Every photograph of Shibam that shows the city as an island of towers against the canyon walls was taken from the same low ridge on the north side of the wadi, a short drive or a long walk from the town. There is no formal viewpoint and no sign — drivers from Sayun know it as the sunset spot, and the road just runs out near a low rocky shelf with a clear line of sight to the south gate.
Late afternoon is the time to be there. The whole western face of the city catches the warm light, the mud brick goes the colour of polished honey, and the silhouette of the canyon edges of the Hadramawt makes a flat horizon behind. Bring water, watch for snakes in the rocks, and stay until the call to prayer carries across the wadi from the Friday Mosque.