Yemen, known to the Romans as Arabia Felix (Happy Arabia), remains the most untouched corner of Arabia. It's here amid the bustling souks, the desert oases, the traditional Arabian architecture and the remote mountain eyries that you feel you might meet Aladdin or Sinbad or any of the characters of the Arabian Nights. And while much of Yemen seems untouched by modern events, life continues to unfurl for the locals at a languid pace.

Best time to visit

October to March, when the daytime temperatures are pleasant and the rain infrequent or 950BC when the Queen of Sheba still held sway.

Essential experiences

Visiting Al-Makha, the first important coffee port on the Red sea; following in the footsteps of Rimbaud in Aden; enjoying the hospitality of the historic cities of Shibam, Sayun and Tarim in the fertile Wadi Hadramawt.

In a few words, Yemen is

Date palms, silver jewellery, dhows bobbing on the Red sea and daily sessions of chewing mildly intoxicating qat - which is a national obsession.

Did you know? Yemenis are renowned in the Middle East for their senses of humour.