Socotra is one of the world's most unique islands, surrounded by amazing coral reefs and teaming with beautiful landscapes and unique plants and anaimals, here are our picks of the top things that you will want to see on your trip to Socotra.
1. Dragon Blood Trees
Also known as the Socotra dragon tree, these bizarre looking trees are one of the most emblematic symbols of Socotra and are just downright cool! They get their name from their deep red sap which looks, you guessed it, like blood.
These trees are characterised by their umbrella shape which is used in collecting moisture on the dry island. These trees are found all over, but the most popular place to see them is in the Firmin Dragon Blood Tree Forrest located in the centre of the island.
These trees are extremely slow growing, only adding an extra 3-4 feet every 10 years. Also, despite the trees resilience in such harsh environments, this species is threatened and can only be found in Socotra and some other small pockets of the world.
2. Dilhamri Marine Protected Area (DMPA)
The DMPA or Dilhamri Marine Reserve is one of the most coral rich marine reserves on the entire island and makes in one of the best snorkeling places not just on Socotra, but probably one of the best in the world. It is certainly one of the most unique snorkelling places in the world!
Here you can find an abundance of corals, rays, fish, lobsters, turtles amongst a backdrop of crystal-clear aqua water. This is also a very popular place for groups to camp overnight and you better believe our Socotra group tour will be spending a night here, just a stones throw from the beautiful reef.
3. Detwah Lagoon
Detwah Lagoon sits on the northwest coast of the island just next to Qalansiyah and connects the north end of Socotra to the Gulf of Aden. The Lagoon is surrounded by towering hills and the unique plants of Socotra and it is an essential part of Socotra’s UNESCO world heritage status.
The shallow waters of the lagoon are teaming with marine life such as rays and fish and is definitely another spot on the island worth whipping out that snorkel for.
Fun fact! Detwah actually means ‘lagoon’.
4. Zahek Sand Dunes at Aher Beach
On the south side of Socotra, you can find the island’s tallest set of sand dunes, that dramatically plummet into the Indian Ocean near another one of Socotra’s iconic beaches, Aher Beach.
The dunes are made up of very fine white sand and if you can muster the energy to get to the top (it’s hard work, believe us!) then the views will be extremely rewarding.
This is another top spot on the island to camp and is great to be out so remote away from everyone.
5. Sunrise, sunsets and the stars
Being so remote on Socotra means that the island doesn’t have much light pollution, especially when you are away from the small population centres of Hadibo and Qalansiyah. This makes star gazing absolutely incredible, particularly in the centre of the island where there is less salt haze from the ocean.
Sunsets and sunrises really speak for themselves. With such dramatic landscapes plunging into the ocean on all sides, you will see some of the best sunrises and sunsets of your life on this amazing island!
There’s really not much more to this than mother nature doing her thing.
6. Seafood
What do people eat on the island? Well, when you have such abundant seas, then it must be seafood! Any trip to Socotra will involve some freshly grilled seafood at your campsite. From amazing fresh reef fish to even sometimes lobster, seafood from these oceans is pretty epic!
And if seafood isn’t your thing, then you will be able to find some amazing Yemeni staples in the towns. People here also eat a lot of meat, mainly mutton and chicken, but one of the real stars of Yemeni cuisine is the bread.
7. Local people of Socotra
Socotri people are a unique blend of Yemen and East Africa, and even speak their own dialect called Socotri. People on the island are extremely friendly and welcoming to foreigners. They are very relaxed people, and we are sure you would be too, if you grew up on a relaxed tropical island where some of the only things to do are swim and eat fish.
How can I join a Socotra group tour?
You can see out Socotra group tour departure dates here on our website. To secure your spot, send us an email to [email protected] .
For more practical information on travel to Socotra or mainland Yemen, check out our comprehensive destination guides also on our website.
