Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE HARAZ MOUNTAINS AND AROUND
Rising abruptly off the steamy Red Sea coastal plains the sheer-sided Haraz Mountains
have, for centuries, acted as a cultural fortress protecting the Yemeni heartland from inter-
fering foreigners. Today the suspicion of outsiders is largely a thing of the past, but what
hasn't changed one jot is the grandeur of the mountains and the beauty of their tapestry of
terraced fields and fortified villages, all huddled together on the most unlikely of crags. At
the time of going to print the Haraz Mountains had just re-opened to tourism. This is prime
trekking territory and now things are calming down it will hopefully once again be possible
to spend days, or even weeks, weaving along the mule trails that link up the different vil-
lages.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Shibam
Not to be confused with the town of the same name in eastern Yemen, this ancient village
lies 2300m above sea level, at the foot of Jebel Kawkaban (2800m). Shibam is an ancient
settlement and during the 1st century AD it even served as capital of a small, and short-
lived, state. It served as the capital again for the local Yafurid dynasty in the 9th century,
when its grand mosque - one of the oldest in Yemen - was built.
Sights
Non-Muslims are, as normal in Yemen, forbidden from entering the
mosque
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
, but even so its exterior walls and solid minaret are pleasing to the eye.
Other eye candy is the old
town gate
and the bustling little
souq
, which is the site of a very
colourful
Friday market
(
6.30am-1pm).
Attracting people from all around, it's well worth a
visit if you're in the area.
If you're wondering about the little
'caves'
hollowed into the mountainside, they're old
tombs - an ancient local tradition. Jebel Kawkaban is also known for its
birdlife
, particularly
raptors.
Sleeping & Eating
