A unique itinerary designed for September, where we take you from the iconic Dragon Trees in the center to the beautiful sand dunes in the South.
Required extras:
We’ll pick you up from the airport, load your luggage in the 4×4 cars, get comfortable and make our way to the Dixam plateau, where we will encounter the first Dragon Blood Trees.
On the way, we’ll pass by some authentic villages and amazing viewpoints, looking over the Dirhur canyon, with breathtaking sceneries and unusual rock formations.
We’ll set up camp on the Dixam plateau. Get comfortable for the first night in your private tent – under the stars! 🤩
You’re in for a magnificent sunrise view over the canyon. And after a slow breakfast, we start the day by driving down the canyon, a difficult and slow road, until we reach the river. Here we can take some time to swim and refresh.
Then it’s up to the Fermhin forest, where we will explore the largest concentration of Dragon Blood Trees on earth. Here you can also find thousands of endemic plants and birds that are unique to Socotra!
Tonight you’ll sleep in the middle of the Dragon Blood Trees.
After enjoying a beautiful sunrise in the forest, we will explore the largest concentration of Dragon Blood Trees on earth. Passing through the forest, we will embark on an easy 4-hour hike down to Zimhum, a very remote mountain village, only accessible by foot. Here we’ll learn more about the traditional way of living of the Bedouin – historically nomadic people, who have settled in the mountains. And take part in some local customs and traditions.
After lunch we’ll head up to a secret pool for a refreshing swim. On the way we’ll see green grasslands, where the nomads herd their cattle. As well as breathtaking sceneries on the Hajhair mountains.
Tonight we sleep in the Dragon Blood Tree forest again. From our camp you’ll possibly have the best view ever on the stars and the Milky Way.
We will continue hiking for about 2 hours, making our way down to the South. That’s where the cars will be waiting for us. Our first stop today is Aomak, a beautiful pristine beach. Go for a little walk or relax in the sun. (swimming will be hard, as the ocean is still quite rough!)
In the afternoon the guides will take you into the Zahek dunes for a full desert experience. Meet the local camels, try sandboarding 🏄 and explore around.
You tent will be ready for you at the Hayf campsite, which has toilets & showers.
This morning we’ll head up to explore the mighty Digub cave. The drivers will drop us at the start of the plateau. Only a short walk is required to witness these spectacular ocean views straight from the cave. Don’t forget to explore the other chambers and tunnels as well.
After lunch in the Duakash Wadi – where you can go for a refreshing swim, we’ll head to Maytif village, a very remote fishermen’s village, where we’ll be able to interact with the locals and immerse ourselves in their centuries-old way of living.
We’re also set up camp next to the village, because it has the most amazing views on the Momi plateau!
On the morning drive we’ll pass several traditional Bedouin villages and endemic Bottle Trees. After a refreshing dip in Difarhu Wadi – the longest wadi in Socotra, we’ll have lunch in the shadow of numerous palm trees and enjoy the Egyptian vultures fight over the scraps.
Then it’s finally time to discover the famous Kaleesan canyon, nicknamed the ‘white canyon’. Are you ready to be amazed by the pure white rocks and the azure-blue water? Take your swimming shorts, because jumping in is the best part!
From here we’ll drive North to Deleisha, a beautiful beach area, with a lagoon and some interesting sand dunes. It offers amazing sunrise and sunset views and it’s also the only area in the North with virtually no wind. We’ll camp at the campsite, which has toilets & showers.
After breakfast we’re off to the most famous spot of the island, Detwah Lagoon. This beautiful blue lagoon offers an unreal contrast between the white sand and the blue water, during high tide. And at low tide you can see some incredibly cool reflections.
Let’s explore the area and climb the mountain next to the lagoon as well, to find some Bottle Trees and enjoy the magnificent overview of the Detwah lagoon. Then we’ll have lunch in the Qiso oasis, a beautiful area with thousands of palm trees! Well protected from the wind.
In the late afternoon we’ll drive to Qadama, a protected turtle nesting beach, where – only in September – thousands of little turtle friends will be hatching. Under the supervising eyes of Foad, the local marine expert, we can help them make a safe passage to the ocean. Baby turtle dreams guaranteed tonight.
One last sunrise over Qadama beach and then we start packing up camp to head back to the airport.
On the way to the airport we’ll pass by some old Russian tanks, dating back to the WWII. The perfect spot for a goodbye selfie …
Unfortunately, this is where your amazing trip comes to and end. Don’t worry though, these memories will last a lifetime 🫶
On top of our standard itinerary and services, you are free to book any optional extras to enrich your trip to Socotra.
Return flights are required. Add your flights from Jeddah to Socotra and back. Price is $1.100 (for both ways).
One visa per traveler is required. No entry without the official Socotra visa. Price is $200.
Only for GCC countries. (GCC = Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE). Nationals of these countries do not need a visa for Socotra. Please select this option instead.
Our camping kit contains a reusable water bottle, a towel, an LED tent lamp and a headlamp. So you don’t need to worry about anything.
No illegal flying. Get the official Socotra drone permit and explore Socotra from the sky without any worries of getting your drone confiscated at the airport.
Read what travelers say about Socotra Hiking on our official Tripadvisor page, then plan your own island journey with a team focused on smooth logistics, memorable camps, and authentic local guidance.
Yes, it is safe to travel to Socotra. The island has always remained untouched by the conflict in western Yemen and has never been part of the civil war. Socotra offers a peaceful and secure environment, allowing visitors to explore its stunning landscapes and unique biodiversity without concern.
