Bespoke trip to the Yemeni Island of Socotra - ISHKAR

Bespoke trip to the Yemeni Island of Socotra

Name: Bespoke trip to the Yemeni Island of Socotra
Brand: ishkar-explore
SKU: BE1766
Price: 500.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Looking for a truly unique experience? We are now offering bespoke trips to the magical Yemeni island, Socotra.

We will work directly with you to create an imaginative, personalized itinerary. Whether you're more interested in discovering the island's weird and wonderful plant life, snorkelling in its turquoise waters, or a combination of it all, we will tailor the trip to suit your, or your group's, requirements perfectly.

To express your interest and for further information, please contact us at: explore@ishkar.com, or book a consultation with us by clicking on the button above.

Carousel Images // No 2 & 11 ©Karen Huntt Mason

What?

Whatever you want!

For our bespoke trips we will work directly with you to create an imaginative, personalized itinerary. Whether you're more interested in trekking the soaring peaks of Socotra, engaging with the rich culture and fascinating history of the the island, or a combination of it all, we will tailor the trip to suit your, or your group's, requirements perfectly.

Where?

Our bespoke itineraries stretch across the Yemeni island off Socotra. Exact location will depend on your requests!

For hiking, we recommend the Hagghier Mountains and can advise on different wadis for starting your route, as well as the best villages to break for lunch or an overnight on the way.

For marine life, there are small coral reefs we can recommend snorkelling, as well as remote parts of the coast and Socotra's outer islands for an in-depth exploration.

For plant diversity, we can recommend parts of the island that are best of frankincense, Dragon's Blood trees, bottle trees, or any weird and wonderful succulents and flowers.

For archaeology, we can include sites around the island where you can find petroglyphs and rock art, including the western-most location of ancient sanskrit in the island's cave systems.

For culture, we can help you get first-hand insight into goat herding, the island's traditions of storytelling, wild honey collecting and how people on Socotra have long made use of nature's pharmacy.

Who?

The island of Socotra really does have something for everyone. From swimming in the turquoise waters, studying the rare wildlife and sleeping under the stars, we can curate the trip to suit any groups wishes.

A privately curated trip is a great option for families, groups of friends, or people who'd like to explore interests that might be a little less than typical for the average visitor.

Bespoke trip to the Yemeni Island of Socotra

£500.00

Trip Highlights

Our Destination

The Socotra archipelago is an oasis of calm, isolated in the northwest Indian Ocean off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia. It is a land of high mountains, pristine white beaches, and one of the world’s densest concentrations of plant and animal life found anywhere on the planet.

Visitors throughout history have been drawn to the island in search of its natural treasures, not least the otherworldly dragon’s blood tree, revered for its healing powers and used as a paint colour by artists. There are thought to be 825 species of plants on the 3,796km² island, of which 37% are endemic.

From June to September every year, strong monsoon winds hit the islands, contributing to Socotra’s inaccessibility. This inaccessibility has been a blessing for Socotra's nature in recent years. There have been very low levels of human impact on the environment of the island compared to other global biodiversity hotspots. The island’s population remains small (around 60,000), and was a barter only economy as late as 1990. The island’s isolation also means that Socotra has been insulated from the ongoing civil war on mainland Yemen, making Socotra a safe and welcoming destination for the handful of tourists which make their way to the island each year. Our bespoke itineraries stretch across the Island. Get in touch to hear more options: explore@ishkar.com.

Bespoke Possibilities

Socotra is host to an extraordinary array of landscapes and endless possibilities.

For those who love the water, crystal clear reefs, bioluminescence, and even the chance to catch a glimpse of a whale shark.

Hiking unexplored mountain ranges, watching the sun rise over the dragon's blood trees, and swimming in the fresh water wadis that crisscross the landscape.

For the history buff, petroglyphs and rock art, including the western-most location of ancient Sanskrit in the island's cave systems are waiting to be explored.

The rest is up to your imagination. Let us know what you have in mind, and we'll curate an itinerary to fit.

Whether you're looking for a family adventure, a honeymoon to remember, an office retreat or stimulating solo break, we can curate the trip to fit your needs.

Some of you will be drawn by the prospect of spending time in the remote wilderness, others will be drawn by the chance to learn about a fascinating and poorly understood part of the world. We will work closely with you to guarantee the journey you want away from the typical tourist trails.

Travel length is planned in week long increments, as there is only one flight a week in and out of the island from Abu Dhabi, currently scheduled for Mondays. We suggest a trip of one week for the highlights, and two weeks for more in-depth explorations catering to niche interests.

To read some sample itineraries get in touch with us on: explore@ishkar.com.

The Price

The price for this trip will depend completely on your chosen itinerary. It will include all food, transport and accommodation whilst in country. We will be assisted by guides who know the region inside out, providing access to areas rarely seen by tourists.

Email to find out more: explore@ishkar.com

** Where international payments are due, we request that you ensure the full amount is received, after all bank charges have been levied as per the price and currency stated on the invoice.

Travel Security

We are uncompromising when it comes to the safety and security of our travellers and will not hesitate to alter plans or cancel trips due to changing security dynamics. Due to Socotra's remote location, it has been insulated entirely from the physical conflict on mainland Yemen. We do not travel to mainland Yemen.

Through working with our team of local guides we are able to stay abreast of any changes to the security situation if there were any.

Please see our Travel Security page for more information.

ISHKAR Team Members

Your ISHKAR point of contact for the trip is Kate Bloomer. If you have any queries about the trip:

Email: explore@ishkar.com
Book a consultation: Click here.

Kate Bloomer ~ Head of Travel

Kate brings a decade of experience designing tailormade tours for curious and discerning travellers. While she's explored corners of almost every continent, and lived on three, she's particularly drawn to the Middle East and Central Asia, and to parts of the world are a challenge to understand and navigate.

Kate has long admired ISHKAR's ethos and their dedication to exposing open-minded individuals to lesser known and misunderstood destinations through crafts, storytelling and travel. She first worked with ISHKAR on a trip to Socotra in 2021 and is proud to now be contributing her expertise to the team.

Contact:
kate@ishkar.com
+44 7500 963326

ISHKAR Team Members

Your ISHKAR point of contact for the trip is Kate Bloomer. If you have any queries about the trip:

Email: explore@ishkar.com
Book a consultation: Click here.

Kate Bloomer ~ Head of Travel

Kate brings a decade of experience designing tailormade tours for curious and discerning travellers. While she's explored corners of almost every continent, and lived on three, she's particularly drawn to the Middle East and Central Asia, and to parts of the world are a challenge to understand and navigate.

Kate has long admired ISHKAR's ethos and their dedication to exposing open-minded individuals to lesser known and misunderstood destinations through crafts, storytelling and travel. She first worked with ISHKAR on a trip to Socotra in 2021 and is proud to now be contributing her expertise to the team.

Contact:
kate@ishkar.com
+44 7500 963326

Kate, ISHKAR Traveller to Socotra 2021

"ISHKAR's trip to Socotra was a truly once in a lifetime experience which we will treasure forever. We loved every minute of it, and wouldn't have changed a thing. Thank you for bringing this place to life for us and for making it so special."

Scott, ISHKAR Traveller to Socotra 2021

"Ishkar and the local on-the-ground team did an amazing job making a remote island accessible. The staff was great, friendly, helpful, and knowledgable; the arrangements were logical and practical, and the experiences and guests were fun and unique."