Special Socotra

DAY 1 – THE GIANT SAND DUNES

Meet and assist at Socotra airport. Your tour guide will be holding the “Hellosocotra” sign at the arrival terminal right behind the passport control counter. At the terminal, it can get very warm and chaotic around the baggage carousel with all incoming passengers, so your patience is appreciated.

Once you have cleared immigration and collected your luggage, we will head east to Arher area where the giant sand dunes, great beach, and freshwater wells. Snacks, dinner, and breakfast will be provided.

Overnight: Summerland Hotel or Similar

DAY 2 – THE HOQ CAVE

We will need to get up early, around 06:00 am, after breakfast in the hotel, we will head to Hoq cave, the cave is the biggest in the Middle East. It’s about 2 km deep. Depending on your fitness level, it can take 2.5 hours to reach the main gate of the cave, which is on top of the mountain, and about 30 minutes to reach the end of the cave. The entire journey will take 6 to 7 hours. Those who cannot go to the cave can chill on the beach.

After exploring the cave, we will take you to Ras Arsel (the ending point of East Socotra), a 45-minute drive from the cave village. There, you’ll be able to see the meeting point of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Overnight: Summerland Hotel or Similar

DAY 3 – THE NATURAL POOL

After breakfast, pack your bags and put on your swimming wear and hiking shoes because we will head to the protected area of Homhill, which is home to an endless number of the Socotri endemic plants such as Dragon’s blood tree, Frankincense, Desert rose trees, etc. It’s about 1-hour drive from Hadibo and 30 minutes of walk along a selection of trails, one of which takes us to a viewpoint where there is a natural swimming pool and a view of villages below on the plain and of the Arabian Sea.

After Homhil, we will head to another exciting area called Dihammri protected area. Here, you can snorkel and dive in the marine protected area, home to dozens of species of colourful marine life and one of the richest coral reefs on the archipelago.

Overnight: Summerland Hotel or Similar

DAY 4 – THE WADI & OCEAN

After an early breakfast, we will head beneath the mountains of Momi, located 1.3 hrs. drive from Hadibo, where the famous Wadi of Kelisan is a perfect spot to swim in the natural pools. It will take around 20 minutes of walking, with a breathtaking overview of the entire wadi.

After our visit to Wadi Kelisan, we will have a quick picnic before continuing south, off-roading through the valleys to reach the dunes of Zahek. These dunes were created by the seasonal winds, pushing the waves from the ocean straight to the mountains.

Then, we will head to Digub cave, which overlooks a scattering of traditional villages below. The cave itself is of interest as many stalactites, stalagmites, and pools of water have seeped through the rock over time.

Overnight: Summerland Hotel or Similar

DAY 5 – THE DRAGON BLOOD FOREST

After breakfast, we will go to Dicksam plateau (approximately 700 m above sea level) and Shebahon’s viewpoint. This area is home to an endless number of Socotra endemic plants, such as Dragon’s Blood Tree and other trees. The Shebahon viewpoint gives a marvellous vista overlooking Daerhu Canyon, where we will see breathtaking scenery and unusual yet beautiful rock formations.

We will then make our way down to the Dirhur wadi in the canyon for lunch and an easy-going walk to swim in the freshwater pools, then we will continue our way up to Firmhen Point so you can explore the largest forest of the dragon blood trees.

Overnight: Summerland Hotel or Similar

DAY 6 – THE BEST BEACH IN THE WORLD

On this day we will explore the western part of the island but we will make a quick stop at Dicksam Nursery so you can see the baby dragon’s blood trees and learn more about their growing process, then we will continue our way to see Qalansiyah town and best beach.

We will make a tour around the town and the port of Qalansiyah then make our way to an overview point where you can see the entire beach of Qalansiyah and the Detwah lagoon which is a marine protected area renowned for its magical landscape where you can swim, sunbathe, and relax in the shallow sea.

Overnight: Summerland Hotel or Similar

DAY 7 – A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN

You should be ready to go by 05:00 am, our drivers will take to you to the port of Qalansiyah to catch the boat where an exciting day begins, we will head to the western side of Socotra to explore one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the beach of Shuaab and the isolated town of Qabahen, you can swim in the magical crystal clear water and lay down in the white-snow sand.

On the way to Shuaab, you will see a group of Spinner dolphins, and if you are lucky, you might spot a sperm whale during the months of March and April. That’s why waking up early is important. You will also see a one of its kind Socotra cormorant birds in their natural habitat and many underwater caves. May is still unexplored, making it a great place for thrill-seekers and divers.

If the time allows, you will meet Mr Aliyah, aka the caveman, the smartest man in Socotra who created his own tourist attraction. Hundreds of tourists come to his cave to meet him and to enjoy listening to his stories on life in the cave, the land, and its people, and then drive back to Hadibo once we are done.

Overnight: Summerland Hotel or Similar

DAY 8 – WE WILL MISS YOU

After breakfast, around 8 am, a quick tour of the market and the gift store for souvenir shopping in Hadibo. Then, we will drop you at Socotra airport to catch your flight back to Abu Dhabi.