15-Day Socotra Island Adventure with caves, lagoons, and dragon trees

• Upon arrival at Socotra airport, have lunch and check in at the hotel in Hadibo.

• Visit Delisha beach, with pristine white sands full of crabs.

• Relax while swimming in the sea and in a freshwater lagoon. Climb a huge sand dune overlooking the beach. There is also a possibility of watching a fabulous sunset from Delisha beach.

Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Hadibo or at Adeeb Eco campsite.

• Drive to Dihamri Marine Protected Area. It boasts one of the richest coral reefs on the archipelago. Relax on the beach in palm-leaf huts and swim and snorkel in Dihamri Bay. Snorkelling gear can be hired there. Marine species that can be seen underwater include parrotfish, moray eel, rays, and sea urchins.

• Meet turtles. Divers can also use the services of Dihamri Diving Center and go for a dive in Dihamri or another of the superb diving spots of Socotra.

Dinner and overnight camping at Dihamri Marine P/A.

• Reach Homhil and enjoy fabulous scenery that gives a kind of pre-historic feeling. Stop at Qareah lagoon en route. It is the largest lagoon on the island. See flamingos, herons, and greenshank here.

• The trek to Homhil starts at the bottom of a spectacular ravine at ground level. The trek is of medium difficulty and won't take more than 1-2 hours. Enjoy the view back while ascending.

• Once at Homhil, choose from a selection of walking trails. Witness the pre-historic atmosphere of the landscape, rich with dragon blood trees and bottle trees. Interact with local children who sell dragon blood tree resin and frankincense. One of the trails leads to a viewpoint with a natural pool of almost freezing green and blue water.

Dinner and overnight in Homhil P/A.

• After breakfast at 6:30 am, walk down to Wadi Shifa, taking in lovely valley scenery followed by expansive sea views of Wadi Shifa during a medium one-and-a-half-hour walk. Then take the car in the wadi.

• Drive to Dedam Cave, a small cave, for a quick lunch.

• Go to the northeast coast of the island to the Arher area, which is a meeting point of freshwater from the mountain and saltwater from the Indian Ocean. Arher is also home to another magnificent sand dune.

• Swim and explore the location. Climb the huge sand dunes for fantastic views, and then take a trip to Ras Irsal to explore the windy eastern extreme of the island.

Dinner and overnight camp at Arher campsite.

• Make an early start to drive to the base of Hoq Cave in Terbaik village. Before the sun gets too hot, walk up to the entrance of the cave. It is more than 3 km long, with a pool at the end, and holds traces of Socotri history.

• See ancient stalactites, stalagmites, and crystalline formations. Admire the ancient writings on the Hoq Cave walls, and also what appears to be a picture of an old trading ship preserved over the ages by a calcite glaze. There is also evidence to suggest that the cave was once used for ritual purposes, shown by the presence of mysterious altars.

Finally, move to Arher beach.

Dinner and overnight in Arher beach.

• Make a trip to Dogub Cave, below which there is a scattering of traditional villages. The cave is interesting, with many stalactites, stalagmites, and water that has seeped through the rock over time.

• Drive to Wadi Dfaarho on the way and see traditional villages and natural pools at the bottom of the canyon. The unusual Desert Rose tree clings to the canyon walls. The vegetation here is lush green, and there are birds and a forest of frankincense trees.

Dinner and overnight at Detwah lagoon campsite.

• Drive to the natural zone of the colossal sand dunes of Hayf and Zaheq, which have been pushed up against the mountain by the seasonal winds of Socotra. Climb the dunes for a view that is truly worth it.

• Go south to Mateef beach to swim in the clear waters of the Indian Ocean.

Dinner and overnight at Mateef beach.

• Drive by 4x4 vehicle to Diksam Plateau and Shebahon viewpoint. This area is renowned for dragon blood trees, the resin of which is collected, used, and traded by the people of Socotra. The area is also home to the endemic and rare Socotra Bunting, estimated at 1,000 pairs. The Shebahon viewpoint gives a fabulous vista overlooking Druher Canyon (Wadi). Get to see unusual yet beautiful rock formations.

• Go down to Wadi Druhr for lunch and an easy walk, and maybe also a swim in a freshwater pool with a natural slide.

Dinner and overnight in Diksam Plateau.

• Go hiking in Wadi Darho for three hours, with lunch at Darho.

• Trek for two hours to Firmhin dragon blood tree forest, which is the densest area of dragon blood trees.

• Walk up to the Skand area, which is the highest mountain on Socotra island. See the south coast and north coast, as well as many different kinds of endemic plants. This is approximately a 5-hour easy walk covering 15 km with a 600 m ascent.

Dinner and overnight in Thaher.

• Hike down to Wadi Madhiro and then to Tanareh.

• Take a trip to Wadi Ayhaft National Park.

• In the canyon, enjoy large freshwater pools for swimming or soaking. See tamarind and cucumber trees and a wide variety of birds such as Socotra Sparrow, Socotra Sunbird, and both Socotra and Somali Starlings. As a matter of fact, Ayhaft is considered a natural nursery due to its large abundance of endemic trees, plants, and birds.

Dinner and overnight at Ayhaft Natural Park.

• Go to Qadama beach to see the turtles on the beach and spend the night there while visiting the long beach of Qadama.

Dinner and overnight in Qadama turtles beach.

• Drive to the western part of the island, where the little fishermen's town of Qalansyiah is located. It consists of traditional Socotri houses, narrow alleyways, and a long beach full of fishing boats ready to set off for the day's catch.

• Continue to neighbouring Detwah Lagoon, which is a marine protected area renowned for its magical landscape. Be charmed by a white sandy tongue surrounded by turquoise waters of the bay. This surely is one of the best views on the island. Jump into the shallow sea there and enjoy paradise. Be careful with stingrays that can be seen in the lagoon. There is also an array of seabirds to be seen in the lagoon.

Dinner and overnight at Ditweh Lagoon.

• Relax and swim around the Ditweh Lagoon.

Dinner and overnight at Ditweh Lagoon.

• Have breakfast at 6:00 am and take a traditional fishing boat to the pristine beach at Shouab, seeing beautiful rock cliffs, fishing boats, and perhaps cormorants and dolphins on the way. There are also mangrove trees on this beach, and you can go for an easy swim.

• After the return boat trip to Detwah lagoon for lunch, drive back to the capital city of Socotra, Hadibu.

Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Hadibo or an eco-campsite.

• After an early breakfast, visit a souvenir shop, plant nursery, Socotra woman association, and market while waiting for transfer to Socotra airport for a short flight to the mainland.