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Is Socotra Island safe to visit?
Travel to Socotra is indeed safe, and as long as you follow standard precautions and travel to the island on the weekly flight from Cairo, you should not run into any problems. If you’re thinking about going, I’d encourage you to do so before the island changes or the route in is closed off again.
Is Socotra open for tourists?
As of now, the are only two ways you can get to Socotra Island. The first one is by flying with Yemen Airways (Yemenia) from either Seiyun, Yemen, or from Cairo, Egypt – with a layover in Seiyun. Now you can also fly with Air Arabia on a new non-stop route from Abu Dhabi to Socotra.
Can US citizens travel to Socotra?
U.S. citizens should not travel to Socotra or any other part of Yemen. Due to risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of Yemen, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR).
How much does it cost to go to Socotra Island?
The cheapest trip would cost you about $1300 per person, excluding flights and visas. Before you say ‘this is ridiculous to pay so much for camping experience’, think about it for a second. Socotra is a very remote place. Apart from fish locals can catch, everything else has to be imported to the island.
What is special about Socotra island?
The islands are full of native plants and animals unlike any others on the planet. Over one-third of Socotra’s 825 plant species can’t be found anywhere else. Most of the reptiles and land snails that live there are also special to the islands. Socotra is also home to many species of birds and marine life.
Why is the location of the island of Socotra important?
Socotra is globally important for biodiversity conservation because of its exceptionally rich and distinct flora and fauna. 37\% of Socotra’s plant species, 90\% of its reptile species and 95\% of its land snail species do not occur anywhere else in the world.
How old is Socotra?
Socotra sits at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden, only 60 miles from the horn of Africa. Politically it is governed by Yemen, some 230 miles to the north. Geographical isolation has sculpted Socotra in its unique form. A little less than twenty million years ago, the islands broke free from the Gondwana supercontinent.