Zabid Travel Guide

 Sambawalk Says:  One of the two madrassas, Al-Asha'ir Mosque and Al-Jami'a Mosque. 

 Sambawalk Says:  Zabid is a town named after Wadi Zabid the wadi to its south, is one of the oldest towns in Yemen, it was the capital of Yemen from the 13th to the 15th century and a center of the Arab and Muslim world due in large part to its famed University of Zabid and being a center of... 

 janiebaxter Says:  We had an English speaking guide organised for us. He was very friendly and knowledgeable and we had a tour of around 2 hours with him.It is useful to get an English speaking guide, if you speak English, as there is not much written information about Zabid and it is very... 

 janiebaxter Says:  We were taken to a traditional house to have tea, which was very welcome as Zabid is very hot and dusty.The house has been restored but not to a pristine level, so retains much of the original charm and character. I think the term in interior design is "shabby chic... 

 janiebaxter Says:  We visited some of the traditional houses in Zabid. Two of them were occupied by families. The first one we just looked around the courtyard and went up the steps to the roof for the view. The second one we were allowed to go inside the living room. The men of the family... 

 janiebaxter Says:  I was told Zabid still has 86 mosques left, out of the 236 in its heyday.We didn't see all of them as some are in the new part of town, which we didn't go to, and some are very small. The oldest mosque is Al Asha'ir founded in the 9th century and is in a good state of... 

 janiebaxter Says:  The women's workshop allows women to earn some money by producing handicrafts that are sold to tourists. It is all textile based crafts.They have a room full of weaving looms where they weave scarves and throws, a sewing room where they make purses and other sewn items using... 

 janiebaxter Says:  Fishing and farming are the main industries in the Tihama area with dates, fruit and coconuts grown. Bananas, Mangos and Papayas are still grown in the area. Our guide bought us the biggest papayas I have ever seen, from a lady at the roadside. And they were delicious!Coffee... 

 janiebaxter Says:  The architecture of the Tihama is different to that of the rest of Yemen. Most buildings are low and made from clay, reeds, mud or brick rather than the stone tower houses of the other areas. Where buildings are made of brick they are often white washed.Zabid has very unique... 

 janiebaxter Says:  The weekly markets are named after the day of the week on which they are held and local people come from all over the area to buy and sell food, animals, pottery, textiles and household goods. Larger ones have a specific site while the small ones set up at the roadside. They... 

 janiebaxter Says:  The Al Nassir Citadel is the first part of Zabid you see when you arrive as it is right next to the city wall with a mosque next to it.It was built in the early 1400’s by the Rasulid ruler and made of fired bricks. 

 janiebaxter Says:  Al Asha’ir Mosque or great mosque is the spiritual centre of the town and was built by the founder of Zabid in the 9th century. It is the oldest mosque in Zabid.The interior is simple but well maintained. We were not allowed to go inside but could take photographs through... 

 hydronetta Says:  Flat, hot, desert like Tihama's landscape is not something you'd dream of. Driving seemed endless...at least the road was straight forward so our driver could easily speed up!While travelling along the main coastal road (unfortunately you can't have view of sea) you'll... 

 hydronetta Says:  Currently the only place offering accommodation and food in Zabid is the Zabid Tourism Resthouse. Usually it caters groups and drivers. We didn't have lunch there, instead we tasted freshly baked bread and herb pies from a street vendor in the old souq area of Zabid. The...