There was Yemenia flight IY607 from Cairo-Sayuon-Socotra every Wednesdays stop over 1-3 hours in Sayuon airport then fly to Socotra. There are also sporadic departures of ships from Al Mukalla bound for Socotra, however, this would require you to already be in the mainland of Yemen which is not recommended. It’s also worth noting that there has been an uptick in piracy in the Gulf of Aden since 2015.
GETTING AROUND
As getting a visa secured to visit requires booking a tour, you’ll surely be on a tour of the island.
You will get around the island by 4WD mostly, and dhow boat when visiting Shua’ab Beach. There are several hikes and camel trekking that can be done on the island as well.
Please note that there are no car rentals on the island and no formal public transport aside from the occasional, there are buses between smaller towns and villages on Socotra, but there is no any formal timetables.
MONEY
USD is the most widely accepted foreign currency and easiest to exchange on the island. Bring enough cash in USD to pay for your trip.
For small personal purchases such as souvenirs, you can convert USD into Yemeni Rial in Hadiboh. The best rates are had on the black market so ask your guide to trade money for you. The black market rate tends to fluctuate between 400 and 800 YER to $1 USD while the bank rate is only 250 YER. Yemen’s currency is currently unstable. it was trading at about 600 YER to the dollar black market rate. You can easily pay for purchases with small denominations of USD. $1 notes are best (think drinks and snacks from shops and small souvenirs).
ACCOMMODATIONS
While there are two hotels in Hadiboh you’ll most likely be camping in tents for the duration of your visit. Many places you’ll want to visit are far from Hadiboh and in our personal opinions going back and forth from Hadiboh everyday is a complete waste of time.
There are two hotels in Hadiboh- Summerlands Hotel and Socotra Eco Lodge, but please note both are very basic.
