Socotra Island, Yemen 🇾🇪 one of the most remote island's in the world 🌍
About Socotra:
Socotra is an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, 200 miles off the coast of Yemen 🇾🇪 and Somalia 🇸🇴. Although Socotra is technically part of the Republic of Yemen, it's miles away from the terrible conflict on the mainland and is extremely quiet, peaceful and safe. The island is actually protected by UNESCO & under the de facto control of UAE 🇦🇪
Why you should visit
Socotra is one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet. One third of it’s species are endemic to the island. That's why it has been coined “the most alien looking place in the world”. It’s also barely inhabited with just over 50,000 residents in 4,000 square km.
According to an article in the National Geographic: “The vulnerability of species like the dragon’s blood tree has led to high levels of environmental protection on Socotra including, in 2008, full recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site, was given to the island.”
Socotra is the only place in the world you can find Dragon Blood trees. The name comes from the sap of the tree being red 🩸, locals dry it and use on their skin for medicinal purposes, it is said to have healing properties.
On average, only 3000 tourists a year will visit the island 🤯 due to its inaccessibility, tourism is extremally limited and there is very little tourist infrastructure at all. Socotra really is the definition of a remote natural paradise 🏝️ it’s one of those once in a lifetime bucket list destinations 🪣 So, how can you get there?
How to travel to Socotra?
It's extremely difficult to find flights to Socotra online. A simple google search or sky scanner search and you won’t find any… That's because the only way to access Socotra Island is via a humanitarian flight ✈️ leaving from Abu Dhabi airport that flies directly to Socotra International Airport. This is a government chartered flight so it’s not advertised online. To get a seat you will have to book with one of the handful of local tour companies. On each flight the majority of seats are reserved for local Socotrians and humanitarian or government people, then the remaining seats are sold by the tour companies. These seats are highly competitive and you should book in advance. The cost is also quite high ($800) considering the short distance (1.5hour flight). Apparently the locals pay a much more reduced rate than the tourists.
Typically, there is only 1 flight per week onto the island and 1 flight back to Abu Dhabi. When I travelled, they actually added an extra flight on a Friday which meant we travelled Tues - Friday (4 days, 3 nights). The usual flight schedule is out on a Tuesday and back on a Tuesday (8 days, 7 nights). Speaking with the local tour agencies, it sounds like the additional Tuesday flight (allowing for shorter trips) will also be running next season. However, the Government could change this at any moment so it's not guaranteed.
The local tour agencies do everything from booking your flight, applying for and securing your Yemeni visa as well as being your guides and drivers for the whole time on the island. They will pick you up from the airport in their 4x4 and the car will be your main hub for the week!
NB; if you plan to travel to the US anytime after visiting Socotra then make sure to get them to put the Yemeni stamp on a separate paper rather than in your passport to avoid any VISA issues
Images above and below show the airport at Socotra, very small and basic but also easy to get through. You have nothing to worry about when it comes to security at the airport, Immigration staff were all friendly and not in the slightest intimidating
Is it safe to travel?
Even though the Socotra Archipelago lies several hundred kms off the coast it is still part of Yemen which has been locked in a tragic ongoing civil war for years now. Although the island has suffered some collateral damage, conflict from the civil war on the mainland has never reached Socotra (being 200miles away). Therefore, the island is extremely isolated and is safe to visit. I do however, always recommend that you don't just take my word for it, do your own research before travelling and check you are 100% comfortable before booking anything.
United Arab Emirates has actually taken de facto control over the island and have placed small military bases there. The UAE provides aid to Socotra and has even built a hospital. You will notice UAE 🇦🇪 flags occasionally on the island and the local Socotrians speak fondly of the support and protection that the UAE provides.
What is there to see and do on the Island?
Socotra island really is a paradise for nature enthusiasts. Visitors typically spend a week trekking and exploring the entire island, taking in all of the natural beauty.
I spent 4 days in Socotra, initially I thought this would be plenty but in hindsight a week would have been better. There really is so much to see and do! Below I have included a list of the main places* to visit on the Island... 🏝️
*Some of the places cannot be found on google maps so I am unable to link the locations but I have still listed them below
Hadiboh is the capital of the Island and the main gateway for travellers
- Arher Beach & Homhill hike
- Diksam Plateu (Dragon blood tree forest)
- Zahik Beach and Sand Dunes
- Hoq Cave
- Wadi Difarhou Natural Pool
- Shoab beach & Dolphins
- Wadi Dahur Canyon
- Qualansiya Shuab
It's safe to say anyone visiting the island should be up for an adventure! You’ll be trekking, diving, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking and more! You will also get the chance to sun bath if you want but in general bring your most adventurous side and be ready to explore 🙌
The best time to visit is from October to April when it’s not too hot or wet, making it the perfect conditions for hiking & wildlife. During the summer months from June - August Socotra becomes incredibly windy and the island is subject to cyclones 🌀
What should I wear?
Socotra is part of Yemen, so keep in mind Muslim customs when choosing your clothes.
Conservative clothing is recommended in crowded areas in the town, however whilst out in the car and visiting the various sides of the island, everywhere is so quiet that you can dress less conservatively if you want (e.g. have your shoulders out and wear shorts, within reason!).
