Twelve days, and the only reason to want them is that the standard week forces choices. Hoq or Kalysan. Firmihin as an evening or as a place. The south coast as a transfer or as a destination. This trip stops choosing.
It also goes where the eight-day circuit simply cannot reach: the Momi plateau in the far east, Dahaisi cave, the Rosh marine reserve on the north coast, and Wadi Faro. As far as we can establish, no operator publishes a day-by-day ten-to-twelve-day Socotra itinerary anywhere on the web. This is ours.
A note on the length. The Jeddah rotation is the constraint that sets every Socotra itinerary, and sources disagree about whether it currently runs once or twice a week. Eight days always works. Any other length depends on the rotation in your specific window, so we confirm it against live schedules and tell you in writing before you commit to anything. If it will not work for your dates we will say so rather than sell you a trip that has to be rebuilt.
What it costs
- Land only
- $2,433
- All-in
- $3,433
Everything on the island, per person.
Land plus the return Jeddah–Socotra flight.
These are real numbers, not a “from” price, and they are indicative until we confirm them against live availability for your dates — the flight rotation and the permit both move. You get a firm figure in writing before you commit to anything. Why the same trip is quoted so differently across the market is covered in what Socotra actually costs.
Socotra is a cash-USD island: no working ATMs, no card acceptance. Bring $500–800 in small denominations, and note that only crisp notes from 2009, 2013 or 2017 onwards are reliably accepted.
Day by day
Pattern A extended — full circuit plus the east and the reserves
We do not print driving times. Almost none are published by anyone and the two figures that circulate could not be attributed to a source, so we would rather leave them out than invent them. Walking times below are the ones operators publish.
- Day 1
Arrive and go inland
NorthAirport, then Wadi Ayhaft — freshwater pools under dragon trees — and down to the north coast for the first night.
Overnight: Delisha Beach camp
- Day 2
Rosh
NorthThe Rosh marine reserve, a coral beach the 2025 UNESCO mission named as a working example of community co-management. The last intact traditional wooden huri on the island was restored here in 2021 and now runs paid trips; if it is on the water, we go out on it.
Overnight: Rosh camp
- Day 3
Dihamri
North-eastA full day at the reef rather than an afternoon: two snorkels, the fishing village, and time in the water when the light is actually good.
Overnight: Dihamri camp
- Day 4
Hoq
EastThe cave walk without the clock running — operators publish about three hours round trip, and this is the day to take longer inside, where the 1st-century sailors' inscriptions are.
Overnight: Arher Beach camp
- Day 5
Momi and Erissel
Far eastThe Momi plateau, which the eight-day circuit never reaches, and the eastern cape at Erissel where the two seas meet. The dunes at Arher again at sunset because they are better the second time.
Overnight: Arher Beach camp
- Day 6
Kalysan and Homhil
East and plateau edgeBoth, instead of either. The canyon pools in the morning — about forty-five minutes in on foot — and up to Homhil for the afternoon, the frankincense and the infinity pool.
Overnight: Homhil camp
- Day 7
Wadi Faro and the southern plain
South-eastDown onto the south coast the slow way, through Wadi Faro. The southern plain is the emptiest part of the island and almost nobody stops on it.
Overnight: Amak Beach camp
- Day 8
Dunes, caves, dark sky
SouthZahek and Hayf, then Dahaisi and Digub caves above the plain. Amak has the clearest night skies on the island and this is the night to stay up.
Overnight: Amak Beach camp
- Day 9–10
Two nights at Firmihin
CentreDiksam, the Wadi Dirhur canyon and then two nights in the forest — first light and last light twice, the mountain village, and the dragon-blood nursery. Firmihin holds over forty per cent of the world's dragon trees on about two per cent of their range, and a day is not enough to understand why that matters.
Overnight: 2 nights, Firmihin camp
- Day 11
Shuab and the lagoon
WestQalansiyah, then by boat along the cliffs to Shuab with spinner dolphins on the crossing, and back to Detwah for the last night beside the water.
Overnight: Detwah Lagoon camp
- Day 12
Out
—Back across the island to the airport, three hours ahead.
What is included
- Return flight Jeddah–Socotra
- All airport transfers on Socotra
- 4x4 with driver throughout
- English-speaking Socotri guide, plus local site guides for the cave, the canyon and the forest
- All meals, snacks and drinking water from the crew kitchen
- Entry fees for every protected area on the route
- The boat to Shuab
- Camping equipment: tent, mattress, bedding, camp furniture and lighting
What is not
- International flights to and from Jeddah
- The Socotra permit, which we arrange and invoice at cost — published figures run $75–200 and no authoritative number exists
- Travel insurance, which needs a specialist policy (see our insurance guide)
- Tips for the crew
- Personal spending, and anything you buy on the island — bring cash in USD
- Drone permit, if you are bringing one
This suits you if
- · A second trip to Socotra, or a first one done properly
- · Photographers who need the same place twice
- · Anyone who resents transfer days
- · Slow travellers
Pick something else if
- · A first taste of the island on limited leave
- · Anyone who needs a firm date months out — see the note on length
- · Travellers who want a bed most nights
If the flight does not come
If the flight does not come. In January 2026 roughly 600 travellers sat on Socotra for about a week when the rotation stopped. It is the clearest risk on the trip, and the written terms across this market are all over the place: one operator charges $100 per person per day and says plainly that no cash refund will ever be issued for a cancelled flight, offering only non-transferable credit; another promises a full deposit refund; two put every extra night entirely on the traveller; one is silent on force majeure altogether. Travellers who were caught in January 2026 have publicly described recovering money by bank chargeback after being ignored, and being billed with no cost breakdown. Ours: if the return flight is cancelled, we keep the ground arrangement running — accommodation, food, vehicle and guide — and we bill extra nights at cost, itemised, with no margin added. We will send you that in writing before you pay anything. Ask any operator you are comparing us with for the same, and treat a vague answer as an answer.
More on the risk in is Socotra safe and insurance and health.
Frequently asked questions
Can I actually book twelve days?
It depends on the flight rotation in your window, and we will not pretend otherwise. Eight days always works because it is one flight in and the next one out. Sources disagree on whether the Jeddah rotation currently runs once or twice a week, so we check live schedules for your dates and confirm in writing before you commit.
What does twelve days get me that eight does not?
The Momi plateau, Dahaisi cave, the Rosh marine reserve and Wadi Faro, none of which the standard circuit reaches. Two nights at Firmihin instead of one evening. Both Hoq and Kalysan rather than a choice between them. And the south coast as a destination rather than a transfer.
Is there a published twelve-day itinerary anywhere else?
Not that we could find. Several operators sell fifteen-day trips and everyone sells eight, but no day-by-day ten-to-twelve-day Socotra itinerary appears to be published anywhere on the web. That is why ours is written out in full above.
Is twelve days too long on Socotra?
It is a small island and twelve days is a lot of camping. If you are asking the question, the eight-day circuit is probably the right trip and we will say so. This one suits people who already know they would rather stay put and look properly.
How much more walking is there?
Not much more, but more days on your feet. Hoq and Kalysan are the two real walks and this trip does both instead of one. The rest is short walks from the vehicles.
What happens if the flight is cancelled?
The ground arrangement keeps running and extra nights are billed at cost, itemised, with no margin, confirmed in writing before you pay. On a longer trip this matters more, not less.
Ask about this trip
Socotra seats are not sold online by anyone — they are released to licensed operators, and the permit is sponsored, so every booking here starts as a conversation. Tell us your dates and we will come back with what is actually available and a firm price in writing.
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