Is It Safe To Visit Yemen 🇾🇪 In 2025?
- Konrad Tillman
- Jun 13
- 4 min read
Intro
Throughout my time in Yemen, there is one question that seems to be asked of me 100x times a day: "Is it safe to visit Yemen?". Look, I am not the State Department that will tell you that "if you go here, you should write a will", but I am also not somebody who will downplay the real risks of traveling to a place that is technically in a civil war.
What I do is tell the truth.
Yes: Mostly
Located about 150 miles from Djibouti and not far from Port Sudan, lies a beautiful country named Yemen. Over the years, Yemen has been through some tragic times, filled with war, instability, partial colonization, and a humanitarian crisis that still goes on to this day.
However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the country saw tourism rebound just a little bit. Socotra became wide open to tourists, a few travelers visited Seiyun, and some were bold enough to visit Aden (yeah). The North? That is different gravy, but I have heard it is somewhat alright*** with the correct permits.
So this brings me to the point of this post: Safety.
Let's begin with Socotra:
This is sort of Yemen, sort of not Yemen, depending on who you ask (Somalis feel a certain way about this place). This place is pretty much as safe as it gets for Yemen, and I would say, considerably safer for a few reasons.
The island is quite disconnected from the mainland; therefore, conflict doesn't arise here.
You are ALWAYS with a guide at all times. Part of visiting Socotra at the moment is that you must have a guide. If anything goes astray, you have someone on the ground who can help you out.
In case of any issues, Air Arabia flies 2x weekly between Socotra and Sharjah, not passing through Yemeni airspace.
Now we get onto South Yemen (Seiyun+Aden):
This is where things get a little trickier, and let's start with Seiyun
Seiyun is the safer of the two main tourist places in Yemen, primarily due to the fact that it is located to the East.
Secondly, the government is not there, so any warfare would be directly targeted at Aden for the most part.
Lastly, you have a legal escape route by land crossing through to Oman
However, keep in mind that anything that can happen at anytime. You must have a guide in Seiyun, and you must have a police escort at ALL TIMES.
Now we get to Aden, which seems to be a little less safe from what people tell me:
Aden is where the new government (CTS) has set up shop. Saudi/UAE/Yemen
At the moment, the city is stable and has been for quite a while. However, it is important to understand that if conflict were to escalate when you are there, and the airport were to close, the only way out would be through an illegal boat.
It's key to understand that in regions such as this, dynamics can shift in a split second.
My Overall Safety Feeling
So yes, it is not like what the media says, where guns are flinging 24/7, 365, but there is still a certain aspect you need to be aware of.
For starters, anyone can go to Socotra. I really mean that, if a 60-year-old grandmother wants to visit and sleep in a tent on the beach, you are not going to have an issue, safety wise. Where you might have an issue is medically wise, as I do not believe* there is a hospital on the island.
For South Yemen? Realistically, you are fine, but there are some caveats (for a worst-case scenario). On the off chance something does occur, you can be in real sh*t (excuse my language). Now, if you are a 35-year-old woman who doesn't have kids and you have accepted the risks if* something does happen, feel free to go. However, if you are a 40-year-old man with three young daughters, I would rethink your vacation plans.
Don't ask me about the North yet, as I haven't been, but am in the works for getting the permits to go.
Final Thoughts
A lot of people tend to read a State Department Travel Advisory and go into a full-blown panic attack that if they are going to go to a Level 4 Do Not Travel, it means immediate death. These advisories are highly political and do not represent the whole context. When it comes to Yemen, the country is relatively stable internally for now, especially the South and Socotra. However, if you plan on visiting South Yemen, just know that the situation can change at any given moment. Make sure you have a good guide.
Realistically, though, you will be alright... if you are an adventure traveler, not someone who goes to all-inclusive resorts (sorry)
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