Individuall travelling Yemen

Replies: 9 - Last Post: Jan 22, 2013 7:13 AM Last Post By: niceyemen

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Jan 6, 2013 11:32 AM
Posts: 1

Individuall travelling Yemen

Hello,

I would like to visit Yemen for some 3 weeks, but I would like to use travel agency only for travelling around Socotra ( around 10 days ) . The rest I would like to travel individually, if possible. . Will they issue me visa ( with support of that tour operator ) and let me into the country , if I dont have any tour operator support for the rest of my trip ? thanks.

fluffy_bunny

Jan 7, 2013 6:18 AM
Posts: 1,278

In the past, travellers have used the travel agency for a minimum 1 tour ($230) tour, plus visa costs to get into the country, but then asked for a longer stay to travel independently.

The problem with this is, you will have to deal with the tourist police to get your own travel permits. There is a very real possibility that they may reject your "application" for travel permit meaning you could be stuck in Sana'a for the remainder of your time in Yemen.

The good news is, you do not need travel permits to fly. So if push came to shove, and you had the extra cash, you could just fly where you wanted to go.

niceyemen

Jan 9, 2013 1:45 PM
Posts: 57

If the agency issued a visa for you, you can not get a permit from tourist police , you must have official paper from the agency that issued you the visa.

mumzhiu

Jan 9, 2013 6:05 PM
Posts: 6

Hi Pehoff
I also plan to go to Socotra somewhere in the end of Feb- mid March.
May we coordinate our plans.
Tour for two is twice cheaper, then tour for one.
Let me know that you think
Thanks
Alex Mumzhiu

hauteboy0

Jan 13, 2013 4:44 AM
Posts: 155

We will be in Yemen from Mar 7th and doing a quick hop to Socotra for a few days. Do you need a permit to go near Sanaa (Rock Palace, etc)?

fluffy_bunny

Jan 13, 2013 8:56 AM
Posts: 1,278

For the Rock Palace, you do not need a permit. However anything further, like Kawkabam, Haraz Mountains.... you do need a permit

mvbergen

Jan 14, 2013 10:46 PM
Posts: 555

@3

It's impossible to pass the check-points without the travel permit. You need to have it if you want to leave Sanaa (by land)

Michel

niceyemen

Jan 16, 2013 9:18 AM
Posts: 57

If you come through a travel agency and go about a few days with them (outside Sanaa) you can spend the rest of your time in Sanaa. If you want to fly to a city (like Aden, Taiz, of Hudaydah) you can do this without the agency and without permission. However, you cannot exit the cities by road without ''tasreeh'' (permission) that comes from going with an agency. You do need to do a small tour with the agency that brings you in though.

The only places you don't need permission - Wadi Dhar (the rock palace) and Bayt Bows (the former Jewish colony, now empty and popular picnic place for families on the outskirts of Sanaa)..

hauteboy0

Jan 20, 2013 12:16 AM
Posts: 155

Ok thanks.. we have arranged the tour/visa of Socotra through a Socotra agent but we don't have anything arranged in Sanaa.. is it easy to get the permit? I've found a few day tours that look like
Sanaa - Dar al-Hajjar (Rock Palace) - Thula - Hababa - Shibam - Kawkaban - Sanaa but haven't contacted any companies yet.

niceyemen

Jan 22, 2013 7:13 AM
Posts: 57

As long as you contact and arrange your tour with an accredited tour company (you can use the same one as Socotra if they have partners, or one specifically in Sana'a) you can go to those places. You can't travel independantly outside Sana'a anymore. The only places you can go without a permit are Sana'a, Bait Baws, and Dar al Hajjar. If you want, you can contact yemenexplorer (at) gmail (dot) com.

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