Arabian Golden Sparrow Tour

YEMEN - A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE Luckily, the mysterious of distant Yemen appeals to an elite, the better kind of tourists, the ones who want to get away from the beaten path, who do not travel to the ends of the earth merely to bore themselves to death on a sandy beach they could find anywhere, who don't fall into a depression if they are deprived of golf, a shopping center and assorted night clubs. Yemen is the last resort for those who have seen everything but would still like to be "astonished" in Cocteau's sense. Eclectic travellers, fascinated by the mountain landscapes, exotic nights on the Red Sea, the nobility of an as yet unspoiled nature, the prodigious splendor of an architecture unique on earth, the vestige of civilisations thousands of years old, barely explored even by archaeologists, and, most important of all, a population that has remained pure and proud, only recently in contacts with the outside world, but hospitable, open and generous. For today Yemen is more accessible than it has ever been. Tourism has been recognised as a good source of foreign currency and barriers discouraging travellers have been removed. The itinerary that follows is tried and tested. We visit all parts of the country that are considered noteworthy. This present itinerary makes the most of the time available, seeing as much of the people, their culture and as many of their unique places as possible.

Day 1:

Sana'a Arrive at the Airport, transfer to Hotel. Overnight in Sana'a at Hilltown or Hadda 4* hotel.

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Day 2:

Sana'a Enjoy a full day sightseeing and exploring the fascinating old city of Sana'a. Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, is situated in the western part of the country in the mountains. Locals maintain that this is where skyscrapers were invented! Shop in the Souq (market) dating from the pre-Islamic period, walk through the winding city streets, and find artifacts in the National Museum. In the heart of the old town of Sana'a one can easily believe that time has stood still for centuries. The dream of the old orient becomes a reality here. The city existed at the time when there were only tents to be found in the Arabian Peninsula ­ one of the oldest towns in the World, second only to Marib. Legend has it that the son of the biblical Noah, Sem, founded the city. Renowned as a refuge of peace, it was a place where fighting was not permitted.. Overnight in Sana'a at Hilltown 4* or Hadda 4-star hotel.

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Day 3:

Sana'a - Manakha - Hajjarah A good road is leading to the wild mountains westwards to Manakha. On the way you can see the tallest mountain of the entire Middle East. Djebel An Nabi Shu'ayb (12368 feet / 3770m) Manakha lies at an altitude of 2250m in the middle of a terraced agricultural area of the Harraz mountains. The mountains here are especially dramatic. Behind the Ismaelite pilgrim place of Hutaib, Jebel Shibam rises up 3000m, the highest peak of the Haraz mountains. In the afternoon we may take a hike of about 2-3 hours to the village of Hajjarah - a splendid and impressive village and the finest example of mountain architecture in Yemen which perches along a steep rock. Overnight at Hajjarah Funduk ( simple countryside accommodation or guest house)

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Day 4:

Hajjarah - Bait Al Faqih - Zabid - Khokha Beach We drive down from the mountainous Yemen to the coastal plains of the Tihama. It is not a long drive but the climb is considerable, and the traveller has the impression of experiencing climate changes and indeed those of another continent: the humidity in the air rises and the straw decked houses in the plains are reminiscent of Africa. Unveiled women can be seen in their colourful clothes. The sandy flat area stretching along the coast of the Red Sea is called Tihama. As everywhere in Yemen, here is a synthesis of nature and history: Zabid had a university as early as the eight century. It is believed that a scientist of Zabid developed a new mathematical system which is called "Al Jaber" the beginning of our modern Algebra. The bustling life in the region of Tihama today is strikingly colourful, more so than the rest of Yemen. Bait Al Faquih, the largest market town in Yemen has still kept some of its old tradition up to this date, such as its Friday Market. We spend a night at Khokha beach's hotel where untouched white sandy beaches with palms and small fishing villages invite one to take a rest. Directly north of this place are many small islands basking in turquoise coloured water, a paradise for divers and would be Robinsons Crusos. Overnight at Moka Marine Hotel.

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Day 5:

Khokha Beach - Mokha ­ Taiz We drive to Taiz via Mokha port. Today the ruins of Mokha still stand proud in the sand dunes as testimony to the bygone greatness of the coastal town. From here coffee was transported to Europe for hundreds of years. Overnight in Taiz at Taj Shamsan 4-star Hotel.

