Milky Way Over Socotra: A Desert and Night Sky Photography Expedition

We fly from Abu Dhabi to the capital of Socotra, Hadibo, where our local guides and drivers will greet us. Once loaded up, we set off for the coastal village of Qalansia—our first campsite. After lunch, we’ll explore the cliffs overlooking the Detwah Lagoon, scouting compositions for our first Milky Way shoot. Following dinner and a brief rest, we return to our chosen locations for a magical night of astrophotography beneath the stars.

An early morning hike takes us to a breathtaking vantage point above the lagoon, where we’ll photograph Daniel Kordan’s iconic Bottle Tree at sunrise. After breakfast and breaking camp, we’ll visit the nearby fishing village to capture the morning haul of local fishermen. Next, we journey into the mountainous plateau in search of the famed Dragon Blood Trees. Our base for the next two nights is a camp at Deksam. In the afternoon, we begin exploring the surreal forests of Dragon Blood Trees, followed by a post-dinner astrophotography session capturing the trees under the Milky Way and star trails.

For early risers, the morning offers a chance to photograph the Dragon Blood Trees in soft golden light. After breakfast, we visit a local nursery working to conserve these ancient trees. Following lunch and a short rest, we explore a nearby canyon—an exceptional location for both sunset and Milky Way photography.

We start the day with sunrise photography in the canyon before heading south to the pristine white sand dunes of Zaheq. Here, a photography session awaits featuring a local Bedouin and his camels set against a stunning backdrop of white dunes and turquoise waters. That night, we’ll create one-of-a-kind astro images at his desert campsite.

You may choose to rest this morning or enjoy the soft light over the dunes. After breakfast, we head to the marine reserve at Dihamri for snorkeling with turtles, tropical fish, eels, and even octopus—perfect for GoPro photography. Following a picnic lunch, we drive to Homhil, a striking landscape of pink-flowering bottle trees, twisted frankincense, and rare cucumber trees. We’ll spend the afternoon and the next two nights capturing magical sunset, Milky Way, and star trail compositions.

We rise for sunrise among the bottle trees, where soft morning light and pink blossoms offer unforgettable scenes. After breakfast, we unwind with a swim in Homhil’s natural infinity pool, overlooking the vast ocean. Later, we return to the creek to explore new angles with the bottle trees at sunset and stay out late for our final astrophotography session here.

After breakfast, we head east toward Arher, stopping at a natural gorge with white sandstone cliffs—an ideal spot for a refreshing swim. At Arher, we climb towering sand dunes that rise straight from the ocean, capturing panoramic views that will linger in memory.

Consider one last swim in the ocean at sunrise before we pack up for our return to Hadibo and our flight back to Abu Dhabi—leaving with memory cards full of incredible images and hearts full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.