On the edge of the Empty Quarter, in the eastern part of Yemen, lies a deep depression, cut into the desert. Surprisingly fertile and with huge escarpments, the area has been inhabited for centuries. Here you will find the town of Tarim where extraordinary palaces, built by returning merchants who had amassed fortunes trading in the Far East, reflect the unlikely architectural combination of art-deco, Indonesian and Yemeni styles. Close by is the UNESCO heritage town of Shibam. Sitting isolated on a flat plain, this remarkable site consists of seven storey mud sky scrappers, some of which are 500 years old.

Access to Wadi Hydramaut is by plane or driving. If you choose the latter option, you will also see the remains of the Marib dam, which many centuries ago provided irrigation for much of the country