8-Day Heritage Ecotourism in the Socotra Island
Highlights
Explore the beauty of the Ayhaft Canyon National Park
Swim and relax in the waters of Delisha Beach
Enjoy the camel ride from Wadi Daneghan
Trek to the highest peak called Fa'arah at 1525 meters
Visit the Firmhin forest with the last dragon's blood woodland
See the beautiful corals at the Dihamri Marine Protected Area
Witness the stalactites, stalagmites and crystalline formations in the Hoq Cave
Stroll through the little fisherman's town of Qalansiya
Socotra Island
sunandsand, trekking, Eco Tourism
Group Tour
8 Days
Easy
English
Description
Embark on this long heritage eco-travel on the Socotra Island of Yemen, and visit the famous sites of Ayhaft Canyon National Park and the Dihamri Marine Protected Area. Trek through the beautiful trails of Adoho Dema'alah, Fa'arah, Wadi Da'aharoh, and the Derhur canyon. Meet the local people at the fisherman's town of Qalansiya, see flamingos, herons and greenshanks at Qaria Lagoon, and swim and relax in the waters at Delisha Beach and Dihamri Bay.
Itinerary
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Day 1: Ayhaft National Park- Delisha Sandy Beach
- Meet the tour guide, who will pick you up at the airport and transport you to an ecolodge near the island’s capital, Hadibo. Refresh yourself.
- Take a trip to Ayhaft Canyon National Park. In the canyon (wadi), you will enjoy large fresh pools where you can swim or soak. There will be tamarind trees, cucumber trees and a wide variety of birds such as Socotra sparrow, Socotra sunbird and both Socotra and Somali starlings. Ayhaft is a natural nursery due to its abundant endemic trees, plants and birds.
- Visit Delisha Beach, in the afternoon, with pristine white sands full of crabs. You can relax while swimming in the sea and/or in a freshwater lagoon. You can climb a huge sand dune overseeing the beach and try to surf it down. If you want to stay longer, there may be a fabulous sunset to watch from Delisha.
Dinner and night at Adeeb ecolodge.
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Day 2: Wadi Daneghan - Kishan - Adoho Dema'alah
- Have an early breakfast, and we will drive to Wadi Daneghan, the starting point of the trek. After loading our stuff on a camel, we will hike for 3 to 4 hours.
- Cross wadies and walk among the endemic plants such as croton socotramo and Adinum, and pass by a granite wadi on the way to Kishan. Lunch in Kishan.
- Carry on to Adoho Dema'alah at some 600 meters.
Dinner and overnight in Adoho Dema'alah.
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Day 3: Adoho Dema'alah - Fa'arah Da'arho
- Trek to the highest peak called Fa'arah at 1525 meters in the morning to have a nice view of Hadiboh. Of course, that place is full of vegetation, although the peak high up is naked granite.
- Continue trekking to Wadi Da'aharoh.
Dinner and camp in Da'aharoh.
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Day 4: Da'arho - Firmhin Forest - Wadi Derhur
- Visit the Firmhin forest. It is the last dragon's blood woodland. Nowhere else can one find dragon's blood trees in such density. Local people will show us how they used to collect - and still collect on a smaller scale - the precious red resin of the tree.
- Continue hiking to Derhur canyon (wadi), where we will see unusual yet beautiful rock formations. You can swim in the pool.
Dinner and overnight at Wadi Derhur.
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Day 5: Dihamri Protected Area - Arher Freshwater Creek and Beach
- Drive to the nearby Dihamri Marine Protected Area. It boasts one of the richest coral reefs on the archipelago.
- Relax on the beach in palm leaf huts and swim and snorkel in Dihamri Bay. Snorkelling gear can be hired there. Marine species you will see underwater include: Parrotfish, Moray eel, Rays, and Sea urchins, and if you are lucky, you will meet turtles. Divers can also use the services of Dihamri Diving center and go for a dive in Dihamri or another of the superb diving spots of Socotra.
- Head to Arher in the afternoon, where a fresh creek coming out from granite is meeting seawater on the beach. You can relax on green grass around the creek, swim in the sea, or if you feel fit, you can climb a huge dune to get a fantastic view over this charming spot. Arher is one of the best spots for Paragliding, and thus you can paraglide if you have your own paragliding equipment.
Dinner and overnight at Arher.
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Day 6: Hoq Cave - Homhil Terrestrial Protected Area
- Make an early start to drive to the base of Hoq Cave in Terbaik village. Before the sunshine gets too hot, we will walk up to the entrance of the cave. It is more than 3 km long with a water pool at the end and holds a wealth of Socotri history.
- See stalactites, stalagmites and crystalline formations, ancient writings on the cave walls and also what appears to be a picture of an old trading ship, which have all been preserved over the ages by a calcite glaze.
