Tour Socotra — Local services in Socotra

Travelling to Socotra was a dream come true. I knew is difficult to reach this place and proper planning required, but I was ready to commit to this advanced planning for my 40 years anniversary(booked the tour with 6 months in advance 🤭). I wanted something raw, wild, unique and this is what you get actually by travelling to Socotra in 2025. But truth to be told ...I got even more! My expectations were way exceeded.

Tour Socotra, as one of the leading tour companies on the island, makes your experience way better. The secluded and tucked away camping spots or unique lunch spots they offer enhances the experience. I was amazed by the people of our crew every day. The guides speak fenomenal good english, the drivers are no doubt extremely skilled to navigate the rough and bumpy off- roads that were an added adventure, the chef treated us only with delicious fish dishes the entire week. But without exception, the people of our crew were good people, humble, unaffected by greed and frustrations we have and live every day in our modern worlds. And for this , the people of Socotra won my heart!

I don't need to speak about the landscape. Social media is full of that anyway, but I can truly confirm the landscape is out of this world. The sunset on the dragon forest and climbing the 400m white sand dunes were my favourite, though 😍.

My own personal thoughts about this experience are many and go really deep, though I can strongly say: -the place is super safe 🙏, so really trust yourself in Tour Socotra for this unique experience, though safety was never a concern for me, I live in UAE and I was much aware of the situation and safety in Socotra.. -sleeping in the tent was better than expected ( as a first long and extended camping experience for me personally) , I even slept better in the tent than in my own bed (loved the nature sounds and quitteness of nights 🌙). Changing camping spots every other day was amazing. -yes, it's hard, to minimise your shower and toilet needs to a camping shower and toilet, but the entire group is in the same situation like you, everybody struggles in their own way and was super fun to speak openly with the group about it .... -having no Internet, and I truly advise you to stay unconnected for the entire week, will immerse you fully in the environment. This is another fact I wanted with this experience...the social detox! I believe there are few places in 2025 where you can achieve this, and because everyone is unconnected it forces you to interact with people of your group! And boy, was amazing! And speaks an introvert about it...

Few days before even going there I had second thoughts honestly: that I will not be able to sleep, I ll get back pain, or if the food will not be good or what I'm going to do with the shower, etc .Well, coming back home now and having lived the Socotra experience with some amazing people that made our life definitely easier on the island, it opened my appetite for more such wild, remote, off the beaten path experiences. So if you're a person, like me, who likes to learn from your travels and bring some change in your life, Socotra will...

My boyfriend and I have been lucky enough to travel all over the world, but our trip to Socotra with Tour Socotra was hands down the best experience we’ve ever had.

Before we went, some of our family and friends were very nervous and did not want us to go. Especially us being American and the situation in the Middle East/ mainland Yemen. But once we arrived, we felt completely safe the entire time. The Tour Socotra team was super professional and clearly knew exactly what they were doing. We were in great hands from start to finish.

We weren't expecting much when it came to the food but it was amazing. Every meal was fresh, and delicious. Especially the honey bread and karaf (tea with milk). Overall the cooks really went above and beyond. Plus it was super cool seeing them bring in the fresh fish every day.

What really made the trip stand out, though, was our tour group Tour Socotra. We honestly clearly had the best one, hands down. While everyone was clogged together in their campsites ours were located in the most beautiful, peaceful, spots on the island away from all the crowds.

Don't let the amount of people getting on the plane to Socotra make you feel like you wont have the island to yourself. With Tour Socotra, even when visiting each viewpoint or different site we felt like we had Socotra to ourselves — and that made it even more magical. We also had the best tents that were way bigger than the other tour groups for the same price. I dont know if I would have been able to spend a week in the tents the other groups had.

Our guide Abdulraaof was amazing — super knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about the island. The drivers were awesome too, navigating those wild roads like it was nothing, and the cooks were total legends. The whole team made us feel welcome and taken care of. Plus they play a mean Uno game!

The people of Socotra were also just incredibly kind and welcoming. Even with the language barrier, everyone we met was warm, generous, and genuinely happy to share their home with us.

By the end of the trip, none of us wanted to leave. We miss it already — the landscapes, the people, the vibe, all of it. If you’re thinking about going, do it. Especially before it blows up and there are a million people there.

Overall definitely go with Tour Socotra as a tour group. If we went with another tour group we wouldn't have had as...

I traveled to Socotra with my wife to celebrate her birthday at the beginning of April, and thanks to Tour Socotra, it turned out to be one of the best trips we’ve ever had.

From the beginning, everything was perfectly organized. The team took care of every detail, both the things we could see and everything happening behind the scenes. One of the best parts was how flexible they were with the itinerary. They always made sure we avoided other groups, so most of the time it felt like we had the island to ourselves. One day, they even arranged a boat ride to a huge, empty beach that only Tour Socotra uses—an incredible experience!

The camping felt more like glamping. The tents were big, airy, and had mosquito-net roofs, so we could lie down at night and watch the stars. The thick mattresses were really comfortable, which made sleeping in a tent feel surprisingly luxurious.

The food was another highlight. I still can’t believe we were served giant, fresh lobsters in such a remote place. Every meal was tasty, fresh, and different every day. The chefs really did an amazing job.

What made this trip truly special was the kindness of the team. When I lost my sunglasses, our driver immediately offered me his for the rest of the trip. That small gesture showed how generous and thoughtful the people of Socotra are. Another great memory was when we stopped to watch the sunset, and one of the drivers started dancing. We all joined in—it was a simple but beautiful moment that brought everyone closer.

We always felt safe. The team gave clear instructions for hikes and swimming, and the Jeeps (Lexus and Toyota) were very comfortable and reliable. The drivers knew every part of the island and made sure we were always in good hands.

I highly recommend Tour Socotra to anyone who loves adventure but also enjoys comfort. It’s still camping, but with so many extra touches that make it feel special.

Tips for future travelers: Bring sunscreen, light hiking shoes for sand and rocks, and a spare pair of sunglasses. You don’t need to pack too much. If you like taking photos or videos, bring a power bank—though you can also charge devices during the car rides.

This was a trip of a lifetime, and when we visit Socotra again, we will definitely choose...