Major city · Yemen
Kawkabanكوكبان
Half a day from Sana'a: see the fortified village and the cliff view, then return. One night if you want the sunrise over Shibam.
Kawkaban is a 2800 m fortified village west of Sana'a, with a walled old town, a small market and a sheer drop over Shibam. The main draw is the view from the cliffs. Most travellers visit as a day trip from Sana'a, but the sunset and morning light make an overnight worthwhile.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- YER
- Best months
- Oct–Apr (cool and clear)
- avoid May–Sep (hot, hazy; check security)
- Airport
- SAH
- Nights
- 0–1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Security advice in this region can change within a dayCheck your own government travel advice for Yemen before …
- Middle East ↗Security advice in this region can change within a day; re-read your government's page before departure and again before any border or regional flight.
- Middle East ↗Public drunkenness, public displays of affection and offensive gestures or online posts can lead to arrest in the Gulf states and Iran; dress modestly outside beaches and hotels.
- Yemen ↗Check your own government travel advice for Yemen before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Yemen ↗No independent tourist entry route is documented here.
- Yemen ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Yemen before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Kawkaban194 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kawkaban, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?US dollars and Saudi riyals in cash carry most payments: see Insurance & payments above.Yemen-wide
- SafetyYemen is under active conflict.
- Emergency numbers194 police · 191 fire and ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSAH Sana'a International Airport (About 1 h by shared taxi to Shibam, then up to Kawkaban.
- Getting aroundKawkaban is walkable.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee (Qahwa Qisher)YER 500–1,000
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Shared taxi Sana'a–Shibam, one waycheckYER 3,000–5,000
- Budget bedBasic hotel room (Kawkaban Hotel or similar), a night, per roomYER 10,000
- Mid-range bedBasic hotel room (Kawkaban Hotel or similar), a night, per roomYER 20,000
- High-end bedBasic hotel room (Kawkaban Hotel or similar), a night, per roomYER 35,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget YER 15,000 · Mid YER 30,000 · High YER 50,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SAH Sana'a International Airport (About 1 h by shared taxi to Shibam, then up to Kawkaban. Check if flights operate.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Feb
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Mar
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Apr
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
May
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jun
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Dec
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Best: Oct–Apr. Avoid: May–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Jun (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C) low), wettest Apr (6 rain days), driest Nov (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kawkaban: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
2 rd
Feb
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
3 rd
Mar
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
5 rd
Apr
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6 rd
May
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
5 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
3 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
5 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
4 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2 rd
Nov
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
1 rd
Dec
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Kawkaban is walkable. The road from Shibam is steep and paved; you can walk up (about 45 min) or take a shared taxi.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Shibam (near Sana'a)
goDoor to door: About 30 min down, 45 min up
Walk down the old stairway (Alaqabah) or take a shared taxi
The walk down gives the best views of the cliff.
Sana'a
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Shared taxi from Shibam, about 1 h
Combine with a day in the old city.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Inside the old village
Kawkaban Hotel, Jabal Kawkaban Hotel and Altaj Hotel; basic but atmospheric.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- YER 10,000–20,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- YER 20,000–40,000 excl. bed
- High
- YER 40,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Basic hotel room (Kawkaban Hotel or similar)1 × 1 night × YER 20,000 | YER 20,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × YER 30,000 | YER 60,000 |
| Shared taxi Sana'a–Shibam, one way2 × YER 3,000 · check | YER 6,000 |
| Traditional meal at Funduq Kawkaban2 × YER 7,000 · check | YER 14,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | YER 10,000 |
| Trip total≈ YER 55,000 per person per day, bed included | YER 110,000 |
2026 estimate in Yemeni rials; prices are check. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Traditional meal at Funduq Kawkabancheck | YER 7,000–10,000 |
| Coffee (Qahwa Qisher) | YER 500–1,000 |
| Shared taxi Sana'a–Shibam, one waycheck | YER 3,000–5,000 |
| Handicraft souvenir | YER 2,000–10,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- A travel permit from the tourist police in Sana'a is required before you set out.
- Two places called Shibam in Yemen: this one is near Sana'a, not the Hadramaut 'Manhattan'.
- Last shared taxis back to Sana'a leave Shibam before sunset; check the return schedule.
- Qat is widely chewed; it is legal but not for everyone.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 194
- Fire and ambulance
- 191
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Kawkabanكوكبان
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
إلى هذا العنوان، من فضلكTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police194
- Fire and ambulance191
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Shared taxi Sana'a–Shibam: about YER 3,000–5,000, about 1 h (check)
- Taxi Shibam–Kawkaban (up the hill): about YER 2,000–4,000 (check)
Say or show
- السلام عليكم — Hello (as-salamu alaykum)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- بكم؟ — How much? (bikam?)
- نعم / لا — Yes / No (na'am / la)
- أين الفندق؟ — Where is the hotel? (ayn al-funduq?)
US dollars and Saudi riyals are widely accepted; carry small bills.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kawkaban. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Apr (cool and clear) · avoid May–Sep (hot, hazy; check security)
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for Kawkaban Hotel, Jabal Kawkaban Hotel and Altaj Hotel with verified contact and prices.
- Walking route from Shibam to Kawkaban with waypoints and time estimates.
- Permit procedure page for the tourist police in Sana'a.
Sources
Ask about Kawkaban
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