- Visit Homhil in the afternoon, a protected area with fabulous sceneries that give you a prehistoric feeling.
- Stop at Qaria lagoon en-route. It is the largest lagoon on the island, and we will hopefully see flamingos, herons and greenshanks. Once at Homhil, we can choose from a selection of walking trails. You will be astonished by the prehistoric atmosphere of the landscape, rich with dragon blood trees and bottle trees. You will be addressed by local children who sell dragon blood raisins and frankincense. One of the trails leads to a viewpoint with a natural pool with almost freezing green and blue water.
Dinner and overnight will be at a camp in Homhil.
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Day 7: Qalansia - Detwah Lagoon - Golden Beach of Shuab
- Drive to the west of the island to the little fisherman’s town of Qalansiya. It consists of traditional Socotri houses, narrow alleyways and a beach full of fishing boats ready to set off for today’s catch or to take you to Shu’ab beach.
- Go for a boat trip to Shu’ab. We will surely meet some spinner dolphins along the way, with cormorants flying over our heads. Once at Shu’ab, we visit a mangrove area. We will have lunch on the long and clean Shu’ab beach. In the afternoon, you can swim in this pristine place.
- Take a boat ride back to Qalansyia in the late afternoon. Line fishing is possible from the boat if you want to catch your dinner.
- Continue to Detwah lagoon, a marine protected area renowned for its magic landscape. You will be charmed by a white sandy tongue surrounded by the turquoise waters of the bay. You can swim there and enjoy paradise. There is also an array of sea birds to be seen in the lagoon.
Dinner and overnight at Detwah.
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Day 8: Departure
- Have an early breakfast, we will drive you to the Socotra airport to board your flight.
What's Included
Visa fees
Welcome and transfer from and to Socotra airport
4WD vehicles (transportation)
Camels and Cameleers
Accommodations: Hotel any day you want, eco-lodges, campsites and wild camping
Food (3 meals a day); we do also cater for vegetarians
Sufficient amount of bottled water throughout the trip
English-speaking, experienced local guide
Local trekking guide at specific places
Protected Area entrance fees and all other fees
Boat ride to Shu’ab
What's Excluded
Flight tickets to Socotra
Personal insurance
Guide’s and driver’s tips
Know Before You Go
Socotri standards:
Travellers to Socotra must understand that Socotra is an eco-tourism system and fairly new to the international tourist market. Hence the Socotra hotel accommodation standard, though good, may not be up to the same international standards that one would expect in a more developed atmosphere. We believe that this only adds to the appeal of a visit to the island of Socotra.
When to go to Socotra:
Climate is a crucial issue to consider when planning your trip to Socotra. Avoid the monsoon season from June till September when strong winds sweep the island. However, if you are a surfing enthusiast, come in July or August when the wind is growing in speed, and the waves are getting higher. Nature enthusiasts should go from early October to late May. Generally, wildlife and natural viewing are most rewarding from the end of January through May. However, in April and May, temperatures are on the rise. You will need plenty of spare clothes to change into frequently.
Visa for Yemen:
Buying a visa upon arrival was cancelled in February 2010, and you must get your visa in advance at the Yemeni embassy in your home country. The procedure, however, is not complicated, and almost any nationality should be able to get a visa within a couple of days. We can issue you a visa and send you an electronic copy. The original copy will be handed to you upon your arrival.
Visa procedure:
Visa fee is $50 per person – you can pay it when you are here in Socotra). We need you to send us a copy of your passports in order to process your visas from here. Once we receive the scan of your passport page (the one with the photo), we will process the visa and send you a scan of the visa two weeks before your arrival. Please bring it with you. The original will be waiting for you upon your arrival at the shelter called "VISAS" (on the left side of the Sana'a arrival hall – if arriving via Sharjah, this will take place in the Socotra airport, and we will be there to help you). You hand them your passport and the scan of the visa. They will put the visa into your passport. You do not need to pay anything at this point. With the passport now provided with a visa and the filled-in "arrival card," you proceed to immigration and then pick up your luggage. This is when you will meet our representative.
Important:
Stuff happens. There may be an internet problem or miscommunication or some such. So please contact us a week before your arrival in case you haven’t received your visa to Yemen.
Accomodation options:
Most of our itineraries are "ECO" so we strongly suggest to our guests to stay in eco campsites. There are, however, two eco lodges close to Hadibo: Adeeb and Delisha and four hotels on Socotra, all of them in Hadibo: three economic hotels (Taj Socotra Hotel, Socotra Tourists Hotel and Hafej Hotel). The stay in the hotel is included in the itinerary. For some of our clients, certain services are indispensable. We suggest that they opt for the more expensive option: the Summerland hotel, which costs $75 single room, $140 double room and $220 suite. Please, let us know if you want to be accommodated at Summerland so we can add it to your itinerary.
