Packing for Socotra

Clothing

The island swings between 27–32°C during the day and 10–20°C at night. Dragon blood forest camps can drop close to 10°C. Pack for both.

Suggested counts (8-day trip):

• Shorts: 3–4 pairs (not too short for village visits)
• Pants: 1–2, at least one comfortable for hiking
• Short-sleeve shirts: 3–4
• Long-sleeve shirt: 1–2 (cool evenings, sun protection)
• Warm layer or light fleece: 1 (essential for mountain camps)
• Sweatshirt or hoodie: 1
• Long dress or loose long skirt: 1 (women — required for walking through Hadibo and villages)
• Scarf: 1 (sun, wind, dust)
• Swimwear: pack it, but bikinis are for remote beaches only — not near villages

Footwear

• Trekking or trail shoes: required for canyon and plateau walks
• Sandals or water shoes: essential — stingrays rest on the sand in shallow water; never wade barefoot
• Hiking boots: recommended if you plan the longer plateau hikes

Electronics and power

• Power adapter: UK Type-G (three-pin) is the standard on Socotra. Pack a universal adapter.
• Power bank: essential. Generator power is available at some camps but not continuously. Solar charging is available at others. Do not rely on it.
• Laptop: leave it. A phone and camera are sufficient.
• Wi-Fi: Starlink is available at camps for approximately 2 hours each evening. Signal drops in remote locations. Treat connectivity as a bonus, not a given.

Camera gear and drones

• Bring a lens filter for drone gimbal protection — fine sand is pervasive
• A spare memory card and extra batteries are worth more than a second lens
• Drone permit: $100 USD, handled by your operator on arrival. Pre-registration required 2 weeks before travel (drone make, model, serial number sent by your operator to Yemeni authorities). Do not carry drones as cabin baggage through Abu Dhabi Airport.

Health and hygiene

• Reef-safe sunscreen only — the marine reserve at Dihamri enforces this
• Insect repellent
• Biodegradable soap and shampoo (freshwater is scarce inland)
• Personal medications — there are no pharmacies
• Motion sickness tablets if you're prone: the charter approach can be rough, and some coastal boat trips are exposed
• Basic first aid kit (antiseptic, plasters, blister pads)

Documents and cash

• Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date
• Cash in USD: new, unmarked, undamaged notes only. Bring at minimum $300–400 for tips, souvenirs, and any optional activities over and above your paid package. There are no ATMs anywhere on the island.
• Travel insurance documents (physical copy recommended)

What to leave behind

• Valuables and jewellery
• More than one bag — the charter baggage limit is 30 kg checked + 7 kg carry-on, strictly enforced
• Alcohol — not available or appropriate on the island