I think the purpose of searching Socotra Island as a backpacker is probably to plan your next trip to enjoy some strange or curious destination on earth. Then the decision you’ve taken is surely the right one since Socotra Island has ample travel oriented things.
Socotra Island is a tiny island located in the Yemeni Strait in the middle of the Indian Ocean, often called “the most alien-looking place on earth”. Socotra Island contains the most extreme geographical conditions making its surface, umbrella shaped Dragon’s Blood Trees and swollen desert roses are ideal things to discover.
Besides that, Socotra Island is one of the most isolated islands in the world where rarest biodiversity, stunning landscapes and flora and faunas exist. Its extreme geographical conditions and high numbers of endemic species and biological distinct ecosystems make Socotra Island a “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean”.
Related Search: 10 Best Things to do in Marrakech, Morocco.
11 Best Things to Do in Socotra Island
1. Enjoy the Style of Dragon’s Blood Tree
First thing is first, the most iconic feature of the island and major attraction for visitors is to enjoy the intrinsic style of Dragon’s Blood Tree. It is one of the rarest trees on earth, Dragon’s Blood Tree, which we can see most of the surface of Socotra Island. When we talk about its features, it looks like an umbrella shaped canopy and its red sap which has a thick trunk, and distinctive red resin. Normally this tree is used during traditional periods for medicines and cosmetics and varnishes purposes.
These stunning trees are as old as 700 to 1000 years, since islands’ surface and extreme geographical conditions help more easily to grow these trees. Today it stands as a most iconic yet photographic thing to those who come to Socotra Island. It attracts and grabs the attention of visitors despite all his travel plans and purposes here in Socotra Island. Firmihin Forest is an area home to the highest concentration of Dragon’s Blood Tree on the island (even in the entire world).
2. Take a Hike to Hoq Cave
Hiking to How Cave is more challenging but it is worth it. The cave is one of the largest cave systems in Scrota showcasing stunning limestone formations, and terrain systems. A cave stretching 3km deep with a 50 meters wide entrance always overlooking the Indian Ocean. If you want to get the entry of this entrance visitors need to take 1-1.5 hours of hike task. And backpackers need to take yet again 30-40 minutes of walking from the entrance to reach the deepest point of the cave.
While you’re hiking journey to Hoq Cave visitors surely catch up with the region’s steep, rocky and rugged terrain systems, therefore each step of your hiking includes rewarding views. Despite its stalactites and stalagmites, the cave holds endemic cave adapted critters and graffiti from the 1st century. But the important point includes your hiking journey is how to maintain good stamina and fitness level. So, backpackers need to keep hydrated themself under its extreme conditions, therefore bring lots of water and sun protection along with you.
3. Feel the Beauty of Ahrer Beach
Ahrer Beach of Yemen popularly known for its intrinsic beauty by the massive area of white sand dunes and bright Turquoise Ocean. Arher is located on the north east shore of Socotra spread from the mountain in the back, where fresh and saltwater are met. Beach white sand dunes help visitors to climb its top to get more panoramic and rewarding views of the ocean and surroundings. Despite that, these towering white sand dunes are the highest on the island that makes visitors bring their cameras to get the most perfect shot.
Ahrer Beach is an ideal place to spend more time with beach activities like fishing, sand dune hiking, boat rides, sunset/sunrise views, swimming, camping and exploring the nearest Hoq cave. Do not miss to watch the Arabian and Indian ocean meeting points and several freshwater streams that flow from the nearest mountains to the sea, that are really worth watching and even for clicking photos in your camera.
4. Visit Homhil National Park and Homhil Pool
Visiting both Homhil National Park and Homhil Pool are great ways to enjoy Socotra Island’s flora and fauna, scenic beauty, hiking and adventure activities and cultural experiences. Homhil National Park is the place where most of the island’s Dragon’s Blood Trees exist, including other plant species like whimsical bottle trees. However, the park is also a place where travelers can go through mountainous steepy areas in order to unleash special gems and a natural infinity pool located high in the hills.
Homhil Pool is another attraction located within Homhil National Park. Despite being the most protected area of Socotra, this pool is beautiful natural freshwater where it allows us to swim/sunbath under more epic scenic views. Homhil Pool sunbath is always more refreshing, relaxing and rejuvenating activity, and we always insist backpackers don’t miss out. To reach this pool visitors need to take 30 minutes of dedicated hiking through the mountain stream.
5. Touch the Beauty of Shoab Beach
If you look at which are the best beaches to visit in Socotra Island, surely you will come across both Ahrer Beach and Shoab Beach/Shuaab beach. Such a brilliant beach is often connected to stunning white sand and bright blue water most likely Ahrer beach. But visiting Shoab beach is a completely different travel experience where it’s clear water helps us to take snorkelling, boat ride to spot dolphins and rich marine biodiversity.
