Socotra   forever

DAY 1: ABU DHABI – HADIBO (SOCOTRA)

Transfer from Socotra airport to the hotel in the capital of the island, Hadibo, for a short rest and refreshment.

After a traditional lunch, we will head to Delisha, a renowned swimming spot with crystal clear waters. We will explore several places in the surroundings, including the seaport and Khoor Sarheen, and we will have the opportunity to spot some of the endemic birds of Socotra, such as the Somali and Socotra starlings !

After some photo breaks, we will head to another place in Delisha where you can climb one of the huge sand dunes of the island and contemplate the magnificent view.

After enjoying your first sunset on the island, we will return to the Hotel for dinner and the night.

DAY 2: HOMHIL AND DI HAMRI

After breakfast, we will leave for Homhil, one of the most spectacular places on the island.

We will walk with a local guide through a forest of dragon trees, and we will discover other specimens of the endemic flora of Socotra such as the bottle tree and the desert rose.
We will stop by a small pond fed by a mountain spring where you can swim with an incredible view of the coast. We will enjoy a delicious picnic in Homhil, then head to the Di Hamri Marine Reserve, where you can swim, snorkel near the coral reef, and enjoy the wonders of the underwater world.

You can also explore the red rocks that make Di Hamri so recognizable! At the end of the day, we will return to the hotel for dinner and the night.

DAY 3: HOQ CAVE, RAS ERSEL & ARHER

After breakfast, we will head to one of the most incredible and fascinating sites of the island: the Hoq Cave.

Accompanied by a local guide from the nearby village, you will climb the hill to reach the cave’s entrance.
You can take many pictures of panoramic views during your ascent.
Inside the cave, you will explore the strange and beautiful rock formations (be sure to bring a frontlight).

After exploring the cave with your guide for about 2 hours, you will meet up with your driver and a delicious lunch will be waiting for you!

Then we will go to the tip of the island of Socotra at Ras Ersel, at the junction of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

We will then return to Arher, one of the most beautiful white sand dunes of Socotra, and we will walk through the large dunes.

We will return to the Hotel in Hadibu for dinner and the night (B,L,D)

DAY 4: NUGED, WADI DI FARHA, ZAHAQ, AOMAK & DIGUB CAVE

We will start our day (8:00 am) by taking a road south through the mountains to Nuged.

Next, we will go to Wadi Difaro for a picnic near the creek.
Then we will head to a small nearby village, and we will see beautiful specimens of bottle trees, one of the endemic species of the Socotra archipelago!

Next, we will head to Zahaq, where we will see white sand dunes and spend time strolling through the dunes or just sitting down to enjoy the view.
We will wander the white sands of the Omak Protected Area to take photos and explore the area. We will then head to the caves of Digub, a popular meeting spot for locals, and enjoy a picnic or a cup of tea.

We will return to the hotel in Hadibo for dinner and the night. (B,L,D)

DAY 5: DIKSAM, WADI DIRHUR AND FERMHIN

Today we will leave early in the morning and head to the Diksam plateau for a visit.

This is a highlight for many travellers in Socotra because of the “dragon blood” tree forests; we will stop in a small village where people still use traditional techniques to harvest the red sap that gives the tree its name.
We will enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

We will then have a picnic in Wadi Derhur and spend the afternoon amidst nature and dragon blood trees before returning to the hotel in Hadibo for dinner and the night. (B, L, D)

DAY 6: DETWAH LAGOON AND SHUAB BEACH

After an early breakfast (6am), we will head to a small fishing village where we will board traditional boats with local fishermen for a boat trip to the white sands of Shuab.

Along the way, there are good chances of seeing dolphins, and you will have the opportunity to try out the local fishing techniques yourself!
After a morning on the beach of Shuab, you will board your boats back to Qalansiah for a picnic near the lagoon of Detwah, one of the most beautiful beaches of Socotra.

Arriving in Detwah, we will go to a panoramic point, with the best views of the lagoon.
From there, we will travel to Khoor Ghaba.
Then we will visit the nearby salt pans, where the inhabitants of Qalansia still get their salt the traditional Socotri way.

Then we will visit the beautiful immaculate lagoon of Detwah. We will return to the hotel for dinner and the night. (B, L, D)

DAY 7: WADI AYHAFT

Today we will head to Wadi Ayhaft, the largest valley of the island, where you will have time to stroll, explore and photograph many of the endemic Socotri plants.

We will have our picnic there and in the afternoon, we will visit a women’s organization that sells Socotri handicrafts and then we will visit the markets.

Then we will return to the hotel to enjoy our last dinner on the island. (B,L,D)

DAY 8: HADIBO – ABU DHABI (UAE)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Abu Dhabi.

BENEFITS INCLUDED:

– Flight Abu Dhabi (UAE) – Socotra – Abu Dhabi (UAE)
– Visa
– Transfer from and to the airport
– Accommodation
– 4×4 4 vehicles for the whole journey
– English-speaking local guide and local guides for certain visits
– Accommodation
– Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
– Fees for access to protected areas

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED:

– Personal insurance
– Covid Testing
– Tips for driver and guides