Winter (late September through late March) is the most convenient period to visit the Hadhramawt. Temperature then is moderate and the weather is most agreeable. Day temperatures will be in the upper twenties centigrade (75 – 85 F). At night the temperature will drop a few degrees. By contrast the summer months are hot, temperatures may rise to the upper forties (over 110 F). However the summer has its own charm. You may have the chance to witness the short but impressive rains and summer floods as well as the hundreds of migrant bird breeds.
However, as most visitors come through a regional itinerary, they may prefer to visit the Yemen under weather conditions suitable to visit the rest of the Yemen. The peak season for Yemen in general is in the spring and fall. Nonetheless, the volume of tourist arriving in Yemen is still low and you should not worry about being stuck in long queues or any of the typical tourist nightmares you find in other tourist destinations.
Several hotels are available in the vicinity of Shibam accommodating various budgets. However, very few hotels have a traditional setting. You should ask your tour operator specifically if you want to be accommodated in a historical type place. Tour operators will tend to put you up in budget places that have no historical character.
Meals are available in the main hotels and in very few local restaurants. In general you should avoid eating non-cooked vegetables in the market. Drinking water is available in small bottles. Though some towns in the area have acceptable drinking water connections, the local water sources have high mineral concentration and may not be suitable for the average taste of the visitors.
Most tourists arrive to Shibam in small groups, in four wheel drive vehicles. Often the driver is the guide, though sometimes a guide is provided by the touring company. Most guides are poorly informed about the city history. It is therefore imperative that you should insist on a local guide when negotiating your travel plan with your tour operator.
You also need to make sure that your tour operator allows you reasonable time to visit the city and not be rushed through it. Most tourists are disappointed when visiting the city in a rush because they are not allowed enough time to go through the small craft and antique shops, or to interact with people. A Traditional House is run privately in the city to allow you the chance to see a Shibami house from the inside. You can also visit the Jarhoum House and see the oldest still standing house in the city. Many shops in the city offer traditional locally woven fabrics and handicrafts. This would give the keen shoppers with a great opportunity to haggle prices and quantities as is typical throughout the Middle East.
Most large hotels can organize a special night of traditional music for the visiting groups. Local music and dance vary from place to place in Yemen. The Hadhrami music is highly rhythmic and rich in overlapping beats. The Local Music Group of Shibam offers a great repertoire of dances and songs. A CD of their music is under print and should appear on the market in September of 2006.
The Wadi of Hadhramawt is generally very safe; however, you should not leave to chance issues of security. Carry your precious belongings in a secure manner. The majority of problems arising with tourists are due to curious children wanting to look or touch at the modern paraphernalia carried by tourist. Rarely ever had any one been purposefully hurt in the region.
