15 Day Socotra + South Yemen Expedition

The security situation in the Hadhramaut region has remained relatively stable over the past few years. Of course, there are risks involved with traveling in Mainland Yemen, but we work with an experienced team who carefully mitigates the risks of travel in Yemen. Our team receives routine security reports for the areas we will visit on the mainland and will alter the itinerary as they see fit to keep the group safe.

Socotra, despite being part of Yemen territorially, is very safe. In Socotra, there has never been an incident involving a tourist on the island. The biggest risks you would face as a tourist in Socotra are injuries sustained while out on a trek or in the sea. There is a risk of getting stuck in Socotra longer than planned in the event the flights in or out are delayed or canceled, more so if traveling in the June-September season. 

This 13 Day Socotra and South Yemen Expedition will begin by catching a flight from Cairo to Socotra via a stopover in Aden. The trip ends in Seiyun with us catching a flight from Seiyun back to Cairo.

Yemenia provides a flight from Cairo to Socotra via a stopover in Aden and Mukalla that departs on Sunday evenings and arrives on Monday mornings. 

On return, Yemenia operated a flight that departs Seiyun on Saturdays back to Cairo. It isn't possible to book this ticket online as it is a charter flight. 

Get in contact and we will facilitate the booking process. 

Nearly all nationalities require a Yemeni visa in order to visit. We will handle the Yemeni visa process for you. All we need from you is a scan of your passport info page. We will apply for your visa and once it is approved we will send you a document of visa approval. This visa approval document should be printed and brought with you to the airport in order to board your flight to Seiyun. On arrival in Seiyun, this document will be exchanged for a stamp in your passport. We will need approximately 3 weeks to get your visa secured for you. 

Additionally, you will need security clearance for traveling in Mainland Yemen. We will attain this document for you.

To join any Safar Expeditions departure you will need to carry an active travel insurance plan. Be aware that Yemen and Socotra's remote nature and limited medical facilities pose very real challenges in the event of medical emergencies and serious illness. Because of this, it is recommended to select an insurance plan that covers both medical care and evacuation.

We recommend using IATI travel insurance for medical coverage and an evacuation plan from Global Rescue. 

Prescriptions and even some over-the-counter medications can be difficult to find in Yemen and Socotra, so make sure to bring any meds you need or may need with you.

Officially the Yemeni Rial is the currency used in Yemen. Note that the Yemeni Rial is quite volatile to fluctuations. The Rial can vary between 500-1500 Rial to the US dollar. 

There are simple money exchange offices in both Hadiboh and Seiyun where money can be exchanged for Yemeni Rials. US dollars seem to net the best rates and bills must be new and crisp without any markings, folds, tears, etc. You may want to exchange a small amount into Rials on arrival for smaller purchases. 

Credit cards are not accepted anywhere.

Yes, we do provide a suggested packing list and preparation guide for our Yemen and Socotra expeditions that can be viewed here. 

The cuisine in South Yemen and Socotra is flavorful and delicious. You can expect meat dishes along the way such as chicken, goat, and camel, and fresh seafood in coastal areas. Typically meals are accompanied by a simple salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, and yogurt on the mainland and a type of veggie curry in Socotra. Rice, noodles, and bean dishes are common sides served at lunch and dinner, and no Yemeni meal would be complete without flatbread and shai (tea). 

Please let us know of any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance so that we can accommodate your needs. 

Yemeni society is very conservative. That said, what is required will be different in the mainland and Socotra. 

Socotris are accustomed to seeing foreign tourists, so it is not as strict as other Islamic destinations. While at beaches, swimsuits/bikinis and swim trunks are fine, and shorts are perfectly okay when trekking in the mountains. In towns and villages, dressing modestly is the best practice. While visiting towns and villages women should wear clothing that covers from shoulders to ankles, so trousers and a T-shirt or a maxi dress (though not sleeveless) are great options. Headscarves, while not required for female travelers, are very welcomed by the locals. Keeping a sarong handy is also useful to throw on over shorts, over shoulders, or as a head covering. In towns and villages, men are okay to wear shorts that at least cover the knee and T-shirts. Tank tops or going shirtless in public is in poor taste. 

While in Mainland Yemen, you will need to dress in local garb for security purposes. For men, this means long trousers and shirts that cover the shoulders, or even better the Yemeni traditional outfit of a fouta (a sarong-like fabric wrapped like a skirt) and a button-down shirt. You can purchase a fouta if you'd like before we leave Socotra. Women visiting Mainland Yemen are expected to be fully covered while in public, even foreigners. Black abayas and hijabs are required while we are out, and in certain areas, you may be expected to wear a niqab. 

It's best to plan to log off during your visit to Socotra. Internet is slow in Socotra, with 3G being about as fast as it gets. Mobile internet is only operational in a handful of places around the island. Cell phone service is available on Socotra Island but access to the cell network through roaming may vary depending on your carrier. If you have roaming service on your phone plan for UAE or Mainland Yemen, you may be able to access the local internet network but don't count on this. Foreigners can't purchase local SIM cards in Socotra. 

In Mainland Yemen, Yemen Mobile has coverage in the Hadhramaut region and SIM cards can be purchased by foreigners in Seiyun. Most foreign mobile companies do not have a relationship with Yemen Mobile, so your home plan likely will not work.

In Socotra don't expect to have access to electricity every day, however, a few of the camps we will stay at will have it. A solar charger and battery banks are handy for this. When in Mainland Yemen we will be staying in more formal accommodation and will have electricity each evening but note that rolling blackouts aren't unheard of.

Alcohol and illicit substances are not allowed in Yemen. 

Drones are not allowed into Mainland Yemen without obtaining a media permit that includes a drone on your gear list. This must be arranged well in advance of arrival and will incur an additional cost. 

Yemen forbids all Israeli nationals, people born in Israel, and any traveler with proof of travel to Israel in their passports (including border stamps from Egypt and Jordan) from entering the country. 

In Socotra, you can expect to spend 1-4 hours in the car each day on this portion of the expedition. There are a couple of tarmacked roads on the island connecting Qalansiya to Hadiboh, as well as the south coast and the Dixsam Plateau to Hadiboh. Outside of these areas, you can expect dirt roads and 4x4 jeep tracks in varying conditions. 

While some of the distances covered on the South Yemen portion of the itinerary aren't long, road trips in Yemen are slow going owing to rough roads, checkpoints, and roadblocks. You can expect drive times to vary between most destinations on our itinerary between 1-5 hours but are always subject to delays.

Yes, a minimum of 4 passengers will need to be on this expedition in order to run. If the minimum isn't reached, we will contact you about the potential to still operate the trip but at an additional charge or you will be given the option to cancel and your deposit/payment can either be returned to you or applied toward a different expedition of your choosing.