Hawf

Introducing Hawf

Sitting between high mountain and deep sea, the little border village of Hawf will either be a fond farewell to Yemen or an enchanting entry. Few people stay more than a couple of minutes and there are no hotels or restaurants, just one small teashop, which seems to have as many camels drop by as tea-drinking customers. It’s a shame that Hawf doesn’t have more tourist facilities because it’s the most alluring coastal town in Al-Mahra, with a sprinkling of idyllic cove beaches (where those with their own transport can camp for a night or two) close by and the fascinating western tip of the Dhofar Mountains rearing up behind the village. Famous for frankincense, these mountains hide a huge slab of forest – the only real forest in Yemen. It’s a protected zone and access isn’t easy without your own set of wheels. It might be possible to organise something with a driver in Hawf or Al-Ghayda.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009