Visiting Shoab beach is a relatively easy task, you need to take a boat ride from Qalansiya. During our boat rides you’ll fortunately be covering dolphins playing and to get an epic view of towering rocky Cliffside. During your beach time it is a good idea to take swimming, soak in the sun, snorkelling and taking leisurely walks along pristine virgin beaches. Since the beach has less tourist traffic, beautiful dramatic cliffs, beautiful beach areas and sand coverages and easy access by boat, Shoab is a perfectly great destination to visit along with your camera.
6. Explore Wadi Dirhur Canyon
Wadi Dirhur Canyon of Socotra Island is considered as the deepest canyon where visitors can spend more time exploring to understand its natural beauty. Before heading to Dragon’s Blood Forest, Wadi Dirhur consists of more fascinating rock formations and ancient artworks that depict regions of ancient rich cultures, scriptures and traditions. However, it descends into an oasis that way to find several freshwater pools, date palms and bottle trees making it a perfect spot for swimming, refreshing yourself from the salty sea.
Its unique geology and lush vegetation are must discover things. It holds limestone gorge carved by water and wind that help to create rock formations and unique species like blood trees and palm trees. Try to spend your afternoon here in Wadi Dirhur and bring your lunch, water bottles, bathing itineraries and camping tents (if possible) to get more involvement. Afternoon is the ideal time to do some activities here like swimming, eating and playing.
7. Wander through the Village of Qalansiya
Qalansiya is the most beautiful and largest village in Socotra Island that offers us stunning beaches like Qalansiyah beach, Detwah lagoon, calm atmospheres and dramatic landscapes. Qalansiyah beach is the most visited and iconic attraction not just in Socotra Island, but in the world too. The beach’s pristine white sand beach, crystal clear water and smooth white sand bar are key elements attracting thousands of visitors every year. Detwah Lagoon is another prime attraction where backpackers may find some marine species and unique ecosystems like stingrays, puffer fish, starfish, sea turtles and octopuses. Detwah Lagoon is well known for being home to various migratory bird species and stunning views of the lagoon.
Qalansiya is well connected to ancient lifestyles and cultures where even today local fishermen like Caveman are often involved in fishing techniques that originated from their ancient traditions. Do not forget to extend your trip till village iconic historical evidences like ancient rock carvings and earlier settlements. Make sure that the village has some of the viewpoints and it offers breathtaking sunset views, please check it and do not miss.
8. Take a Boat trip in Socotra Archipelago
Socotra Archipelago is really vast and beautiful, but if you wish to explore everything you need to take a boat trip. Taking a boat trip around the island isn’t just fun, moreover it is one of the great ways to find and explore secluded beaches, marine reserves, lagoons and remote fishing villages. Socotra Speciality Tours offers island tours through expeditions and cruises and it takes you to popular attractions such as Shoab beach, Detwah lagoon, Dihamri Marine Reserve and local remote villages.
While you enjoy boat rides, professional guides try to explain about destinations and their significance. Boats allow travelers to spend more time snorkeling to see fish, turtles, and other sea life in Dihamri marine reserves. Besides that, the tour involves scaling impressive peaks of Hajhir mountains ranges and swimming in the largest natural swimming pools under Wadi Kilisan. Firmhin forest, Qalansiyan beaches, Dikasam plateau, and Hoq cave are major stopping points during your boat ride. Do not miss exploring unique beauty from each destination.
9. Explore Dihamri Marine Reserve
Are you looking for a premier spot to take scuba diving, snorkelling inorder to enjoy close to coral systems here in Socotra Island? Dihamri Marine Reserve is always waiting for us. Yes, this landmark is often well known for its rich marine reserve where backpackers can spot vibrant marine life from its beautiful red rock beaches activities. It includes snorkelling and scuba diving help us to find and enjoy marine biodiversity like turtles, octopus, sharks, 80 different coral species and including 150 sorts of fish species like parrot fish.
Located along the coast of Yemen, Dihamari Marine Reserve is an even hotspot for water activity lovers offering snorkeling and scuba diving in a wide variety of options. There are plenty of diving schools that provide scuba and snorkeling gear for rent, so make sure you give yourself ample time here to explore marine diversity beneath the water. Keep in mind that conservation efforts are strictly followed by the marine reserve team to protect its fragile ecosystems, making it one of the great destinations for future eco conscious visitors. Besides that, the place stands as a testament of natural beauty, cultural heritage and peaceful retreats make it a must visit landmark in Socotra Island.
10. Take a Leisurely Stroll Amidst in Socotra Markets
Socotra Markets is a place where visitors go to see shops of unique handicrafts, spices and traditional food items that you can purchase as a souvenir to your family or friend. Hadiboh and Qalansiya are major market places in Socotra Markets, offering most unique endemic products like Dragon’s Blood resin, myrrh, frankincense, local species, and fresh seafood items. While walking around the markets of Socotra slowly you will realise that the place is more centric on traditional based stuff, cultural exchange and tangible unique goods and hand carved wooden souvenirs.
