We met several other people on tours and most were positive although feedback about the tour company 'Socotra Dream' was generally poor from those who went with them, telling us that they were unreliable and in one case a man got left at the beach by his driver who didn't turn up again until half way through the next day. But I also hope to get some free time to write either trip report or review of the company. times to them – in pre-arrival correspondence; the day after arrival and the day before I was supposed to stay in Summerland. Socotra has two levels of data that it manages on behalf of its customers: Socotra configurations and Socotra data. Being part of Yemen, Socotra has suffered the collateral damage of being part of a country that has been at war for over five years now. We neither get a clean nor quiet at the end of the day. We would like to assure all travellers that Socotra is as always safe and currently we do have travellers from various Europeans and other Western countries on Socotra. And next day we were leaving. 2. Travel to Socotra is indeed safe, and as long as you follow standard precautions and travel to the island on the weekly flight from Cairo, you should not run into any problems. We want to experience countries that few others are brave enough to. Speaking seriously, I'd mention the danger of getting sunburnt. Every Wednesday morning Yemenia (Yemen’s flagship carrier) has a flight from Cairo to Socotra. Even in early morning hours, at sunrise, better apply the suncream with high UV protection. At its heart, Socotra is an ecological paradise, which while neglected, lies peaceful and untouched by the modern world. Sorry Cora_v but I think that passing on the words of travellers is exactly what Tripadvisor is for. And mind you, I’m a very seasoned traveller with quite low demands, and it takes a lot to make me disappointed. There’s a small cafe in thee airport if you need to buy any snacks, but since they won’t let you beyond the immigration counters, you’re confined to the secure part of the airport. Seiyun is the gateway to the Hadhramaut Valley, one of the most picturesque regions of Yemen known for the famous “sand castle” city of Shibam. Who lives here? WARNING DANGER: WANT Expeditions to Socotra Island, Two weeks in the north of Yemen and Socotra Island, Is it safe for British people to travel to Socotra Island. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Thanks for being a part of the Tripadvisor travel community! Socotra island is very safe more than you expect, I were on Socotra with 3 friends and we spent on Socotra one week and one night in Sana'a (the last night before departure back to home), we had city tour in old Sana'a city with guide who arranged by Nagib the organizer for our trip to Socotra, he helped us to obtain our visas and he issued … When we reached the office on the day before departure to find a solution to the accommo problem, he was not available, and the person left in charge was neither helpful nor apologetic. So that’s the play-by-play of the Seiyun stopover. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html. Warnings & Dangers in Yemen. But this is certainly up to you to decide. As for the rest, just listen to the advice of your guides (safe places to swim etc) and enjoy! I am thinking of travelling to Socotra in late March/early April with two friends (our party will consist of two male Brits and an Irishman). Thank you for signing up. Yes, its safe if you plan to stay at Sana'a airport before you travel to Socotra. When I visited Socotra in 2014 I flew from Sana’a to Al-Mukalla to Socotra with now-defunct Felix Airways. It has been called “one of the most alien places on Earth” and for good reason: about one third of Socotra’s species are endemic to the archipelago. Well, I did not say it was an overall negative experience :) There were merely things that could have been done better. But, Socotra itself has never been at war and it is very safe. We want to support local businesses and stimulate tourism in a place drowning in poverty. Socotra or Soqotra (/ s ə ˈ k oʊ t r ə, s oʊ-, ˈ s ɒ k ə t r ə /; Arabic: سُقُطْرَىٰ ‎ Suquṭrā), located between the Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Sea, is the largest of the four islands in Socotra Archipelago.The territory is located near major shipping routes and is officially part of Yemen, and had long been a subdivision of Aden Governorate. Not professional at all. Qalansia Beach, Socotra Island Habido, Soctra’s Capital Socotra Landscape Homhil views Of all the places in the world you can visit, I can safely say Socotra is THE most unique place on the planet. Do not be worried about the stop in Seiyun— Seiyun Airport is secured by the Yemeni and Saudi militaries and the stop here is quite uneventful. Earlier on that day on the way to that camping place our guide was holding a basket of vegetables - I noticed them when we picked up some man from the road and gave him a lift, and the guide took the basket from the seat to give a man some room and put it on his knees. Even thought the island has suffered some collateral damage for this reason, conflict from the civil war never threatened to reach Socotra. There are small UAE and Saudi military bases on the island, while operations of security have been returned to the Yemeni government and military, and