Socotra Island is a bucket-list destination for photographers, nature-lovers, adventure enthusiasts, or anyone looking to have a unique off-the-beaten-track travel experience. If you’re wondering what to do and what to see on your Socotra trip, this post has got you covered! These are the best places to visit on Socotra Island that must be on your itinerary!

Often called “the most alien-looking place on earth,” Socotra has a natural beauty unlike anywhere else on earth. Imagine: white sand dunes only steps from the turquoise ocean, forests of Dragon’s Blood and Bottle trees not found anywhere else on earth, natural infinity pools and white polished canyons, and sleeping under the stars without any light pollution…. As a photographer this was such an inspiring destination, and these locations below were the best places I visited on Socotra both for photography, as well as just soaking in the beauty of unspoiled nature. Be sure to prioritize these places on your trip to Socotra because I promise, you won’t want to miss them!

Socotra is a remote paradise visited by only around 3000 tourists per year. It lies off Yemen's coast amidst the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, and East Africa, and is among Earth's most isolated non-volcanic landforms.

Traveling to Socotra is somewhat challenging due to its remoteness and virtually nonexistent tourism infrastructure, but offers unparalleled natural rewards: turquoise seas, diverse marine life, towering sand dunes, and ancient forests of Frankincense, Dragon's Blood, and Bottle Trees.

You won’t find high-speed internet, luxury hotels, or Michelin dining here. So get ready to swap the 5-star resorts and fancy restaurants for a bit, and embark upon a different kind of “luxury” experience that you’ll never forget. Socotra promises a unique, off-the-beaten-track travel experience for those adventurous enough to journey there.

Where to Go on Socotra Island

You’ll discover pretty quickly that every corner of this island is breathtaking and photo-worthy. Even just 10 minutes from the airport, we had to pull over to soak in the views of the bluest ocean we’ve ever seen!

This view was just a 10-minute drive from the airport! We obviously had to stop and pull over to take a photo. :)

You won’t have any shortage of stunning views, other-worldly landscapes, pristine beaches, natural pools, and alien-like forests, so be sure you bring a camera (and probably a couple extra memory cards) and feel free to tell your driver to pull over as often as you like to take in the scenery.

But there are some spots in Socotra that are really spectacular, and you’ll want to make sure you aren’t rushed when y0u visit them. Below are the 13 must-see spots on Socotra Island that I highly recommend visiting and ensuring you have plenty of time to explore and take photos!

1. Ahrer Beach

Ahrer Beach is one of the most beautiful locations in Socotra, featuring iconic white sand dunes just steps away from the bright turquoise ocean. It’s about an hour from the airport, so this will likely be either your first or last camping location on your trip to Socotra.

Be sure to take an early (pre-dawn) hike up a sand dune to watch the sunrise over the ocean!

Since you’ll probably spend a couple nights here, you’ll have a lot of time to explore the area. Hop on a boat with a fisherman to head out to see and get a glimpse of how the locals live, as fishing is the most common vocation in Socotra!

There are also several freshwater streams that flow from the mountains into the sea, which are beautiful for photos.

Near Ahrer Beach, you can take a drive to a stunning sunset spot at the easternmost tip of the island, where the Indian Ocean meets the Arabian Sea. Depending on the time of year, you can watch the sunset behind the mountains to the west, and the moonrise above the ocean horizon to the east. You may also find whale bones on this beach, which are impressive to see up close!

2. Hoq Cave

Hoq Cave is one of the largest cave systems in Socotra, stretching 3km deep with a 50-meter wide entrance that looks out onto the Indian Ocean. It’s about a 1-1.5 hour hike up to the cave entrance, and another 30-40 minutes walk to reach the furthest depths of the cave where tourists are permitted. Bring lots of water and sun protection as this hike is a bit strenuous and gets hot!

Sunlight only reaches the first 200 meters of the cave, so you’ll also want to bring a torch, as the rest of your journey will be in pitch darkness. Beyond the stalactites & stalagmites (hundreds of thousands of years old!) the cave also is home to tiny endemic cave-adapted critters (called “troglofauna”), along with ancient carvings and graffiti from the 1st to 6th century — the work of navigators and merchants who visited the island when Socotra was a major trading hub in the Indian Ocean.

