Socotra
Spring landscapes of the Paradise Island
Start: March 17, 2026, Socotra, Yemen
Finish: March 24, 2026, Socotra, Yemen
Group: 3-8 people.
Finish: March 24, 2026, Socotra, Yemen
Group: 3-8 people.
Spring landscapes of Socotra.
The island of Socotra, lost in the Indian Ocean, is one of the most amazing places on the planet. Its unique nature, formed by millions of years of isolation, turns into a real blooming paradise in the spring. It is no coincidence that we chose this time for our photo expedition. At this time of year, the island comes to life: harsh rocks and desert plains are covered with lush greenery, and endemic plants bloom, creating fantastic landscapes.
Dragon trees and blooming deserts
Some of the most recognizable symbols of Socotra are dragon trees. Their umbrella-shaped crowns, reminiscent of giant mushrooms, look especially impressive against the blue sky, snow-white clouds and reddish rocks. In the spring, some trees release new shoots, adding rich colors to the landscape. During our photo tour, we will pay special attention to photographing these unique trees.
The desert areas of the island, seemingly lifeless in the dry season, are transformed in the spring. Particularly beautiful are the Dixam plateau and the Wadi Dirhur valley, where rare plant species flourish among the limestone formations.
The island of Socotra, lost in the Indian Ocean, is one of the most amazing places on the planet. Its unique nature, formed by millions of years of isolation, turns into a real blooming paradise in the spring. It is no coincidence that we chose this time for our photo expedition. At this time of year, the island comes to life: harsh rocks and desert plains are covered with lush greenery, and endemic plants bloom, creating fantastic landscapes.
Dragon trees and blooming deserts
Some of the most recognizable symbols of Socotra are dragon trees. Their umbrella-shaped crowns, reminiscent of giant mushrooms, look especially impressive against the blue sky, snow-white clouds and reddish rocks. In the spring, some trees release new shoots, adding rich colors to the landscape. During our photo tour, we will pay special attention to photographing these unique trees.
The desert areas of the island, seemingly lifeless in the dry season, are transformed in the spring. Particularly beautiful are the Dixam plateau and the Wadi Dirhur valley, where rare plant species flourish among the limestone formations.
Paradise beaches and turquoise waters
The coast of Socotra is no less beautiful in spring. Snow-white sandy beaches are washed by the emerald waters of the Indian Ocean. At this time of year, the ocean is especially calm, and you can see dolphins. We will photograph beautiful snow-white dunes and bizarre rocks, which together with the ocean create stunning views. In the Arher lagoon, a sand spit separates a freshwater lake from the ocean, creating a unique contrasting landscape.
The Hagier mountain ranges are covered in greenery in spring, and the fogs enveloping the peaks give the landscape a mystical mood.
The coast of Socotra is no less beautiful in spring. Snow-white sandy beaches are washed by the emerald waters of the Indian Ocean. At this time of year, the ocean is especially calm, and you can see dolphins. We will photograph beautiful snow-white dunes and bizarre rocks, which together with the ocean create stunning views. In the Arher lagoon, a sand spit separates a freshwater lake from the ocean, creating a unique contrasting landscape.
The Hagier mountain ranges are covered in greenery in spring, and the fogs enveloping the peaks give the landscape a mystical mood.
Sunsets and starry sky
Sunsets are especially beautiful in spring on Socotra. The sun, sinking below the horizon, paints the sky in fiery shades, and the silhouettes of dragon trees create surreal pictures. At night, due to the absence of light pollution, a stunning view of the Milky Way opens up.
During our tour there will be a new moon, and amazing opportunities for night photography of the starry sky will open up. We will definitely devote one or two nights to night photography in the most beautiful places of the island.
During the tour, we will live in specially prepared campsites in comfortable individual tents. All necessary equipment, three meals a day will be provided by the organizers.
Please note that to some points you will need to walk along a mountain path. The distances will not be very large, but please evaluate your strength and preparation.
