Travel information
The practical questions we get asked most: how to get here, visas, seasons, safety, connectivity and what the days are actually like.
Getting to Socotra
We handle the whole arrival chain: flight booking assistance, visa processing, airport pickup and the transfer to camp. Tell us your departure city and we will come back with the practical route and cost.
Current routing: Yemenia flies to and from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; the other option is via Cairo and Aden. The round-trip flight to Socotra runs about USD 980 and varies with the airline and the season; changes and refunds follow the airline's rules.
Visa
Socotra requires a permit arranged in advance through a licensed local operator. We prepare the paperwork for you; you send passport details and a photo.
Visa fee: USD 170 per person.
Season & weather
The camp runs by season: we open on the last Thursday of September and close on the first Thursday of May. For the months in between, the monsoon shuts the island down—flights stop, the camp closes, and there is no way for us to host you.
This season runs from 24 September 2026 to 6 May 2027. Days are warm on the plateau and nights are cool, the coast stays mild, and the day-to-night swing is noticeable.
Safety
Flights to Socotra are currently operated by Yemenia, flying to and from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Visas and island permits are arranged through licensed operators, and tickets are booked directly with the airline—never through resellers.
When Socotra flights were suspended in early 2026, we moved our guests to Jeddah immediately and completed their journeys as planned: we absorbed the fare difference, and guests who chose to cancel were refunded in full. We cannot control what the region does—safety comes first, and we carry that responsibility ourselves.
Power & connectivity
Power and connectivity are standard, never charged as an extra: our private luxury tented camp runs on solar power with generator backup, and Starlink satellite internet is available on every journey for uploading and staying in touch. Charging for cameras and phones is included. Mobile signal is patchy and best around Hadibu.
Fitness & terrain
Most days are spent in 4x4 with short walks from the vehicle. Some sites involve 20-60 minutes of walking on uneven ground; nothing is technical.
Common questions
How big are the groups?
Group journeys are capped at 12 travellers; photography journeys at 8. Private journeys run for your party only.
Where do we sleep?
In our own private luxury tented camp, set up before you arrive and staffed by our own crew.
What is not included?
The international flight to the departure point, the round-trip flight to Socotra (about USD 980, subject to change), the visa fee (USD 170), travel insurance and personal extras.
What happens if I have to cancel?
Group tours carry a USD 300 service fee; photography tours and private journeys carry USD 500. The full schedule is on each journey page. Flight changes and refunds follow the airline's rules.
How do I book?
Send the enquiry form with your dates and group size. We usually reply within one to two business days with a tailored itinerary and quote, then confirm dates and deposit.
Can you arrange everything before we land?
Yes: visa permit, flights, airport pickup and the camp are all arranged before arrival.
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.