Shibam Hadramout. Filled with mud constructed skyscrapers, it is known as the “Manhattan of Arabia”. We’ll explore the town in full and take photos for National Geographic then drive to Wadi Doa’n and Haid Al-Jizil with beautiful panorama of the villages and wadis below. Spend the night in Haid Al-Jizil lodge, with a pool view over a village perched atop a boulder!
Day 4 // Wadi Doa’n
After breakfast, start trek down to Hawfah village in Wadi Doa’n. Afterwards we’ll drive to see the many colorful palaces of Buqshan village before reaching Rehab for lunch. With many village stops along the way back to Haid Al-Jizil and sunset before dinner and rest.
Day 5 // Return to Hadramout
Today we will start our return journey back towards Seiyun with lovely stop at town of Hawta. In late afternoon we’ll return to Hadramout for sunset on the skyscrapers before return to Hawta for dinner in our grand hotel for proper send-off!
Day 6 // Seiyun to Cairo
In the morning free time at leisure. After lunch transfer to airport for flight to Cairo and further flight back home.
Level of Difficulty:
Easy with limited facilities.
Activities:
Trekking, sightseeing, cultural immersion.
Duration:
6 Days.
Room & Meals:
Palace hotels double sharing, meals included, except restaurant meals on transfers.
Cost: AED 8,800 incl. flights CAIRO - SEIYOUN and visa + permits to Yemen until JAN 2nd. Cash payment only during briefings.
Specifically Excluded:
Flights to Cairo, meals on transfers.
Trip starts and ends in Cairo airport with included flight to Seiyoun.
See yah in Hadhramaut x
Trekkup Crew
Whatsapp 050 4848238 / [email protected]
Find all trekkups at linktr.ee/trekkup