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Educational Tourism

Sana’a - Khalid Al-Dhababi

A tour of Yemen’shistorical cities

A tour of Yemen’shistorical cities

The tour was organised to familiarise thegroup with the main tourist and historicsites in five provinces. Every participanthad to make a presentation about ahistoric site and they competed with oneanother each wanting to be the best. Theinstitute’s consultative European expertMr. Kai Partale, filmed and recorded thepresentations for future assessment.

MaribThe tour began on May 3rd in Sana’a. We

headed by car towards Marib, situated about172 km to the east of the capital. The heatdid not affect us: we were so absorbed bythe size and importance of this site the focalpoint of Yemen’s ancient history: the OldMarib (earth of the two Adens), its big damthat intrigued the world since antiquity andthe Temple of Queen Balquisse (Awamtemple) and her throne (Temple of Bran).

ShabwaThe second stop was the city of Shabwa.

We left Marib early in the morning to avoidthe heat and crossed the desert of theEmpty Quarter, passing the RamletAssabaatayne, where we admired thebeautiful landscape of different shapedsand dunes and their movements. Thedriver had to stop many times so we couldget a better view of the dunes, climb upand slide down. This was adventuretourism at its best. After a six hour deserttrek we reached the historic city once thecapital of the kingdom of Hadramaout.

Islamic Tourism – Issue 19 – September-October / 2005 For more information, visit our website www.islamictourism.com

.ΩÉÑ°TShibam.

The National Institute of Hotels and Tourism in Sana’a invited Islamic Tourism to take part in a one week scientifictrip to survey the country’s tourist attractions. The journey was organized by a flourishing travel agency, which

provided us with a land cruiser. Thirty training and hotel specialists and technical and administrative staff from theNational Institute of Hotels and Tourism, went on the grand tour, which was financed by the European Union largely

responsible for the establishment of this distinguished institute.

.ËôJ óé°ùeTarim Mosque.

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One of the participants spoke to us aboutthis city, an important center for tradingcaravans. European travelers did notknow about it until it was discoverd in1936 by Philipy. Hamilton who made someexcavations there in 1938. The Frenchmission did more research between 1974and 1984, under the direction ofJacqueline Berain, and Jean FrançoisBreton. After visiting the salt mines in Shabwa wetook the desert road to Sayon. Lunch enroute consisted of a delicious traditionalmeal : rice and camel meat grilled onwood fire.

ShibamAfter the meal, we headed towardsShibam, a city dating back back to the 3rdcentury B.C. with mud houses eightstories high : the world’s first skyscrapers. We went for a walk in the city’salley ways and were fascinated by theinterlocking houses. The 800km journeyleft us happy but exhausted and weretired early to our hotel.Monday was the day for touring Sayoun, acity famous for its palms. We visited themagnificent, imposing Sultan's Palace,with its unique architecture. Our guidebriefed us about the history of thisprestigious building, which is a focal pointfor tourists in Yemen. There were plenty ofother visitors at the palace and we spoketo them about their impressions.Tarim, with Al-Mehdhar mosqueconstructed in 1915, was next on ouritinerary. The minaret rises to 125 feet.Tarim is also known for the Al-Kaf palacesand library, the second largest library inYemen, that houses about 5,000

Islamic Tourism – Issue 19 – September-October / 2005 For more information, visit our website www.islamictourism.com

Educational Tourism

Monday was the day for touring Sayoun, a city famous for its palms. We visited themagnificent, imposing Sultan's Palace, with its unique architecture. Our guide briefed us

about the history of this prestigious building, which is a focal point for tourists in Yemen. There wereplenty of other visitors at the palace and we spoke to them about their impressions.Tarim, with Al-Mehdhar mosque constructed in 1915, was next on our itinerary. The minaret rises to 125feet. Tarim is also known for the Al-Kaf palaces and library, the second largest library in Yemen, thathouses about 5,000 manuscripts of fiqh, hadith, Qu’ran and the Arabic language.

.¢ù«≤∏H óÑ©eBilquis Temple.

.á«YɪL IQƒ°UGroup photo.

28Islamic Tourism – Issue 19 – September-October / 2005 For more information, visit our website www.islamictourism.com

.¿GhO …OGh

.ÜQCÉe ó°SMarib Damm.

Doan Valley .

äƒeô°†MHadramout. .¿óY èjQÉ¡°UAden tanks.

manuscripts of fiqh, hadith, Qu’ran andthe Arabic language.

MukallaOn the fourth day we headed towards thecity of Mukalla, situated 223 km fromSayon. We crossed various villages andstreams in Wadi Hadramout and passedthrough Al-Hajreen, Sif, Bedda, Al-Kharibaand the beautiful Rihab valley. We finallyarrived at Mukalla at sunset, and walkedthrough its streets, alleys and souks. Itslocation on the Arabian Sea coast, makesthis city very popular with tourists.

AdenOn the fifth day, we went to Aden situated680 km from Mukalla on an inshore road.The journey lasted about ten hours. Enroute we discovered Lhaf, a big lake. Wealso visited the old port of Qena, the mainexport center for dairy products andincense. After arriving in Aden we wentstraight to our hotel.Early the following day, we visited Aden’smain tourist attractions : Taouila basins,Al-Aidarous mosque and al-Manara.

IbbIbb, known as 'Alliwaa Al-Akhdar" (TheGreen Province) was the last stop. Wetoured the historic city of Jebla and itsmonuments, especially the Islamic onesand returned to Sana’a.

Educational Tourism