Young Pioneer Tours are proud to announce our Socotra Tours for 2024 and 2025, as well as our Socotra independent tour options.
Suffering civil war, coups, revolutions and bombings in recent years, the Republic of Yemen is generally off the radar for most tourists, unless of course you know of travel to the paradise-like island of Socotra.
An ecological wonder with flora and fauna that is unique only to the island, this the most alien place on Earth. While mainland Yemen remain mostly off-limits, now is the best time to visit Socotra.
GROUP TOURS TO SOCOTRA (YEMEN) in 2024 and 2025
Whether it’s coming to a new and inaccessible country, exploring an ecological paradise, hiking, camping, spotting wildlife or having an in-depth experience of Yemen, Socotra is a place for everyone.
2024 Socotra Tours
Socotra Yemen Island October Tour – October 13th – 21th – €1495
Our first tour after the windy season has abated in Socotra, this a great time to visit Socotra. One of our most popular Socotra tours and one which fills up very quickly!
Socotra Island Yemen November Tour – November 17th – 25th – €1495
With the season back in full swing, here we are once again. This trip features all the best elements of all of our Socotra Tours and again tends to fill up very fast.
Socotra Island Yemen December Tour – December 8th – 16th – €1495
Our very last tour of 2024 to Socotra, before Christmas and again one of the best times to be on this unique isolated island.
2025 Socotra tours
Socotra Yemen Island January Tour – January 19th – January 27th €1495
Our first tour of the year to Socotra. This has us hitting up all the major sites, as well as the hidden gems that only YPT know about.
Socotra Yemen Island March Tour – March 9th – 17th – €1495
For the uninitiated, Socotra is a deeply hot place, so we head here where the weather is cool.
Socotra Yemen Island April Tour – April 13th to 21st – €1495
This is also our last tour before the famous windy season of Socotra begins, closing the island down for tourism until October!
SOCOTRA GROUP TOUR INFORMATION
Every facet of the Yemen visa process is taken care of by YPT for €200 – no need to send your passport away anywhere. The Yemenia Airways Cairo-Socotra chartered round-trip ticket is an additional $1195 per person, which we also arrange for you.
INDEPENDENT TOURS TO SOCOTRA
In case our dates do not fit yours, you would like to travel alone, or you would like a bespoke Socotra itinerary, then Young Pioneer Tours can help arrange the perfect Socotra tour. Prices depend on the number of people and what level of accommodation you require.
Independent Socotra Tour examples
We do not list all of our bespoke Socotra itineraries, but can offer some examples, such as the following;
- Diving in Socotra tours – Diving can be added to any itinerary, even group tours, but with an amazing amount of aquatic beauty we can offer scuba diving specific tours to Socotra.
- Scientific tours to Socotra – With the unique wildlife, flora and fauna found in Socotra, we can arrange Socotra tours specifically designed around this. Get in touch so that we can arrange everything regarding your project.
- Two week tours to Socotra – With the flight situation as it is, tours can be one week, two, or theoretically longer! While three weeks would be a bit if push, there is certainly enough to warrant a two week Socotra tour. Again, get in touch for options.
- Socotra Tours for journalists – Much like other countries in the region, journalists wishing to do a story about Socotra need a special visa. YPT can arrange Socotra Tours for journalists. Please get in touch to discuss requirements.
- Fishing Tours to Socotra – Socotra offers some of the best and untouched fishing in the world. We can arrange fishing tours to Socotra to suit all needs and budgets. This includes utilizing local fishing boats for budget tours, or chartering bigger boats for more intensive fishing tours to Socotra.
SOCOTRA TOURS SAMPLE ITINERARY – 8 NIGHTS, 9 DAYS
The following is the standard itinerary we use for our Socotra tours. Our current standard tour starts and finishes in Cairo, but we can also arrange tours that originate and finish in Abu Dhabi.
Day 1 – Sunday – Cairo (Egypt) – Aden (Yemen)
- Depart 10:30pm on Yemenia Airways at Cairo International Airport Terminal 1 (CAI) to Socotra (Yemen)
Day 2 – Monday – Aden – Hadibu (Socotra) – Ayhaft Canyon National Park – Delisha Beach
Morning
- Arrive 3:00am into Aden Airport, and depart again at 7:00am
- Arrive in Habibu, Socotra at 10:00am. Upon arrival you’ll be greeted by our local Socotri guide who will accompany you for the trip.
- Begin your drive to Ayhaft Canyon National Park where you can enjoy a short walk to stretch your legs after the flight and lunch.
- Continue to Delisha Beach – a beautiful white beach next to the sea and a lagoon where you can enjoy the sunset and beverages
- Dinner at the Delish Tourist Complex.
- Overnight in your centrally located hotel in Hadibu
Day 3 – Tuesday – Homhil National Park – Arher
Morning
- After breakfast you’ll head for Homhil National Park – famous for its Dragon’s Blood trees, which cannot be found anywhere else outside of Socotra. But that’s not all: many other impressive forms of flora like the bottle tree and the cucumber plant can be found here. After an hour’s walk you’ll reach an amazing crystal-clear pool with a view over the whole southern part of Socotra.
Afternoon
- Lunch
- For those up for a hike may descend from the mountain on foot. Others may walk back to the car and be driven down towards the beach.
- Drive to Arher
- Arher is the meeting point of freshwater and saltwater, creating an impressive natural phenomenon. Over here you’ll find some giant sand dunes.
- Free to explore around the area on your own. Those up to the challenge may climb the 300 meter high sand dune found here.
