BY PLANE: Air access to Sana'a
International Airport (SAH) (15 km from the city center) is
available with the following airlines: Yemenia
from Frankfurt, London, Paris, Rome, Madrid Lufthansa
from Frankfurt
Emirates from Dubai
Royal Jordanian
from Amman
Egypt Air from Cairo
Gulf Air from
Bahrain & Abu Dhabi
Turkish Airlines
from
Istanbul
Other
international & domestic airports are in Taizz (Al-Ganad),
Aden, Al Mukalla (Al-Riyan) and Hudaida. Airport taxes are
included in all rates (subject to change).
BY LAND: Access from
Saudi Arabiathrough the border cities
of Harad or al Buqal and from
Omanthrough Habarut or
Masyouna.
BY SEA: Seaports: Hudaida,
Aden, Mokha and Al Mukalla.
There are two ways of obtaining a Yemeni visa:
Visitors can get an entry visa to the
Republic
of
Yemenfrom any Yemeni Embassy or
consulate in his or her home country.
If your stay lasts no longer than one month there is no
need to register at police stations or to apply for an exit
visa.
Citizens from EU countries, the
US,
Canada,
Japan, and
Australiacan obtain a one month
tourist visa at the airport.
The country's
currency is the Yemeni Riyal (YR). Bank notes of 10, 20, 50,
100, 500 and 1000 are in circulation and have English and Arabic
numbers. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, money
changers and hotels. Major credit cards are accepted in
international hotels and a limited number of retailers.
No official vaccinations are
required by law, although it is advised that you consult
your physician before departing. If you will be traveling to
the tropical coastal region of Northern
Tihama(north of Hudaydah) or Soqotra,
anti-malaria drugs are recommended. As a general rule you
should NOT drink the tap water in
Yemen. Bottled water is a safe and
widely available alternative.
RESTURANTS:
Hundreds of typical Yemeni restaurants, that are very
simple, but, with good Yemeni food, are available throughout
the country. In the main towns like Sanaa, Taizz,
Adenand Hudaida there are also
some good Western and Oriental restaurants. Many 4 and 5
star hotels serve a mix of Western and local cuisine.
FOOD: An important feature of
Yemeni food is that it is always prepared fresh. The Yemeni
diet is simple and differs from regions to region, but basic
dishes are the same.
It includes bread, rice, vegetables, beans, chicken, fish,
beef and lamb.
BREAKFAST:
A typical Yemeni breakfast consists of full (a
stew with brown beans, tomato, onion and chili), fasuliya
(fried beans), beyth (fried eggs with onion and tomatoes) or
kebda (liver cooked with spices). Yemenis usually eat them
with hobs, big, flat, pancake shape bread, from wheat flour,
sometimes covered with black sesame seeds.
LUNCH:
Lunch is the main Yemeni meal and it is served between 11.00
and 13.30. After this hour you'll hardly find any
restaurants open.
The national dish that is usually served for lunch
is a thick, fiery, spicy green stew called salta
that basically consists from lamb or chicken
with lentils, beans, chickpeas, coriander, fenugreek and
some other spices.
In some places you can find fatta, a dish made from
dry bread soaked in honey, soup or milk. The one prepared
with milk is a common meal that they eat before the sunrise
prayer in the month of Ramadan.
DINNER:
Dinner is usually a light meal that is served after
the sunset prayer.
DRINKS:
The everyday drink in
Yemen
is shai (tea), drunk from small glasses at
every occasion. It is usually very sweet, but after some
days one gets used to it. There are two kinds of tea: the
one prepared with milk is called shai ma halib, without milk
it is called shai ahmar.
Yemenis drink two kinds of coffee, one is
prepared from coffee beans and it is called bohn. A more
common drink is kishr or khahva which is prepared from
coffee bean shells, cinnamon and ginger. Bottled mineral
water, soft drinks and juices in tins are available
everywhere in the country.
ALCOHOL:
Yemen
is an Islamic country and alcohol is prohibited.
Tourists should avoid drinking alcohol in public places, or
in the car while traveling out of respect for the Yemenis.
Alcohol can be obtained in some five-star hotels in big
cities but the prices are very high.
Non alcoholic bear (Becks and Amstel) can be found
in many places.
Yemenis an Islamic country and
clothing should be modest. Light clothes from natural
materials are recommended, but you should avoid clothing
with short sleeves or that are sleeveless. Woman should
cover their upper arms and legs. It is wise to bring a hat
or scarf for protection from the sun. A Yemeni scarf is a
very useful and can be used when visiting mosques as well as
for protection against the dust and wind. In the winter
months the nights and early mornings in the mountain areas
are relatively cold; therefore a warm pullover or a jacket
is useful. Beach wear is acceptable at beach clubs, hotels
and public beaches outside the cities.
Government offices, banks, and some commercial companies are
open from 8:00 to 15:00, five days a week, excluding
Thursday and Friday, the weekly holiday. The private sector
works generally in two shifts, from 8:00 to 12:30 and 16:00
to 20:00.
1 January (New Year)
1 May (World Labor Day)
22 May (Unity Day)
26 September (The September revolution)
14 October (The October revolution)
30 November (Independence Day from the British
occupation)
MOVEABLE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
ISLAMIC NEW YEAR:
10th February 2005 / 31st January 2006 / 20th of
January 2007 / 9th of January 2008
PERIOD OF RAMADAN:
2004: 15th of October till 14th November 2005: 4th of October till
2nd November
2006: 23rd of September till 22nd of October
2007: we don't know for sure yet, itmight be
from 13th of September till 12nd of October
Yemenis
a very safe country. Visitors can venture out around the city or
villages at any time of the day or night, either by taxi or on
foot. A tourist permit is required (this can be obtained through
our or any other travel agency) if you wish to explore the
country and move from city to city on your own.
