What a Great Tour in Yemen
I visited mainland Yemen in February 2024. Used the services of an European company but let's be realistic: for the good and for the bad, the trip is the product of the work of the local guys - Easy Yemen Tours. And fortunately there were no "bads" in the experience. The whole tour was perfect - and as a former tour leader I can observe things with a professional eye. It's amazing how those guys can build up such a well organized tour with the difficult resources at their disposal. The program was well balanced, food was great (of course, don't expect, nor wish, western restaurant standards), accommodation was almost perfect (one of the places was a poor choice, but nothing serious, just far worst than all the others), staff - the guide Jamal and the drivers Bandar and Islam were outstanding. Those guys were competent, friendly and attentive. They did everything they could to keep everybody happy, attending the individual wishes and needs of every member of the group. I was impressed by the generosity of the company, who unexpectedly distributed gifts and freebies to the members of the group. Honestly, considering the reality of the field, I can't imagine how things could go better. This said, the last day is a bit of an anti-climax. I mean, the beauties of Yemen and warmth of its people were our companions for the first days and then it's just an endless road trip to the border taking literally the whole day. I understand it has to be but not so pleasant, although, of course, even in those circumstances there were good moments and sweet memories. If you are considering visiting Yemen don't hesitate, not only is perfectly safe (at the time of writing) but you will be in very reliable and trustful hands.
By Ricardo R.