How to Get to Socotra: A Complete Travel Guide
Updated May 2025, How to get to Socotra was originally written in May 2019
Hands down, the number one question I get from readers and curious travelers on social media is: “How do I get to Socotra?
After visiting for the first time back in 2014 (just before the war officially kicked off on the Yemeni mainland), I’ve returned several times, now running group expeditions.
Let me tell you, getting to Socotra before 2015 used to be a breeze. Between 2015 and 2018? Not so much.
Thankfully, access has improved, but it’s still a bit of a logistical gymnastics. In this post, I’ll walk you through all the steps, options, and little quirks of traveling to Socotra in 2025.
Start planning your trip here: The Socotra travel guide
Learn more about Socotra and plan a trip with the Bradt Socotra Guidebook
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Why Visit Socotra?
Often called the “Galápagos of the Indian Ocean,” Socotra is a biodiversity haven with otherworldly landscape. From dragon blood trees, surreal sand dunes, to coastlines that make your jaw drop. It’s remote and utterly magical.
Don’t believe the above paragraph? Check out my Socotra Travel Guide to get an idea of the wild landscapes that await.
Start planning for Socotra: The Socotra Travel Guide
Current Flight Options to Socotra
Air Arabia Flight 476/477: Abu Dhabi to Socotra
- Flight Cost: ~$950 USD round-trip (as of May 2025)
- Route: Direct from Abu Dhabi to Socotra
- Schedule:
- Tuesdays (weekly October–May, biweekly June-September)
Departs Abu Dhabi at 09:00 and arrives in Socotra at 10:20. On return, it departs Socotra at 11:50 and arrives in Abu Dhabi 15:05. - Fridays (November–April)
Departs Abu Dhabi at 09:00 and arrives in Socotra at 10:20. On return, it departs Socotra at 11:50 and arrives in Abu Dhabi 15:05. - Sundays (March-April)
Departs Abu Dhabi at 09:00 and arrives in Socotra at 10:20. On return, it departs Socotra at 11:50 and arrives in Abu Dhabi 15:05.
- Tuesdays (weekly October–May, biweekly June-September)
Booking:
- Not bookable online. Your tour operator will facilitate the process.
Check-In Requirements:
- Printed e-ticket
- Passport
- Printed Yemeni visa approval
Yemenia Airlines: Cairo to Socotra
Flight Cost: ~$1,180 USD round-trip (as of May 2025)
- Route: Cairo → Aden (layover) → Socotra
- Schedule:
- Saturday-Sunday (Cairo-Socotra)
Depart Cairo Saturday at 15:30, arriving in Aden at 20:00. Overnight in Aden and depart Aden at 09:00 Sunday morning, arriving in Socotra at 11:45. - Wednesday-Thursday (Cairo-Socotra)
Depart Cairo on Wednesday at 21:30, arriving in Aden at 02:00 Thursday morning. Depart Aden at 09:00 on Thursday morning, arriving in Socotra at 10:30. - Sunday (Socotra-Cairo)
Depart Socotra at 12:30, arriving in Aden at 15:15. Depart Aden at 18:00 and arrive in Cairo at 20:30. - Thursday-Friday (Socotra-Cairo)
Depart Socotra at 11:15 on Thursday, arriving in Aden at 14:45. Overnight in Aden. Depart Aden at 03:30 on Friday and arrive in Cairo at 06:00.
- Saturday-Sunday (Cairo-Socotra)
Booking:
- Not bookable online. Arrange via your tour operator, who can coordinate with Yemenia Airlines.
Check-In Requirements (Cairo):
- E-ticket number
- Passport
- Printed Yemeni visa approval
- Security clearance papers (provided by your tour operator)
A Note on Egypt and Drones
- Many travelers want to bring a drone to Socotra to capture their trip. Please be aware that if you plan to enter using the flights from Cairo that drones are 100% illegal in Egypt. They can and will confiscate drones if found on arrival. If you are adamant on having a drone with you, it is recommended to utilize the flight from Abu Dhabi.
Why Booking A Ticket To Socotra Can Be Difficult
- Both airlines require a Yemeni visa approval in hand at check-in, which is only issued 30 days before arrival.
- Flights, especially the direct option from Abu Dhabi, fill up quickly.
- Payment is by bank transfer only.
The Yemeni Visa Process
How To Get A Yemeni Visa
The only way of securing a Yemeni visa is by contacting and booking a tour with a local operator. Here’s a few bits of info you need to know:
- Most nationalities need a visa to enter Yemen, including Socotra
- Yemeni visas must be arranged via a local operator (no embassy or consulate processing)
- Yemeni visa cost: ~$150 USD
- Valid for 30 days from entry (issued within 30 days of arrival)
- Print and bring the visa authorization for with you, this will be taken on arrival in exchange for a stamp in your passport.
