Yemen
Country/State Data
Regions
1
Breaks
7
Coastline
1,906 KM
Cost of living
Capital
Sana'a
Current Time
Security
Health
Positives
- Reliable monsoon swell
- Powerful, virgin beachbreaks
- Very warm water
- Unique desert environment
Negatives
- War zone
- Very unstable security
- Messy winds well surf
- Visas, permits and high costs
- Very hot
Where to surf in Yemen
Yemen is a mountainous country, with rolling desert dunes, ancient caravan cities and a warm-hearted and friendly people for whom pride, hospitality and honour are the pillars of life. Several expeditions have ridden the waves breaking along Yemen’s long south-facing Indian Ocean coastline.
Socotra
The remote island of Socotra presents the best potential. Waves are ridden on the NW tip at the tourist hotspot Qalansiyah, by both surfers and wind/kitesurfers exploiting the strong windswell coming out of the Gulf of Aden from the W, NW or even NE. There are further mainly blown-out pointbreaks and beachbreaks all along both coasts.
Surf spots in Yemen
Research the 7 surf breaks in Yemen and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 7 breaks in Yemen.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Yemen
- jan
- feb
- mar
- apr
- may
- jun
- jul
- aug
- sep
- oct
- nov
- dec
Library
Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring Yemen.
Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 366,700
- Population
- 29,825,964
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- YER
- Exchange rate
- 195 YER = $1USD YER
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +967
- Dialing out
- 00
- Language
- Arabic
Electricity
- Plug Type
- adg
Visas
All nationalities need a visa before arriving in Yemen. Due to extreme instability it is essential to get the latest visa info before your trip as costs and requirements are changable. Israeli citizens, or people with Israeli stamps in their passports are not allowed to enter Yemen.
Getting There
Visas required by all and can be collected on arrival at Sana'a if booked onto a tour package. Any evidence of a visit to Israel will mean refusal of entry. Almost all flights to Sana'a (SAH) are via the Gulf States. Prices tend to be cheap with Gulf Air probably being the best value. 2 daily flights from Sana’a to Riyan Mukalla (MKX).
Getting Around
Travel permits are required by all. Lots of desert driving under hot & dusty conditions. It is not possible to rent a car without a driver.
Accommodation
Mukalla was the place to find a hotel from 10-50/dbl/n but war means all bets are off. Exploring the coast means camping out on the beaches. Food is cheap, but in the desert areas consists of little but fish and rice.
Activities
If the political situation ever calms down then Yemen will quite rightly become one of the biggest tourist destinations in the Islamic world. Highlights are the old town of Sana’a, the hundreds of fortified mountain villages, the ruins of ancient Kingdoms lost deep in the desert, the centuries old mud brick skyscraper cities of the Hadhramawt and simply mingling with the Yemenis and absorbing the culture and lifestyle of the worlds last remaining traditional Islamic society.
Hazards & hassles
In the current situation it's not possible to visit Yemen, visas are not being issued and much of the surf area is in the hand of al-Qaeda. Terrorist attacks and kidnappings, lack of infrastructure, travel restrictions, high costs, sharks (on Socotra) and the heat make it a tough trip.
Handy Hints
There is no surf culture whatsoever, so bring everything. Respect the Islamic tradition and culture and keep an open mind. The tourist offices are of no real help. Lonely Planet’s Oman, UAE and Arabia guide contains the best information on Yemen written by Stuart Butler, one of the few people to have surfed Yemen.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.
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