Best Yemen Tours 2024 – 2025

YPT Tours to Yemen

YPT is proud to announce our upcoming Yemen tours! While country has been affected by a civil War since 2014, which has made most of the provinces inaccessible, YPT has resumed tours to the Hadhramaut province – a region that has, like Socotra, largely been spared by the war.

Yemen, known previously as Felix Arabia, was once the most prosperous region of the Arabian Peninsula. However, since the 2011 Arab Spring, it has fallen into a brutal civil and proxy war that has caused immense destruction and instability.

However, parts of the country have now come under control of the UAE and Saudi-Backed Southern Transitional Council. This council has complete control of the regions of Hadhramaut, Al Mahra, and Socotra. While the rest of the country is unsafe for tourism, these regions are remarkably stable compared to the rest of the country which is why we resumed Yemen Tours there.

We’re one of the first tour operators to organize tours to this region, and we have unparallel local connections to help ensure a safe and enjoyable tour to mainland Yemen.

Once a large part of Soviet-aligned People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, the Hadhramaut region is one of natural beauty, comprising of various desert areas, small traditional villages and the scenic Mehri coastline. With a complicated history of war, occupation and conflict contrasting with unique architecture in Haid Al-Jizi, panoramic views, and arguably the best gulf cuisine – Yemen is a special trip for adventure lovers.

Group Tours to Yemen in 2024 and 2025

Our Yemen tours are split into two locations – Yemen Mainland and Socotra Island Tours. Only some regions are available to travel to on the Yemen mainland due to the ongoing conflict. However, Socotra Island has remained virtually untouched from the civil war.

Yemen Mainland Hadhramaut Tours

Our Yemen tours take you to the area of Hadhramaut, often known as “Manhattan of the dessert” as it was one of the first areas in the world to build complex, multi-story buildings. Explore this little-known country and be among the few tourists in the world who have the chance to step foot in mainland Yemen.

All of our tours to mainland Yemen are capped at very low numbers, so we recommend booking in advance, as these tours often fill up.

Yemen Mainland Hadhramaut Tour – October 26th – 31st 2024 – €3195

Yemen Mainland Hadhramaut Tour

South Yemen Hadhramaut Tour – February 22nd – 27th 2025 – €3195

South Yemen Hadhramaut Tour

Socotra Yemen Island Tours 2024

Socotra Yemen Island October Tour – October 13th – 21th – €1495
Socotra Island Yemen November Tour – November 17th – 25th – €1495

Socotra Island Yemen December Tour – December 8th – 16th – €1495

Socotra Yemen Island Tours 2025

Socotra Yemen Island January Tour – January 19th – January 27th €1495

Socotra Yemen Island March Tour – March 9th – 17th – €1495

Socotra Yemen Island April Tour – April 13th to 21st – €1495

Independant tours to Yemen

YPT can arrange an independent Yemen tours, either on the mainland or to Socotra (or a mix of both!) to suit your preferences, time frame, budget and locations. You can choose from any of our bespoke tours or inquire about specific tours: whether you would like to visit the iconic architecturally unique regions in Southern Yemen, explore the sea and nature of Socotra or experience Yemeni life firsthand!

Prices depend on the number of people and what level of accommodation you desire, but YPT can arrange everything you need for perfect independent Yemen tours.

Sample Mainland Yemen Itinerary:

Day 1 – Cairo (Egypt) – Seiyun (Yemen)

Arrive at your own leisure to Cairo the capital city of Egypt – Cairo International Airport is well connecting with the Middle East and Europe.
Pre-tour meeting will be held at Cairo International Airport to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and Western guide – confirmation of time and location will be confirmed closer.
We recommend booking and boarding the Yemenia (Yemen Airways) flight departing Cairo at 9:45am and arriving 2:15pm in Seiyun. Flights not included in tour cost, we are able to book flights for your convivence.
On arrival, your guide will assist you with the immigration formalities. You’ll be greeted by your local Yemeni guide in arrivals who’ll discuss the local laws, customs and itinerary.
We’ll head out to a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Seiyun, just in time to experience stunning sunset. Your guide will explain the importance of the most important city in Southern Yemen.
Dinner, we’ll head out to a traditional restaurant, we recommend trying thareed, a local delicacy consisting of lamb and vegetable stew.
Overnight stay in Seiyun.