- No entry if you have Israeli stamps (or evidence of travel to Israel)
Please do not email me demanding to know how to get a visa without booking with a Socotri operator because you do not want to be guided/pay for it/etc. I do not make the rules and unfortunately, Socotra is not a cheap destination at present. If you want to visit so badly I suggest you start saving toward it or visit elsewhere as there are hundreds, if not thousands more easily accessed, less remote, and cheaper to visit islands on Earth. I cannot make Yemenia or Air Arabia lower the price of the flights and I cannot get operators to drop their prices.
Click here to read up on all the info you need to get a Yemeni visa
Bonus: Taking the Cement Ship from Oman
For the ultra-adventurous: a cargo ship occasionally sails from Salalah, Oman to Socotra. It’s cheaper than flying (~$100 USD) but wildly unreliable, with delays of up to two weeks.
Plus, no food, water, or comfort (think rats and cockroaches galore). Piracy risks are also a concern. Proceed with caution!
Potential Issues with a Yemeni Visa in Your Passport
Travelers should be aware that having a Yemeni visa stamp can lead to complications, especially with US immigration.
Speaking from personal experience: after my first trip to Yemen in 2014, I was detained for questioning upon re-entry to the USA. A friend of mine, a long-time US green card holder, found her green card flagged following her 2019 Yemen visit. She’s still able to enter the US but now undergoes extensive questioning each time.
Additionally, under the US travel regulations, anyone who has traveled to Yemen (after March 1, 2011) is no longer eligible for the ESTA visa waiver program. This also applies to travelers who have visited Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, or Syria.
So, if you’re from a country that usually enjoys ESTA access, be prepared to apply for a full visa in the future if Yemen is in your passport history.
That Is The Process Of How To Get To Socotra In 2025
Without a doubt, Socotra is one of my most favorite places in the world and I hope the best for it and its people’s future. If you have any questions on how to get to Socotra please ask in the comments below.
More Posts from Socotra & Yemen:
Can You Still Visit Socotra?
Yemen Travel Guide
Beyond Socotra: The Outer Islands
Ultimate Socotra Travel Guide
How to Get a Socotra Visa
Exploring Sana’a, Yemen
Yemen–Oman Border Crossing Guide
Explore Tarim: Yemen’s Sufi Heart
10 Days In Socotra
Shibam: Manhattan of the Desert
How to Get to Socotra in 2025
A Journey Through Yemen’s Al Mahrah Region
Camping Under The Stars In The Yemeni Empty Quarter
Visiting The Teetering Husn Fort In Qarn Majid, Yemen
Ancient Rock Art in Dahaisi Cave, Socotra
Where The Wild Things Grow: Socotra’s Firhmin Forest
Socotra In Photos
A Guide To Traveling In South Yemen
Socotra Packing List & Prep Guide
Wadi Hadhramaut Travel Guide, Yemen
Haid al Jazil: Central Yemen’s Most Beautiful Village
A Journey Through Wadi Daw’an, Yemen
Socotra Expedition February 11-18, 2025
8 Day South Yemen Expedition February 15-22, 2025
14 Day Socotra & South Yemen Expedition February 9-22, 2025
Why I Traveled to Yemen in 2014
31 thoughts on “How to Get to Socotra in 2025”
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Do you have any other trip schedule to socotra?we are two.
What do you mean?
Thank you, you have impressed us with your beautiful comment about my country, Yemen, especially Socotra Island, for your beautiful advice, and I hope that you visit it again and enjoy your visit, and I hope that you visit Dar Al-Hajar, the Throne of Bilqis, the House of Queen Arwa, and visit the beautiful Ibb Governorate.
Hey
Thanks for taking the time to add all this detail. Do you know if having a Saudi stamp/visa in my passport prohibits me from gaining a Yemeni visa?
Thanks
Nate
I’ve never encountered a Saudi visa causing an issue with getting a Yemeni visa, so all should be fine. The only one that will cause a problem is Israel.
Hey ? Great post and very excited to think about this as a possible trip from Oman…unreliable cockroach boat here I come. Question – I have my own tent, and I’m wondering if you know the prices for me to pitch it somewhere? Do I need transport and a guide? Or is hitchhiking and local transportation possible, too? I’m a budget traveler ? Thanks for all the information.
HAHAHAHAHA unreliable cockroach boat is the most accurate reference to it I’ve seen yet!
hey Nicole，very nice post and I’m excited to think about the trip from China. Here’s some questions. If I already got B1/B2 but haven’t been to America, if I go to Socotra will it affect immigration or affect renew my visa？
That’s awesome. My understanding is that the “ban” only effects those entering on ESTA, so your B1/B2 visas should be okay.
Hi, if I already have an ESta for US, would it then be cancelled because I travel to Socotra? Trying to figure out how to solve this as i travel to US often for work with the esta and if I’m banned from esta it might be a bit more troublesome to apply for a visa
On the other hand, can you share the socotra travel itinerary or any trips for 2023?
Technically (from how I understand it) yes, it would, unfortunately, void your ESTA- though with that said I know of people continuing to travel to the US on an existing ESTA after having visited Yemen (or another blacklisted country) without issue, though I think you’re essentially at the the mercy of the CBP agent checking your passport on entry. So in your case it sounds like it would make things a bit challenging for you given that you do travel to the US for work often.
