How to travel to Socotra in 2025

By Joan Torres Leave a comment Last updated on December 18, 2024

Socotra is an isolated island that has always kept safe and attracted visitors, despite belonging to war-torn Yemen.

Home to around 60,000 people, Socotra is also rich in unique flora and fauna that made it become a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008.

Dragon Blood and Bottle Trees, white sandy beaches, unique cultural heritage and a wide range of endemic species, Socotra is a very different destination from anywhere you’ve seen in the Middle East.

This travel guide will cover everything you need to know about traveling to Socotra, including visas, how to get in, where to stay, things to do, and more.

Don’t forget to check our travel guide to Yemen Mainland

As you may know, Yemen is essentially divided into two regions:

• Yemen Arab Republic, also known as North Yemen
• People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, also known as South Yemen

For detailed information on why these two regions are considered different, check the relevant section in our Yemen travel guide.

Where is the island of Socotra located?

Socotra is an archipelago located 350km southeast of Yemen, and it belongs to South Yemen.

Today, North Yemen (with Sanaa as its capital) is ruled by the Houthis, while South Yemen is mostly controlled by the officially recognized Government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.

However, a significant part of South Yemen is ruled by the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group who want South Yemen to become an independent country.

This separatist group rules over Aden, Mukallah and Socotra, and they are backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the reason you can find Emirates flags waving all across the island, and the reason why tourism has been increasing so much over the past few years.

The UAE has big plans for Socotra when it comes to making it become a prime eco-tourism destination, but that will only happen once Yemen as a whole becomes a more stable destination, and it’s worth investing in.

When will this happen? Nobody can know.

Yes, for traveling to Socotra, you will need a visa, but it’s relatively easy to get one, and I say ‘’ relative ‘’ because you can’t get one as an independent traveler, but you must arrange it through a local tour operator, who will always include it as part of the tour package.

The only thing you need is a valid copy of your passport.

Applying for the visa takes no more than 3 weeks, and it costs 150 USD.

All nationalities can apply for a Socotra visa.

No, it’s not.

The visa for mainland Yemen is valid for traveling to Socotra island but not vice-versa.

If you are planning to travel to Yemen after Socotra, you’ll need to get two different visas.

We are also offering tours to Yemen Mainland, next departures are on:

• April 17th to 23rd, 2025 – APPLY NOW
• November 6th to 14th, 2025 (Yemen + Socotra)- APPLY NOW

Learn more about our Tours for Yemen

Today, the only official way to get to Socotra is by flying in.

The airport is located in the capital Hadiboh and it’s called Socotra Airport (SCT).

There are 3 different routes for traveling to Socotra Airport:

• From Abu Dhabi
• From Mukallah
• From Cairo

I’d say that 98% of the travelers use this route.

There is a flight operated by Air Arabia that travels from Abu Dhabi to Socotra 2-3 times a week, depending on the season.

Usually, flights operate on Tuesday and Friday, but also on Sunday during the high season.

However, flights to Socotra are scheduled every 6 months, so the schedule could change in the nearby future.

A round-trip flight ticket costs around 950 USD.

Every Sunday, there is a flight connecting Socotra and Mukallah, the capital of Hadramut province in Yemen Mainland.

A one-way ticket costs around 250 USD.

There’s also the possibility of flying to Socotra from Cairo with Yemenia Airways via Aden, where you’ll be spending one night before flying to Socotra.

I have never used this route but according to our contacts in Yemen, your fixer has to get you a special visa and/or permission to be able to transit in Aden for a day.

Flights to Socotra can’t be booked online but you must book them through the respective travel agent.

If you are traveling to Socotra as part of the group, your travel company should be that for you. In our expeditions to Socotra, we will certainly book it for you.

Remember that our next departures for 2025 are:

• November 6th to 14th, 2025 (Yemen + Socotra)- APPLY NOW
• December 30th, 2025 to January 6th, 2026 – APPLY NOW

Socotra has become a pretty touristic destination, as per Yemen standards.

With 2-3 weekly flights a week, the island is actually receiving a few hundred tourists per week at least.

I know it’s not a lot but if you compare it to other off the beaten path destinations we offer expeditions to such as Iraq, Eritrea, Syria or Libya, that’s a shit load of tourists.

Also, remember that the island is quite small, so you’ll be bumping into tourists and familiar faces every now and then.

Yemenis from Socotra love their island and are very connected to its nature, but in the island, there’s little awareness on keeping it clean and free of trash.

To be honest, this has massively improved since the beginning of 2024, mainly due to pressure and efforts made by some foreign tourists, and the growing involvement of certain local tour operators.

Your role as a traveler visiting Socotra should be not only cleaning up your own trash, but also helping the locals to maintain the place.

Nowadays, most local tour companies will provide with a water tank filled with mineral water. However, despite having the possibility of re-filling your water bottle, they keep offering you plastic bottles, which sometimes might seem handy but, if mineral water is available, kindly reject it.

