Bradt Guide: Yemen Book

Introduction     v
General Information     1
Background Information     3
Geography and climate     3
History     4
Government and politics     19
Economy     20
People     20
Language     20
Religion     21
Education     28
Culture     28
Natural history and conservation     33
Practical Information     39
When to visit     39
Highlights and suggested itineraries     39
Tour operators     41
Red tape     42
Yemeni embassies and consulates     43
Getting there and away     44
Health     46
Safety     50
What to take     52
Electricity     52
Money and banking     52
Budgeting     53
Getting around     53
Accommodation     54
Eating and drinking     55
Public holidays and festivals     56
Shopping     57
Photography     59
Media and communications     60
Business     61
Cultural etiquette     61
Giving something back/local charities     62
The Guide     65
Sana'a     67
History     67
Getting there and away     76
Getting around     76
Where to stay     76
Where to eat     80
Entertainment and nightlife     80
Shopping     81
Other practicalities     82
What to see     82
Outside Sana'a     88
The Central Mountains     91
The Haraz Mountains     91
The mountain circle of Hajjah, Al-Mahweet and Amran     100
The Southern Mountains     113
Rada'     113
Hammam Damt     114
Dhamar     115
Outside Dhamar     116
Ibb     119
Outside Ibb     124
Dhafar     128
Outside Dhafar     130
Ta'iz     131
Outside Ta'iz     136
The western road to Aden     137
Central Desert     139
Marib     139
Outside Marib     146
Baraqish (Yathill)     147
Shabwa      147
The Northern Mountains     149
Shahara     149
Dhafar/Dhi Bin     152
Outside Dhafar/Dhi Bin     153
Sa'ada     154
Around Sa'ada     156
The Tihama     159
History     159
Al-Luhayyah     161
Kamaran Island     162
Hudaydah     164
Outside Hudaydah     166
Zabid     167
Outside Zabid     170
Al-Khawkha     171
Al-Mokha     173
South Yemen     175
Aden     175
Outside Aden     186
North of Aden     187
East of Aden     187
Ataq     188
Around Ataq     189
Southeast Yemen     191
Mukalla     191
Outside Mukalla     195
Al-Ghayda     198
Outside Al-Ghayda     200
Hadhramawt     201
History     201
Shibam     204
Tarim     209
Seiyun     211
Outside Seiyun     214
Socotra     221
Natural history      221
History     223
Language     225
Getting there and away     225
Getting around     226
Hadibu     226
Outside Hadibu     227
Language     231
Glossary     239
Further Information     241
Index     245
List of Maps
Aden     176
Aden crater     176
Al-Ghayda     199
Ataq     189
Central Desert     140
Central Mountains     90
Hadhramawt     202
Hajjah     110
Haraz Mountains     90
Ibb     120
Marib     142
Mukalla     192
Northern Mountains     150
Sa'ada     155
Sana'a overview     68
Sana'a region     66
Sana'a Old City     78
Seiyun     212
Shibam     205
Socotra     222
South Yemen     174
Southeast Yemen     190
Southern Mountains     112
Ta'iz     132
Tihama     160
Yemen     ii