Dragon's blood trees, Socotra, YemenPhoto: Alex38, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Yemen
Yemen, made simple: tower houses, dragon's blood trees and an honest look at safety
Yemen holds the gingerbread tower houses of old Sana'a, the mud skyscrapers of Shibam, the volcanic harbour of Aden and the otherworldly island of Socotra. It is also a country in a long war, and every major government advises against travel. This guide is honest about the risks and clear about visas, cash and getting around, so anyone who does go travels prepared.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyTravel advice, visas, insurance and cash, answered honestly
- LandingAden, Seiyun or Socotra airport, checks and your first evening, explained
- Your days in YemenOld cities, wadis and island camps, planned with a licensed operator
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Honest about riskWe point you to current government travel advice before anything else.
- Official sourcesVisa, health and safety facts link to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain Yemen's cash economy and split currency so nothing catches you out.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Yemen is not an easy destination, and we will never pretend it is. We answer the hard questions plainly, so you can decide with clear eyes and, if you go, travel with confidence and find your Bliss.
Going home to family in Aden, Taiz, Ibb or Hadramawt after years away, or dreaming of Socotra? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels manageable.
- Read the travel adviceStart with your government's current advice for Yemen and check what your insurance will cover.
- Choose your YemenSocotra's island wilderness, Aden's old Crater district, Mukalla's seafront or the mud cities of Wadi Hadramawt.
- Sort the essentialsVisa or permit through a licensed operator, cash, and local permissions, checked against official sources.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to shape realistic days and travel times.
Everything your Yemen trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Socotra, Sana'a, Aden, Mukalla and Wadi Hadramawt, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred souks, forts, beaches, mosques and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Aden, Seiyun and Socotra and stays across the country.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Sights, food and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The Yemen most visitors see
Socotra, the island apart
Almost every leisure traveller to Yemen today goes to Socotra, an island far out in the Arabian Sea with dragon's blood trees, bottle trees, white dunes and empty beaches. Trips run as small group tours with a licensed island operator who arranges the permit, flights, camps and guide.
- Dragon's blood forest on the Dixam Plateau
- Detwah Lagoon and Qalansiyah
- Homhil's bottle trees and natural pool
- Camping under very dark skies
Plan with care
Your route, without guesswork
Yemen rewards careful planning: travel advice, permits, cash and checkpoints all matter more here than almost anywhere else. Our free planner helps you choose a realistic route and pace.
- Realistic travel times
- The right season for the island or the mainland
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Yemen
From the island of Socotra to the port of Aden, the highland capital and the mud cities of the Hadramawt.
Socotra Archipelago
Socotra
A remote island of dragon's blood trees, white dunes and turquoise lagoons, the one part of Yemen most travellers visit.
Read the guidePhoto: Gerry & Bonni, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Northern highlands
Sana'a
The highland capital, with one of the world's most beautiful old cities, currently under Houthi control.
Read the guidePhoto: Aboyakoob, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Southern Yemen
Aden
The port in an extinct volcano, seat of the recognised government and the main gateway to Yemen.
Read the guidePhoto: T3n60, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hadramawt, eastern Yemen
Wadi Hadramawt
A great desert valley of palm groves and mud brick cities, home to Shibam, Seiyun and Tarim.
Read the guidePhoto: Dan from Brussels, Europe, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hadramawt coast
Mukalla
The white seafront capital of Hadramawt, gateway to the coast and the great wadi.
Read the guidePhoto: Mohammed Omar Al-Aidaroos, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is it safe to travel to Yemen?
No major government considers Yemen safe. The UK, US, Canada and Australia all advise against all travel because of armed conflict, terrorism, kidnapping and attacks on shipping and airports. A small number of visitors still go, mostly to Socotra, with licensed operators. Read your government's advice first and check what your insurance will cover.
Can tourists get a visa for Yemen?
Visitors to Socotra normally travel on a permit arranged by a licensed island operator. Mainland visas are issued through Yemeni embassies and are hard to obtain for tourism. Rules change often and vary by passport, so check with the Yemeni embassy for your country before you plan.
What is Yemen most famous for?
The tower houses of old Sana'a, the mud high rises of Shibam, the island of Socotra and its dragon's blood trees, Mocha coffee, frankincense, the Queen of Sheba legends and a deep tradition of hospitality.
What currency does Yemen use?
The Yemeni rial, but notes printed in Aden and older notes used in Sana'a trade at very different rates. Yemen is a cash economy, so bring clean US dollars and change them only at licensed exchange shops.
What is the best time to visit Yemen?
October to April. Socotra is best from October to early May, before the summer monsoon winds close camps and cut flights. The lowlands and coast are very hot from May to September.
Do I need a guide in Yemen?
In practice, yes. Visitors travel with a licensed operator who handles the permit or visa, arranges drivers and permissions, and helps at checkpoints.
Ready to plan your Yemen trip?
Use the free trip planner to shape a realistic route, or contact us with any question.