Socotra by luxury camps: the Yemeni Galápagos

Special access to this unique Indian Ocean island

This secretive Arabian island has – like the Galápagos – evolved in near-isolation. That means its UNESCO alien landscapes host one of the highest levels of species endemism, plenty of opportunity for adventure thrill and an enthralling cultural past and present.

And, given its remote setting, you’ll be one of the only people to have visited. So, we’ve extensively recced the destination, bringing along the Financial Times’ Africa editor, scouting exclusive beaches for your luxury camp and gaining special access to local sheikhs and conservation opportunities.

Throughout, we’ll organise truly special experiences for you, from dramatic beach dinner setups and searching for dolphins with a marine biologist to archaeologist-led special access to ancient cave structures.

All media taken on Cookson Adventures trips

That makes camping — in Cookson’s case, in style of course — the only real option for exploring the island’s heroically dramatic landscape

The Financial Times' Head of Africa at our Socotra camp, June 2023

Custom camps

Creating tented camps built entirely from scratch, we’ll see you enjoy a slice of comfort in truly remote locations across the island. From double beds and fire pits to movie projectors and a private chef, these white canvas setups are delightfully evocative but come with plenty of little luxuries, too.

Local & cultural interactions

Throughout, we’ve got exclusive contacts who will elevate your experiences and campfire evenings – think Socotri musicians and award-winning poets to spending time with local fishermen or a family in a local Bedouin village.

Socotra on water

Combining idyllic coastlines with crystal-clear protected waters, the scene is set for some truly epic kitesurfing, paddleboarding and fly-fishing sessions. By scuba or snorkel, you can also inspect the creatures living around the island, searching for pods of spinner dolphins or spotting majestic manta rays gliding in the currents.

Adventures on land

We’ll see you take in the very best of Socotra’s rugged topography, whether that’s tackling sea upon sea of giant sand dunes by board, witnessing ancient archaeological cave wonders with an archaeologist or taking in the sweeping wadis and canyons on hikes that are as challenging as you want them to be.

Unique setups

From enjoying tea with a community leader over a gourmet mountain picnic to a spectacular bonfire celebration down on the beach, we’ll make sure to put on some truly special experiences for your group.

World-class flora & fauna

Spot the island-born scops owl or find the gecko that lives exclusively amidst the tangled umbrella crown of Socotra’s famous dragon’s blood trees. As well as the highest concentration of Egyptian vultures in the world, this biodiverse island boasts what is an extraordinary level of endemic species.

Sky-high adventure

Whether paragliding between mountainous valleys, island hopping by heli or soaring high along the island’s coastal cliffs by gyrocopter, there’s no better way to fully appreciate Socotra’s unique natural beauty than from above.

Conservation opportunities

From community-run dragon’s blood tree nurseries to a loggerhead sea turtle monitoring project, this wildlife wonderland has plenty of conservation-focused opportunities to support and get involved in.

This Indian Ocean archipelago offers a rare glimpse into the primeval wilds of a landscape left to evolve in isolation for millions of years.

As such, with its lack of access and infrastructure, Socotra is often best appreciated from the air. From taking you flightseeing by heli to bringing in gyrocopter teams, our crafted routes mean its dramatic wadi gorges, giant sand dunes and mountain peaks can be perfectly showcased.

Then, among the hypnotically blue shores and white-sand fishing villages made of driftwood, you’ll explore based on your interests. There’s everything from wild fishing and kitesurfing to SUPs, swimming with spinner dolphins and diving among abandoned wrecks.

Footage taken on a past Cookson trip to Socotra

Heading inland, discover a hiking wonderland of giant wadi canyons and rugged caves. Here, evidence of ancient civilisations sit side by side with vultures living among dragon blood trees, famed for their seeping blood-red resin.

What’s more, just because you’re in an off-grid location, we’ll ensure that you don’t compromise on comfort. Alongside private-chef picnics and dinner setups, you’ll retire to exclusive tented camps, created just for you. We’ve scouted what are the island’s most beautiful beaches and even set up tents right among the world’s only dragon’s blood tree forest.