Something you should know is that generally speaking, Socotra is a highly conservative society, a country and/or region where you are unlikely to see a woman’s face, like in pretty much all South Yemen.

While it’s true that the new tourism boom is triggering a certain degree of tolerance towards versus the way foreign women dress, it doesn’t necessarily mean they like it or they even feel comfortable with it.

It’s OK to wear a discreet swimsuit when you are at the beach but other than that, I recommend covering your shoulders and knees, and wear non-revealing clothes. Being mindful of local customs will help create a positive atmosphere.

Traveling to Socotra is very seasonal. Here’s what you need to know.

The low season in Socotra is during the warmest and windiest months, when the sky is so hazy and the weather is so hot, that you won’t be able to enjoy nature properly.

I would avoid visiting Socotra during this time at all costs.

The high season for traveling to the Yemeni island is during the less warm months, when the sky tends to be clearer.

However, know that November and December can be a bit rainy and that February and March are the best months for fully blossoming Bottle Trees.

If there is one destination which is ideal for group travel, that would be Socotra.

Socotra is about enjoying nature, hiking and gathering around a bonfire, activities which are best enjoyed with a group, rather than solo.

Against the Compass is known for group expeditions composed of cool, like-minded travelers. Our upcoming group expeditions:

• November 6th to 14th, 2025 (Yemen + Socotra)- APPLY NOW
• December 30th, 2025 to January 6th, 2026 – APPLY NOW

Learn more about our Tours for Yemen

There might be some local shared taxis and small minivans running between towns but traveling around Socotra by public transportation can be extremely inconvenient, since all places to visit are natural sites located in remote areas of the island.

Mountain roads in Socotra can be rough and there’s no other way to travel along them than on a 4×4.

All tours to Socotra will always include transportation in 4×4.

Generally speaking, there are two ways of traveling in Socotra: full camping trips, or staying in a hotel in Hadiboh from where to do day trips, the latter being a terrible idea.

Camping in Socotra is great, one of the best camping I have ever done.

Travelers are likely to have their own tent and the local team will always provide with a thick mattress a pillow and a blanket.

Basic gear, but that’s the closest thing to glamping I have ever done 😉

Moreover, for all our tours, we’ll always travel with a portable table, chairs and all necessary equipment to make your camping trip a comfortable one.

Some campsites don’t have any sort of facilities, while others have basic shower and toilets.

However, most itineraries are designed so you can stay in a campsite with shower at least every other day.

Staying in a hotel in Hadiboh is never a good idea, for different reasons.

First of all, the only decent hotel in Hadiboh is expensive, like 130 USD for an average room. There are cheaper hotels of course, but they aren’t good.

Second of all, the best places in Socotra are far from Hadiboh, plus they are best enjoyed at sunset or early in the morning, not fully enjoyable on a day trip from Hadiboh.

Last, Hadiboh isn’t a particularly pleasant city. I recommend sparing some time to visit the bazaar but other than that, it’s better to spend the night in a comfortable tent by the ocean.

Socotra belongs to South Yemen, so they use the South Yemen Rials (different from North Yemen) and approximately:

$1 = around 1000 YRI

Your debit or credit card will be useless in Socotra, so do bring everything in cash and in US dollars, that’s the only currency they accept.

US dollars are virtually accepted everywhere but I also understand that travelers like to get some local currency, it’s always fun.

There are a few exchange offices in Hadiboh where they’ll gladly accept your dollars. Your local guide should take you there on the day you arrive.

This is what a tour Socotra is likely to cost you:

• 8-day all inclusive tour: 1950 USD
• Visa fees: 150 USD
• Round-trip flight from Abu Dhabi: 950 USD
• Tips (optional): from 40 USD

Total price for traveling to Socotra is roughly 3000 US dollars.

Additionally, there is a souvenir shop where you can buy local handicrafts. Other than that, there’s not much to spend money on Socotra.

You won’t find any Wi-Fi in Socotra, except for the hotel in Hadiboh, but even there isn’t great.

Certain areas of Socotra have 3G internet, but it’s very weak.

This weak signal is provided by Etisalat, a mobile provider from the United Arab Emirates.

If you buy an Etisalat SIM Card in either Abu Dhabi or Dubai, you’ll be able to connect to the internet.

Please note that this will only work with physical SIMs, not eSIMs.

Starlink is a device from SpaceX that offers unlimited high-speed data through a bunch of small satellites that deliver relatively fast internet, wherever you are.

The first time I saw Starlink was in Canaima National Park (Venezuela). It’s typically used in very remote areas where there isn’t any signal and today, many people in Socotra are starting to use it, including some local tour companies.

Some campsites do have power sockets but they don’t really work.

When I visited Socotra, I could only charge my devices with the USB from our cars, which wasn’t great, so I strongly recommend bringing a good power bank and spare batteries for your camera.