That all said I do have a departure lined up for 29 January – 6 February, 2023 if you do decide to visit next year!
Hi Nicole,
Thanks for all your very well researched information. I have visited Socotra (the main island once) and Yemen (several times) previously, before the war. However, I’m exploring the possibility of a return trip to the archipelago. I was initially thinking about the boat from Oman. The cockroach infestation doesn’t put me off, but the prospect of waiting two weeks is more difficult to reconcile. Is the boat, any boat, still operating and is it still as unreliable? As an alternative, do you have any idea of the ticket cost from Seiyun to Socotra? The $1,000 tickets from CAI and AUH are just beyond my budget. Thanks very much in advance. Best, Nick
Hi Nick,
The flights to Socotra from mainland are now going from Mukalla to Hadiboh now rather than Seiyun and run around $190 USD one way. The cement boat is still unreliable for the schedule o could get lucky or stuck waiting a long time in Salahlah
So glad I found this blog….thanks so much for the details, I really appreciate it!!
We are planning a fishing trip there in March/April next year out of Abu Dhabi and I would have been put on the return flight as I have a Jordan and Egypt stamp in my passport, even though I have never been to Israel!
Need to read properly…”exit/entrance” not entrance/exit…..
Hope you enjoy it out there! Sounds like you’re going for the grand travelli out there. Re the Jordan/Egypt stamps, the only issue that would be caused by them is if you went to/from Israel into either Jordan or Egypt because they know what exit/entrance border points to look for
Super useful info! We are going to Socotra on 14th Feb. Our plan is the same as you outline – landing in Dubai and testing there. However, it is a news that Air Arabia can handle the transfer to Abu Dhabi. Can you share more details on that?
Hi Diana,
Contact Air Arabia directly to see what the most up-to-date information on the transfer. Hope you enjoy Socotra!
Hi Nicole – Thanks so much for this…
So, I will be travelling to Socotra from the US. I will fly to Dubai, then transit to Abu Dhabi, then to Socotra, then back to Abu Dhabi and back to Dubai.
Question, regarding visas….. If I wish to spend a few days in Dubai, ideally after Socotra and before flying home to the US, how do I handle the visas?
When I initially land in Dubai from the US, do I get:
A) a transit visa to get to Abu Dhabi, then when I return from Socotra, I then get a tourist visa?
OR
B) just get a tourist visa when I first arrive in Dubai
OR
?
Thanks
Hey Timm, the local operator you’ve booked your Socotra trip with will handle you visa for Yemen- you will have a paper copy that you will present at boarding in Abu Dhabi and hand over on arrival in Socotra in return for your visa stamp.
Hi. Can you give me contact to Faisal? Thank you.
Hi,
How much did all of this cost? The travel , the visa, accomodation everything? Thanks
The flights cost $800-1300 normally depending on route and what even is possible/available/etc. Per-day costs on the island if camping (this also includes your transport and guide) are usually a minimum of $140/day per person but can obviously go up depending on what you plan to do while there. If you want to stay in one of the two hotels in Hadiboh every night that will cost an additional ~$100/night (though these rooms are usually double occupancy). Your visa will cost about $150.
Hi
How do I get there from Oman please? We would like to drive to Abu Dhabi and catch flight. Are you aware of the current quarantine requirements?
I’m not sure 100% of the requirements driving into the UAE to Oman at the moment, but my assumption with how the “transit” in Abu Dhabi works, driving into the UAE from Oman may potentially cause problems. I would recommend contacting Air Arabia (or if you’re already in contact with an operator in Socotra, one of them) to confirm if it possible to drive to Abu Dhabi without having to take a 10 day quarantine.
Hi Nicki… Thanks for your posts, its great info…
I have a quick question… what if you’re in Yemen already, can you get a flight from Seiyun to Socotra? Or would I have to leave Yemen, go to Cairo, and fly back to Socotra (via Seiyun)…?
Hi Noreen,
Good question ?
If you’re going to be traveling in Yemen prior to going to Socotra you can hop the flight from Seiyun to Socotra. In order to do this, you’ll need to have whoever is guiding you in Mainland Yemen to arrange the ticket via the local Yemenia office in Seiyun in advance.
I believe the US doesn’t allow online ESTA applications from anyone who has been to Yemen since 2011, regardless of whether they have any trace of it in their passport. One has to apply for a B1/B2 visa to get into the US after this.
Yes, that is true
Hi there, great article. I have been looking into traveling to Socotra for awhile now since I heard about it from some fellow travelers that went awhile ago. I knew you can’t go to Yemen if you have been to Israel but I was wondering do you know if there are any countries that won’t let you in if you have been to Yemen. When I google this I just always get the sites that say don’t go to Yemen it is dangerous.
Thanks!
Hi Daniella, I don’t believe there’s any restrictions for those with Yemen visas in their passports (aside from no longer being eligible for ESTA visa waiver for visitors to the US. When I visited Socotra earlier this year they did ask whether or not we wanted the stamp (there’s a slip of paper you have to keep with you until you depart the country that suffices for them).