Sunsets are especially beautiful in spring on Socotra. The sun, sinking below the horizon, paints the sky in fiery shades, and the silhouettes of dragon trees create surreal pictures. At night, due to the absence of light pollution, a stunning view of the Milky Way opens up.
During our tour there will be a new moon, and amazing opportunities for night photography of the starry sky will open up. We will definitely devote one or two nights to night photography in the most beautiful places of the island.
During the tour, we will live in specially prepared campsites in comfortable individual tents. All necessary equipment, three meals a day will be provided by the organizers.
Please note that to some points you will need to walk along a mountain path. The distances will not be very large, but please evaluate your strength and preparation.
Photo Tour Itinerary
Day 1
We meet at Socotra airport, where regular flights from the UAE arrive twice a week.
After the meeting, we will set off along the northern coast of the island to the west.
Already along the way, we will have the opportunity to shoot amazing picturesque landscapes. We will pass small local villages and untouched deserted beaches. By sunset, we will reach our first camp on the shore of the stunning Detwah lagoon, where we will conduct our first sunset shoot.
Day 2
This day, at dawn, we will set off to shoot one of the most breathtaking views of the west coast, where bottle trees are in bloom, in the afternoon we will take a short boat trip, during which we will shoot spinner dolphins and watch a variety of local seabirds against the backdrop of stunning rock formations. We will stop by the colorful Shoub beach, where local fishermen bring their catch.
The evening photo session is planned on a hill with a magnificent view of Detwah Bay.
Day 3
After sunrise shooting in the lagoon and breakfast, we head to the center of the island to the Diksam plateau, and then to Rokeb Farmhin. This area is widely known for its dragon trees and the nomadic Bedouins who inhabit the plateau. Along the way, we will stop at viewpoints and shoot alien landscapes of central Socotra. We will have lunch in the village of Diksam and go to the protected forest of dragon trees. On the way, we will visit the stunning gorge of Wadi Dirhur with a beautiful lake.
On this day, we will also meet nomadic herders and set up our camp in the Farmhin forest among the dragon trees, which we will shoot at sunset and at night against the backdrop of the starry sky.
At this time, there should be very favorable conditions for night shooting.
Day 4
We will shoot dragon trees at dawn and leave the central highlands, descending to the southern coast,
where the plateau ends and the endless panorama of the Indian Ocean opens up. We head to Aomak with its immaculate white sand beaches.
After lunch, we will visit local villages scattered across the southern plain and reach the Degub cave. This grotto contains some very interesting rock formations.
This day we will visit the magnificent sand dunes of Zahaq, which we will shoot at sunset.
The sight of these dazzling white dunes will amaze even the most experienced Sahara explorers.
Day 5
After morning shooting on the snow-white dunes of Zahaq on the coast and breakfast, we will have a 3-hour drive to the Momi plateau, where we will visit one of the most amazing places in Socotra and see the natural freshwater pools and cascades of Kelesehan, drive through Wadi Farho with the famous palm oasis, and along the way we will shoot bottle trees. After lunch in a shady oasis, we will continue our journey to Arher. Our goal is giant sand dunes against the backdrop of the turquoise waters of the ocean. Here we will set up our next camp. Evening shooting on the dunes.
Day 6
On this day, we get up early in the morning before dawn to climb the sand dunes, admire and shoot the sunrise. After breakfast, if desired, you can hike to the unusual Hoq cave (the road will take about 4 hours both ways).
If you don't want to go to the cave, you can just relax by the ocean.
After lunch, we will visit Ras Erisal - the meeting point of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, and also stop by a local village where we will take pictures of local children. We will spend the night in the Homhill National Park (a natural botanical garden with an amazing natural pool), a park famous for its dragon trees.
If the weather permits, we will try to take pictures of the starry sky again.
Day 7
After the dawn shooting of dragon trees along a beautiful road along the ocean, we will return to the capital of the island, where we will check into a hotel, rest, and at sunset we will go to another place where dragon trees grow in the mountains.
