‹ All journeys beyond the island
Yemen & Hadramawt World Heritage
Jeddah · Socotra · Mukalla · Wadi Doan · Shibam · Seiyun
Eight days and three Yemeni World Heritage sites, nature and culture in one. Fly from Jeddah to Socotra for the tented camps of the otherworldly island, then hop to the Arabian Sea port of Mukalla and travel through the Hadramawt to the cliffs of Wadi Doan and the mud-brick city of Shibam, finishing in Seiyun and flying home via Cairo.
Day by Day
Jeddah · gathering day
Meet in Jeddah on the Red Sea. An evening on the corniche, the city lights coming on across the water.
Jeddah, four-star hotel
Jeddah to Socotra · Detwah Lagoon
Fly Jeddah JED 11:00 IY525 to Socotra SCT 14:30, then on to Detwah Lagoon—white sand and turquoise water at high tide, a mirror at low tide. Climb the surrounding hills for the desert rose and stay for the sunset.
Detwah Lagoon private camp (twin luxury tent)
Shuab Beach · Firmihin dragon-blood forest
A boat out to Shuab—the golden beach—past coastal cliffs, with spinner dolphins often in the wake. In the afternoon, the Firmihin dragon-blood forest: layered umbrella canopies, and a night session photographing the trees under the Milky Way.
Diksam private camp (twin luxury tent)
Dragon-blood sunrise · Dihamri · Homhil
Dragon-blood trees at sunrise, then the Dihamri marine reserve—rich reefs and fish, ideal for snorkelling or diving. In the afternoon, Homhil, where dragon-blood trees, desert rose and frankincense grow together; bring a swimsuit for the cliff pool, and stay for sunset.
Arher beach private camp (twin luxury tent)
Arher dune sunrise · fly to Mukalla
Walk up the dune before dawn for golden sand against deep blue sea. After lunch, fly IY421 (12:30–13:30) to Mukalla and step onto the Yemen mainland: the old town, the market, and—time permitting—Al-Ghwayzi fort.
Mukalla hotel
Mukalla to Haid al-Jazil
On to Haid al-Jazil, the showpiece of Wadi Doan: a village balanced on a sandstone outcrop more than a hundred metres above the valley. Visit Hawfah and the painted Buk mountain palace, call on a honey producer for the famous Hadrami sidr honey, and watch the sun drop over Wadi Doan.
Haid al-Jazil hotel
Wadi Doan · Seif · Shibam
Deeper into the valley, stopping at Seif and Hajrain, where houses seem to grow straight out of the cliff and are joined by carved steps. Then Shibam, the 'Manhattan of Arabia': some 500 mud-brick towers of three to eleven storeys, a World Heritage site since 1982. Sunset over the city, then on to Seiyun.
Seiyun, local four-star hotel
Seiyun · Tarim · departure
Tarim, the mud-built Sufi city: the small market and the Mihdhar mosque with the tallest mud minaret in the world. After lunch, the tomb of the Prophet Hud and the Sultan's palace in Seiyun, the market, then the airport—home via Cairo.
Good to know
- A Yemen mainland visa is required: a Socotra island permit alone does not allow travel on the mainland.
- All flights are separate, non-through tickets. If an earlier flight is delayed, the airline bears no responsibility for onward flights or losses.
- Local conditions can change road access, accommodation and site openings at short notice; only licensed local ground operators can arrange this.
- Your guide may adjust the order of days and sites to suit season, weather, roads and camp conditions.
More journeys beyond the island
The Wilderness of Wonders
Jeddah · Tabuk · Wadi Disah · AlUlaA desert wilderness shaped by nature: Jeddah, Tabuk and three days in Wadi Disah, closing among the rock formations of AlUla.
See the journey ›
The Red Sea Luxury Line
Jeddah · Six Senses · Shebara · Desert Rock · Banyan Tree AlUlaThe same timeline, different beds: Six Senses and Shebara's floating villas on the Red Sea, Desert Rock, then Banyan Tree in AlUla.
See the journey ›
Socotra & Yemen World Heritage · 11 Days
Jeddah · Socotra · Mukalla · Wadi Doan · Shibam · Seiyun · JeddahSeven full days on Socotra, then the mainland: the Hadramawt, Wadi Doan and Shibam.
See the journey ›Gallery
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Begin your journey
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