How to Get to Socotra Island, Yemen (Best Tours, Flights, & What You Need to Know)

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So, you’ve seen the alien-like landscapes of Socotra online and wondered, how do I get there?!

Socotra, an archipelago off mainland Yemen comprising six islands, including Socotra Island—the largest of the six—is unlike any other place I’ve been.

But getting there is not as easy as anywhere else I’ve been, either. Or is it?

To get to Socotra, you must go through a local tour operator; you cannot visit Socotra alone without a guide or local tour company.

So, visiting Socotra—despite its perceived challenges from being under the administrative control of the Republic of Yemen—might just be one of the easiest, safest, and most hands-off trips I’ve ever taken.

Read more about how to visit Socotra Island in this detailed guide!

How to Get to Socotra & Plan the Perfect Trip

Before you get overwhelmed by all the technicalities of organizing a Socotra trip, rest assured that you won’t be the one handling logistics; your tour operator will take care of necessary flights, visas, transportation, and accommodation.

But it’s still good to know what happens behind the scenes so that you can get to Socotra!

Socotra Flights & Visas

You can only get to Socotra by charter flight, which you can book through your tour organizer—see below for my recommendations on which tour company to book through.

Currently, two flights to Socotra depart from Abu Dhabi (Zayed International Airport) and Egypt (Cairo International Airport) on Tuesdays and Fridays each week.

The flight from Abu Dhabi to Socotra is non-stop/direct (3 hours), while the flight out of Cairo has a layover.

The flights technically operate through Air Arabia (out of Abu Dhabi) and Yemen Airways (Yemenia) out of Cairo. According to our local Soqotri guide, these are scheduled humanitarian/governmental flights. This is how Soqotri tour operators know the flight schedule for the next month/year in advance!

I recommend taking the direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Socotra, which means you still need to book your flight from your home/origin destination to Abu Dhabi (which tour costs don’t cover).

From there, your roundtrip flight to Socotra can be booked through your tour agency.

Socotra authorities require a Yemen visa to book your flights, which your tour operator will also organize for you. All you need to do is send them a copy of your passport photo page.

The visa costs $150 and is folded into the total cost of the tour package.

Tip: If you want to take a drone to Socotra (and you should!), it’s best to fly to Socotra from Abu Dhabi, as Egypt has a drone ban. Also, Socotra has recently instated a new $100 fee for drone use. Ask your operator about this if you plan on droning around the island.

From my experience, the airport experience for getting to Socotra is just like any other.

• Plan to arrive 3 hours in advance to check in your luggage in case of delays and hiccups!
• Print out copies of your flight and visa.
• Make sure you have travel medical insurance (I use and recommend SafetyWing Nomad Insurance which costs $56 per 4 weeks).

Our Socotra check-in at Abu Dhabi was in Terminal A, kiosks #12-14 across from H, and departed on a Friday at 9 am and landed in Socotra around 11 am (local time). Socotra is one hour behind Abu Dhabi, so remember to set your watches back!

Even though it was a relatively quick flight, Air Arabia served a meal onboard.

After landing and deplaning, you’ll go through immigration. It can take some time as you’ll need to present your visa and passport (they have your official physical visa).

Once you collect your bags, you’ll meet your tour guide and be on your way to explore Socotra!

The Best Socotra Tour Companies to Book With

As mentioned above, your organized tour will take care of flights, visas, transportation, and accommodation.

So, how do you book an organized tour for Socotra? And who should you book with?

I technically visited Socotra with two companies, both of whom I can recommend wholeheartedly. The details are below!

Socotra Island has at least two dozen tour operators, each running all-inclusive, customizable trips. It can be challenging to know who is legit and if your investment is going back into the community.

First, my connection to Socotra starts with my friend Pier’s adventure company, Immersiv Expeditions.

Her small-group trips specialize in wild animal and marine encounters in off-beat locations, such as the Sardine Run in South Africa or swimming with humpback whales in Polynesia. It’s thanks to Pier that I discovered Socotra.

The tentative dates for the next guided Socotra trip are October 10-17, 2025. Use the code “BRI100” to save $100 on ANY Immersiv Expeditions trip!

