Socotra photo tour

Day 1

• Meeting at the airport in Abu Dhabi.
• Flight to Socotra in the morning.
• After checking into the hotel and lunch, we’ll go on a first exploration tour to the coastal dunes north of the capital, Hadibu.
• Overnight: Hotel in Hadibu.

Day 2

• The destination for today is the white dunes on the southern coast of the island. These dunes stretch all the way to the sea, creating fantastic photographic subjects. To reach the southern coast, we’ll cross the central highlands with our 4×4 vehicles.
• Overnight: Camping in the dunes.

Day 3

• Through a picturesque valley with palm and bottle tree vegetation, we reach a plateau that will serve as the starting point for a hike to one of the island’s most beautiful canyons. After a great photo session along the gorge and a cool swim, we continue toward the northeastern tip of the island. In this desolate area, we’ll enjoy a fantastic sunset before we reach our campsite near the Arher dunes.
• Overnight: Camping near the Arher dunes.

Day 4

• Early wake-up today. We want to climb the Arher dunes for sunrise. The view from the top, overlooking the mountains and the sea, is unique.
• On the day’s agenda is a visit to the Hoq Cave. This massive cave system is reached via a moderate hike. The challenge will be photographing in the completely dark cave. With our lamps, we will try to illuminate the stalagmites and stalactites in the best light.
• In the afternoon, we’ll recover with a snorkeling trip in the Dihamri coastal reserve, a great way to unwind after the morning’s efforts. Besides various fish species, we may also spot sea turtles if we’re lucky.
• Overnight: Camping in the Dihamri Coastal Reserve.

Day 5

• Today we continue west along the northern coast. On the day’s agenda is a hike to a natural pool with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the sea. Near the pool, several Dragon Blood Trees await us to be properly photographed. There will also be other exciting photo opportunities along the hike.
• Via Hadibu, we head to the second largest settlement on the island, Qualansiyah.
• After visiting the small fishing village, we drive to the Detwah Lagoon, where we will also set up our camp. The lagoon is a haven for various bird species and offers interesting perspectives for landscape photography.
• Overnight: Camping near the Detwah Lagoon.

Day 6

• Today we’ll embark on a boat trip to one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. The journey takes us along a steep rocky coastline, revealing wonderful new views along the way. With some luck, we might also spot dolphins or even swim with whale sharks.
• In the afternoon, we head inland to the Dixam Plateau. To conclude our trip, we’ll visit the homeland of the Dragon Blood Trees. Not far from our camp, there are magnificent specimens perfect for night photography.
• Overnight: Camping on the Dixam Plateau.

Day 7

• Today, another highlight awaits us. We want to take a hike through the Dragon Blood Tree forest. Various points for photographing the trees are on the agenda.
• We’ll have a midday break at the deeply cut Wadi Dirhur. Before heading back to Hadibu, we’ll treat ourselves to one last swim in one of the clear rock pools.
• During a shared dinner, we’ll reflect on the impressions of the past days.
• Overnight: Hotel in Hadibu.

Day 8

• In the morning, we’ll visit the fish market in Hadibu.
• Return flight to Abu Dhabi.

Looking forward to an incredible journey!
You can see more pictures of this unique area in my Portfolio and Portfolio_2023.