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Day 6:

Taiz Today we enjoy sightseeing in Taiz, the second largest city in Yemen, dominated by the Djebel Saber (Saber Mountains). The view here is unforgettable. Explore the 14thC mosque of the Ashrafiya, the museum and the souks. Nearby is the oldest mosque in the Islamic world, Al Jannad - the first mosque built in Yemen during the life time of the Prophet Mohammed; peace be upon him. Overnight in Taiz at Taj Shamsan 4-star Hotel.

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Day 7:

Taiz - Jibbla - Rada - Al Baydah On the way we visit the town of Jibbla to see the Queen Arwa mosque and her palace all built in the 11th century. Proceeding to Al Baydah the way offers the Naqil Sumarah pass with its height of 9186 feet (2800m), one of the finest views in all Yemen. You can look out terraced fields, scattered farms and villages, valleys and wadis. This region does in fact have some of the best climatic conditions of the entire Arabian Peninsula. this intensively cultivated region had already given Yemen the name "Arabia Felix". Overnight in AlBaydah at Shamar Hotel.

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Day 8:

Al Baydah - Habban - Azzan - Bir Ali ­ Mukalla Long drive through diversified environments i.e. mountainous, volcanic coastal plains along the Arabian Sea etc. Villages with strong clay houses in white wadis sometimes appear on the way - partly they remind us of the Moroccan Kasbahs. Habban is a place in the former South Yemen with high, closely built clay houses situated in front of rugged mountains. A "photo stop" here is obligatory. When the dusk starts to draw its veil over the city of Habban, with its closely built, high clay houses standing out against the majestic back drop of the mountains, one is reminded of a dream from a thousand and one Arabian nights. Azzan is the next town to the east of Habban. Although the modern center of the town is not too attractive, the wadi is fine with impressive escarpments and beautiful villages built in the traditional style. Bir Ali, where the ancient frankincense harbor of "Qana" once stood here, and a scattering of still standing walls bear testimony to this historic past. Qana was founded as early as the second century before Christ. Overnight in Mukalla at Hadhramout 4-star Hotel.

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Day 9:

Ghayl Bawazir - Al Hami - Shihir - Mukalla Sightseeing to significant attractions in Mukalla city such as the old port, fishing center, market place and Sultan's Palace. Excursion to Ghayl Bawazir, Shihir and Al Hami where you might appreciate bathing in the hot-spring pools and on the way you can watch local beekeepers at work. Overnight in Mukalla at Hadhramout 4-star hotel.

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Day 10:

Mukalla - Seiyun Enjoy a leisurely drive north through the Hadramout mountains viewing spectacular sceneries. Overnight in Seiyun at Samah 4-star Hotel.

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Day 11:

Tarim - Shibam - Seiyun Today we visit the World Monuments Watch notable site of Shibam of the Hadramout, formerly known as "Manhattan of the Desert." Founded in 3AD, Shibam was constructed solely of mud, and no bricks can be found here. the houses may be up to seven stories high, making them "skyscrapers." You may inspect over 500 houses crammed into a half square kilometer area. UNESCO is preserving this city with the support of organizations such as the World Monuments Watch. Return to Tarim, an Islamic Culture Center boasting over 354 mosques. The minaret of Al Mihdar rises to a height of 60 meters - the highest in the Middle East. Overnight at Samah 4-star Hotel.

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Day 12:

Tarim - Aynat - Tomb of Prophet Hud ­ Seiyun - Shibam Drive to the Tomb of Prophet Hud and on the way we stop to see a remarkable collection of impressive tombs of a nine holy men at Aynat. Proceed to the Tomb of Prophet Hud - one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Wadi Hadramout. The town has been built next to the tomb housing of the shrine of the pre-Islamic prophet, Hud. Next to the tomb a prayer hall has been built extraordinary around a giant rock. The amazing thing is that this finely kept town is actually inhabited for only three days a year, during the pilgrimage which takes place between the 9th and 12th days of the 8th month of the Muslim calendar. Overnight at Al-Houta 4-star hotel near Shibam.

