Packing essentials for this trip
During this trip we provide you with complete camping equipment such as sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, mattresses and covers. All the necessities to make this trip as comfortable as possible for you.
Find out what to bring…
WHAT TO BRING TO THE ISLAND
Packing Must Haves
- First aid kit: Fucidin, Imodium, general antibiotic, Panadol, plasters. The easiest, but most important one: stay hydrated. You may also want to consider electrolyte solutions.
* Healt care: Socotra is not a malaria region since 2002. Cholera is not present on the island at all. Drink only bottled mineral water; it’s readily available. There is a hospital on Hadibo and several clinics and Pharamcies are presented around Hadibo. - Travel water bottle – to reduce the amount of plastic on Socotra Island.
- Biodegradable wipes (But still bring it back to camp, our company collect the garbage to leave everything clean in nature).
- Head torches are a very good thing to have for the cave walk and camping.
- Flashlight.
- Microfibre towel.
- Solar Power Bank.
- Portable charger and international travel adapter (type G socket).
- A car charger with multiple ports are an absolute must. Mostly there is no electricity while camping.
- Water-shoes and hiking shoes.
- Some seriously good sunblock.
- A very good hat and sunglasses.
- Waterproof bags or dry sacks to protect electronics and documents.
- A 10L dry bag is big enough for a week on the island.
- A lightweight daypack for daily excursions.
- Soap free shampoos bars and cleansers, because you will be camping off-grid you really want to be conscious about not putting soaps into the wadi lakes.
- If you are a coffee lover then grab a Nanopresso. There is coffee on the tour as well.
- Binoculars for bird watching and wildlife observation.
Packing essentials
It’s appreciated that you dress in a normal way following common sense. Although Socotra Island is a Muslim island, Socotris are very friendly and open to the tourists and their customers. Once said this, respect for the island’s inhabitants and the impact of their openness to tourism is highly appreciated. You’ll need to keep in mind what you’re wearing at certain times. If in doubt ask your guide and he will let you know what is appropriate for the given situation.
The guides and drivers in Socotra are comfortable with foreigners in bikinis and shorts like beaches, walks into the mountains and the campsites you’ll be okay wearing this kind of thing. However, when you get to towns and villages it’s best to be respectful and cover up. Basically hair, knees and shoulders should be covered when entering these busier kinds of locations. Recommended wear, like longer light clothing like cotton t-shirts and linen skirts to the ankle, which you can tuck up if it gets hotter.
Think about a scarf around your neck to cover my hair in case you need to. And carry a long shirt in your bag to throw on if the situation presents itself. In other words, just be ready to cover up.
Photography courtesy: always seek permission before capturing photos of locals, particularly women, as it is a sensitive matter.