Day 2 – Seiyun – Al Mukalla

Morning

Early morning start followed by breakfast.
The best way to explore city – we’ll head out for walking tour of Seiyun. You’ll see the most prominent landmark – The Sultan Al Kathiri Palace and see how locals continue with their daily chores. Your guide will explain how the origins of the city came about from weary travellers.
You’ll be able explore the bazaar frequented by locals, here you’ll get the opportunity to purchase traditional Yemeni clothes.

Afternoon

Once we’ve explored the magnificent city we’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant.
Our journey continue onwards to Al Mukhalla along the Gulf of Aden, stopping along the way to take in the beautiful scenery – our local guides will share their in-depth knowledge of the area.
Once we arrive to Al Mukhalla we’ll check into our hotel – Al Mukhalla is a seaport and the capital city of the province, so there’s plenty of interesting things we’ll see here. For many years, the city was not accessible for tourists.
We’ll head out to explore the Old Town. The events from civil war are still present in the city, you’ll learn about this during your stay. The city was briefly held by Al Qaeda and while there is peace now, the recent history is extremely interesting.
After a busy day, we’ll have a traditional Yemeni dinner in town. We know a place popular with the locals.
Overnight stay in Al Mukhalla.

Day 3 – Al Mukhalla – Wadi Doan – Haid Al-Jizil

Morning

Early morning start with breakfast at our hotel before checking out.
Before leaving we’ll head into Al Mukhalla markets, here you’ll find fishermen and sellers trading freshly caught seafood – our guides will point out some interesting events and stories that took place. We’ll have the opportunity to buy some unique souvenirs.
We’ll continue on our tour with a visit to the Khoor Mukhalla and Al-Ghawizi Fort – is one of the oldest fortresses in Yemen.

Afternoon

Lunch in the city – as always there are plenty of places to choose from, but we know a place you’ll especially enjoy.
Once we’re ready we’ll drive to Wadi Doan (Doan Valley) one of the most picturesque places within the region – for a panoramic view of the area we will head to the Haid Al-Jizil Hotel – which will also be our base for the evening.
We’ll continue our tour with a drive to Buqshan, a beautiful village famous for its coloured houses, with friendly hospitable locals. We’ll see the palace and mosque with locals visiting during prayer times.
We’ll head back to Haid Al-Jizil hotel just before sunset so we can capture the incredible views.
At night we will take a walk around Haid Al-Jizil – known not only known as “Yemens forgotten village”, but also one of the most beautiful towns in central Yemen. Here we will enjoy the old architecture.
Dinner in Haid Al-Jizil, we’ll try some of the delicious local cuisines.
Overnight stay in Haid Al-Jizil.

Day 4 – Haid Al-Jizil – Wadi Doan – Shibam – Hawta

Morning

Early morning start with breakfast at our hotel before checking out.
We’ll take a short drive to a small town before we walk to Qarht Bahumaish. Put on your comfortable hiking shoes as the trek to takes roughly a hour but worth it for those panoramic views of the surrounding area.
We’ll make the most of the region and drive further down in Wadi Doan, along the way we make various stops at small villages located in the valley including Musainah, Ribad and Qarn Majed, often described for its charming beauty. Perfect for those who wish daily life in local settlements.

