Itinerary

1. Day 1- Arrival in Socotra

   • Upon arrival at Socotra airport, have lunch and check in the hotel in Hadibo.

   • Visit Delisha beach, with pristine white sands full of crabs.

   • Relax while swimming in the sea and in a freshwater lagoon. Climb a huge sand dune overseeing the beach. There is also a possibility of watching a fabulous sunset from Delisha beach.

   Dinner and overnight in hotel in Hadibo or Adeeb Eco campsite.

2. Day 2- Dihamri Marine Protected Area

   • Drive to 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 that can be seen underwater include Parrotfish, Moray eel, Rays, Sea urchins.

   • 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.

   Dinner and overnight camping at Dihamri Marine P/A.

3. Day 3- Dihmari P/A / Qareah Lagoon / Homhil Protected Area

   • Reach Homhil and see fabulous sceneries to get a kind of pre-historic feeling. Stop at Qareah lagoon en-route. It is the largest lagoon on the island. See flamingos, herons and greenshank here.

   • The treks to Homhil start at the bottom of a spectacular ravine on the level. The trek is of medium difficulty and won’t take more than 1-2 hour. Enjoy the view back while ascending.

   • Once at Homhil, choose from a selection of week trails. Witness the pre-historic atmosphere of the landscape rich with dragoon blood trees and bottle trees. Interact with local children who sell dragoon blood trees raisin and frankincense. One of the trails to a viewpoint with a natural pool with almost freezing green and blue water with almost freezing green and blue water.

   Dinner and overnight in Homhil P/A.

4. Day 4- Homhil P/A / Wadi Shife/ Arher beach / Ras Irsal

   • After breakfast at 6:30 am, walk down to Wadi Shifa, taking in lovely valley scenery followed by expensive sea views of Wadi Shifa (medium one and a half hour walking). Take the car on the Wadi.

   • Drive to Dedam Cave, a small cave for quick lunch.

   • Go to the northeast coast of the Island to Arher area, which is a meeting point of freshwater from the mountain and saltwater from the Indian Ocean. Arher is also home to another magnificent sand dune.

   • Swim and explore the location. Climb the huge sand dunes, for fantastic views, and then take a trip to Ras Irsal and explore the windy east extreme of the island.

   Dinner and overnight camp at Arher campsite.

5. Day 5- Arher Beach / Hoq Cave

   • Make an early start to drive to the base of Hoq cave in Terbaik village. Before the sun gets too hot, walk up to the entrance of the cave. It is more than 3 km long with a pool at the end and holds the weather of Socotri history.

   • See ancient stalactites, stalagmites and crystallises formation. Admire the ancient writings on the Hoq cave walls and also what appears to be a picture of an old trading ship have been preserved over the ages by a calcite glaze. There is also evidence to suggest that the cave was once used for ritual a purpose by the presence of mysterious alters.

   Finally, move to Arher beach.

   Dinner and overnight in Arher beach.

6. Day 6- Arher / Wadi Dfaarho / Amak Beach / Hayf Dogub Cave

   • Make a trip to Dogub Cave, which has a scattering of traditional villages below. The cave is interesting as there are many stalactites, stalagmites and water that have seeped through the rock over time.

   • Drive to Wadi Dfaarho on the way and see traditional villages and natural pools at the bottom of the canyon. The unusual Desert Rose tree clings to the canyon walls. The vegetation here is lush green and there are birds and a forest of frankincense trees.

   Dinner and overnight at Detwah lagoon camp/site.

7. Day 7- Hayf / Zaheq Sand Dunes / Daugab Cave / Mateef Beach

   • Drive to the natural zoon of the colossal sand dunes of Hayf and Zaheq which have been pushed up against the mountain seasonal wind of Socotra. Climb the dunes for a view that is truly worth it.

   • Go to the south up to Mateef beach to swim in the clear waters of the Indian Ocean.

   Dinner and overnight at Mateef beach.

8. Day 8- Amak / Diksam Plateau / Shebahon Viewpoint / Wadi Druher

   • Drive 4x4 vehicles to Diksam Plateau and Shebahon viewpoint. This area is renowned for dragon blood trees, the resin of which is collected, used and traded by the people of Socotra. The area is also home to the endemic and rare Socotra Bunting (estimated at 1,000 pairs). The Shebahon viewpoint gives a fabulous vista overlooking Druher Canyon (Wadi). Get to see unusual yet beautiful rock formations.

   • Go down to the Wadi Druhr for lunch and an easy walk and maybe also a swim in a freshwater pool with a natural slide.

   Dinner and overnight in Diksam Plateau.

9. Day 9- Wadi Darhuo / Firmhin Forest / Haggier Mountains / Skand

   • Go hiking the Wadi Darho for three hours lunch at Darho. 

   • Trek for two hours to Farmhin Dragoon blood trees forest which is the most density area of dragoon blood trees.

   • Walk up to the Skand area which is the highest mountain on Socotra island. See the south coast and north cost and so many different kinds of endemic plants. (approx. 5 hours easy walk) 15 km - 600 m.

   Dinner and overnight in Thaher.

10. Day 10- Wadi Madhiro / Tanareh / Wadi Ahaft

    • Hike down to Wadi Madhiro and to Tanareh. 

    • Take a trip to Wadi Ayhaft National Park.

    • In the canyon, enjoy large freshwater pools to swim or soak. See Tamarind and Cucumber trees and a wide variety of birds such as Socotra Sparrow, Socotra Sunbird and both Socotra and Somali Starlings. As a matter of fact, Ayhaft is considered a natural nursery due to its large abundance of endemic trees, plants and birds.

    Dinner and overnight at Ayhaft Natural Park.

11. Day 11- Wadi Ayhaft / Turtle Beach of Qadama

    • Go to Qadama beach to see the turtles on the beach and spend overnight there to visit the long beach of Qadama.

    Dinner and overnight in Qadama turtles beach.

12. Day 12- Qadama / Qalansiyah / Detwah Lagoon P/A

    • Drive to the western part of the island where a little fishermen’s town of Qalansyiah is located. It consists of traditional Socotri houses, narrow alleyways and a long beach full of fishing boats ready to set off for today’s catch.

    • Continue to neighbouring Detwah Lagoon which is a marine protected area renowned for its magic landscape. Be charmed by a white sandy tongue surrounded by turquoise waters of the bay. This surely is one of the best views on the island. Jump in the shallow sea there and enjoy paradise. Be careful with stingrays that can be seen in the lagoon. There is also an array of sea birds to be seen in the lagoon.

    Dinner and overnight at Ditweh Lagoon.

13. Day 13- Relaxing day

    • Relax and swim around the Ditweh Lagoon.

    Dinner and overnight at Ditweh Lagoon.

14. Day 14- Qalansiya / Golden Sands of Shouab Beach / Hadibo

    • Have breakfast at 6:00 am and take a traditional fishing boat to the pristine beach at Shouab seeing beautiful rock cliffs, fishing and perhaps cormorants and dolphins on the way. There are also mangrove trees on this beach and go for an easy swim.

    • After the return boat trip to Detwah lagoon for lunch, drive back to the capital city of Socotra (Hadibu).

    Dinner and overnight at hotel in Hadibo or Eco-campsite.

15. Day 15- Departure from Socotra

    • After an early breakfast, visit a souvenir shop, plant nursery, Socotra woman association and market, while waiting for transfer to Socotra airport for a short flight to the mainland.