9 reviews for Socotra
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Socotra
Socotra is the perfect definition of remote island. Closest to Yemen and Somalia, its location has made it somehow an oasis in turbulent waters. Azure beaches, crystal clear water for snorkelling and diving, healthy corals full of fish and thousands of endemic species of flora and fauna make it a unique ecosystem. It’s often called the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean”, but it’s so off the grid, maybe we should nickname the Galapagos “The Socotras of the Pacific”?
- Trip dates: December 26th 2023 - January 2nd 2024
- 8 days
- 7 nights
itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Socotra. Arher Beach.
- We welcome you at the Socotra airport before heading to our traditional Socotri house, our choice to make you feel at home as soon as you set foot on the island. You’ll meet our local team and hit the road after a quick briefing. The road provides a first glimpse of Socotra’s unique territory as we continue along the northern coast to the eastern extremity of the island.
- Enjoy the scenic drive while passing small villages, pristine beaches and strange plant life. Approaching Arher, dramatic twin sand dunes are set against the sheer rock faces creating a breathtaking contrast between the elements. 200 meters high, these monsoon-formed dunes surround with a freshwater creek exiting a cave in the granite massive and end upon the beach: simply unbelievable. Enjoy the unspoiled beach, relax on the green grass or climb the massive dune to reach a fantastic vantage point. It is here we will enjoy dinner and camp for the first night.
- Overnight in Arher Beach.
Day 2: Hoq Cave.
- The day begins with an early morning visit to the traditional village of Erissel. Here on the easternmost tip of the island we will interact with locals, witness the outstanding local fishermen’s activities and visit family’s house for a Socotri chai.
- After departing the village we will head for cave exploration. There are many cave systems throughout the island thanks to its karstic nature and limestone plateaus. The huge mouth of the Hoq cave is reached by a 2 hours hike. Here we’ll be rewarded by a spectacular underground channel. The cave has yet to be fully explored, speleologists have determined its length as 10 km or more. We will venture 2 km into the belly of the cave admiring stalactites, stalagmites, ancient writings and subterranean water supplies.
- After spelunking we will return to Arher – the afternoon is yours to relax in the surrounding serenity or join another hiking to the top of the plateau. The hike to the mountain ridge offers a bird’s-eye-view of both sides of the northern and southern shorelines. A highlight of the trip unique to our tour.
- Dinner and overnight camp at the stunning Arher beach.
Day 3: Homhil & Dihamri Beach.
- Homhil is a name you will remember. Here you will hug the first Dragon’s Blood tree of your life. A narrow trail leads to the protected area of Homhil, which is also home to Frankincense trees, Adenium Obesum and a gorgeous natural pool. Let’s swim in the infinity pool, surrounded by the most unusual flora on the planet, overlooking the turquoise ocean below. In the afternoon we drive to nearby Dihamri marine protected area. It is one of the richest coral reefs on the archipelago. Relax and snorkel in the bay enjoying the unique combination of underwater flora and fauna such as parrotfish, moray eel, sea urchins, barracudas, sea turtles and more.
- Dinner and overnight camping at Dihamri beach.
Day 4: Diksam Plateau
- We leave the coast heading to Diksam plateau, the true home of the Dracaena Cinnabari. Small settlements are hidden around the crevasses of the valley where nomadic Bedouin herdsmen will welcome us on the edge of a gorge: the most spectacular limestone landscape on the island. The gorge drops 700 meters to the valley floors, with views providing a remarkable atmosphere of prehistory.
- We continue through the unique and oddly shaped Fermhin forest: where Socotra’s iconic Dragon’s Blood abound everywhere! Here we will get to know the famous resin and its miraculous properties, while local children seek cover under the upside down umbrella-shaped canopies. As the road descends 400 meters into Wadi Dirhur, we plunge into a profound chasm slicing through the granite. Here we enjoy one of the island greatest secrets: an oasis surrounding freshwater pool with natural waterslide.
- Dinner and overnight in Diksam plateau.
Day 5: Aomak Beach, Dagub Cave, Zahek Dunes.
- Leaving the central highlands, we descend to the southern coast, where the plateau ends and the endless panorama of the Indian Ocean opens.
