Tuesday 15th March – Cairo (Egypt)

• Arrive at your convenience into Cairo – which is well connected from many countries from Africa, Europe and elsewhere.
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at 7:00pm for dinner, to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide. The location will be sent to you before the tour commences.
• Depart on Yemenia Airways flight to Socotra – flight times will be confirmed.

Wednesday 16th March – Habido – Ayhaft Canyon National Park – Delisha Beach

Morning

• Arrive at Seiyun the mainland of Yemen and continue heading to Socotra island
• Arrive in Habido, Socotra. Upon arrival we’ll be greeted by our local Socotri guide who will accompany us for the trip.
• Short drive through Ayhaft Canyon National Park
• Freshen up from the flight by swimming at Delisha Beach – a beautiful white beach next to the sea and a lagoon.

Afternoon

• Lunch
• Enjoy the magnificent sunset over the sea from the sand dunes, where you’ll see a variety of ships drifting by.
• Dinner at the Delish Tourist Complex.
• Overnight in our centrally located hotel in Hadibo.

Thursday 17th March – Homhil National Park – Arher

Morning

• After breakfast we’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 we’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.

Friday 18th March – Arher – Hoq’s Cave/Raw Ersil – Dihamri Marine Protected Area – Hadibo

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, we’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 snorkelling are available (rental available, extra cost) or you can also decide to join the local fishermen for sea expedition!
• We’ll bring back freshly caught fish from the sea for dinner in Dihamri.
• Overnight in Hadibo.

 Saturday 19th March – Hadibo – 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 we’ll stop for photos at Shehahon’s viewpoint

Lunch

• We will have lunch in the village of Dixsam. Here we’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 we 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 we’ll mingle with the people of a typical Socotri village!
• Dinner and overnight at a homestay in Dixsam.

Sunday 20th March – Dixsam – Zahek & Hayf – Dagub – Amak – Dixsam

Morning

• Breaking and head out for a walk through the village accompanied by our 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.

Monday 21st March – Qalansiya – Shuaab    

Morning

• Breakfast and early morning drive to Qalansiya, the second largest city on the island.
• We’ll take an half an hour long boat trip to Shuaab, passing by huge rock formations and flocks of birds. If we are lucky we 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 we’ll drive to Detwah Lagoon.
• Here we’ll make our camp and you can walk around the big lagoon and see the amazing landscape.
• Overnight camping at Detwah Eco-campsite.

 Tuesday 22nd March – Hadibo

Morning

• Breakfast and return to Hadibo.
• We’ll spend the day on a city tour of Hadibo  and learn more about life in Yemen.
• Our 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.
• We 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 we might catch some auctions!

Afternoon

• We’ll then head to the khat market; it is here that the stimulating narcotic — all the rage in Eastern Africa — is sold.
• We 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.
• We finish our day trip popping by a local school where we meet students, as well as the teachers, and interact with them for a possible impromptu English lesson
• Tonight is our last night in the faraway paradise, time to celebrate.
• Overnight in our hotel in Hadibo

Wednesday 23rd March – Habido – Cairo (Egypt)

Morning

• Breakfast and wake up early to catch our flight back to Cairo.
• Tour concludes – YPT is also able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for flights.
• Group members apart of our Alternative Egypt Tour board depart by flight to Cairo – flight not included in tour price

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