3. Homhil Pool

Homhil Pool is located in one of the most beautiful protected areas of Socotra, surrounded by Desert Rose, Boswellia, and Dragon’s Blood trees. After an easy 30-minute hike through the mountain along a stream, you’ll eventually reach a stunning natural infinity pool fed by fresh water from the mountains.

Have a swim here, sunbathe, and enjoy the views of the ocean in the distance. Homhil pool is like a little slice of paradise hidden in the mountains. You can cool off with a refreshing swim, or just kick back and relax surrounded by nature's beauty.

Many itineraries will take you here midday before heading to Dihamri Marine Reserve, but our guide suggested switching the order which meant we arrived at Homhil around sundown. Perhaps it would be more bright blue at midday, but there would likely be more tourists so we were happy to have changed things around to have both locations entirely to ourselves!

4. Dihamri Marine Reserve

Located on the northern coast of Socotra, Dihamri Marine Reserve is a protected area where you’ll find the most beautiful red rock beaches and vibrant marine life. After a delicious lunch of freshly caught seafood, grab your snorkel gear and dive in! Here you can spot countless species of marine animals including sea turtles, octopi, leopard eels, parrot fish, giant schools of fish, and more.

There is also a diving school here where y0u can rent scuba gear if you’re certified! I didn’t try scuba here, but I can say the snorkeling was incredible and it made me happy to see such happy reefs and marine life.

Dihamri is the best place (and possibly the only place) where you can rent snorkeling or diving gear, so make sure you give yourself ample time here to explore. You won’t want to be rushed. You may come here midday before Homhil Pool, or you may come here in the evening and camp here; ask your guide what he recommends depending on weather & traffic (AKA other groups of tourists).

5. Kilisan Canyon

Kilisan Canyon is home to the largest natural pool in Socotra, with vibrant blue-green water winding through striking white limestone walls.

It’s about a 30-minute hike down to the canyon, where you can spend the morning jumping off rocks, swimming, and laying in the sun. This was one of my favorite places in Socotra so definitely make sure you have enough time to really relax, take photos, and soak in your surroundings! I recommend arriving as early as possible to have the place to yourselves before other groups of tourists arrive.

We had breakfast and lunch at the top, and spent about 4 hours down in the canyon as happy as can be.

6. Zahek Sand Dunes

The Zahek Sand Dunes are a wide expanse of white sand dunes, located right on the shores of the Indian Ocean, with the vast purple mountains in the distance in the other direction. It’s a beautiful place for sunset, where the light changes the dunes from gold to blue-ish purple. You may see camels here which make for a really special photo-op!

Some companies may arrange for you to have dinner and camp here, although we didn’t because there were already a lot of tourists at the campsite.

7. Aomak Beach

Aomak Beach is a picturesque white sand beach where you’ll visit, and possibly camp, after visiting Zahek Sand Dunes. You’ll find crystal-clear waters and long stretches of sandy shores. You might want to wear sandals as the ground can be scattered with sharp coral at times!

One special thing about this campsite is that there is an outdoor shower and bathrooms! The shower feeds freshwater from the mountains through a pipe. It’s super refreshing after long days of driving, hiking, and camping.

8. Dagub Cave

Dagub Cave is a shallow cave of wet rocks located near Aomok Beach. You’ll likely stop here on your way out of Aomok Beach.

When we were here we saw a couple of locals cooking food over a fire inside the cave, with their goats nearby, which was a beautiful scene that felt a bit like stepping back in time. It’s a small site and only takes about a 5-minute walk from the parking area, but it’s worthwhile and a really cool place for photos.

9. Diksam Plateau

Diksam Plateau is an elevated limestone region that is home to the iconic Dragon’s Blood trees! This area offers panoramic views of the national park, with the alien-looking trees lining the road. It will take your breath away!

Although you’ll see the Dragon’s Blood trees all throughout your Socotra trip, here is the first place where you’ll see them in abundance like this. Be sure to stop to take photos, and it’s a great place to fly the drone if you have one!

10. Wadi Dirhur

Wadi Dirhur is the deepest canyon in Socotra, and you’ll stop here before heading up into the Dragon’s Blood forest.

