THE ISLAND OF SOCOTRA IS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE SINCE 2008, THANKS
TO ITS RICH AND UNIQUE BIODIVERSITY
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SOCOTRA ISLAND : THE MOST ALIEN PLACE ON EARTH

Socotra has always been surrounded by mystery:  isolated in the ocean for millions of years, ancient legends of ‘yins’ (genies), forests of  sacred incense trees, healing red resins from the Dragon Blood Tree…

 

Legend or Reality? You have to come and find out.

 

The fact is that Socotra is a  virgin and unexplored  destination. A third of its fauna and flora is endemic to the island!

 

We live in the digital age where there is practically no place in the world undiscovered, except Socotra
#TheMostAlienPlaceOnEarth You will not be disappointed.

 

The island is renowned for its marked contrasts. Visually striking,  you will enjoy this wild prehistoric beauty  that will transport you to movie sets and an out-of-this-world reality.

AN ISLAND OF DRAMATIC SCENERY

The East welcomes the sun and the start of a new day. Spiritually it means a new beginning. Dawns, the energy moves you to a higher level of awareness. You will feel the extraordinary strength of all the elements of nature in this part of Socotra Island:
  • Gigantic 400m white dunes opening the door to ancient caves hidden in the rock formations.
  • An extraordinary range of blue colors, from an intense navy blue to a brilliant turquoise.
  • The houses of the crabs, small sand pyramids that make look like Mars planet.
  • One of the most impressive natural infinity pools in the world.
  • The surreal Flora protagonist of the island: Dragon Blood, Cucumber, and Bottle Trees…
The North is home to Hadibo, the capital of Socotra. It is the focus of activity and social life. Messy allies, colorful groceries, small restaurants, and shops of traditional sweets. From the moment you arrive at the airport, what surprises you the most about this region is to see the Haggier mountains always in the background, imposing, as if they were telling you that the magic is yet to come. Outside the city, on the way to the West, we have two natural areas of exceptional beauty with endless wild beaches, ideal for practicing water sports such as kayaking, kitesurfing, or SUP. And we cannot forget to mention the natural reserve of Qadama, home of the giant head turtles, an endemic species of Socotra, wherefrom the months of May to September you can see specimens of up to 500 kg burying and protecting their eggs in the sand.

WHERE TIME DOES NOT EXIST

Central Socotra & Diksam Plateau is a place of an awesome power. The energy of the legendary Dragon Blood Trees surrounds you from the moment you enter this region. Like a trip to the center of the earth, you will suddenly be immersed in a world where time does not exist.

 

At Diksam plateau, you will feel like you are on the set of a movie. You do not know if it is the Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, or Star Wars. But you are on the island of Socotra, in the 700 meters gorge surrounded by upside-down umbrella-shaped trees.

 

Down, steeply, the inmensity of wadi Dirhur surprises you. We go through it to reach the Firhmin forest, where you can interact with the largest concentration of Dragon Blood Trees in the world. A place of magical spirituality.

 

The mighty Haggier Mountains are the highest peak on the island, 1,500 meters above sea level. A jaw-dropping world with valleys and flora that do not disappoint any experienced trekker. You have to keep in mind that getting into them requires separate planning since it can take between 3 to 5 days for a good exploration of the entire terrain.
The goal is worth it.

 

The South takes you to a different Socotra. Nature changes dramatically. The white dune desert opens the door to the intense blue of the Indian Ocean. In these dunes, you can take incredible pictures and, at night, almost touch the stars.
Like if you were on the moon, you will also find one of the most spectacular wadis you have ever seen Wadi Kalysan. On its way, you can see the cliffs open to the Ocean, again, as if the Jurassic birds were to fly over you.

 

It is the most depopulated and desolate area of Socotra. Orange soil plains divide the landscape between the mountain and its caves with alien formations and the endless field of dunes that melt with the surfing waves of the sea. Waves that during the Monsoon season can reach up to 7 meters.

GET INSPIRED AND SMILE

The West will just blow you away. Here you will find the second largest village of Socotra, Qalansia. The sea turns into a crystalline turquoise blue. Dolphins jump around you without any shame.

 

The Detwah Lagoon, by the sea, but without merging with it, will leave you open-mouthed. The view from the cliffs, full of Aloe, Frankincense, and Bottle trees, especially at sunset, will give you one of the most magical moments of your visit.

 

Shuab beach is an area where the roads do not reach. The four wheels cars are replaced by rustic fishing boats, and dolphins and abundant marine life surround you.

 

Heritage: Socotra has its own language, Soqotri. A language only spoken, not written. Socotris are very proud of it. At the same time, the vast majority of the population speaks Arabic, which they learn in schools. On the other hand, English is not very widespread. It is not a problem when it comes to communicating since Socotris are friendly and love to talk. Oral tradition is in their blood. They will always find a way to communicate with you, without a doubt with a big smile.

 

The harsh climate means that there is not great vegetation and soil to cultivate easily. The main vegetables are onion, cucumber, and tomato. As for fruits, mango and papaya are of excellent quality, such as melon, watermelon, and, to a lesser extent, banana. The exceptional quality of the native honey and dates is noteworthy too.

 

Goat, beef, chicken and camel meat are the most appreciated normally with rice and spices. The fish is of the highest quality. Fresh and caught in Socotra’s pristine waters, the flavor of its meat, with hardly any seasoning, is worthy of any gourmet restaurant.

 

As for crafts, women are the experts in this matter. You can find handicrafts made with palm leaves, wool, and mud: pottery, bags, hats and tablecloths that are worth buying.