- After lunch we visit Socotri villages scattered around the southern plain before reaching to Dagub cave. This grotto has some very interesting rock formations and it has long been used by villagers for ritual purposes and to shelter their cattle in the monsoon season.
- The afternoon is dedicated to another mind blowing Socotra’s feature: a desert within an island. The appearance of Zahek’s blinding white sand dunes will delight even the most experienced Sahara traveller. Climb, slide down, meditate and wander around for some astonishing views before sunset.
- Dinner and overnight camping at Aomak beach or in the middle of the sand dunes.
Day 6: Detwah Lagoon & Qalansiya
- Detwah lagoon is a protected area situated at the confluence of the Arabian Sea and the currents of the Indian Ocean. With its magical landscape and an array of sea birds, stingrays and other oddly shaped fish the lagoon is a blessed ecosystem adorned with a breathtaking white sandy tongue surrounded by the warm turquoise waters of the bay, one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet.
- The village of Qalansiya lies at the north/west tip and it’s the second biggest settlement of the island. We will get lost in the narrow alleyways, meeting friendly people and many curious children. In the afternoon you can join a fascinating hike to the highest peak of the surroundings. This surely is one of the best views on the island.
- Dinner and overnight camping at Detwah lagoon.
Day 7: Shoab Sandy Beach.
- If you are a passionate fisherman Socotra is a fishing paradise. More adventure awaits! The spectacular boat cruise along the cliffs of the western coast towards the beach of Shoab is very likely to reward us with sightings of spinner dolphins.
- Once we’ve reached the shore of Shoab, we’ll indulge in this remote and pristine beach setting and get ready to feast again on delicious fresh seafood brought by local fishermen or even caught by you. In the afternoon we sail back to the port having the unique chance to swim with dolphins. Enjoy the last sunset walking on the endless sand bank emerging from the crystal clear shallow waters.
- Dinner and overnight camping at Detwah lagoon.
Day 8: Fly out
- After an early breakfast we drive you to the airport for your flight back.
Included
Not included
Accommodation
Full camping gear and tents.Guides
Expert local guide and fixer.Transport
Private 4WD cars with driver.Visa Support
We will take care of your visas so you can pay and pick it up on arrival.Food
Three meals a day with a drink (water or soft drink).Entrance Fees
All entrance fees to natural reserves and conservancy areas on your itinerary.
December 26th 2023 – January 2nd 2024
Our Selection Process takes only 10 minutes and it helps us create the best travel family!
FAQ
HOW DO I GET A VISA FOR SOCOTRA?
We will take care of the visa for you so you can just pick it up on arrival at Socotra International Airport. We just need a scanned copy of your passport for this and it will take a few weeks to process. The cost of the visa is $150 and is not included (you will need to pay with cash on arrival).
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET THERE?
Wander Expedition doesn’t book flights for you and is ultimately not responsible for your flight connection, but we can offer guidance and support when you research the best options for you.
Currently, the only way to get to Socotra is with a charter flight leaving from Abu Dhabi every Tuesday.
IS SOCOTRA SAFE?
Socotra is very safe, unaffected by the ongoing conflicts in the mainland. On top of that, we will be accompanied by a local crew at all times, which will help us interact with locals and have the best possible experience.
WHO IS THIS EXPEDITION FOR?
This Expedition is perfect for those seeking a raw adventure in a remote island in the Indian Ocean. Socotra is truly a magical place, full of unique landscapes and endemic species like the famous dragonblood trees. We’ll hike every day and camp for a week, so it’s not for the faint hearted! The journey will be tough, but the rewards will be worth it! If you live in the UAE, this is also the perfect Expedition for you, since the charter flight leaves from there every Monday.
WHAT IS THE PRICE?
Wander Expeditions is not a traditional travel agency where the first to pay is the first to go. We take you to stunning destinations, but we know the people you share it with is even more important when you travel. That’s why we have a refined selection process where we filter and vet candidates to ensure that groups are fun, balanced, diverse and interesting! We make sure candidates are on the same page and share our values of being fun, flexible and fearless, so we can guarantee everyone will have an amazing experience. We create travel families, so #trusttheprocess.
