Yemen is a place of incredible scenery, striking Islamic architecture, bustling souks, and peaceful mosques, lush valleys and epic mountains, and running throughout it all the Arab world's warmest, most hospitable people.

The capital Sana'a embodies the two faces of Yemen. There is the modern city with upmarket tourist facilities, and the old city with its Grand Mosque and distinctive multi-story buildings crafted in clay. Sana'a is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world and has much to offer visitors. Take in the view of the old city from the roof of the Taj Talha hotel, enjoy the old souk for a sense of what life is like without malls, and be spellbound by the magnificent 700 year-old Great Mosque.

Aden, the second largest city, is a port dating from Biblical times. It has a more cosmopolitan, liberal air than Sana'a and makes for an interesting visit. Other cities worth exploring are Shibam, known as the Manhattan of the Desert, and the garden city of Rawdha.

Yemen's most incredible attraction, however, is the Socotra archipelago, with over 700 species of wildlife and plants unique to the islands. Known as 'the other Galapagos', this is a place of unique beauty and scientific fascination, with a distinct tribal culture that thrives intact after thousands of years.

From the Word Travels destination guide to Yemen copyright Globe Media 2011