There are places you visit once and they stay with you forever. Socotra is exactly that. An isolated Yemeni island in the Arabian Sea between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, it feels more like a sci‑fi set than a real place on Earth. That’s exactly how I felt when I landed here in August 2023.
Socotra is known above all for its unique nature. More than a third of its plants and animals exist nowhere else on Earth: legendary dragon’s blood trees, surreal landscapes, empty beaches, canyons with natural pools, and wild mountains with no tourist infrastructure. It’s also a place where extreme beauty meets poverty, chaos meets hospitality, and absolute freedom sits alongside the hard reality of life far from civilization.
If you’re after luxury resorts, comfort, and predictability, Socotra isn’t for you. But if you’re drawn to raw destinations—places far from mass tourism and a way of traveling that isn’t always comfortable but cuts deeper—you’re in the right place.
This series won’t just be about ‘top spots’ and photogenic scenery. It’s about the real Socotra—as it is. About the first shock after landing; the dirt, the plastic, and the power outages; and also the genuine smiles of locals, cooking lunch outdoors, sleeping in tents, fierce winds, endless drives on rough, crazy roads, and the moments when you realize how small you are compared to the landscape around you.
What you’ll find in this series
In the articles that follow we’ll travel across the island together—from the capital, Hadibo, to its most remote corners. I’ll break down each region and the experiences Socotra offers:
- the first days on the island and getting to grips with the realities of Yemen
- iconic places like Detwah Lagoon, Qalansiah, Arher Beach, and Shoab
- hikes into the mountains, canyons, and wadis with natural pools
- encounters with locals, shared dinners, and the unexpected
- long drives in 4x4s, camping, wind, mishaps, and improvisation
- caves, dunes, snorkeling, and flying a drone
- the contrast between its otherworldly nature and the island’s environmental problems
Each piece will focus on a specific leg of the trip or a particular location, rounded out with personal observations, practical takeaways, and the kind of authentic moments that don’t fit into quick guides.
Welcome to Socotra. An island you never forget.