Pier’s business partner, Matt—a long-time travel journalist—has been working with our on-the-ground guides, Socotra Eco Tours, and our group’s personal Soqotri guide for over a decade, which is how we connected.

If you want to contact our Soqotri ground partners directly, including local guides, drivers, and kitchen staff, WhatsApp or email either Socotra Eco Tours or Socotra Pioneer Tours—and let them know Bri sent you to receive a $100 discount!

Our personal Soqotri guide is a field guide for both companies and is the best in the business. Rest assured, you will be in good hands!

Exclusively for my readers, they will give you a $100 discount on your Socotra trip. Mention Bri or BUCKETLISTBRI in your email/message to apply the promo, and let me know if you have questions.

Having spent seven days adventuring across Socotra Island with both Socotra Eco Tours and Immersiv Expeditions, I can genuinely say you will not be disappointed booking with either. All my expectations were exceeded!

The staff were extremely welcoming, courteous, respectful, and mindful of our impact. They care about their community, and it shows!

Everything will be taken care of from A to Z, from arrival at the airport to departure.

Moreover, tours are fully customizable, although they have recommended one-week itineraries that run Tuesday through Tuesday or Friday through Friday each week.

Thanks to Pier and Matt’s previous Socotra travel experiences, we had a wonderful Socotra itinerary planned.

In one week, we were able to:

• Swim and watch sunset (and moonrise) at the incredible Detwah Lagoon
• Camp in the Firmhin Forest to see sunset and sunrise among Socotra’s unique Dragon Blood Trees;
• Swim in the most beautiful wadi oasis (Wadi Kalesan)
• Wake up on Archer, a pristine white-sand beach flanked by cliffs and enormous sand dunes;
• Hike to (and within) Hooq Cave, one of the largest caves on the island!
• Eat a fresh seafood lunch with a Soqotri local inside a cave
• Snorkel at Dihamri Marine Protected Area
• and more!

To replicate my exact itinerary and the season I visited (October), I recommend checking out Immersiv Expeditions for their exclusive Socotra Expedition (October 2025). Use the promo “BRI100” for $100 OFF any trip.

Likewise, for travel throughout the year, plus any Socotra-specific questions, and for customizing itineraries, contact Socotra Eco Tours or Socotra Pioneer Tours by email/WhatsApp to inquire about booking a trip to Socotra in 2024-2025! Don’t forget to let them know you came from Bucketlist Bri for a $100 discount.

Disclaimer: I wasn’t sponsored to go on these trips with the above companies, but I genuinely recommend them, so I asked if they could give my readers a special discount. I had an incredible Socotra trip, and the experience and logistics from start to finish were seamless. I have vetted the experience and can recommend their service! I get a small kickback if you use my referral code (which saves you a bit of money). Either way, I highly recommend these guys for planning an epic trip to Socotra!

Getting to Socotra FAQs

Can you ferry to Socotra Island?

While not convenient or common for tourists, you can actually reach Socotra by boat or ferry from Oman.

Again, it’s not the easiest option, but it’s an (adventurous) option nonetheless.

I recommend taking the direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Socotra, which means you still need to book your flight from your home/origin-destination to Abu Dhabi.

From there, your roundtrip flight to Socotra can be booked through your tour agency.

How much does flying to Socotra cost?

The cost depends on where you fly from, but according to our tour guide, the best (and cheapest) flights depart from Abu Dhabi.

Can you fly to Socotra from mainland Yemen?

Due to the internal conflict between Yemen’s north and south, traveling directly to/from mainland Yemen to Socotra isn’t recommended.

Traveling to Socotra from Cairo (Egypt) will include a technical stopover, but passengers don’t deplane.

Is it safe to fly to and visit Socotra?

Yes, Socotra is very safe to visit!

You will be with a local team the entire trip, so you needn’t worry about safety.

While internal conflict on mainland Yemen is ongoing, Socotra Island remains a peaceful destination and welcomes around 4000 tourists annually.

Finally, I have lots more Socotra content and posts in process, so stay tuned for more free guides and tips!

If you have any further questions, comment below or DM me on Instagram @bucketlistbri. I’ll redirect you to our local guides for any inquiry I can’t answer myself!

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