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Pro
great beaches, great landscapes, no big hotels
Con
hard to get to.
In a nutshell
The paradise island
SocotraRandy Says: I can't pick just one thing about this island. But at the top of the list is just to explore it from one end to the other, and if you've a mind, scuba dive along the way, big game fish for world record Marlin, Dolphin, Swordfish, Tuna, or take a camel trek across the island,...
MichaelFalk1969 Says: You can hire a fisher boat, complete with fisherman, in Qualanisya to Shoab Beach for roughly 15.000 Yemeni Rial. Usually the boats only go out in the morning between seven and nine and take you for an one hour-ride through the turquoise-coloured coastal waters, along a...
MichaelFalk1969 Says: This is the most beautiful beach I have ever seen in my entire life. Imagine the most beautiful beach from a travel magazine cover photograph, white sands, turquoise-coloured warm water, an endless horizon, without people, and there you have it. They don`t have that kind of...
MichaelFalk1969 Says: Hadibo, the capital village of Socotra, has no real "sights", but it is a good place to buy provisions if you have run out of water/food, and it is likely the only place with running water if you intend to spend at least one night in a hotel to get a decent shower. There are...
MichaelFalk1969 Says: These hardy trees are abundant in the highland regions of Socotra beginning at 500 m above sea level (they do not exist in the lower regions). With their umbrella-shaped crown they look like giant mushrooms, or like trees planted in with the wrong side up! Good places to see...
MichaelFalk1969 Says: Qualanisya is a small fishing village that serves as a base for boat trips to the spectacular Shoab Beach on the southwestern shore of Socotra (ca. 15.000 Yemeni Rial). The village itself is not spectacular, though the view from the boat on the town is rather nice....
MichaelFalk1969 Says: The Homhil Plateau is set in the northeastern part of Socotra island. There is a camp ground (highly recommended for overnight stays) set up by the local community. A toilet/shower is included. They serve breakfast, and they do dinner (i.e. slaughter a goat, if you like)....
hydronetta Says: You are camping in Socotra, so your driver/guide will be responsible for your meals. Though not very imaginative and rather repetitive they were delicious, cooked with care and praise God the island has fresh fish!
MichaelFalk1969 Says: It is absolutely necessary to hire a 4WD with a local driver/guide. While the tar road that surrounds the island is in a good condition, if you want to reach the more remote areas like Diksam a 4WD is a must. It is pretty cheap to hire a driver: 10.000 Yemeni Rial per day...
dutchwindmill Says: Yemenia from Sana'a (or Aden or Mukalla) is the only viable way to go to Socotra. They usually operate two flights a week, but in summer they will usually have one only. They may have taken bookings for a return on the second weekly flight already, before they decide to...
A lonely old man living in Socotra cave
Denis_Romanov Says: Exploring Socotra island, I met a wonderful old man, more than 45 years of living in a small cave.To see and talk to people like him, you need to deviate from the standard tourist programs and walk inland.The old man in the photo lives in an amazing location next to the...
hydronetta Says: In Habido's hospital which we visited to see how health care is provided, we came across this poster. As we were explained it shows that the patient's family and friends should be supportive of an HIV/AIDS infected person
ironromeo Says: It is really danger thing!You can be infected on island but results will be after several weeks. I have been sicked only after my return to Moscow. First free days I could not believe that it is malaria
MichaelFalk1969 Says: Not a voluntary tourist trap, but one we set for ourselves. When we arrived at the gorgeous Arher Beach, we instantly made camp and were happy to have this deserted beach all for ourselves. Then we wondered about the significance of the little sand pyramids dotted all over...
MichaelFalk1969 Says: large & small backpack stout hiking bootsraincoatlots of longsleeved t-shirtshat or headscarf toilet papersunscreen !!!malaria medicine (like Malarone) - just in case lots of charged batteries (rare possibilities to recharge) waterproof/mosqito-proof tent...
Denis_Romanov Says: Socotra is a perfect place for those who like trekking.All our programs offer trekking routes that allow you to get to know better the island’s nature and inhabitants. We adjust our programs to the time of your coming. If you come after a monsoon season we would recommend...
Denis_Romanov Says: Underwater hunting on Socotra is strictly prohibited by law. But nobody has anything against free diving and spinning.For free diving we would recommend the whole northern coast of Socotra where it is quite easy to enter the sea. Here, the sea floor is made of volcanic rocks...
Denis_Romanov Says: The best time for diving on Socotra is the period from September to October and from March to May, when wind falls and the sea calms down.We have pleasure in organizing diving tours for you on Socotra. We offer you to take advantage of professional knowledge of Fouad Naseeb,...
Windsurfing & Kiting in Socotra
Denis_Romanov Says: Socotra can be too dangerous for wave-riding, but it is an excellent place for measuring speed during a monsoon season....from November to January you can use only kite (not so strong wind for windsurfing).from February till May - usually no wind...Maybe in the future we...
Bring plastic bags & avoid rubbish !
MichaelFalk1969 Says: Surprisingly, Socotra was much cleaner than the rest of Yemen where wild rubbish dumps are common. As a traveller, you should try to keep it that way and take care that you do not leave your rubbish at the wonderful places where you`re staying. To bring some plastic bags for...
Plan a Socotra vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Socotra locals
Socotri people have set up with the help of the UNDP a program for eco-tourism as a way to have sustainable development for Socotrai.Socotra Ecotourism Society...
1 member lives in Socotra
Q: ..... ...........
A: great, 4 men for every woman!
Read 12 Replies
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Socotra (Yemen) - a strange and blissful island !
Socotra Island is part of Yemen (a great destination in itself), but the friendly Socotri islanders have their own distinct heritage, part Yemeni, part African, part Portuguese, part whatever...
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Socotra Yemen -- some like it remote
Socotra is a very interesting place for VTers who are into geology. Socotra island is considered to be the most isolated chunks of a continent in the world, it is not a volcanic island or a mid ocean...
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I came to the island out of curiousity, and stayed because I thought this had to be one of the most incredible places on earth, and after three months here, I still feel the same. Being only one of......
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240 km off Cape Guardafui, the Easternmost point of the African continent. Largest island in Yemen and in the same-named archipelago, which also includes the smaller islands of Abd al Kuri and the...
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See My report about expedition
I have been there. I took part in archeological expedition http://www.marshruty.ru/Travels/Travel.aspx?TravelID=738df3d6-f708-4a0b-ae68-61bbe6aeac2e
Build your own Socotra page
