Arrive into the medieval city of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, considered to be the birthplace of Arab nationhood, at the airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a two-night stay. DAY 2 Monday: Sana'a A full day exploration of Sana'a, including a visit to the National Museum, Haddah and the ancient quarter of this fascinating Arabian city with its intricately decorated mosques and unique multi-storyed houses.
Continue to Sa'ada for an overnight stay. In the afternoon explore Sa'ada, the ancient capital of Yemen under the Zaydi dynasty. Continue on to Hajjah where we will stay overnight. Depart Hajjah for Hodeidah via the Tihama coast. En route, see Wadi-Moor African style villages. Continue on to Hodeidah for an overnight stay. Drive to visit Zabid, an important early Islamic center of learning, where algebra is said to have been invented. In Zabid, see the finely decorated old houses and the 10th century mosque.
A short drive to Jabel Saber then visit the fine Ashraffiya Mosque with its twin minarets, the Muddhaffariya Mosque, and the old Palace of Imam Ahmed, if opened now a museum preserving his curious lifestyle. Walk through the old Suq, with its exotic wares.
Here you can see the great mosque with its column prayer hall, and the finely decorated tomb of the Queen. Drive to visit Ibb then continue on to Sana'a for an overnight stay. See also the surviving stonework of the famous dam on which the prosperity of the kingdom of Sheba depended for more than a thousand years and the ancient city of Marib.
Overnight in Marib. Explore Seyun, the former capital of Kathiri Sultanate. You can then wander around the traditional "Suq" with its handicrafts and home-ground produce. Depart Seyun and drive to visit Tarim the capital of Kinda Kings. In the afternoon there will be an excursion to the "desert Manhattan" Shibam an awe inspiring town of ancient sky-scrapers soaring out of the desert which UNESCO has declared a protected world monument.
