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Wadi Dirhur Canyon

From Dixam Plateau we went down to Wadi Dirhur Canyon, where it is good to stay in tents overnight and to swim in natural pools before going on.

Wadi Dirhur Dixam Canyons
Dragon’s blood on Dixam Plateau
Dragon’s blood on Dixam Plateau

Dixam mountain plateau is located in the very center of Socotra. It is a habitat of Dragon Trees that have been famous since remote antiquity.

Dixam Dragon blood tree
Ayaft Gorge - a habitat of frankincense trees
Ayaft Gorge - a habitat of frankincense trees

Frankincense trees grow on mountain slopes of Ayaft Gorge that differs greatly from other Socotra’s places.

Ayaft frankincense
Sand dunes of Archer
Sand dunes of Archer

High snow-white sand dunes in the northeast of the island make one of the most beautiful places on Socotra.

Archer Wind
Socotra’s Seaport
Socotra’s Seaport

The desolated pier located in a small bay on the northern coast of Socotra, which is constantly disrupted by storms, can hardly be regarded as the seaport. However, it serves as a berth for the ships supplying all the things needed for life to Socotra.

Sea Development
Socotra of the East China Sea
Socotra of the East China Sea

In the central part of the East China Sea there is also Socotra Island. It is interesting to note that both Socotra islands are indirectly related to each other.

Sea History
UNCF finances modernization of 68 schools on the Socotra Archipelago.
UNCF finances modernization of 68 schools on the Socotra Archipelago.

The United Nations Children's Fund continued financing development of formal education on the Yemeni Socotra Archipelago, which was initiated in 2007. At the end of 2008 68 Socotra’s schools were equipped with school and office furniture and schoolchildren were given schoolbags with a full set of writing implements.

Culture Development
Sensational archaeological evidences on Socotra
Sensational archaeological evidences on Socotra

On Socotra, Yemen’s remote island, there were discovered the stone implements moving the history of the island almost one million years away. Previously, most researchers reckoned that this big island located near the Horn of Africa had been settled not so long ago.

Culture Archeology
Darsa Settlement Plan
Darsa Settlement Plan

The Socotra Archipelago, a part of the Republic of Yemen, consists of the biggest Socotra Island and a few small ones, of which Abd-el-Kuri, the closest island to the Horn of Africa, and Samha Island, one of Al-Ikhvan islands (Samha and Darsa), are settled by people. Darsa Island is peopleless. The smaller islands and rocks are uninhabitable.

Sea Darsa Samha Abd el Kuri Development
Socotra visitor's pictures
Socotra visitor's pictures

Our guests shared their photos of Socotra.

Photos
Wadi Dirhur Canyon
Wadi Dirhur Canyon

Passing by Dixam Plateau you can go down a steep earth-road to Wadi Dirhur Canyon, where you can have a swim in a small fresh water pool.

Wadi Dirhur Attractions Canyons Camping
Dragon Tree in Dixam Plateau
Dragon Tree in Dixam Plateau

Dixam Plateau is located in the central part of Socotra. It is famous for its Dragon Trees.

Dixam Attractions Canyons Bottle tree Dragon blood tree
Frankincense Tree in Ayaft
Frankincense Tree in Ayaft

Ayaft Gorge is the greenest place of Socotra. Its unique moisture-retaining microclimate is created by numerous springs and streams. It is the place where frankincense is harvested.

Ayaft Attractions Trekking
Sand Dunes in Archer
Sand Dunes in Archer

This place is a popular camping site between two big dunes. It is the sand coast of a fresh-water stream flowing out of a cave.

Archer Attractions Camping Beach Sea Dunes
Freediving on Socotra
Freediving on Socotra

Underwater hunting on Socotra is strictly prohibited by law. But nobody has anything against free diving and spinning.

Diving Freediving Darsa Samha Sea Fish
Kitesurfing on Socotra
Kitesurfing on Socotra

Socotra was tried only by a few kite surfers.

Wind Sea Kiting
Diving on Socotra
Diving on Socotra

The best time for diving on Socotra is the period from October to November and from March to May, when wind falls and the sea calms down.

Diving Darsa Samha Erissel Shuab Freediving Sea
There are many spelling variants of the name of the Island.