Socotra (Yemen) – Private 8 day tour

Itinerary

Day 1 – Jeddah – Hadibu – Ayhaft Canyon National Park – Delisha Beach

• 08:00 a.m. – Arrive at Jeddah International Airport and go to check-in at the Yemen Airways counter.
• 11:00 a.m. – Flight to Socotra, Yemen.
• 2:00 p.m. – Arrival in Hadibu, Socotra, where our local guide will welcome us and accompany us throughout the trip.
• Transfer from the airport to the capital, where we’ll check in at our hotel.
• Highlight: We’ll head to Ayhaft Canyon National Park (expect a bumpy ride) for our first encounter with Socotra’s unique nature.
• Then we’ll visit Delisha Beach, where you can swim in the sea, stroll along the shore, or simply relax and watch the sunset over the water.
• Dinner at a local restaurant.
• Overnight in Hadibu.

Day 2 – Homhil National Park – Arher

• After breakfast you go to Homhil National Park. Here you will find the famous dragon blood trees and bottle trees.
• After a walk of one hour we arrive at a so-called ‘infinity pool’ with a beautiful view over the southern part of the island.
• You have lunch close to the pool. Diehards are allowed to make a descent on foot towards the beach. The alternative is the car. 
• Short drive to Arher. 
• Highlight: The beach of Arher is the place where fresh and saltwater meet. This is where you put up your tent. You can also climb the 300 metre high sand dune. 
• Dinner and overnight camp on the beach of Arher.

Day 3 – Hoq Cave – Dihmari Marine Protected Area

• After breakfast we start a long climb and hike of 4 hours to Hoq’s Cave. This is one of the most important points on the island. 
• Drive to Dihamri Marine Protected Area. Although you may not find the most beautiful beach here, you will see a great diversity of flora and fauna. You can dive and snorkel here (for rent at an extra cost). 
• Dinner and overnight stay at the Dihmari Eco Campsite.

Day 4 – Dixsam

• Highlight: Drive to the Dixsam Plateau. This is the most famous place with the dragon blood trees. If you like bird watching: here you will find some special and rare birds. 
• On the way you can stop to take pictures of the view, like at Shehahon’s Viewpoint. 
• Lunch in the village of Dixsam. With a bit of luck you will meet the village chief. He enjoys talking about his job and is very enthusiastic about it. 
• Stop at Wadi Derhur for a short walk. Until recently you could camp here, but due to a storm the location is now completely destroyed. 
• Take a walk to the entrance to Fermahin, the largest forest of dragon blood trees. 
• Dinner and overnight campsite stay with a local family in Dixsam.

Day 5 – Sahek and Hayf Dagub – Amak

• Morning walk through the village. Visit a local garden, where attempts are made to grow new dragon blood trees. 
• Drive to the southern coastal region of Nogud. 
• Highlight: On the way you will stop at the large sand dunes of Zahek & Hayf and the beach of Amak. Enthusiasts can also take a refreshing dip here. 
• Lunch at the cave or the beach of Amak, depending on where the sun is. 
• Visit the beautiful Cave of Dagub. 
• Dinner and overnight camping stay in Amak.

Day 6 – Qalansiya – Shuaab – Detwah Lagoon

• Early morning drive to Qalansiya, the second city of the island. 
• Highlight: Take a local fishing boat to remote Shuaab beach. On the way you will see beautiful rock formations and birds flying by from the boat. With a little luck you can also spot dolphins! 
• Relax on the most beautiful beach of Socotra. Enjoy your lunch on the beach. 
• After the relaxing day you drive via Qalansiya to the Detwah Lagoon. 
• Set up your camp and take a walk in the surroundings. The landscape around this lagoon is breathtaking. 
• Overnight stay at Detwah Eco-camping.

Day 7 – Hadibu

• Drive back to Hadibu. 
• Highlight: Spend the day on a city tour of Hadibu to learn more about life on the island. 
• Our first stop is the women’s market (including the spice market), where you will find the most common products of the island. 
• Visit the fish market. Local fishermen bring in a variety of fish, which are then quickly traded. 
• You make a stop at one of the doormakers’ workshops. Here they make beautiful doors as you can find them in many countries in the Middle East. Making the doors is truly an art. Each door is unique and serves to protect the family. 
• Finish your tour with a visit to a local school. Meet teachers and students, with perhaps a spontaneous lesson in English? 
• It is the last night of the trip. Time for a last feast! 
• Overnight stay in a hotel in Hadibu.

Day 8 – Hadibu – Jeddah

• Get ready for the 02:45 p.m. flight to Jeddah.
• 07:10 p.m. arrival in Jeddah.
• End of tour.