Socotra Expedition
9-16 April 2024

Hit the Highlights: One Week Socotra Expedition

I will be offering a group Socotra departure 9-16 April 2024 with my new travel company Expedition Socotrana (additionally we can set up private and custom trips outside these months too!). This one-week Socotra Island expedition may hit all the highlights but it’s no ordinary trip. Taking in the best and most beautiful the island has to offer this itinerary will introduce you to Socotra’s famed endemic plants as well as give you a glimpse into Socotri life and give you the opportunity to see some of the island’s coolest spots.

This is a fairly rough Socotra itinerary, meaning you will be camping each night, many of which you won’t have access to showers- but trust me it’s worth it! Though for those not keen on camping for an entire week it is possible to do a modified version of this expedition bringing you back to a hotel in Hadiboh each night.

One Week Socotra Expedition Trip Details

• Cost: $1,900 per person for this group departure (get in touch for pricing on private trips)
• Dates: Next group departure is 9-16 April 2024 (year-round departures available) 
• Duration: 8 days | 7 nights
• Start/finish: Hadiboh Airport
• Deposit: 30% due at time of sign up
• Inclusions: Meals as noted on itinerary, camping equipment, Yemeni visa fee ($150), 4WD transport, English-speaking local guide, entry fees
• Exclusions: Airfare to/from Socotra ($950 roundtrip from Abu Dhabi) UAE visa fees (if applicable), travel insurance, personal spending, tips for local staff

One Week Socotra Expedition Itinerary

One Week Socotra Expedition Day 1

Hadiboh | Homhil Protected Area

Be met by your local Socotri guide on arrival at Socotra International Airport. Collect your bags and go through formalities and head into the main town of Hadiboh. Here you will have an early lunch before making the drive to Homhil Protected Area.

Homhil is home to a scattering of Socotra’s fascinating endemics including the famed Dragon blood tree, bottle trees, and frankincense trees. Meander among these rare plant species and to a natural infinity pool that you undoubtedly have to see to believe.

In the afternoon spend your time checking out the interesting plant life around and taking a much-needed swim in the Homhil pool that overlooks the Arabian Sea.

Accommodation: Tent camping at Homhil
Meals: Lunch, dinner

One Week Socotra Expedition Day 2

Homhil Protected Area | Arher | Ras Erissel

Today we get an early start and trek down from Homhil to a village on the coast where your 4WD awaits to take you to the sugary white sand dunes of Arher.

In the afternoon, explore the areas further east around Ras Erissel before heading back to your camp at Arher where you can climb to the top of the mountainous dunes to catch an unbelievable sunset.

Accommodation: Tent camping at Arher
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

One Week Socotra Expedition Day 3

Arher | Hoq Cave | Di Hamri Marine Area

For those ambitious, catch the sunrise from atop Arher Dune before breakfast. From here we’ll continue toward the massive Hoq Cave. We will get dropped off near a village from which we will make the approximately two hour trek uphill and into the mouth of the cave.

Once to the mouth of Hoq Cave, we will continue our walk roughly 1.5 kilometers into the earth. Make sure to bring a headlamp or torch to see the impressive stalactites, stalagmites, and other cave formations. Once we’ve finished exploring the cave it’s time to make the jaunt back down to the village and continue onto Di Hamri.

Di Hamri, meaning ‘two rocks’ in Socotri is named after the impossible-to-miss double red rocky outcropping that sits adjacent to the wide coral-filled bay. Spend the afternoon snorkeling in Socotra’s main marine protected area in search of parrotfish, turtles, sharks, and more.

Accommodation: Tent camping at Di Hamri
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

One Week Socotra Expedition Day 4

Di Hamri | DIxsam Plateau | Wadi Dirhur

From Di Hamri we pick up camp and make way toward Socotra’s central highlands on the Dixsam Plateau. Here you’ll have the opportunity to wander amongst some the largest and oldest dragon blood trees on Socotra.

In the afternoon, we’ll make a trip down into Wadi Dirhur and take a short trek along the valley floor to a small chain of pools before heading back up onto the plateau for the night.

For those interested in stargazing, the Dixsam Plateau is one of the best places on Socotra Island for viewing the stars- even better if viewed with the silhouette of a Dixsam dragon.

Accommodation: Tent camping on Dixsam Plateau
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

One Week Socotra Expedition Day 5

Dixsam Plateau | Firhmin Forest | Omaq Beach | Zahek Dunes

Catch the sunrise over the dragon blood trees of Dixsam Plateau before taking a ride back down into Wadi Dirhur and back up the other side and into the Firhmin Forest.

Firhmin Forest is home to the densest population of dragon blood trees on Socotra, and therefore, the world! It’s estimated that there are over 9,000 dragon blood trees in this forest.

Once you’ve had your fix on the most famous of Socotra’s endemics, continue south to Socotra’s Indian Ocean Coast to your camp at blinding white Omaq Beach. In the late afternoon head to nearby Zahek Dunes

Accommodation: Tent camping on Omaq Beach
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

One Week Socotra Expedition Day 6

Omaq Beach | Dagub Cave | Detwah Lagoon

After breakfast, depart Omaq Beach to explore the cavernous Dagub Cave briefly before taking a jaunt back across the island and to the northeast to reach the idyllic Detwah Lagoon.

In Detwah spend the afternoon relaxing in the most turquoise waters, get in on a game of football with some local teens, or maybe catch the well-known Abdullah the Caveman who may take you out to explore around the lagoon.

Accommodation: Tent camping on Detwah Beach
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

One Week Socotra Expedition Day 7

Detwah Lagoon | Qalansiya | Shua’ab Beach

After an early breakfast, make the short drive to the second-largest town on Socotra of Qalansiya. From the beach in Qalansiya we will load up into local dhow fishing boats and cruise along Socotra’s rugged western coast down to the impossibly white sands of Shua’ab Beach. Keep your eyes peeled as you leave Qalansiya for jumping spinner dolphins who frequent the area.

After a perfect final beach day in Socotra, head back for Qalansiya in the early afternoon (the waters around here get notoriously rough later in the day) and then enjoy your final sunset and dinner back at Detwah Lagoon.

Accommodation: Tent camping on Detwah Beach
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Departure Day

Detwah Lagoon | Hadiboh Airport

Following breakfast, you will be dropped off at the Hadiboh Airport to catch your flight to Abu Dhabi to continue your journey home (or elsewhere).

Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast

Not quite ready to join yet?

No worries! You can always join my Socotra email list below to stay up to date on our upcoming departures.

Want to set up a private trip?

Not to worry if this group departure doesn’t work for you, or you just want set up your own small-group trip. Get in touch at [email protected] and I can start to get the ball rolling on your very own Socotra trip.