Considered by all travelers a destination taken from a fairy tale, Yemen is the Mecca for intrepid adventurers, the one destination that awes all visitors for its rawness and untouched culture combined with jaw-dropping architecture and mesmerizing valleys.
When traveling in Yemen, it’s important to differentiate between:
need to know for traveling in Yemen
Quick facts
Capital: Sanaa
Population: 30.9 million (48th)
Language: Arabic
Area: 555,000km² (49th largest country)
Visa
A visa is required for both Yemen and Socotra.
Your tour operator should handle this for you.
Getting in
Yemen mainland: There is a flight from Cairo to Seiyun twice a week via Yemenia Air. You can also cross from Oman (Salalah).
Socotra: The most common route is the Air Arabia flight from Abu Dhabi to Socotra.
The best time to visit
Avoid coming here from May to the end of September, when temperatures average around 45ºC.
Tours for Yemen & Socotra
Next departures:
Yemen: April 17th to 23rd, 2025
Socotra: October 28th to November 4th, 2025
Which places can you visit in Yemen?
Today, the only stable and safe place you can visit in Yemen mainland is the eastern region of Hadramut.
Highlights in Hadramut include the UNESCO site of Shibam, and Mukalla, Wadi Doa’n and plenty of rural villages.
You can also visit the island of Socotra but that required a different visa.
Nowadays, you can’t visit Sanaa.
Top experiences in Yemen
Visiting mud-made towns like Shibam
And I specify towns because this isn’t like the tiny mud village you may find in Mali or Sudan but they are actual towns built in the past as caravan cities.
Shopping in a khat market
In addition to sparing one day for chewing khat, visiting one of the many khat markets with tens of stalls selling all sorts of types and quality of khat is a real highlight.
Dragon Blood Trees of Socotra
It is named after the blood-like color of the red sap that the trees produce.[2] It is considered the national tree of Yemen.[3]
Trekking around Wadi Doa’n
This canyon-shaped valley offers plenty of trekking opportunities through unspoiled villages and spectacular views.
Check our Yemen travel guide
tips for Yemen
Safety
In Yemen mainland, Hadramut is the most stable region but remember that safety is relative. Armed escorts are a must.
Socotra on the other hand, is safe.
Independent travel
Yemen mainland: Independent travel not allowed.
Socotra: Technically, it’s allowed but you can only get a visa through a local tour operator
Transportation
Since independent travel is not allowed, you can only move around in a private car.