Dear Travelers to Socotra Island, the place where you feel at home.We would like to inform you before
your travel to
the Island of Socotra because Socotra is an eco-tourism system
and new to the international tourist market, so we have to give our visitors a
clear picture and information about Socotra which give them impulse to
visit the unique and rare nature of Jewel of Yemen Socotra's.
Accommodationthe hotel accommodation in Socotra is may not be up to the same
international accommodation, though its good and gettingbetter
from year to year.
There are four hotels on Socotra Island, Taj Socotra Hotel, Hafijj Hotel,
Socotra Hotel and Summer land Hotel, all the Hotels found within Hadibu town. Also it will be necessary to camp outside of
Hadibo in some places such as, Noged coast , omaq beach, Homhil P.A, Wadi Arhr,
Ras ersil , camp near Qaryah , Dihamry marine P.A, Deleshya beach. Ayhaft
canyon, Dixem plateau, Qalancia, Detwah lagoon, Shoap beach ...etc.
How to travel
to Socotra Island?The
way
to getting to Soqotra island by airplane and there are two airlines flying to
Socotra :-1-
Yemenia airways:
servers two weekly flights to-from Socotra Island. The first
flight:
every Friday from Sana’a to Socotra and return in the same
way. (The departure time on Friday from Sana’a airport at 5:00AM and arrive on Socotra
airport at 7:45 AM).The Second
flight:
every Monday from Aden to Socotra and return in the same way , some
times the airplane continue to Sana’a via Aden airport and also there is a
flight on Monday from mukalla to Sana’a (The departure time on Monday from Aden
airport
at 9:00AM and arrive on Socotra airport at 12:00 PM).
2- Felix airways:
it is a new domestic airways company and it
servers a daily flights to - from Socotra Island.all the mentioned flights are
drop on Mukalla airport about 45 minutes to take new passengers and fuel.Visiting season to Socotra Island:The tourist seasons for Socotra Island is limited from the
beginning of October until mid of May.Other months of every year will be windy because the southwest
Monsoon which blows from June till mid of September, during
Monsoon it is good time for the people who like the adventure
sport like windsurfing.The rain season on Socotra Island:The rains
fall mainly during the mid of November and December, with a
yearly average of 160 mm, although this is highly variable from
year to year. Mid of November to March offers the best weather
with cool temperatures and little or no rain the months of April
and May are hot with daytime temperatures well above 40˚C.
When to traveling:
The
weather in Socotra made the tourist's season limited because Socotra occurs by
strong monsoon season which blew from June until the end of august during the
monsoon season windsurfing and kitesurfing can be arranged for the people who
interested in adventure sports.The tourism season start from the second half of
September until the end of May.
Visa and Money:The entry Visa issued one of our services and
we can offer it for you other ways you can obtain visa on your arrival at Sana’a
airport or any executorships to Yemen. Change some money into Yemeni Riyal (YR.)
at the airport, or in any city in Yemen. Or you can exchange money at national
bank on Socotra or in the Cac bank and there is also one exchange shops in
Soqotra Island .Take cash
currency with you, USD and Euro are acceptable on the Island. MasterCard,
not acceptable in Socotra and Visa Card also. you can exchange master card and Visa Card
in some banks at the mainland.Alcohol:Yemen is an Islamic country and alcohol is prohibited. Alcohol
can be obtained in some five-star hotels in big cities in the
mainland but the
prices are very high. Non alcoholic bear can be found in many places.so, you have to bring your alcohol drinks with you.Food and drinks on
Socotra
Socotra Island Due to its remote location, arid
habitat and lack of wealth, Socotra understandably offers a rather limited
cuisine. Local restaurants served a plain, simple fare centred on fish, chicken,
goat, rice and potatoes. Fresh fish should be available daily and is highly
recommended. All meals which serve are piping hot and straight from the oven or
pan, including flat Arabic bread that seemed to be served with every meal.
Buying oranges, bananas, tomatoes, cucumber and
processed cheese from town, supplemented with extra bread ordered at breakfast.
The few shops in Hadibu and Qalancya stock basic commodities including bottled
water, soft drinks, tinned fish, soap, etc, as well as some shops selling
clothes. Vegetables, as with most things on Socotra, are flown or shipped in,
and consequently become relatively expensive. In the past, the only commercially
grown crop has been dates.
Health Care:Socotra is not a malaria region, there
are some mosquitoes in some places so, a malaria prophylactic is recommended.
Cholera is not present on the island at all. Drink only bottled mineral water;
it’s readily available in Hadibo and Qalansiya. The hospitals on the Island
offer less than adequate service. Pharmacies are presented around Hadibo,
Electricity:
The electrical supply is nominally 220V, 50 Hz.
Plugs varied, with both the round two-pin type commonly used throughout Europe,
as well as the three-pin type found in the UK.
Most Socotris still live without electricity,
running water.
Religion:
All the people follows Islam
Languages:
Socotri is the local language, Arabic is the
official and formal language; English is spoken by the people working in the
tourism industry.
Internet:
There is an internet cafe on Hadibo and the public internet access exist in
Hadibo the capital city of
Socotra.
Telephone:
Telephone lines are available on the the
capital city of Socotra (Hadibo), and the country code: 00967 5 after the
international access codes, number must be six digits. The international call is available on the
Island of socotra. The GSM system is not working on Socotra Island and there is
only new system it calls CDMA working on some places of Socotra Island.
Time Zone:
The same other Yemeni Cities GMT + 3 hours
Post office:The post office is located at the town of
Hadibo, in Socotra near the Telephone Central.Dear
visitor►Please remember◄►Make
Socotra like your home and keep it clean.►Don’t
kill or take any thing from the Island►Don't
take shells and pieces of corals►Do
not leave or throw any litter, cans and bottles in your camp or in any where you
visit it.►make
sure to leave the camp site clean.►all
rubbish must be put in the plastic bag which always available with your guide or your driver and must move it to rubbish
location in Hahibo.►Don't
take photographs of army site in any where in Yemen or Socotra►Use
only dead wood for fire►At
the all places where you diving or snorkeling don’t touch or damage the coral►Don’t
swim in the sea if it high wave this is for safetyFinally we can say
Socotra is a unique island which opened to
tourism only recently. The island offers a surprising variety of natural beauty:
mountains overlooking the sea, plains covered with palm trees and cane-brakes,
beaches, limestone plateaus and deep ravines. On the island visitors can find
unique animal and vegetables species that give Socotra a primordial look.Join now
and we are sure never to forget your trip to the Island of Socotra.
Either you enjoy the fantastic Fauna and Flora,
have a great time in the beautiful mountains and appreciate the amazing rare
Nature.