- Dinner and overnight in Arher.
Day 4 – Wednesday – Arher – Hoq’s Cave/Raw Ersil – Dihamri Marine Protected Area
Morning
- Breakfast, then after waking up next to the beach you may choose between 2 morning activities:
- A steep hike to Hoq’s Cave (4 hours). This is one of the most important spots on the island. OR:
- Be driven to Raw Erisel, the meeting point of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean and walk from there back to the camp.
Afternoon
- Once everybody has returned from their chosen activity, you’ll have lunch and drive to Dihamri Marine Protected Area. While the beach may not be so spectacular here, in the sea you’ll find a great diversity of flora and fauna.
- Here, diving and snorkeling are available (rental available, extra cost) or you can also decide to join the local fishermen for sea expedition!
- You’ll bring back freshly caught fish from the sea and prepare for the special dinner celebration in Dihamri.
- Overnight in Hadibu Eco Campsite and partying!
Day 5 – Thursday – Dixsam
Morning
- Breakfast and begin drive to the Dixsam Plateau. This is the most famous spot for the Dragon’s Blood trees, where you can also spot many rare birds.
- Along the drive you’ll stop for photos at Shehahon’s viewpoint
Afternoon
- You will have lunch in the village of Dixsam. Here you’ll meet the head of the village who will happily tell more about his functions here and the situation of the people living on Socotra Island.
- Stop at Wadi Derhur where you can take a walk. This used to be a famous camping spot, but sadly, after a major storm everything was damaged.
- Hike through the beginning of Fermahin – a forest of Dragon’s Blood trees.
- Tonight you’ll mingle with the people of a typical Socotri village!
- Dinner and overnight at a homestay in Dixsam.
Day 6 – Friday – Dixsam – Zahek & Hayf – Dagub – Amak – Dixsam
Morning
- Breaking and head out for a walk through the village accompanied by your new local friends, including a visit to the local garden, where they try to plant new Dragon’s Blood trees.
- Drive towards the Southern coast at Nogud.
- Explore the cave of Dagub.
- Stop at the big sand dunes of Sahek and Hayf at Amak Beach, where you can swim in the sea.
Afternoon
- Lunch at the cave or at Amak Beach, depending on the sun.
- Return back to Dixsam for dinner and overnight, surrounded by Dragon’s Blood trees.
Day 7 – Saturday – Qalansiya – Shuaab – Detwah
Morning
- Breakfast and early morning drive to Qalansiya, the second largest city on the island.
- You’ll take an half an hour long boat trip to Shuaab, passing by huge rock formations and flocks of birds. If you are lucky you might spot a few dolphins!
- Relax at the most beautiful beach of Socotra and meet the local goat herder, guarding his flock against the lupine hordes.
Afternoon
- Lunch on the beach.
- Upon returning to Qalansiya you’ll drive to Detwah Lagoon.
- Here you’ll make your camp and you can walk around the big lagoon and see the amazing landscape.
- Located by the lagoon is a hidden cave where Ellai, famously known as the Socotra caveman spends his days fishing, preparing aloe vera and goat skins. He’s incredibly welcoming to your and will show you what he days on a daily basis.
- Overnight camping at Detwah Eco-campsite.
Day 8 – Sunday – Hadibu
Morning
- Breakfast and return to Hadibu.
- You’ll spend the day on a city tour of Hadibu and learn more about life in Yemen.
- Your first stop will be the women market (including its spice market) where you will get to see the kind of goods people barter on the islands.
- You will then head to the fish market. Here the fishermen bring a cornucopia of sea creatures and try to sell them to make ends meet. This place can get very lively and you might catch some auctions!
Afternoon
- You’ll then head to the khat market; it is here that the stimulating narcotic — all the rage in Eastern Africa — is sold.
- You will stop by the streets of the manufacturers of doors; these artists make ornate doors like those that can be found around many middle-eastern countries. They really make an art of it as each door is unique and is supposed to represent the family that lives inside the house it protects.
- You finish your day trip popping by a local school where you meet students, as well as the teachers, and interact with them for a possible impromptu English lesson
- Tonight is your last night in the faraway paradise, time to celebrate.
- Overnight in our hotel in Hadibu
Day 9 – Monday – Habidu – Cairo (Egypt)
- Breakfast, peaceful morning before catching your flight back to Cairo to board your 11:00am flight on Yemenia Airways.
- Arrive into Aden at 2:00pm, departing again at 6:00pm.
- Arrive into Cairo at 11:30pm at Cairo International Airport Terminal 1.
- Tour concludes
Frequently asked questions about Socotra Tours
The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about our tours to Socotra. If you have further questions then get in touch and talk to the Socotra experts
June to September is the infamous windy season which makes it incredibly difficult to be on the island so we advise against travelling during those months.
There are no ATMs and credit cards are not accepted anywhere on the island.
We will stay in a homestay where there isn’t access to electricity or running water. You are advised to bring plenty of power banks to make sure you have all the power you need to take photos of the memorable things we will encounter and use your electronics during our stay.
As we will go camping, it would be well advised to make sure you can go on around 72 hours without plugging your electronics. If you have car adapters, it is well advised to bring them so that you can charge your electronics as we go.
Socotra commonly uses a mixture of pins such as the 3 round pin “euro-style” power points, the American style PowerPoint and even sometimes the UK-style power points. It is highly advised to bring a universal adaptor as the standard voltage is different from the ones found in Europe and America.
If you have more questions about traveling to Socotra then please get in touch.