Technically, drones are allowed in Socotra but from what I know, if the respective local authorities find it upon arrival at the airport in Hadiboh, they will make you pay a 150 USD fee.

I did bring a DJI Mini 4 Pro but they never found it and I flew it over the island multiple times without any problems.

Yemen is a war-torn country which has been at war since 2014.

While North Yemen’s main problems have been the direct war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, South Yemen has been suffering from terrorism and Al Qaeda.

If we look at the travel advice for Socotra, the FCDO doesn’t make any special distinction with Socotra, but they just advise against all travel to Yemen.

Socotra has suffered the consequences of that war, especially financial and shortage of basic goods but, from a safety perspective, the island has always been spared from the conflict, mainly due to its remoteness and isolation.

It’s up to you whether to believe the FCDO advice or not but, in my humble opinion, there are other risks which are 10x more likely to happen such as heat strokes, and injuries from trekking.

Socotra is inhabited by about 60,000 Socotrans.

From Saudi Arabia to Kuwait, Oman and also Yemen, Arabs from the Gulf are known for their relaxed attitude towards life, but Socotrans are able to bring this to the next level, as it’s usual in most tiny islands around the world.

Socotrans are strong Sunni Muslim devoters and speak a distinct language named Soqotri. This language is closer to the Ethiopian Semitic languages – family of languages spoken in Eritrea and Ethiopia – than to Arabic itself. However, pretty much all Socotrans speak fluent Arabic.

The following packing list is completely subjective:

• Reusable water bottle. We will have a water tank to fill your bottles, hence reducing plastic consumption.
• Head torch
• Microfiber towel
• Water shoes or sandals: for beach days or wading in natural pools.
• Trekking shoes
• All toiletries
• Biodegradable wipes or toilet paper
• Hand sanitizer
• Lightweight, breathable clothing: temperatures can be hot, so pack loose, comfortable clothing made from cotton or moisture-wicking fabric.
• Long sleeves and pants: To protect against the sun and bugs, particularly in the evenings.
• Swimwear: for enjoying the beaches and natural pools.
• Windbreaker or light jacket: evenings can be cool
• Hat and sunglasses: Essential for sun protection.
• Insect repellent
• A dry bag is a good idea to protect your cameras and electronics from any water damage.
• Power bank and spare batteries

There are many awesome places to visit in Socotra, here’s just a couple of them.

Yemen mainland is known for its absolutely mind-blowing towns and villages, but those famous buildings never made their way into Socotra so from an architecture, towns in Socotra aren’t very appealing and the capital Hadiboh isn’t an exception.

Hadiboh is ugly and it’s packed with massive piles of trash everywhere, but the people here are welcoming, has a worthwhile fish market and, and the bazaar will show you what’s city life like in Socotra.

Detwah is a saline lagoon that connects to the Gulf of Aden, from which is separated by a sandspit, absolutely gorgeous.

Located next to Detwah Lagoon, this is my favorite town in Socotra, the second largest after Hadiboh. I like it because it is way cleaner, plus it has a pretty visible fishing atmosphere, great for photography.

Hoq is a 2-km-deep cave whose main passage has a mean width of 50 m and a mean height of 20 m.

You can walk for 1 km deep into the cave, something which I found to be pretty amazing, since it was my first time hiking along a cave without artificial paths. Getting to the cave is a 1.30-hour hike.

For me, this is the best place to visit in Socotra, and the reason toy came here for. A virgin forest of thousands of Dragon Blood Trees, where you can actually camp and wake up in the morning surrounded by these beautiful, endemic trees.

Shoab beach

Only reachable by boat, Shoab is the closest thing to a beach in Thailand.

This rocky peninsula is the center for snorkelling and scuba-diving in Socotra.

Snorkelling here is great. For no more than 10 USD, you can rent a pair of fins and a diving mask and swim along the coral reef, where you are likely to see tonnes of colorful fish.

My experience diving in Socotra
We In Socotra we did one dive, but I strongly discourage you from doing it, unless you are a diving master. I honestly believe people running the diving center are unprofessional. They never checked our gear or gave us any briefing, even though they took us to an awful diving spot with absolutely no visibility and extremely strong current. Everyone from our diving group came back to the surface with 75% of their tank full. There was a woman who had done more than 200 dives, and she claimed that that particular dive had been the worst of her life. No diving center would ever take people to dive on such bad (and dangerous) conditions.

The most popular spot in Socotra, a bunch of massive dunes that nearly go all the way down into one of the most beautiful beaches in the island.

In my opinion, the beach is becoming too busy, definitely the busiest spot in Socotra, but it’s a great place to relax for the day.

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

• Yemen Travel Guide

• Iran Travel Guide
• Palestine Travel Guide
• Syria Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Lebanon
• Iraq Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Saudi Arabia
• Travel Guide to Oman

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