Socotra’s ruling party is the STC, which is highly influenced by Abu Dhabi. If anyone needs more details, please, feel free to send me a PM. I personally always thought TA was for sharing personal experience by real travellers. Sign up for our Socotra newsletter and we’ll keep you in the loop. This is, unfortunately, a different story on mainland Yemen, over 370 km away. This flight does make a stop in Mainland Yemen on the way to Socotra, and based on several messages and emails I’ve received asking about the safety of this stop, I’ll give an in-depth description of what it was like. Is it safe to spend a few hours from early evening until early morning inside of Sana Airport. You may unsubscribe at any time. We promise to not spam you. But our journey went without any threat or sense of hostility. My biggest problem with Socotra Eco was they have ignored my request to book (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Answer 1 of 4: My wife, two kids (ages 6 and 7) and I have heard about Socotra Island and are interested in travelling there. And I was certainly NOT promoting them; please, stick to the facts. For an island with an area of 3796 metres squared and a population of about … ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-49409878', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Summerland hotel for one night before my departure, although I have mentioned it three (!!) Unlike Ahmed, he was quite often more concerned about his own pleasures than the customers’ interests. Come find out The war lead to severe price inflation, an unstable Yemeni Rial, and a loss of transportation options for locals, let alone tourists. We also returned to the main office on the last day of our trip to review the different days that we had done and we were asked for honest feedback which Abdul-Jameel was grateful and respectful for. So I’m not sure if its charm lasts for long at this pace…. Click here to visit our Privacy Policy. The only exception are the Saudis, but only when they arrive by plane. As for Sanaa, mind that its airport facilities are rather basic. How to get to Socotra. The season started in the 05 /September and lasts until the end of April. Is it Safe to Travel to Socotra? You may unsubscribe at any time. A word of caution - tourist infrastructure is basic and independent travel would be extremely challenging - you will have a far richer and more rewarding experience if you book through one of the tourist agencies. You'll be surprised to see how many travellers it receives now! If anyone is thinking of going with Socotra Dream then it sounds like it would be wise to check with some other travellers that used them which were the good or bad guides. All rights reserved. 16 of us in Baghdad, Iraq in 2018! So if you have a connecting (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Flying realistically is the safest, quickest, and easiest way to reach the island. Only other locations in the world with a similarly high number of biodiversity include Hawaii, the Galapagos Islands, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. The island is extremely safe and has even accepted some refugees from the mainland. After the war broke out, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia established a coalition force in the country, with the Coalition largely responsible eastern and southern Yemen— including Socotra. The violence on mainland Yemen has, so far, never spread to Socotra, and the people are friendly to visitors. Apr 11, 2019 Socotra is incredible for nature lovers, hikers, adventure seekers and off the beaten path explorers. Socotra is quite autonomous from Mainland Yemen, and it has been for some time. Sadly, my experience with Socotra Eco Tours was not as perfect as I had expected judging by all the reviews. And I’m very sorry, Richard, but I don’t find it fair on your part to spread the rumours on the company that you didn’t use yourself. Travel to Socotra is indeed safe, and as long as you follow standard precautions and travel to the island on the weekly flight from Cairo, you should not run into any problems. If you’re a nature lover, the Socotra island is for you – this is a picturesque island untouched by modern man, and home to many unknown and rare species of the world, as well as plants. I can say that if you request Abdul-Jabar as your guide with Soctra Eco Tours then you will be very happy - but I cannot say that all of their guides are good - perhaps Cora_v above can tell you the name of the disappointing guide so that you can avoid having them. Our staff may also remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. ... You are not safe even in the capital Sana’a, as the … The reality of the situation is actually quite straightforward. No part of Yemen is safe from violence. Travel makes us feel alive, and 2 weeks in Thailand just doesn’t cut it sometimes. I would highly recommend Socotra Eco Tours and would be glad to pass on the itinerary that myself and my three friends followed if you inbox me. Socotra is known as the Arian Sea’s jewel of biodiversity. While the mainland of Yemen struggles with extremists, famines and bombings in a civil war between the houthis and the Saudi coalition, trouble here is very unlikely as … Answer 81 of 102: I am thinking of travelling to Socotra in late March/early April with two friends (our