Afternoon

In the afternoon we’ll visit Al Khuraiba, a beautiful town and a great place to break up the journey for lunch.
As we continue on we stop at a truly unique site, the former palace of the Osama Bin-Laden family – a unique if somewhat bizarre photo opportunity.
The journey continues with rest and tour stops at Sif and Hajjrain villages – this is the best way to see daily local life Yemen.
We’ll then drive to Shibam, in Wadi Hadhramaut (Hadhramaut Valley) in time for a truly beautiful sunset – Inshallah.
Once we arrive to Hawta, which is part of Seyun City and our home for the penultimate night of our tour.
After explore the Arabian oasis, we’ll head to the centre for a relaxing dinner.
Overnight stay in Hawta.

Day 5 – Hawta – Shibam – Seiyun – Avnat – Tarim

Morning

Breakfast in the hotel, before our last day of the tour!
We return to Shibam, also known at the Manhattan of Arabia – we are not sure exactly how they came up with this!
We’ll have city tour of Shiban, which will include all of the main sites, as well as the mud huts, of which it is most famous for.

Afternoon

Lunch in Shiban, our local guide knows a popular spot with the locals.
We now take the drive to Seiyun, the biggest and most important city in Southern Yemen.
On arrival we’ll stop at the Sultan Palace Museum, as well as the Al-Falas Palace – the former residence of the sultan of Kathiri.
Next we’ll take a city tour, which will includes the main mosque, town centre, as well as wander around the Al-Handal Souk, a great place for souvenirs and bargain hunting. We will also check out the local fruit and vegetable market, a bustling place filled with friendly locals.
We’ll continue on towards Aynat a small village in Eastern Yemen that is famous for its shrines and locals making pilgrims.
Our very last stop is in Tarim, a historical village where all buildings are made of mud. We’ll explore the main site which includes the beautiful Al Mihdar Mosque, as well as visiting the largest open air market – you can find locals trading goods.
After a busy day exploring beautiful towns, villages and learning about the fascinating culture of Yemen, we’ll head back to Hawta.
Our last night of the tour, so we head into town where our local guides have arranged a Yemeni feast for us!
Overnight stay in Hawta.

Day 6 – Hawta – Seiyun (Yemen) – Cairo (Egypt)

Breakfast and early morning departure to catch the flight back to Cairo, Egypt with Yemen Airways – flight cost not included in tour.

Bespoke Yemen Tours

We are able to offer the following bespoke programs. Should what you are looking for not be on this list, please get in touch to see if we can fix it for you.

Southern Yemen and Socotra Island Combo tour

Experience the incredible flora and fauna, sparseness and stark natural beauty of Socotra island, contrasted to the historically significant and turbulent region of Hadhramaut. By combining the two, you will get an inside look at two parts of Yemen, highlighting the sheer diversity within this nation.

Shibam Tour

Explore Shibam, a town known for its mud houses in the Hadhramaut province. This town is a UNESCO World Heritage site for being one of the oldest and well maintained examples of urban planning in terms of vertical construction.

Alternative Mainland Yemen and Egypt Tour

Maybe you have been to Socotra and to the pyramids in Egypt – but how about mainland Yemen, Garbage city and the White Desert? These two countries have more than what may meet the eye or see on the Internet. Explore these misunderstood countries by travelling through alternative Egypt before your direct flight to Seiyun, the second largest city in Yemen.

Seiyun Palace Tour

Visit one of Yemens most iconic structures – the Seiyun Palace. The Seiyun Palace was completed in the 1920s and is one of the largest buildings ever created from mud brick. If that’s not impressive – wait until you step inside and view the artifacts such as weapons, jewelry, cooking and agriculture.

Wadi Do’an Tour

Visit Wadi Do’an and the villages encapsulated in the large remote space. However the scenery is far from boring and contains canyons, mountains, rivers and of course historically and culturally significant towns such as Buqsa. This area is famously home to the Bin Laden family.

Yemen Frequently Asked Questions

Is Socotra considered Yemen?

While Socotra is technically part of Yemen, many travellers do not believe a trip to Socotra is the same as visiting Yemen mainland. Culturally and historically, mainland Yemen is incredibly different to Socotra, and it is a must-see travel destination for country counters, history buffs, and culture aficionados.