Communication options:
There is no possibility of using your GSM mobile phone on Socotra, and anyway, in many places, there is no mobile coverage (which some of our visitors find a relief!) BUT: life is life, and sometimes you absolutely need to be reachable or to reach someone. In these cases, we can provide your guide with a CDMA mobile phone which has a sim card, and you can buy the scratch cards to replenish it (to top it up) and use it as you go. Telephone lines are available in Hadibo. There are also mobile data with a GSM operator; you can ask your guide about it. The post office is located at the center of Hadibo, in Hadibo Local Council, next to the main mosque.
Internet options:
The only place where you can use the internet on Socotra is in the capital, Hadibo, where you will not be for a long time. It is possible to check your email, etc., in our agency, but the connection is very slow, so do not count on surfing the web, watching YouTube, ads, talking on skype or downloading big files. You can eventually use our desktop and connection to transfer your photos from your memory card to your flicker account, but you better take an extra memory card because you will take more pictures than you thought – our island is really beautiful
Electricity options:
In Hadibo and in the eco-lodges recharging your batteries, camera, etc., is possible. Outside Hadibo, your guide will do his best to help you, but it is advisable to bring a spare pack or two.
Payment:
As there are no ATM services on Socotra, we will expect you to pay for the itinerary and the visa in cash (preferably US dollars or else euros) when you are here in Socotra at the beginning or at the end of your tour. If you do not like to carry cash with you, then you can wire us the totality or part of it, and we will leave it up to you. The only amount that we NEED to get via wire is the cost of your domestic tickets, as this is outside our accounting system. We will send you our bank details once you plan to do the transfer. Dollars and euros can be easily exchanged in the CAC bank or the National Bank of Yemen, which have branches in Hadibo. The currency rates are as good as on the mainland. When travelling with us, you only need local currency for private purchases as our prices are all inclusive (food, hotel and camping accommodation, car, guides, entrance fees etc.).
Health precautions for Socotra:
Socotra is currently free of malaria, so the use of malaria prophylactics is not recommended. However, as mosquitoes occur locally, we do recommend using insect repellent when sitting outside after sunset. Cholera is not present on the island at all. We recommend you drink only bottled mineral water; it’s readily available in Hadibo and Qalansiya, and the guide will have plenty for you all the time of your stay. You don’t need any special vaccination to travel to Socotra. Common vaccines such as hepatitis A and B and tetanus are recommended for any other travel. The hospital and health units on Socotra offer only basic medical services. Pharmacies are presented around Hadibo, but it is much better to have your own first aid kit with drugs you have good experience with.
Time zone:
GMT + 3 hours, same as on the Yemeni mainland.
Power supply on Socotra:
Electricity from the public network is only available in Hadibo from the afternoon hour till early morning. Some eco-campsites have solar panels allowing you to recharge your camera batteries. Hotels and restaurants often have their own small generator. Plugs are generally two-pin and multiple plugs (British style). Socket adapters are easily available in shops. We recommend you bring a car charger (working on the cigarette lighter) if you require to charge electrical appliances.
Where to buy souvenirs on Socotra?
There are not so many opportunities to buy souvenirs on Socotra. So if you see something you like, don’t wait for later and buy it on the spot.
Socotra Women Association shop, Hadibo: opens in the morning and late afternoon. You will find incense burners, rugs, woven baskets, some jewellery, and solar lamps.
Honey Association shop, Hadibo: open in the morning hours and then late afternoon till night. You can buy highly praised Socotri honey, traditional sets for making fire, some traditional utensils, and some jewellery.
Old Hadibo market, street corner near Inet Café: women sell traditional incense burners decorated by dragon blood and sticks for cleaning teeth (miswak).
Dragon blood, frankincense, woven strips for comfortable sitting (habwa) and other traditional souvenirs are usually offered in eco-campsites. Children also sell them at the Folklore Museum in Raqlah in Hemphill and Erher village and a small souvenir shop, Ras Irsil.
What To Bring
Comfortable, light clothing, preferably made of modern functional materials, quick dry, anti-odour, well-absorbing sweat
Sunglasses and head cover (Keep in mind Muslim clothing habits when choosing your clothes)
Comfortable walking shoes or trekking sandals
Flip-flops (to be used in bathrooms and on the beach)
Sun lotion
Fleece and a pair of thick socks (for cold nights)
A thin sleeping bag (for the night outside)
Bed sheets for personal comfort
A bottle of repellent because mosquitoes get very thirsty at sunset
Pack wet wipes or similar tissues for personal hygiene when water will not be available. You can also buy an aseptic cleansing lotion for cleaning your hands
A torch/ flashlight with spare batteries will be very hand
Money belt for keeping money, passport and other valuables
Meeting Point
Socotra Island Airport، سقطرى،، Yemen
Cancellation Policy
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For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price
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