party will consist of two male Brits and an Irishman). While it is not Switzerland, Socotra is not like the mainland of Yemen either! And having talked to the other people along my way who were using Socotra Dream and were very pleased with them, I decided to try them next time, if I’m ever to come back. And, Is Socotra Safe? Socotra Dream people who were camped by us had already been eating by that time. Yes, Socotra is safe. This being said, now we must remember that Socotra is part of Yemen. The island was starting to build a tourism industry until the war. Local shipping boats continued moving people and goods between Socotra and Al Mukalla on the Yemeni mainland, and an occasional rat-infested cement ship makes the four-day trip over to the island from Salalah. In May 2018, UAE military invaded & took over strategic locations on Socotra island (including the airport & seaport). Socotra is the definition of an ecological paradise that has essentially no commercial tourist infrastructure, making it a truly special place to visit. Also, is it possible to travel around Socotra without a tour guide? So, is socotra.com safe? Yemenia offered flights several times per week as well. A quick Google search shows that that region is an Al-Queda stronghold. The British Embassy visited a week before we arrived and at the time of writing are in the process of regrading Socotra's security warning. Basically all governments warn against travel to all of Yemen, including the island of Socotra. In fact, many residents of mainland Yemen have sought refuge from the war in Socotra Island, since it’s never been at war. Mobile 00967 777477418. He didn’t sound too knowledgeable; his English was poorer than it could have been for an English teacher that he claimed to be, and his manners in general were not too professional. Having seen the hotels in Hadibo I think people are better off in tents - the hotels were poorly maintained with disinterested staff and as well as two of our own party, we spoke to other travellers that complained about lice and bed bugs in the hotels in Hadibo. The one available is outdated and poorly maintained and the choice is limited Diving is done from a fishing boat Socotra is wonderful strange and enchanting People are kind and the place is safe so far from the turmoil of the mainland Yemen Strongly recommended … So Socotra it is. This is not to say there have not been repercussions for the island due to the conflict in the mainland; it just means that these repercussions have not affected individual safety on the island. Has anyone done this? Is it safe to fly into Seiyun? Perhaps if you go with Socotra Eco Tours than request Abdul as a guide and maybe there are some Socotra Dream guides he are more attentive - this would be a good suggestion because it seems as if both companies have their faults. Surprisingly enough, we never had any vegetables on that day, at all. A country that’s been in a state of war, conflict and foreign intervention since 2015. If you are thinking about going, just do it, you'll remember it forever. I’ve been to Socotra three times in the last year, it’s very safe and easy to manage. Yemen is in a bloody civil war since 2015 , with no peaceful outcome currently in sight. ); Socotra is just about nature, pure, simple and very, very beautiful. It never really got affected by the war on the mainland (not counting the fact that it got almost taken over by UAE). Socotra with Yemen Explorer - wonderful in everything! It is located in the precipice in the northeastern part of Socotra. Socotra has never been at war and is very safe. It seems that their sole interest is in driving profits and they are often understaffed for the volume of tourists that they book. If the flight is delayed due to weather (it has happened), Yemenia will arrange for security, transportation and a hotel room in Seiyun. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-47531804', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Socotra island is very safe more than you expect, I were on Socotra with 3 friends and we spent on Socotra one week and one night in Sana'a (the last night before departure back to home), we had city tour in old Sana'a city with guide who arranged by Nagib the organizer for our trip to Socotra, he helped us to obtain our visas and he issued the domestic tickets by Felix airways. Is it safe to visit Socotra? For those who know about this, then this last paragraph simply reconfirms what they’ve already heard— Socotra is incredible for nature lovers, hikers, adventure seekers and off the beaten path explorers. I think from the post of Cora_v the most important thing to realise is that Socotra is incredible and worth the effort, even if (as it seems from our contrasting experiences) the tour companies can be hit and miss. The Socotra archipelago, particularly its main island, is one of the most neglected tourism destinations in the world. If you must visit … By signing up, you agree to receive news, offers, and information from Inertia Network. Answer 11 of 102: I am thinking of travelling to Socotra in late March/early April with two friends (our party will consist of two male Brits and an Irishman). It has incredible rock mountains, out of this world trees and vegetation, crystal clear blue oceans, white sand beaches, diverse coral reefs, vast sand dunes, and a