I wore sports clothes pretty much every day including shorts for hiking. However, I would not have worn shorts in the town where there were lots of people (especially lots of men). Whilst camping, you will be around other international tourists mainly so generally most clothes are fine but I would leave anything revealing at home and stick to comfortable, light clothing as you’ll be travelling a lot and being active.
Below you can find my full packing list of what I took for 4 days on the island. If you go for the week trip you’ll need to adjust accordingly:
Packing List:
- Hat / cap
- Sports shorts x 3 pairs
- Hiking trousers x 1
( I didn’t wear mine as was too hot and shorts were fine for hikes and activities)
- 1 x long sleeved top
- Leggings x 2 pairs
- Sports tops for the day x 5
- Sports bras x 5
- Sport socks x 5
- 1 x jogging bottoms/comfy trousers for camping or travelling
- 1 x jumper for evenings
- Head torch
- Battery pack (I got a really good one from Adventure HQ that lasts for ages, it re charges through solar and even includes a flash light)
https://shorturl.at/lpA17
- Insect repellant
- Face wipes / face wash/baby wipes
- Micro fibre towel
- Hiking shoes (trainers with grip or hiking boots. I had a trail trainers)
- Swim / water shoes
- Flip flops
- 1 x swim costume
- Sunglasses
- Sun cream ( take a high factor, the sun is strong!!)
- Bum bag
- Day ruck sack for hiking
- Any medicine you need as there's no option to buy on the island
- Snacks ( I took loads with me and glad I did as no option to buy anything)
- Etiselat sim (DU doesn’t work at all)
- Reccomend a backpack or duffel bag rather than a suitcase as much easier when camping and travelling between destinations
- Reccomend taking some small gifts for the local kids
NB: The tour agency will provide all camping gear including tents, mattress, sleeping bag, covers, pillows, cooking equipment etc.
What does it cost?
The flight itself is $800 and then you have the cost of the tour, accommodation and visa on top. It’s not cheap to get onto the island due to the limited flights and seats. This is probably a good thing as it limits the risk of over tourism and protects the island.
Once you’re on the island you won’t require money for anything as all meals are included. I would just reccomend taking some extra cash (small notes) as tips for the tour guides. You can take USD or AED.
Below a breakdown of costs;
Flight: $800 (return ticket)
Tour & accom: $1000*
Visa: $150
Total cost: $1,950
*Accommodation and tour cost ranges from $900 -$1200 depending on which accommodation option you go for. You could do a mixture of hotel and camping or camping only or hotel only if you go with Socotra Trip (this is the only tour company that offers hotel option)
Whilst on the island there aren’t really opportunities to shop except for very small grocery stores (think little shacks) but they are few and far between! If you have any particular eating & drinking preferences I recommend taking them with you in your rucksack as you definitely won’t find them on the island. Make sure you have small notes with you as there are no ATMs or card machines anywhere 😅
Tour agencies and companies to go with:
If you want to experience Socotra but don’t like the idea of camping every single day then I would recommend checking out Socotra Trip. They gave us the option each night of whether we wanted to camp or hotel, it was great to have this flexibility.
Tour companies running trips to Socotra 🏝️
- Socotra Trip ( who I went with)
- Trekkup
- Welcome to Socotra
- Find Socotra
Only Socotra Trip offer the hotel option so you would need to camp every night with the others
Other things to know before travelling:
1. There are no ATMs or card machines. You should take some small cash in USD or AED 💰
2. There are no pharmacies or doctors on the island, only a small hospital for locals 🏥
Therefore it’s best to take some medication with you like Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and a course of antibiotics just in case
3. In the unlikely event of an emergency, there is an agreement that the UAE will helicopter 🚁 anyone off the island for medical reasons and take to a UAE hospital.
4. You should get insurance before you travel, I bought mine from Square Mouth which offers insurance for travel to Yemen it costs $10
5. There are no plugs whilst camping so to charge up your devices you do this whilst driving in the car. It’s also best to take a rechargeable power bank or two! 📱
6. If camping there are typically no proper toilets or showers, it’s a behind a rock kinda scenario 😉
7. You should NOT take any photos of local Socotrian girls or women, it’s not allowed in their culture 🧕
8. Some locals on the island chew a leaf 🍃 called ‘Khat’. The leaf releases an amphetamine-like stimulant which is highly addictive. You will sometimes see the men chewing and they stuff their cheeks with the plant 🪴
9. Solo females can travel to Socotra safely with a tour company. That’s the only way to access the island so there really is no option to go completely alone 🙋🏼♀️
10. There is hardly any signal on the island (remember it’s one of the most remote places in the world 😬) it’s best to take the opportunity to switch off and disconnect, however if you are someone that would like to stay connected your best bet is to get an Etiselat SIM as you might find signal occasionally (although very weak). With DU SIMs there is zero signal anywhere on the island 🏝️
Hope you found this guide useful and if you have any questions, let me know! Laura 🏝️❤️
DISCLAIMER:
By using this guide, you accept full personal responsibility for any harm or damage you suffer as a result of your actions arising out of or in connection with the use of the guide or its content.
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