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Day 13:

Wadi Doa'n - Hajjarain ­ Seiyun ­ Shibam. Today we drive to the other side of the Wadi (western) to Wadi Doa'n passing by plenty of beautiful old villages. Hajjarain is a remarkable stone village atop a rocky slope of Wadi Doa'n. This is one of those ancient villages (more than 1000 years old) with a remarkable harmony which the village creates together with its dramatic surroundings that sets it apart from many similar villages of stone houses in the northern part of the country. Others important archaeological sites in the Wadi could be visited such as Rayboun. Rayboun, close to Hajjarain, this ancient town was demonstrably settled by the 10th century BC. Not much of it remains today but finds from Rayboun abound in the Seiyun museum. Next to Rayboun, Mashhad Ali is a village with some fine tombs. The Tomb of Hassan ibn Hassan dates to 1591, while the complex of the five Tombs of Ali ibn Hassan was reputedly rebuilt in the 1830s. The domed buildings are most imposing. Overnight in Al-Houta 4-star Hotel near Shibam.

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Day 14:

Seiyun ­ Marib Early morning departure to Marib through the trackless desert via the Ramlat As Sabatain area. Heading westwards across this desert which is situated on the fringes of the famous Empty Quarter desert, you may espy nomads with their camels wandering in the desert. Having driven almost 6 hours we reach our destination to explore Marib. This is the site of the old capital of the Kingdom of Sheba, rulers of Yemen for more than eight centuries. Some inscriptions indicate that the city was built around 8BC. The old town was a very important commercial and agricultural center. the oldest dam in the world was built here and vestiges remain from the dikes which broke in 2BC. Marib, once the world and religious capital of the Sabean Kingdom, has the most famous archaeological site in Yemen. Our visit here will include the old village of Marib, three archaeological sites, the old and new dam. Overnight in Marib at Bilquis Marib 4-star Hotel.

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Day 15:

Marib - Sana'a Going through a black basalt desert with light sand dunes formed by the wind we soon leave Marib. Soon we will cross the first pass - deeply fissured rock, seemingly far away from the capital. Prior to approaching the out skirts of the capital we pass through the area of Nehm, which belongs to an especially proud tribe. Overnight in Sana'a at Hilltown 4-star or Hadda 4-star Hotel

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Day 16:

Sana'a - Wadi Dahar - Shibam - Kawkaban - Thulla - Sana'a Today we make an excursion to the Rock Palace of Wadi Dahar and to the three near by mountain villages of Shibam, Kawkaban and Thulla. Wadi Dahar, a fertile and very pleasant valley of small villages and clay-walled orchards. The Rock Palace at the middle of the wadi, was the former summer palace of the late Imam Yahya; it is built on the top of a solitary rock, a building that has developed into some kind of symbol of Yemen, serves as a landmark in the valley. Kawkaban is the place in Yemen to visit for a taste of the Yemeni passion for building villages on the most inaccessible mountainsides. Here you can enjoy the country from an eagle's point of view. Thulla, a remarkable ancient town is built at the eastern foot of a mountain, near a large gently sloping basin of terraced fields, with a fortress on the mountaintop to shelter the inhabitants during crises. It is an excellent example of the system of defense that has so efficiently protected Yemenis against foreign invaders. Thulla is a rare example of an almost perfectly preserved highland town of natural stone tower houses. The walled town with its paved streets is entirely built with stones from mountain ( without the use of cement), so that from a distance you would hardly suspect the presence of a town here. Walking in its alleys, lanes and the old suq is a pleasing experience; friezes and wall textures give the houses variation despite the fact that all are built from the same material. Overnight in Sana'a at Hilltown or Hadda 4-star Hotel.

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Day 17:

Sana'a - Kuhlan ­ Hajja The way to Hajja on the "Chinese Road" is the most scenic one in mountainous Yemen: steep gorges and green valleys, rugged mountain ridges with castle-like houses and villages like fortresses. The area is also famous for its countless agricultural terraces; entire mountain slopes have thus been transformed into a step-like cultural landscape. The road is winding in serpentines through this dramatically shaped countryside. Running along a steep mountain ridge, the road continues to the sightseeing point just in front of the village of Kohlan. From here we walk to the upper part of the village which is crowned by an old whitewashed mosque. We look far over the mountain ranges. Then we walk about an hour and on to the lower part of Kohlan with its charming souk and from there we proceed our trip to Hajja. Overnight in Hajja at Gamdan 4-star Hotel.

