Traveling Independently in Socotra Island, Feb’11

Transportation

LP is wrong. There are buses operate within the island but in an erratic manner. Bus leaves when it is full. Most buses operate according to local Socotrans’ will. From Hadibu’s souq area, bus to the west (Odaf, Qalansiyah, etc; YR100-300; 1-2 hrs; 1 daily) leaves after lunch, around 1-3pm. Bus to the east (Howlef, Dihamri, Hombill, Roosh, Ras Irisseyl, etc; YR100-300; 1-2 hrs; 1 daily) leaves after lunch, around 1-3pm as well. Bus to the south (Diksam, Jo’oh, Nojed, etc; YR 300; 1 daily) leaves early in the morning, around 7-8am. To get to airport in Mouri(15km from Hadibu)(YR 100; 15 minutes), just flag down a random bus and ask for Mataar. To get back to Hadibu from those places, just wait along the road early in the morning, around 6-7am and by luck you will get one. Bear in mind that the bus does not bring you to the (tourist)location you want. They are more likely to cater for local Socotrans and often stop at their villages. If you know the nearest village to your destination, just tell the driver, alight there and walk to it. For example, to get to Detwah Lagoon camp site, just stop at Qalansiyah village and walk around 2-3 km to Detwah; to get to Dihamri Marine Protected Area, the bus driver will normally stop at a junction where he will proceed to Ras Irisseyl and from the junction, walk around 1 hr following the 4WD graded route and Dihamri will appear in your eyesight; to get to Nojed and Aomak, you can ask to be dropped off the tarmac road when you see the beach. All bus drivers don’t speak English and sometimes can hardly speak Arabic. They speak Socotri.

Accommodation

There are 5 hotels (all in Hadibu along 26^th street) and 7 camp sites in Socotra Island.

Hotel (from cheap to top end):

1. Al-Mohet Tourism Hotel

2. Taj Socotra Hotel

3. Socotra Holiday Hotel Hafij

4. Hotel Socotra Tourist

5. Summer Land Hotel

Camp Site:

1. Detwah Lagoon: Pre-erected tent(YR 1000); Hut; Toilet facilities(Basic); Food: B/L/D YR 800/1500/1500

2. Dihamri Marine Protected Area: No pre-erected tent; Hut(YR 1000); Toilet facilities(Good); Food: B/L/D YR 800/1500/1500

3. Skand: No pre-erected tent; Stone house(FOC); No toilet facilities; No food; No people!

4. Hombill Mountain: Not checked

5. Roosh: Not checked

6. Aomak Beach: Pre-erected tent(YR 1000); Hut; Toilet facilities(ugly!); Food: B/L/D YR 800/1500/1500

7. Adib: Pre-erected tent(YR 1000); Hut; Toilet facilities; Food: B/L/D YR 500/1000/1000

See also Trans-Socotra Island, On Foot.

Note: The increasing popularity of Socotra Island has made the people to see tourists as walking $ and they are more interested on just driving tourists in their 4X4 hoping to earn easy money rather than helping or providing information to independent travelers who do not use their service.