The Seiyun oasis and its desert escarpment

Yemen mainland · 11 days

Socotra & Yemen World Heritage · 11 Days

Jeddah · Socotra · Mukalla · Wadi Doan · Shibam · Seiyun · Jeddah

Eleven days, with a full seven-day Socotra chapter before the mainland. Fly from Jeddah to Socotra for the camps of the otherworldly island, then on to the Arabian Sea port of Mukalla and through the Hadramawt to Wadi Doan and the mud-brick city of Shibam, finishing in Seiyun and flying back to Jeddah.

Duration & Departures

11 days · 10 nights

Departing 3–13 November 2026; can be joined to our Socotra departures. Final dates confirmed with flights and camp space.

Price

USD 4,500 per person

Includes all accommodation (luxury tented camps plus four-star hotels), all ground transport including airport transfers and mainland security escort, daily meals with water and soft drinks, all site fees and permits, boat and snorkelling gear, and a Chinese-speaking guide. Excludes international flights, the Yemen visa, personal insurance, tips and personal spending. Single supplement USD 800.

Day by Day

Day 1

Jeddah to Socotra · Arher dunes

Jeddah JED 11:00 IY525 to Socotra SCT 14:30. At Arher, high dunes rise straight out of the coastline where desert meets sea; sunset where the Arabian Sea meets the Indian Ocean.

Arher beach private camp (twin luxury tent)

Day 2

Dune sunrise · Dihamri · Homhil

Up the dune for sunrise, then watch the coast for spinner dolphins over breakfast. In the afternoon, the Dihamri marine reserve for snorkelling or diving, and Homhil for dragon-blood trees, desert rose and frankincense at sunset.

Arher beach private camp (twin luxury tent)

Day 3

Kalysan canyon · Deguub cave · Zahek dunes

After sunrise, Kalysan canyon—white rock and blue water, good for a swim. Then the south coast and Deguub cave, looking down over scattered traditional villages, with stalactites, stalagmites and natural pools inside. Sunset on the great Zahek dune.

Diksam private camp (twin luxury tent)

Kalysan canyon · Deguub cave · Zahek dunes

Day 4

Samha plateau · Firmihin forest

Samha, home of the dragon-blood tree, and the famous Firmihin forest—layered umbrella canopies and an ancient, otherworldly calm. At night, a shooting session: dragon-blood trees silhouetted against the Milky Way.

Diksam private camp (twin luxury tent)

Day 5

Samha sunrise · Detwah Lagoon

Dragon-blood forest at sunrise, then Detwah Lagoon—white sand and turquoise at high tide, a mirror at low tide. Climb the hills for the desert rose and wait for the lagoon sunset.

Detwah Lagoon private camp (twin luxury tent)

Day 6

Shuab Beach by boat

A boat to Shuab, the golden beach, past cliffs and dolphins. A relaxed morning on the sand, then Qalansiyah in the afternoon to meet local children and photograph the coast at sunset.

Detwah Lagoon private camp (twin luxury tent)

Day 7

Detwah Lagoon at ease

A free day around the lagoon's coast and open country—a slow rhythm, rest and photography, and the quiet of a private camp.

Detwah Lagoon private camp (twin luxury tent)

Day 8

Socotra to Mukalla and Haid al-Jazil

Socotra's last sunrise, then the flight to Mukalla and the start of the mainland. On to Haid al-Jazil, the village on the rock, for sunset over Wadi Doan.

Haid al-Jazil hotel

Day 9

Wadi Doan · Seif · Shibam

Down the valley, stopping at Seif and Hajrain, then Shibam, the 'Manhattan of Arabia'—on foot through the old town, its antique shops and rooftops, and sunset over the city before Seiyun.

Seiyun, local four-star hotel

Day 10

Seiyun · Ainath · Tarim

Tarim, the mud-built Sufi city: the small market and the Mihdhar mosque with its mud minaret. After lunch, the tomb of the Prophet Hud, then back to Seiyun for the Sultan's palace and the market.

Seiyun, local four-star hotel

Day 11

Seiyun to Jeddah

Morning flight back to Jeddah, and the journey ends. (Alternative: fly Seiyun–Cairo on the Saturday, adding one day.)

Good to know

A Yemen mainland visa is required: a Socotra island permit alone does not allow travel on the mainland.
All flights are separate, non-through tickets. If an earlier flight is delayed, the airline bears no responsibility for onward flights or losses.
Local conditions can change road access, accommodation and site openings at short notice; only licensed local ground operators can arrange this.
Your guide may adjust the order of days and sites to suit season, weather, roads and camp conditions.

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Gallery

A dragon blood tree and a figure in red at sunset

Tap any frame to view it larger—drag sideways for more.

Enquiry

Begin your journey

Every experience is shaped around season, light, and your personal rhythm. Tell us your preferred journey, dates and group size—we will prepare a tailored itinerary.

We usually reply within one to two business days.

Three steps: send your request, receive a tailored itinerary and quote, then confirm dates and place the deposit.