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Day 18:

Hajja - Amran ­ Shaharah In the morning we walk through the small traditional and very interesting souk of the otherwise rather modern city of Hajja and take the same road further east to Amran and make a short visit of the old city, which is still surrounded by a city wall and is constructed of clay. The appearance of this old town is architecturally very harmonious and it is the first town to have mud houses. After Amran the road is leading through agricultural lands. At Huth we take a westerly direction road through barren highlands. About 10 km before Shaharah we have to change cars and climb a local pick-up Land Cruisers. A famous stone bridge from the 16th century spans over a 300m deep gorge is the most spectacular construction of Shaharah. A visit to this place is bound to be one of the most impressive excursions that you may venture to the heart of Yemen. This trip is recommended for travellers who have at least two days to spare and a considerable amount of courage at their disposals. Those who want to drive will find the Djebel Shaharah an ideal location and one which is impossible to miss. The village enjoys an excellent strategic position and looks back at a long history of wars. Overnight in Shaharah at a simple but clean Funduk (countryside traditional guest house).

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Day 19:

Shaharah ­ Sadah In the morning we take a hike of about 2 hours down to Rahaba - passing terraced fields and old fortified sites. Through Huth (lunch) we drive the rest of 120 km into the northern direction till we reach the old city of Sadah. In pre-Islamic times the important trade route called "Incense Road" had been passing here; then pilgrim's caravans used the road as far as Mecca. The stony desert-like landscape was formed by volcanic forces; age-old vulcanize have already served the caravans as prominent road signs hundreds of ears ago. Sadah has been (and still is to this day) governed by the religious nobility of the Shiites; the Sayyed view themselves as close blood relatives of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). The old homogeneous part of the town is built by way of the typical mud-layer architecture and up to this day is surrounded by a city wall of the 16th century. Through the old gate Bab al Yemen we take a step back into the living Middle Ages. There are still some Jewish silver smiths living here. They can be easily recognized by the typical hair-style: the long temple curls. They offer some precious old jewelry for sale. Until 1950 some 60,000 Jewish left Yemen by their own will. In the northern parts there are still some 200 Jewish families left, most of them in Sadah. The Yemenies are tolerant towards this minority of a different faith. Some are reading aloud from the Thora, the holy book of their Jewish faith while sitting in their shops. To the left hand side of Bab al Yemen there is the old and large Al Hadi Mosque from the 12th century (altered in the 17th century). It is named after the founder of the Zaidi faith, Al Hadi Yahya (died 911) who lies buried here. From here we reach the souk with its small lanes and old city with its narrow streets and its 500 year-old houses built of mud. Overnight in Sadah at Rahban 3-star Hotel.

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Day 20:

Sadah - Sana'a In the morning we drive back to Sana'a. Overnight at Hilltown 4* or Hadda 4-star Hotel.

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Day 21:

Sana'a - Shopping & Departure In the morning, we stroll through the souk of the old town. This is surely the last chance to buy some silver jewellery, spices or something else. Soon, and all of a sudden, something takes place which you have so far not thought about and not wished for: the trip to the airport and the flight back. Wishing you a wonderful time and with many nice unforgettable memories.

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Note: Tour and Tour Information are subject to change.

Tour Prices: Single Person $2450; Double Occupancy Per Person Price $2250

Airfare is not included in the tour price.

Notes : Prices given are per person in USD currency and include the followings:- - Transportation: airport transfers & all ground travels in Yemen (in 4-seat Toyota Land Cruisers). - Accommodation based on 4-star hotels in the main cities. Elsewhere the best available hotels will be used. In the countryside and mountainous areas/villages overnight will be spent in a clean local inn (Funduk). Tents will be provided where camping is applicable. - Meals on full-board basis in the best available restaurants. Sealed mineral water will be served all through the trip. - Services of a bilingual local tour guide (Arabic and English, German, French or Italian speaking tour guide. - Entrance fees to all attractions visited.

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