Day 8
On this day, our tour ends, we have breakfast, peer into the blue distance of the Arabian Sea and go to the airport to fly home.
We meet at Socotra airport, where regular flights from the UAE arrive twice a week.
After the meeting, we will set off along the northern coast of the island to the west.
Already along the way, we will have the opportunity to shoot amazing picturesque landscapes. We will pass small local villages and untouched deserted beaches. By sunset, we will reach our first camp on the shore of the stunning Detwah lagoon, where we will conduct our first sunset shoot.
Day 2
This day, at dawn, we will set off to shoot one of the most breathtaking views of the west coast, where bottle trees are in bloom, in the afternoon we will take a short boat trip, during which we will shoot spinner dolphins and watch a variety of local seabirds against the backdrop of stunning rock formations. We will stop by the colorful Shoub beach, where local fishermen bring their catch.
The evening photo session is planned on a hill with a magnificent view of Detwah Bay.
Day 3
After sunrise shooting in the lagoon and breakfast, we head to the center of the island to the Diksam plateau, and then to Rokeb Farmhin. This area is widely known for its dragon trees and the nomadic Bedouins who inhabit the plateau. Along the way, we will stop at viewpoints and shoot alien landscapes of central Socotra. We will have lunch in the village of Diksam and go to the protected forest of dragon trees. On the way, we will visit the stunning gorge of Wadi Dirhur with a beautiful lake.
On this day, we will also meet nomadic herders and set up our camp in the Farmhin forest among the dragon trees, which we will shoot at sunset and at night against the backdrop of the starry sky.
At this time, there should be very favorable conditions for night shooting.
Day 4
We will shoot dragon trees at dawn and leave the central highlands, descending to the southern coast,
where the plateau ends and the endless panorama of the Indian Ocean opens up. We head to Aomak with its immaculate white sand beaches.
After lunch, we will visit local villages scattered across the southern plain and reach the Degub cave. This grotto contains some very interesting rock formations.
This day we will visit the magnificent sand dunes of Zahaq, which we will shoot at sunset.
The sight of these dazzling white dunes will amaze even the most experienced Sahara explorers.
Day 5
After morning shooting on the snow-white dunes of Zahaq on the coast and breakfast, we will have a 3-hour drive to the Momi plateau, where we will visit one of the most amazing places in Socotra and see the natural freshwater pools and cascades of Kelesehan, drive through Wadi Farho with the famous palm oasis, and along the way we will shoot bottle trees. After lunch in a shady oasis, we will continue our journey to Arher. Our goal is giant sand dunes against the backdrop of the turquoise waters of the ocean. Here we will set up our next camp. Evening shooting on the dunes.
Day 6
On this day, we get up early in the morning before dawn to climb the sand dunes, admire and shoot the sunrise. After breakfast, if desired, you can hike to the unusual Hoq cave (the road will take about 4 hours both ways).
If you don't want to go to the cave, you can just relax by the ocean.
After lunch, we will visit Ras Erisal - the meeting point of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, and also stop by a local village where we will take pictures of local children. We will spend the night in the Homhill National Park (a natural botanical garden with an amazing natural pool), a park famous for its dragon trees.
If the weather permits, we will try to take pictures of the starry sky again.
Day 7
After the dawn shooting of dragon trees along a beautiful road along the ocean, we will return to the capital of the island, where we will check into a hotel, rest, and at sunset we will go to another place where dragon trees grow in the mountains.
Day 8
On this day, our tour ends, we have breakfast, peer into the blue distance of the Arabian Sea and go to the airport to fly home.
* You can fly a drone on Socort. The cost is paid separately and is $100.
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
- three meals a day
- accommodation in tents in campsites
- all transfers along the route of the trip
- entrance tickets to national parks
- photo guide services.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
- flight to Socotra and back*
- insurance
- visa
- tips to guides
BOOK PHOTO TOUR
Socotra 2026