Socotra Hiking offers several big advantages over the other agencies:
Find out more on this blog article.
You cannot book the flights online. We will assist you with the booking. You can add the return flight from Jeddah during the booking process. The price is $1.100.
This is a commercial flight operated by Yemenia Airways. The flight currently goes twice a week both ways, every Tuesday & Thursday. There are around 135 seats available for tourists on each flight. These flights sell out quite quickly, so don’t wait too long with your booking.
When you book, we will confirm the flight availability within 3 working days. In the case that the flight is fully booked, you will have the option to choose new dates or be refunded. After the flight confirmation, it can still take 10-14 working days to get the actual tickets issued. This is a manual process and they are always very busy, so please be patient.
Yes. Most people* need to get a visa. We will take care of this for you. You can add the visa during your booking process. The government fixed the price at $200 for this season. We will request your tourist visa 3 weeks before your departure.
*GCC nationals do not need a visa
Pack light, breathable clothing, sun protection, sturdy hiking shoes, a rain jacket, and any personal necessities, as amenities are limited. We will send you a full packing list before your departure.
We use the iconic Al-Qadi tents, which are more adapted to the Socotra weather than the standard Quechua tents (which are cheaper and widely used on the island by the other agencies). The Al-Qadi tents have 4 windows and allow for more ventilation. Remember, Socotra can get very hot and stuffy during the touristy season.
Technically they are designed for 2 pax, however each person will get their own tent for more comfort and privacy. Each tent comes with a mattress, blanket and pillow. You don’t need to bring anything. For couples who prefer to sleep together, we can also provide a larger couples tent.
Your tent will be set up for you by our team. Full service!
Our private chef uses fresh ingredients to cook a tasty meal 3 times a day. Remember, we are on a remote island, so not everything is available. However, we can get fresh locally-caught fish (sustainably caught through line fishing) and free-range chicken every day. This will be complimented with rice or pasta and some vegetables. Add some seasoning and freshly baked bread with eggs & beans in the morning and voila, happy stomachs.
If you have any allergies, or need vegetarian or vegan options, please let us know. We will try our best to accommodate.
All our 4×4 cars are equipped with a 12V sine wave inverter and a multi-plug, so you can charge your devices in the car – while driving. The multi-plug typically has 2x USB-A and 4x US type B plugs. So take a universal converter, to make sure you can connect. And then you should be good to charge your phone, camera batteries, drone batteries etc…
Additionally, a power bank is never a bad idea!
We usually sleep in a nice spot in nature, in the middle of nowhere. Therefor, on all tours we take a portable shower and portable toilet and set it up for you in the camp, for your comfort. We’ll provide the toilet paper. You need to bring your own toiletries, shampoo and towel though.
During the day we sometimes stop at a spot with basic infrastructure (very basic shower and very basic toilet) that you can use. The rest of the time we’ll be somewhere in nature and nature will be your toilet and rivers/pools will be your refreshing shower. Some guests like to bring wet wipes for these occassions. Any toilet paper / wet wipes that are used, must be collected again as well. We do not allow any garbage in nature, even if it’s biodegradable.
Socotra is probably one of the coolest locations to fly your drone. So definitely bring it. Be sure to add the ‘drone permit’ to your checkout, so we can register you and have you flying legally. You are still responsible for your own flights, of course. Do not disturb any other guests, we are all here to enjoy nature.
Watch out, UAE does not allow drones inside the country. So when you travel with a drone, be sure to fly on Abu Dhabi. You will need to explain the purpose of the drone at immigration. If you stay in Abu Dhabi for a few nights prior to your flight to Socotra, the drone will be kept in the Abu Dhabi airport (for free). You can collect it again, when you have checked in for your Socotra flight.
You can buy an Etisalat tourist SIM in the Abu Dhabi airport. It only works in a few areas of the island. And even then, mobile internet is very very slow. This is part of what makes traveling to Socotra so unique and helps you be in the moment instead of scrolling through your phone.
If you absolutely do need internet, we can provide a StarLink for your trip, which will allow 4G speeds all across the island.
Socotra has limited banking facilities and the few ATMs usually don’t work. Our trips are all inclusive, so you don’t need any money on the island. However, if you want to buy some souvenirs or you’d like to have funds for emergencies (recommended), it’s best to bring cash in US dollars. Attention: the dollar banknotes must be issued in years of 2009, 2013, 2017, or 2023 and newer & need to be at least $50 bills in order to be accepted.
We always have a first aid kit with us. It is recommended to bring any necessary medications you might need. Like for every trip abroad, a good travel health insurance is recommended.
In case of emergencies, there is a hospital in the capital Hadiboh.
Most likely not. Your standard travel insurance will not cover Yemen, as it’s a sanctioned country. The only travel insurances we have found to cover Socotra are Safetywing and IATI and InsureMyTrip (US residents). We are not affiliated with them. Please do your own due diligence as policies change all the time.
We do strongly recommend you to get a travel insurance though! Flights can change, get cancelled and mess up your plans. So make sure you are covered. Better safe than sorry!
Sometimes things come up and you are forced to change your trip dates. Reach out to us and we will help you to reschedule your trip and flights, according to availability.
Read our full cancellation policy here.
In the unfortunate event that you need to cancel your trip, reach out to us immediately!
Read our full cancellation policy here.
| TRIP DATES | AVAILABILITY | PRICE | SPACE LEFT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 29, 2026 - October 6, 2026 | Guaranteed | $2300 |
10 Available
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A unique itinerary designed for September, where we take you from the iconic Dragon Trees in the center to the beautiful sand dunes in the South.
