Socotra Specialty Tours — Local services in Socotra

Trip of a lifetime! One of the most memorable and magical experiences. And this comes from a very well-traveled and adventures family. Our family of four (kids 10 and 7 years old), did the Ultimate Socotra Experience for 8 days. While I had some trepidation about taking kids on this rugged trip, in Yemen, they were assuaged by Taylor, one of the co-owners of the tour operator. Taylor, who is American (like our family), has shared her stories of traveling through Socotra with kids. And I immediately felt confident we were with the right group. In general, Taylor is superb! Incredibly responsive, personal, invested, professional, knowledgeable and organized. All of the tour information is incredibly well organized, with different packages, and well presented. Easy to fall in love with the place by just reading the brochures. And from that point on, Taylor only kept the bar ever higher. Communicating timely and clearly, responding to whatever nuanced questions. So, the organization was incredibly smooth and confident. Once arrived - that's when the real magic began. The Socotra Specialty team on the ground - are all just the most fabulous and awesome bunch. Incredibly competent, experienced, professional, warm and all around soulful. Everyone from the guide, to drivers, cooks and support staff - we were always well taken care of and well engaged. The activities on the itinerary are magical, and being lead to them by this awesome group of Socotri souls made the whole experience pure magic. While this is hard-core camping style, rugged and basic in conveniences and modern necessities (no cell service for the most part of the trip) - being able to see these remote, hidden places, where so few humans touched - with the amazing crew - created memories of a lifetime. Also, because of how Taylor organizes her groups and the support crew - we ended up creating a new Socotri family with the rest of the travel junkies in our group - travelers from all over the world. We were a group of 9 all together and left as one happy family, including our Socotri crew. Courtesy of no cell reception - we ended up spending all of our time speaking with one another, sharing stories, laughing, and regaling in our Socotri experiences. We hope to stay connected for years to come. And definitely hope to come back to Socotra again, for more adventures. We also loved meeting Mohammed, the other co-owner of the group, who is Socotri - he had much interesting insight to share about the island. I could say so much more, but hope this post gives a good gist of our happy adventure. Highly recommend Socotra Speciality Tours!!!! Trip of a lifetime, indeed! Love from all of us, to our...

Without a doubt, the island of Socotra is beautiful—anyone can see that. However, after spending a week here, I can honestly say that even the photos don’t do this place justice. With so many tour companies to choose from, I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to look any further than Socotra Specialty Tours. This was my first time traveling alone, and as a woman, many people called me brave and asked if I was ever nervous. The truth is, I never was, and for that, I have Taylor to thank. She addressed all of my questions and concerns promptly and ensured everything ran smoothly. If you’re planning to visit Socotra, you need someone as organized and resourceful as Taylor!

The itinerary, as far as I could tell, is fairly similar across companies. But what made my experience stand out was the thoughtfulness of my guide, Marwan. He made sure I was always comfortable and took the time to ensure I got exactly what I wanted from the trip. Knowing that I work in healthcare, he even offered to show me the local hospital on the last day. I also once mentioned in passing that I liked peanut butter, and the next day, there was a jar on my table. This level of care and attention to detail is exactly what you can expect from this team. Marwan also spoke English so well that I was able to learn so much about the local culture and people.

My driver and chef, Muhammad, was one of the hardest-working and efficient people I’ve met. He had my entire campsite set up and food on the table before I could blink. As someone who regularly camps, it felt like a luxury to have someone set everything up for me and cook. He was also a very skillful driver—many of the roads are narrow and unpaved, but I always felt safe. Our car was always the first to arrive at a new location, and it truly felt like I had this beautiful island all to myself.

Most importantly, both my guide and driver were so much fun! It didn’t even feel like I was traveling solo; I felt like I was with two new friends. The Socotri people are incredibly warm and welcoming. I’ve traveled to many countries, and I’ve never experienced such kindness.

Some reviews mention that the campsite facilities could be improved, but it’s not bad at all. Having shower facilities while camping is a luxury in and of itself, plus living a minimal lifestyle only added to the charm of the experience. You come to really appreciate what you have at home.

If you're hesitating to book, do it soon while Socotra still remains a hidden gem! This trip was worth every penny. I can’t thank the team enough for the unforgettable memories I made in just one week. Socotra and Socotra Specialty Tours, you...

Had the most fantastic experience and incredible time with Socotra Specialty Tours in November 2024 on their 8-day Socotra itinerary.

From start to finish there was seamless organisation and incredibly impressive communication from Taylor which gave me a lot of confidence leading up to the departure and without a doubt that we were in incredibly capable hands. From booking the charter flights and planning everything out on our behalf, to always being happy and prompt to respond to any questions, to the entire tour running smoothly and without a hitch, it was really a pleasure to be part of when you could just enjoy and experience everything to the max without worrying about any of the planning, logistics or daily plans.

I've never really been camping before but it was good fun sleeping under the stars at a different location each night. The tents were brand new and they provided a thin mattress, blanket and pillow. The staff would always set up and take down all the camping equipment (sleeping tents, dining tent, setting up the camping toilet, clearing dishes from the table etc) - so you didn't have to worry or lift a finger.

The staff were all absolutely delightful and had really great positive energy. Abdullah was the main tour leader and was fantastic - super knowledgeable, kind, easy going, interesting and kept everything on schedule. He was happy to help answer any questions or requests anyone might have had and always seemed to make everything work out a treat! Each morning and evening the itinerary for the day ahead was discussed so everyone was one the same page regarding times and activities which was great.

A huge shout out to the kitchen crew also. We enjoyed 3 freshly cooked hot meals every day with a wide variety of dishes. The dining tent always had snacks, soft drinks, water and decorations throughout the day which was a really lovely touch.

Honestly had the most amazing time and would highly recommend both Socotra as well as travelling with Socotra Specialty Tours - a truly memorable trip where the company really looked after absolutely everything.

The itinerary was action packed with activities every day so that we could do our best to experience all the wonderful locations and diversity the beautiful island...