Socotra Tours

Sample itinerary for our Socotra tours

Here’s the standard 8-day tour we offer on most of our expeditions:

Day 1 – Arrival in Hadibou & Hutan Dara

• On the first day, we will meet at the respective check-in counter in Abu Dhabi International Airport around 3 hours before departure.
• Upon arrival in Hadibou, we’ll go straight for lunch, followed by a quick stop at the currency exchange office.
• Then, we’ll drive to Hutan Dara, the Dragon Blood Trees forest, where we’ll set up our camp.
• Overnight in Hutan Dara campsite.

Day 2 – Aomak beach & Zahek dunes

• Day 2 of the tour will be a day which is going to be very special since you will be waking up in the middle of Dragon Blood Trees.
• After breakfast, transfer to the south of the island to Aomak beach for a swim. Then, transfer to Zahek campsite for lunch.
• After lunch, we’ll do a hike across the sand dunes towards the beach, one of the most unspoiled and best beaches in Socotra. Hiking time: around 2 hours, easy.
• Overnight in Zahek campsite.

Day 3 – Wadi Kalysan & Homhill

• Early start, breakfast and drive to Wadi Kalysan, a natural valley home to a massive and absolutely mind-blowing pool. Hiking time: around 1.5 hours, easy-moderate.
• Then, we’ll head for Homhill, not without first stopping in a gorgeous butter tree forest.
• After lunch, we’ll hike down to Homhill Infinity Pool for another swim.
• Overnight in Homhill campsite.

Day 4 – Arher and Crab Beach

• Arher is one of the most popular sites in all of Socotra, popular for its colossal sand dunes overlooking the pristine beaches of this part of the island.
• In the morning, however, we will offer the possibility to hike down from Homhill to the coast. Hiking time: around 1.5 hours, easy-moderate.
• From there, we’ll transfer to Crab Beach, one of the most gorgeous campsites in Socotra.
• After lunch, possibility to hike up one of the highest dunes.
• Overnight in Crab beach.

Day 5 – Hoq cave

• Early start to hike up to Hoq Cave, a pretty impressive and nearly 3-kilometer deep cave, which we will certainly explore with our local team. Hiking time: 4-5 hours, moderate.
• After the hike, we’ll go to Ahrer, where we’ll camp for the night.
• Dinner and overnight in Ahrer.

Day 6 – Qalansiya and Shoab Beach

• We will start the day heading to Qalansiya, the second largest city in Socotra, a sleepy town with a fishermen’s atmosphere.
• From there, we’ll take a boat to Shoab, a tropical beach only reachable by boat.
• Then, we’ll go back to Qalansiya and make our way to our campsite in Detwah Lagoon.
• In the afternoon, there will be the possibility of visiting the caveman, but it’s not guaranteed. Otherwise, we recommend walking to the beach.
• Overnight in Detwah Lagoon.

Day 7 – Butter Tree viewpoint and Delisha

• In the morning, hike up the highest hill in the area, the best viewpoint on the island and, in Joan Torres’ opinion, the best hike in all the Middle East. Hiking time: 4-5 hours, moderate-hard.
• Then, drive to Delisha, a pretty cool beach relatively close to Hadibou.
• We’ll set up camp in Delisha. After lunch, there’s the possibility of hiking another pretty cool and high dune.
• Overnight in Delisha.

Day 8 – Transfer to Hadibou and departure

• After breakfast, transfer to Hadibou International Airport.
• End of the tour.