More than that, the market is one of the great points to meet many cultural immersion despite being a unique product market. If you visit Hadiboh market where we can see daily Socotri life filled with local chatter and vibrant scenes. Handmade wooden souvenirs and local craftsmanship of ceramic, textiles are truly based on traditional Socotri techniques, which we can learn. Socotra Markets have long historical backgrounds, markets not set up 100 or 200 years ago even since centuries, places used as maritime trade hubs linked ancient trade routes.
11. Enjoy Your Time at Zahek Sand Dunes
Socotra Island is a kind of place where there is no scarcity for sand dunes and white sand beaches. In the same way we need to explore yet another popular sand dunes before going to finish our trip on this mind blowing island. Yes, Zahek Sand Dunes are a wide expanse of white coloured sand dunes, nestled right on the shores of the Indian Ocean covered by the vast purple mountain ranges. When we talk about its speciality to backpackers, dunes are a perfect place for walking, sand boarding, camel riding and camping. If you love any of these unique activities then make a separate trip to these sand dunes.
Its sand is a most sought after thing to observe, because it contains white, powdery sand that creates sugar like landscapes where desert meets ocean. If you plan to walk top of the dunes we recommend you bring your own camera to capture more stunning aerial views of the sand areas and dramatic landscapes.
How to Get to Socotra Island?
Getting to Socota Island is quite an obvious task to a visitor since the country is facing often volatile political situations, visa complexity, limited charter flights, internal conflicts, lack of infrastructure and its geographical location. But it is not very hard to reach, it requires some strategies and things to remember before packing your bag to Socotra Island.
1. Flight
One simple solution to reach Socotra Island if you’re an international is through booking flights from Cairo or Abhu Dhabi. Flight 607/606 flights once weekly fly from Cairo to Seiyun to Socotra. Usually it fly late Sunday night through Mukalla and reaches Socotra.
However, Emirates Aviation Services operates charter flights every Tuesday from Abu Dhabi. But the sad part is flights are only available from mid- September to mid- May, therefore advance booking is mandatory at least 6 months in advance.
Keep in mind that booking flight tickets to Socotra Island is not as simple as booking your next Europe trip or Tokyo/ Kyoto trip. Since the island’s hurricane season from May to September witness’s harsh weather conditions that may cause delay or cancel your flight journey. Be conscious regarding booking your tickets to this island, but remember your entry may be tough but once you start to explore the island surely you’ll feel more rewarding travel experiences.
2. Ship/Boat
The ship route is another ideal way to reach Socotra Island from the port of Salalah. Oman weekly operates ships during peak season (October-May), but the sad part is the journey cannot be accurately arranged in advance, sometimes it may take even a week to reach Socotra from Salalah depending upon ocean conditions.
Is a Visa Required to Enter Socotra Island?
Yes, visitors need to hold a valid Yemeni Visa to enter Socotra Island even including all foreign nationals. Visas are not directly available on arrival, you need to book in advance through local tour operators like “Welcome to Socotra”, and they cover your visa process and even nonstop direct flights from Abu Dhabi on every Tuesday. Just go through for more information about visa process time, cost and required documents.
Best Time to Visit Socotra
If you decide to explore the breathtaking beauty of Socotra Island, then another important aspect you need to know is when you should visit. The straight answer is that from October to April is the ideal month to visit. This season is considered as the peak season to take outdoor activities and enjoy the most friendly weather conditions.
This month witnessed many ideal facts that help visitors to take a trip to the island in this particular period. Its temperature is more sought after thing to enjoy, ranging from 25℃ to 30℃ provides a friendly atmosphere to take hiking, sightseeing, swimming, photography and boat riding for backpackers.
Despite the weather temperature, even the water temperature luckily has been good during these months. Water temperature always ranges from 24℃ to 28℃, which helps visitors to enjoy water activities like swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving in a much more comfortable way.
However, the October to April season receives average rainfall and most of the days are sunny and have clearer skies. It helps us to make our tour more enthusiastic since landscapes are clear to see and beaches and its white sands dunes are great options to walk and hike.
Why Should Visitors Need to Bring their Camera to Socotra Island?
When it comes to packing your bag to Socotra Island bringing a camera is a crucial subject. There are a lot of things that inspire us to bring our own camera to capture the most epic and mind blowing beauty of the island.
Surely once you step in to the land of Socotra, slowly your finger goes to the button of your camera to get the perfect photos of Dragon’s Blood Tree and Socotra Desert Rose. The island’s rugged mountains, diverse terrains, sandy beaches and dunes and stunning limestone cliffs are the most natural elements for us to get perfect photos in our camera.
Eventually cameras need to cover Socotra islands traditional lifestyles and local festivals including unique flora and faunas in order to create lasting memories of your adventure.