Can I travel to Aden and Sana’a?

At this time, both Aden and Sana’a are incredibly unsafe for tourists. Even aid workers based there live in gated compounds that they are not allowed the leave. Because of the extreme poverty of Yemen and its history of political instability and war, kidnappings and ransoms are incredibly common in these areas of Yemen. Therefore, we cannot arrange visits to Aden or Sana’a at this time.

Is Yemen Safe?

Crime towards foreigners is very rare, although you probably won’t notice anything nor feel threatened at any time. Although rare, protests can occur at short notice, impacting roads and transport. These demonstrations can be confrontational and may turn violent. We ask that you follow instructions given by your local guides and tour leaders; they have the experience required to read situations and assess risks. Trips to Yemen do create dangers all of their own and whilst we want you to have as much freedom as possible, we must state that both the YPT and local guides have the final word with regards to changes to the itinerary for safety reasons. Whilst the route YPT have chosen passes through areas that we consider to be stable; the situation can change and we may have to alter the route or cancel sections of the trip at short notice. Joining this tour means you agree to these terms.

How do I get a visa to mainland Yemen?

As part of your tour package, the cost and process of your Yemeni visa is included. You will also need a security clearance which YPT will organize on your behalf. Please remember it is your responsibility to send all relevant documents to YPT prior to the cut-off date to allow your Yemen visa to be prepared – simply send YPT a copy of your passport and we’ll take care of the rest.

Is mainland Yemen safe for solo female travellers?

Yemen group tours are safe for solo female travellers because you are accompanied by a guide and group at all times. We have taken many solo female travellers to mainland Yemen.

What is the best time to visit Yemen?

As you can imagine, Yemen gets very hot in the summertime and shoulder seasons. The best time of the year to travel is October and February as the heat is more bearable.

What currency is used in Yemen?

The local currency used is the Yemeni Rial and is used throughout the country. Please remember, Yemen is under financial sanctions – therefore you are unable to use your bankcard to withdraw money from the ATMs. The same applies to hotels, restaurants and shops; you cannot use your credit or debit cards. Yemen is mostly a cash country – USD is the currency widely accepted and you’ll get a better exchange rate. USD banknotes should be in good condition and issued after 2009 – banknotes older, marked, torn, inked, stamped or damaged will be refused and rendered useless in Yemen. Bring crisp, new notes. Our local partners can advise you on the best places to exchange currency – please note Euros can be exchanged but the exchange rates are unfavorable. We recommend checking the exchange rate prior to the tour.

What is the local etiquette and customs in Yemen?

Yemenis are generally very hospitable and forgiving if any faux pas are made; the following guidelines are to ensure that we are good guests: • Always ask before taking photos. Be especially aware of taking pictures of women and people praying. • Do not take photos of military officers and buildings without express consent from authorities. • Take off your shoes if entering a mosque or someone's house. Hold the soles together. Do not walk in front of someone if they are praying. • If you are entering someone's home, especially men, do not venture past the living room without permission. We strongly recommend dressing modestly at all times. It's advisable to wear loose fitting and light-colored clothing. During your tour temperatures can reach highs of 30°C in the day and lows of 15°C in the evenings. Both men and women should cover their shoulders and legs when in public. Even more so when travelling through rural areas. Culturally and out of respect for local customs, women should wear a headscarf when visiting religious sites – mosques, shrines and other holy places.

Is it possible to use a SIM card for mobile communication in Yemen?

Please be aware communication will be limited to non-existent throughout the duration of your tour. As a tourist you are unable to purchase a local sim and your roaming mobile network will not work. Our hotels will have very limited Wi-Fi, this will be sufficient enough to use WhatsApp - please let your family and friends know that you won’t be able to communicate as frequently.

Why travel to Yemen with Young Pioneer Tours?

YPT has been travelling to Yemen for some time and have operated many successful group tours to Yemen. Travelling to Yemen is a step on the beaten path, but with YPT you will feel prepared to take on the challenge.