Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shared taxis run to Sana'a (YR300, about one hour, five to six daily) and Shibam
(YR100, 20 minutes, lots daily).
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Hababah
Although similar in style and architecture to Thilla (and lying 10km away), Hababah has a
special feature: a large, oval watercistern , where people still come to collect water, drive
their animals to drink or even have a swim (it's not a good idea for foreigners to join in).
With the old tower houses reflected in the still water, it makes for an extremely pictur-
esque scene. There are no facilities for sleeping or eating.
Shared/contract taxis run to Shibam and Thilla (YR100/300, 15 minutes, 10 daily).
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At-Tawila
About halfway between Shibam and Al-Mahwit is the village of At-Tawila. The village,
and its tumbling terraced fields, is stunningly located at the base of a series of rock
needles, around which the afternoon mist and clouds play games of hide and seek. If you
have the time, it's well worth stopping off for a walk along one of the many trails that lead
up behind the village. Should you want to stay the night then the Hotel Rest-Alhana (
07-456369; r per person incl breakfast & dinner YR3000) in At-Tawila has a couple of rooms with pretty
wall carvings and communal bathrooms. It's on the main road through town, but the sign
is in Arabic only.
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Al-Mahwit
The bustling market town of Al-Mahwit is the largest of the mountain towns to the west
of the capital and, like Manakhah to the south, it makes a superb trekking base. Al-Mah-
wit lies in the centre of some of the most fertile country in Yemen and the road from
Sana'a takes you past numerous fruit, coffee, tobacco and qat fields.
Like At-Tawila, Al-Mahwit was once an important coffee-collecting centre, as well as
an administrative town during the 16th-century Ottoman rule.
 
 
 
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