Getting in and out
Air
Socotra is currently only accessible by a charter flight from Abu Dhabi which runs twice weekly, or a flight from Cairo via Aden. The flight via Aden will require a special additional visa and is more expensive than the route from Abu Dhabi.
Getting a visa
Tourists coming to Socotra will require a visa. This will be organised by the company who you book your tour with (such as SAIGA Tours).
See and do
Socotra is all about the nature and here are some of the highlights you can expect to see on the island:
Dragon Blood Tree Forest
These iconic trees that are endemic to Socotra are located across the island with a large concentration of them in the Firmin Dragon Blood Tree Forest in the centre of the island, just south of Hadiboh.
Detwah Lagoon
Dewtah Lagoon is one the most spectacular marine reserves of the island, hosting amazing marine life such as numerous turtles and dolphins. The aqua clear water and white sand make this place absolutely stand out as a paradise on earth.
Zahek Sand Dunes
On the south side of the island, you can find incredibly tall sand dunes that plunge into the India Ocean. These amazing sand dunes are an absolute must see on any trip to the island.
Dilhamri Marine Reserve
This marine reserve is home to some of the richest and most abundant coral reef in the entire archipelago and is considered the best place for snorkelling on the entire island.
Beaches
This is one of the main reasons everyone comes to Socotra. If you are a beach person you will absolutely be spoiled for choice. Some of the most famous beaches on the island are Delisha, Aher, Shoab (accessible by boat from Qalansiya), Aomak and Daihasi. However, even if you’re not a beach person, there is so much about Socotra that is completely unique, that it’s still really interesting.
Dress code
Yemen in general is an extremely conservative country; however different rules apply for Socotra. When visiting the towns of Hadiboh and Qalansiya, women must wear a head scarf, however, when travelling around the island to all the remote places you can wear whatever you like. It is even ok for women to swim in bikinis at the remote lagoons. For men it is advisable to wear long pants when in the towns, however when visiting remote areas, there are no restrictions. Speedos may gather some attention though if that is your swimming costume of choice.
Topics of discussion
It is very interesting to talk to locals to see what they think of politics on the mainland, however the people here are very separate from their neighbours and like to stay out of what is happening.
People on Socotra are still quite conservative like their brothers and sisters on the mainland, so it would be wise to steer clear of conversations around homosexuality and religion.
People will however love to talk about the nature, biodiversity and unique Socotri culture of the island.
Religion
The dominant religion on the island is Sunni Muslim.
Ethnicity
The people on Socotra are known as Socotris and are genetically different to Yemenis on the mainland. They even speak a non-Arabic Sematic language known as Socotri. Read more about language on Socotra here.
Socotri share many similarities with Yemenis from the Hadramout region of Southern Yemen. Due to their proximity to East Africa, there are also minor influences from Somalia and some south Asian communities in the region.
Photography
You should 100% take photos while visiting Socotra. The only restriction will be that you can’t take photos of anything to do with military or security. It is also not advised to take photos of women or people if you don’t have their permission. So nothing out of the ordinary.
Money and costs
Tours to Socotra will include meals, so your costs while on the island are very minimal with only a few places to buy souvenirs. Your other costs may include things like renting snorkelling gear which can be done very cheaply, at around USD $5 per day.
