Socotra – The Lost Island – Private Tour

Welcome to the remote but uniquely beautiful island of Socotra!

You will be met at the airport and assisted with immigration. Transfer to your hotel. Drive to Ayhaft Canyon National Park. In the canyons large water pools, you will be able to enjoy a swim while enjoying the wide variety of birds and trees. In the afternoon, you shall visit Delisha beach. Here you can swim in the sea, walk along the white sands or paddle in the fresh water lagoon. There is also the chance to climb a sand dune for an aerial view of the beach, as well as enjoy sunset on the beach. Dinner and overnight in hotel. (L,D)

We will travel around the town and the port of Qalansiyah, then make our way to an overview point where you can see the entire beach of Qalansiyah and the Detwah lagoon.

From there, we will drive to Detwah lagoon, a marine protected area renowned for its magical landscape. Relax by the golden sands and turquoise waters of the bay, while taking in one of the best views on the island. There will be free time for swimming until we return to Qalansyia. Dinner and overnight in hotel.   (B,L,D)

Drive to Diksam Plateau and gorge, the most spectacular limestone landscape feature on the island. The gorge drops vertically to the valley floor. You will be able to walk along the edge of the gorge where you will see Dragon’s Blood trees. Sections of the plateau have partially slipped into the gorge, leaving ‘lost worlds’ accessible only to buzzards and vultures. The plateau is home to nomadic Bedouin herdsmen who move from one site to another with their herds. We will be welcomed by them with a cup of tea and see houses built into ledges where the plateau meets the gorge. The forest in Diksam is the last Dragon’s Blood woodland. Local people will show you how they used to collect – and still collect on a smaller scale – the precious red resin of the trees. After Diksam Plateau a dramatic change in landscape onto the lush canyon floor, home to Bruce’s Green Pigeons and Laughing Doves. Cool down by swimming in the wadi’s deep pool. Dinner and overnight in hotel.   (B,L,D)

After breakfast, travel to the south of the island, visiting villages along the way. The first stop is at Amak beach where we can swim in the clear water of the Indian Ocean. Lunch will be at Dagub cave, overlooking traditional villages. The cave itself contains many stalactites, stalagmites and pools of water that have seeped through the rock over time. After lunch we shall visit the colossal sand dunes of Hayf and Zahek that have been pushed up against the mountainside by seasonal winds. There will be an opportunity to climb the dunes for a view worthy of the effort. Dinner and overnight in hotel.   (B,L,D)

Today we will depart early, as we head to the port of Qalansiyah to catch the boat where an exciting day begins. We will head to the western side of Socotra to explore one of the most beautiful beaches in the world – the beach of Shuaab and the isolated town of Qabahen. Here, you can swim in the magical crystal clear water and lay down in the white-snow sand.

On the way to Shuaab, you will see a group of Spinner dolphins. You will also see a one of its kind – Socotra cormorant birds – in their natural habitat, as well as many underwater caves. Many of them are still unexplored, making it a great place for thrill-seekers and divers.

If the time allows, you will meet Mr. Aliyah aka the caveman, the smartest man in Socotra who created his very own tourist attraction. Hundreds of tourists come to his cave to meet him and to enjoy listening to his stories on the life in the cave, the land, and its people.  (B,L,D)

After breakfast, drive to Hoq Cave. One of the biggest caves on the island, with subterranean water supplies. The 2.5-hour uphill trek to the cave entrance is tough but rewarded by the cave system spanning over 10km long. As we walk inside, we will admire many huge stalagmites, stalactites, and a rim pool. Afterwards we will drive to Arher where sand dunes have been piled up against the sheer rock faces by the prevailing westerly winds. You can relax on green grass around a freshwater creek, swim in the sea or if feeling fit climb a huge sand dune to get a fantastic view over this charming spot. Dinner and overnight in hotel.  (B,L,D)

After breakfast, pack your bags, put your swimming wear on and hiking shoe because we will head to the protected area of Homhill which is home to an endless number of the Socotri endemic plants such as Dragon’s blood tree, Frankincense, and Desert Rose Trees. It’s about 1 hour drive from Arher and a 30 minute walk along a selection of trails, one of which takes us to a viewpoint where there is a natural swimming pool and a view of villages below on the plain, and of the Arabian Sea.

After Homhil, we will head to another exciting area called Dihammri protected area where you can snorkel and dive in the marine protected area which is home to dozens of species of colourful marine life; it is one of the richest coral reefs on the archipelago.  (B,L,D)

After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to Socotra airport to meet your onward flight. (B)