From Diksam Plateau, you’ll descend into this oasis to find several freshwater pools, date palms, and bottle trees. Spend the afternoon here having lunch, cooling off in the water, bathing or washing clothes, resting in the shade, or exploring some of the nearby trails. We spent several hours here and loved it!

On a busy afternoon, Wadi Dirhur feels like a magical gathering place for travelers and locals to swim, rest, eat, and bathe, and play… There were a lot of other tour groups here when we stopped, and I didn’t mind at all! We talked to some interesting people and connected with other travelers for the first time, and enjoyed being in this special kind of energy. The whole scene felt exactly how I imagine this place would would have looked thousands of years ago!

11. Firmihin Forest

High up into the mountains, you’ll arrive at what is sure to be one of your favorite places on your trip to Socotra, and an absolutely must-see in Socotra: Firmihin Forest!

This area is home to the highest concentration of Dragon’s Blood trees on the island (and thus, in the entire world). Spend the afternoon exploring the forest by foot with a local guide, including a sunset walk through the trees to see some of the most spectacular views in Socotra.

The forest is vast and spreads across many rolling hills and mountain-sides, so you’ll have plenty to see during your visit. Fall asleep under the trees and wake up early to catch sunrise in the forest. I found golden hour and sunrise to be the best times for photos, so get to sleep early and challenge yourself to have an early morning wakeup.

Firhim Forest is like stepping into a fairytale, or onto another planet, and it is one of the best places to visit in Socotra Island!

12. Qalansiya (Detwah Lagoon)

Qalansiya is the second largest village on Socotra, with a population of about 4000. Here you’ll visit Detwah Lagoon, which is probably one of the most beautiful beaches in the world with sharp white mountain peaks curving around a pristine white sand beach, electric-blue-green water, and an idyllic white sand bar just off the shore.

Because Detwah Lagoon is also a protected area, you can also find lots of interesting marine life here, including puffer fish, stingrays, starfish, and sea turtles. Be sure to check out some of the viewpoints nearby for breathtaking sunset views.

13. Shoab Beach

If you ask the locals, many will say their favorite place in Socotra is Shoab Beach, and it’s easy to see why. You can reach this beach by catching a 1-hour boat from Qalansiya, where you’ll encounter pods of playful dolphins along the way, as you cruise along the towering rocky cliffside lined by eclectic blue water that’s clear enough to see straight to the ocean floor.

Once you arrive at Shoab Beach you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast under the shade, taking breaks to swim, jump off the boats, lay in the sun, and of course take lots of photos.

This was one of my favorite experiences in Socotra, and I the best finale to an already incredible trip!

Note on Traveling to Socotra

It is only possible to travel to Socotra through a licensed eco-tourism company. The tour company will help you book your flights to/from Socotra Island as you cannot book these flights on your own online, and they will purchase your visa for you. The tour company will also be responsible for driving you around the island as you cannot rent cars there on your own — not that you’d want to, on an island with no road names/signs and no cell service.

Choosing the right tour company for your trip to Socotra is extremely important because they organize every detail, cook for you, set up camp for you, take care of you every step of the way, and spend day/night with you! We traveled with Socotra Specialty Tours and had an amazing experience, even when we got stranded in Socotra for five days due to weather. All other tourists that were on the island at the same time also got stranded, and all I can say is many of them were not taken care of as well as we were by our driver/cook Araf, our guide Mohammed, and Taylor who is an American woman who co-owns Socotra Specialty Tours. I highly recommend booking with them!

For more information on booking a tour company, click here to read my Ultimate Socotra Travel Guide.

Let’s Go.

Traveling to Socotra Island will give you an adventure unlike any other destinaton in the world. From the pristine white sand beaches to the ancient caves, the other-worldly Dragon’s Blood forests to the majestic freshwater canyons, every corner of Socotra is sure to take your breath away.

Although it may not be the “easiest” trip in terms of amenities, accommodations, and accessibility, it will absolutely be worth it every step of the way.

For details on weather, when to travel, what to pack, cell service and WiFi connectivity, and everything you need to know when planning a trip to Socotra, click here to read my Complete Guide to Traveling to Socotra Island!