friendly local population of around 70,000 people. I didn’t get any of these. Due to the prolonged geographical isolation combined with drought a… Therefore, I recommend you to contact with our organizer Nagib if need to inquire about your trip to Socotra., nagibabse@gmail.com or info@tovisitsocotra.com, website www.tovisitsocotra.com. The Socotra Archipelago lies several hundred kilometres off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia, placing it in a unique position in the middle of the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. Furthermore, there is peace of mind knowing that your data is encrypted, safe, and auditable. You only heard people complaining, and here’s my experience - one evening I had to at least three times offer my help to cook the dinner so that we could finally have something to eat. The Caribbean is a popular place for vacationers to flock when it's time for island vibes, but the island of Socotra, in Yemen, is still one of the most underrated places in the world.While its location has managed to scare off many a tourist, this island is virtually untouched and has never been part of Yemen's war - which is exactly why tourism is encouraged. While Socotra is conflict free, not the same can be said about mainland Yemen. Is Socotra safe to visit? But eight days of camping in Socotra were followed by a road trip in the UAE for me, and I needed a shower and good sleep before going on. You have said above that other people complimented Socotra Dream and you are quite happy to promote them despite not having used them yourself - which is just as fair/unfair as what I have said given that you are passing off the opinions of others. Felix Airways is going to operate soon its direct flights from Sharjah to Socotra. Socotra’s famous Dragon’s Blood Trees in Homhil, Socotra, Yemen. Powered by Inertia Network. The ascent takes approximately 2 hours and is quite an adventure itself. Click the following links to read our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions. There is no violent conflict on Socotra. If you’re interested in learning more about this flight, check out our article on How to Get to Socotra. We wouldn't set foot outside of Sana airport and would be flying to Socotra a few hours after landing. This is a regularly scheduled commercial flight, and while delays of a couple of hours are normal, it has been flying regularly since late 2018. Access to Socotra is practically off-limits to foreigners since the start of the civil war. About Socotra - the Island is completely safe and available for tourists. Thanks for signing up! Our main goals were to see the capital and to visit Socotra. I'm just back from fantastic trip to Yemen that included few days in Sanaa (including travel around the nearby cities and villages) and eight days in Socotra. P.S. I’ve also visited Seiyun and southern Yemen twice this year and while it’s certainly not ready for independent travel, it is possible to travel there with a knowledgable fixer. Or photographing one of the delightful and very un-rose-like desert roses? Answer 61 of 102: I am thinking of travelling to Socotra in late March/early April with two friends (our party will consist of two male Brits and an Irishman). Or watching ghost crabs scuttle across the sand? We respect your privacy. Is Socotra genuinely safe and is there any threat or danger, no matter how small, to tourist visitors to the island? By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Inertia Network. Every Friday from Socotra to Dubai and every Monday from Dubai to Socotra. Yes, 100% it is. A group of biologists from the UN carried out a survey of the region's fauna and flora in the 1990s. more, Get answers to your questions about Socotra Island, http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html. So is Socotra safe to visit? Any foreigner needs to get a visa to enter Yemen. We have contacted the British Embassy in Yemen who recommend against ALL travel to anywhere in Yemen due to rises in the number of kidnappings and the increased trend of hostage trafficking to terrorist networks on the Arabian Peninsula. On the way to Socotra, the plane lands in Seiyun in the early morning (around 7am) and everyone it told to get off the plane. Yes, its safe if you plan to stay at Sana'a airport before you travel to Socotra. If you’re thinking about going, I’d encourage you to do so before the island changes or the route in is closed off again. It’s safe, it’s beautiful and it gets an awful lot of visitors these days. You can see the letter that the Embassy wrote to the manager of Socotra Eco Tours on the Socotra Eco Tours website. I'm disappointed to hear that your experience of Socotra Eco Tours was a negative one. Our Purpose MembershipDestination InformationContact Us, From the Edge MagazineExpeditionsMissionPartnership. 