Once a legendary place at the edge of maps of the known world, Socotra lies two hundred and twenty miles across the Gulf of Aden, where the Indian Ocean meets the Arabian Sea. Having been largely cut off from the world in recent decades, today Yemen’s forgotten islands remain one of the most enchanting and alien places on earth. Join one of Röam’s private expeditions to discover the incredible Socotra Archipelago.
Explore one of the most remote and untouched ecosystems on earth
Discover rich endemic biodiversity and pristine nature
Experience islands steeped in history and a rich cultural heritage
Swim with dolphins, manta rays and vibrant marine life
The Socotra archipelago is home to an astounding range of endemic plants and creatures and is one of the world’s true natural wonderlands. Explore the farthest reaches of this enchanting island, and venture with us to Socotra’s outer islands where you will experience one of the most untouched and biodiverse ecosystems on earth.
These faraway islands have sat at the crossroads of civilizations for millennia and are steeped in history and a rich cultural heritage. From the fishing communities who live along the island’s coastal plains to the Bedouins of Socotra’s Haggeher Mountains, Socotri people exist in delicate balance with their natural environment. For centuries, they have been both reliant on the island’s rich biodiversity, as well as key custodians of the archipelago’s fragile natural ecosystems.
During Röam expeditions you will stay in one of our private wild camps, which are set up on an exclusive-use basis for our guests. Our wild camps are mobile, typically moving every few nights to allow travelers to explore the farthest reaches of each destination.
Our Bedouin-style camps includes small cotton canvas tents, which are fully equipped for sleeping, a private outdoor washroom, and an area for relaxation set up in a style traditional to the area or region you are visiting. We take great care to source camp materials locally, including rugs, textiles and other handicrafts which add a unique local flare to each of our camps.
All Röam expeditions are bespoke and customized to our guests needs and travel preferences.
Prices are dependent on the itinerary, duration, and number of travelers. In order to minimize our social and environmental impact and to ensure an authentic and immersive experience, we take a maximum of 10 people per private group.
Röam itineraries generally range from one - two weeks in length, but we tailor each and every trip to our travelers’ interests.
This means that exact trip length can and will vary depending on how you would like to build your trip.
While each of our destinations are different, we will advise you on the ideal time to travel when you inquire about a particular itinerary or place.
We only plan our expeditions during periods which are comfortable for travel, avoiding times in which extreme weather or conditions may be encountered.
We help to arrange all aspects of your trip from the moment you arrive in one of our destinations.
This includes local transportation, assistance with internal flight bookings, any local hotel arrangements required as you enter or leave the destination country, assistance with the visa process, and other travel advise relevant to each destination. All Röam expeditions are coordinated by an expedition leader, who ensures the comfort of our travelers and always works closely with our local teams.
We take our travelers safety and security very seriously, taking great care to understand local dynamics and realities on the ground before we begin running our trips, as well as monitoring any changing dynamics and being fully prepared to deal with emergencies that arise.
While we strive to create enjoyable and seamless experiences, all Röam destinations are remote and this means that there may be certain factors beyond our control, even with the most careful of travel planning. We ask that you bear this reality in mind and maintain flexibility and understanding when planning your travel with us.
During your trip you will camp along Socotra’s dune-laced coastline, in the depths of its enchanting Dragon’s blood forests, and on the islands high plateaus. Our Bedouin-style set up includes small cotton canvas tents which are fully equipped for sleeping, a private outdoor washroom, and an area for your relaxation set up in traditional Socotri style. Meals are cooked for you by an amazing local team, fresh from the land and the sea.
Please reach out if you are interested in our Socotra Archipelago expeditions so that we may provide you with a quote based on your travel preferences. To minimize our impact on Socotra’s delicate ecosystem and to ensure an authentic and intimate experience for our guests, we take a maximum of 10 people per private group.
For those wishing to do the outer islands expedition, we recommend a two-week itinerary combining Socotra island with the outer islands for the fullest archipelago experience.
The best time to visit Socotra is between October and April.
During other months the island is inaccessible due to the monsoon season.
Our Socotra trips are coordinated by a Röam expedition leader, who works closely with our local partners and teams at all times.
We strive to create enjoyable and seamless experiences, but we ask that you bear this reality in mind and maintain flexibility and understanding regarding unexpected changes when planning your trip with us.
Our Socotra itineraries can be built to include walking, hiking, camel trekking, diving, snorkeling, and many other experiences that will immerse you deeply into the rhythm of Socotri life. From Socotra’s dramatic dune laced beaches to its most remote fishing villages, from the highest peaks of the Haggeher Mountains to the depths of its enchanting Dragon’s Blood Forest, we offer the opportunity to explore the farthest and most unfrequented reaches of this other-worldly island. For those wishing to do extended itineraries we offer the opportunity to explore Socotra’s Outer Islands. Here you will spend your time snorkeling and free diving with dolphins, manta rays and vibrant marine life, exploring the highest reaches of the island’s plateaus, getting to know the local fishing community, and discovering one of the most untouched and biodiverse marine ecosystems on earth. The outer islands are accessible only at certain times of year.
Socotra is inhabited predominately by traditional fishing communities and nomads who speak an ancient language called Socotri, as well as Arabic. Your expedition leader and guides will also speak English.
Socotra is separated from the rest of Yemen by over two hundred miles of ocean, leaving the island unaffected by the situation on the mainland. Flights to Socotra fly directly from Abu Dhabi, so it is not necessary to go near or via mainland Yemen to reach the island. The island itself is very safe, crime rates are extremely low and Socotri people are incredibly friendly and welcoming to visitors. We take our travelers safety and security very seriously, taking great care to understand local dynamics and realities on the ground before every trip, as well as to ensure we are prepared to deal with medical or other emergencies. All Röam trips are accompanied by an expedition leader who has received, at minimum, a remote medical care certification and who helps to always ensure the comfort of our travelers.
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