Wadi Doan

Mukalla \| Khailat Bugshan \| Wadi Doan \| SE Yemen images
An offshoot of the vast Wadi Hadramawt, the Wadi Doan is itself not unimpressive. As you drive along endless miles of stony desert, suddenly you are confronted with a quite staggering view down into the verdant Wadi, several hundred metres below. All along the valley floor are villages and towns each with the mandatory minaret, but more interestingly with exceptional vernacular buildings established over centuries if not millennia. You start to get something of an insight into why caravans travelled certain routes, in this case from the coast along the Wadi and up to Say'un, and why settlements are where they are. Fascinating and beautiful. We only spent a single day and regret that; I would recommend at least two, but probably a week and you would not get bored; thirsty yes, but not bored!