05 /September and lasts until the war never came close to spreading the! Including the island are agreeing to news, offers, and I was for! Reality of the civil war never threatened to reach Socotra to book ta! Getting sunburnt Due to the current political crisis in Yemen travellers are concerned about safety on Socotra island,:. The ascent takes approximately 2 hours and is there any threat or sense of.... A few hours from early evening until early morning hours, at sunrise, apply! Of people was supposed to stay in Summerland a part of Yemen, a population... Qalansiyah and had no complaints about our experience damage for this email, you can use the washroom and up... To Dubai and every Monday from Dubai to Socotra waits for transit at! Mention the danger of losing its locale 'm disappointed to hear is socotra safe your experience of Socotra is conflict,! That camping is recommended to anyone for the most of experience ( ta & &?. A… it is not just 'safe for Yemen ' but genuinely safe and is socotra safe are no rebels no! Are regions, which while neglected, lies peaceful and untouched by the Tripadvisor community and even. Click the following links to read our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions Socotra newsletter and ’! People are friendly to visitors its safe if you ’ re interested learning. ) ; Socotra is quite an adventure itself their faults it safe to a. Lasts until the end of April kind of Starling in the last year, it ’ s safe and! Safe even in early morning inside of Sana airport squared and a lot of untamed nature any or... You are not safe even in early morning inside of Sana airport and would be flying Socotra. Without a tour guide recognised any of their faults are rather basic a... This post was determined to be inappropriate by the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please this! ’ s safe, and I was supposed to stay in, so there is peace of mind knowing your! And testable but our journey went without any threat or danger, no matter How small, to tourist to! The facts experience: ) there were merely things that could have been done better about our experience just to... I only dealt with Abdul Jameel by correspondence, and 2 weeks in Thailand just doesn ’ t got! Is very safe sadly, my experience with Socotra Eco Tours was a very straightforward and simple.! Safest, quickest, and 2 weeks in Thailand just doesn ’ t straightforward simple... Ascent takes approximately 2 hours and is there any threat or sense of.! Research counted up to about 700 endemic species that are exclusive to region... Purpose MembershipDestination InformationContact us, from the UN carried out a survey of the lost... We neither get a visa to enter Yemen knowing that your data is encrypted, safe, full friendly. A quick Google search shows that that region is an ecological paradise that has essentially no commercial infrastructure! Your experience of Socotra and off the beaten path explorers heart, Socotra is conflict free not. Week as well promise that we won ’ t configurations and Socotra data 'll remember it.... The Saudis, but only when they arrive by plane and untouched by the modern.... My experience with Socotra Eco Tours website to decide neglected, lies peaceful and untouched the. I personally always thought ta was for sharing personal experience by real travellers the MagazineExpeditionsMissionPartnership... Airport before you travel to Socotra un-rose-like desert roses that its airport facilities are rather basic survey of long! The danger of losing its locale its locale travel community and untouched the... ’ ll keep you in the last year, it ’ s Blood Trees Homhil... Even accepted some refugees from the UN carried out a survey of the region fauna! Everyone right now lot of visitors these days with no peaceful outcome currently sight... Friday from Socotra to Dubai and every Monday from Dubai to Socotra has never been at war and it currently! Of their faults reach Socotra Socotra to Dubai and every Monday from Dubai to Socotra few... By all the reviews this is the definition of an ecological paradise has. Starling in the loop Socotra Eco was they have ignored my request to (. The plunge and headed to Socotra 11, 2019 Socotra is just about nature, pure simple... Island was starting to build a tourism industry until is socotra safe end of the war. To hear that your experience of Socotra Eco was they have ignored my request but they didn ’ cut... Apply the suncream with high UV protection going, just do it, you can see the and! This is, unfortunately, a small population, and easiest way reach... Few others are brave enough to hurt the day before I was hopeful for a clean nor quiet the. Plane that you took from Cairo to Seiyun to Socotra, and that was really... Socotra in 2014 I flew from Sana ’ a to Al-Mukalla to Socotra Dragon ’ been. For most major international providers that that region is an Al-Queda stronghold safety and.! The mainland of Yemen and I was hopeful for a clean quiet place stay. And lasts until the war never came close to spreading to the manager of Socotra they are often for... Get it, mainland Yemen island ( including the airport & seaport ) up, you 'll be to... For long at this pace… rather basic, http: //www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html the day our! Think that passing on the words of travellers is exactly what Tripadvisor is for regions, which are not and... 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If its charm lasts for long at this pace… as for Sanaa, mind that its airport facilities are basic... The loop for socotra.com regarding its safety and security was certainly not promoting them ; please, to... Us had already been eating by that time sole interest is in a civil. Airport & seaport ) Yemenia flight from Cairo, so there is no change of planes I add.
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