Halfway through our process, we share the price with all pre-selected applicants. It only takes 15 min to apply, so you literally have nothing to lose! What are you waiting for to join the Wander Fam?
annaroundtheworld –
This was pure adventure at its finest! After seeing the dragonblood trees in a NatGeo magazine about 10 years ago, it’d been a dream of mine to visit Socotra Island one day, so when I saw Alvaro offering this expedition I had to jump at the rare opportunity! That’s the thing, people, you HAVE to act on your impulses when you see these expeditions pop up — they’re truly once in a lifetime! Socotra was incredibly beautiful and unique, and we had an incredible team of locals that took amazing care of us even when sh*t hit the fan and the flight off the island got cancelled unexpectedly due to geopolitics. Alvaro always put the group first and made sure we were all okay over anything else. And luckily he chose a great group of people, I wouldn’t have wanted to be stranded on an island with anyone else <3 PS: Getting "stuck" probably won't happen again haha, but it's a fun story and adventure to look back at fondly! I never felt worried since I knew I was in good hands and among great company. Always looking forward to the next expedition!
RodrigoTapia –
If everything goes right you will have a once in a lifetime experience. If something unexpected arises you better have Álvaro by your side as he will save the day!
rodriorive –
Socotra is a unique island full of endemic species, amazing beaches and magnificent views that await you at the end of a great hike. It’s a place where you will fully disconnect from work, meet a new travel family and get to super kind local people that will show you the best areas the island has to offer. I definitely recommend going with Wander expeditions since you can fully enjoy the experience without having to deal with any logistics, visa or bureaucracy. Alvaro makes sure that everything is taken care of for you to live the experience to its fullest. Looking forward to more expeditions in the future!
Steph –
Socotra is probably one of the last super raw and pure adventures out there. You should take the chance to explore this secluded island with the Wander fam while it’s still off the beaten track. If you’re into remote wild camping spots, pristine beaches and beautiful hikes with the best people, you have to say YES to the Socotra expedition. This is the place where you can truly connect with nature and disconnect from the rat race. For me it was the first time joining a group to travel with and to be honest, I was a bit skeptical if this would be something for me. Don’t be like me, don’t hesitate! With his special selection process Alvaro makes sure that everybody gets along while choosing the perfect mix of people. There’s no need to worry. It really feels like family right away and not only during the expedition but even afterwards the Wander family still keeps in touch. I never considered traveling with a group. Now after visiting Socotra with the Wander fam, I just can’t wait to join the next expedition.
Rachel Scott –
Talk about an adventure!! Socotra is unlike any other place on the planet, with amazing scenery around every bend.
When I saw that Alvaro was going to this destination, I knew I had to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Another amazing group of people showed up and we all had a crazy time getting stranded an extra 4 days due to geopolitics, but like the yes people that we are, we made the most of it and have great stories to tell forever!
Tregg Garner –
Socotra was truly the trip of a lifetime! The island was beautiful, and every day was filled with amazing scenery and unique surprises. The local crew was a blast too, they made the logistics of the trip a breeze, and they couldn’t have been any nicer. I highly recommend this expedition, you won’t regret it!
Biljana –
Socotra Expedition was a dream! The landscape was unique with its beautiful dragonblood trees, paradisiacal beaches and breathtaking canyons. The trip was so well organised and the itinerary left nothing to be desired. Moreover, the local crew is incredibly friendly and contributes towards making the expedition an unforgettable adventure. Would go again anytime!
StefHeijnen –
Adventure would be an understatement for Socotra. This beautiful Yemeni island is a true paradise, the incredible dragon blood trees and stunning nature are breathtaking. The local crew is amazing, they’d do anything for you and are one of the most hospitable crews I’ve ever had. There’s only one thing you can say when someone asks if you’d go to Socotra and that is YES! So say YES to paradise and join the Wander Fam!
Matei Rusu –
Socotra is one of those once-in-a-lifetime trips! I wouldn’t be honest if I would Socotra doesn’t have its challenges. The island can be rough at times, that’s for sure! But the amazing travel family you spend your time with makes everything 200% better! Socotra is an extremely photogenic place, with Dragonblood and Bottle Trees everywhere, the cliffs from Qalansiyah to Shoab Beach, the infinity pool, the Arher sand dunes. It’s a sight to see!