The PhotoPills Expedition to Socotra is Sold Out (Join the Waiting List)

By Rafael Pons

The PhotoPills Expedition to Socotra is SOLD OUT!

Wow!

All 12 spots are already gone!

Thanks so much :D

Wish to join us?

Don't give up!

Click here to join the Waiting List.

Be the first one to know when a cancellation occurs.

PhotoPillers in Socotra...

Are you in?

Around the New Moon...

From February 21st to February 28th 2023, Marco Grassi and Ramiro Torrents (PhotoPills Masters) will jump into 4x4 vehicles and travel across the island of Socotra to photograph the Milky Way, the crescent Moon and the golden light along with immense white sand dunes, strange rock formations and the magical dragon blood trees...

In the most alien-looking place on Earth!

With nearly 700 endemic species (found nowhere else), and recognised by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site in July 2008, Socotra is a jewel of biodiversity lost in the Arabian Sea.

Located in the Republic of Yemen, Socotra is an isolated place awaiting to be discovered.

Of course...

We’ll be taking photos all day long... and all night long!

But...

Can you imagine it?

To photograph the Milky Way, the crescent Moon and the golden light with immense desert seascapes, tall white-sand dunes, secret infinity pools, mystical dragon blood trees, pink-flowered bottle trees, sea-turtles, Egyptian vultures and strange rock formations...

We’re dreaming about it!

To achieve it, we’ll use the planning power of PhotoPills and the expert knowledge of Marco Grassi and Ramiro Torrents to always be at the right place at the right time.

Top secret: we have quite a few legendary photos planned already ;)

The Deal (only 12 spots)

Since you subscribed to the Priority Access list...

We're offering you a $500 discount on the regular price!

All you have to do is to book 1 of the 12 spots available before Sunday November 27th.

Read carefully all the details of this unique adventure.

And when you’re ready, click here to book your spot.

Please, book as soon as possible. The seats are sold on a first come, first served basis.

The Adventure

12 PhotoPillers | 2 PhotoPills Masters | Socotra | Endless legendary photos

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Warning! This is not a honeymoon...

We’re recruiting 12 brave PhotoPillers (PhotoPills and photography nerds) to join us on an 8-day expedition to photograph the Milky Way, the crescent Moon and the golden light along with some of the gems hidden in the ancient island of Socotra.

This expedition is a non-stop adventure to chase legendary photos and you are a key asset!

We have planned tons of photos, and we’ll travel many kilometers to capture them...

We’ll be camping under the stars, right next to the planned shooting spots.

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But we also want to maximize our flexibility in terms of itinerary and schedule in order to take advantage of all the opportunities that the changing weather will surely put in our way.

If we see something interesting happening in the sky, we’ll pick the best location possible, stop and take advantage of the occasion.

When we are hungry, we’ll stop and eat. When we are tired, we’ll stop and rest...

You’ll be a true photographer!

You are about to embark on a PhotoPills style journey. And it’s not going to be a honeymoon precisely... :P

But it's going to be so much fun!

Are you in?

Day 1. Tuesday, February 21st - Welcome to Socotra

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It’s Tuesday morning...

After a 2h 20min flight from Abu Dhabi, you and the rest of the expedition members (including Marco and Ramiro) land in Socotra airport.

There, we meet our expert local guide, our drivers and cook. And we jump into our comfortable Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 vehicles equipped with tents (1 per person), water, food... and everything we need to survive one week in Socotra.

The adventure begins!

11:00 am

Socotra is an island of the Republic of Yemen in the Indian Ocean, between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, located 240 km east of Cap Guardafui (Somalia) and 380 km south of Ras Fartak, (Al Mahrah, Yemen).

Despite Yemen's ongoing civil war, Socotra is open to tourists from all around the world and safe to travel to.

Truth is this small remote island (132 km long and 49 km wide) hides many treasures worth the adventure.

Our first destination: Detwah lagoon.

12:30 pm

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Detwah lagoon is located on Socotra's northwest coast. We’ll drive through the village of Qalansiyah to get there. The saline lagoon connects to the Gulf of Aden, from which it is separated by a spit.

After a succulent lunch that our cook has specially prepared for us, and as the Camp Master sets up the camp for us, we’ll go explore the area to fine tune the planning for our Sunset, crescent Moonset (2.5%) and our Milky Way shots.

The beach is just beautiful, the lagoon immense, and if we hike up a bit, we’ll discover a strategically positioned bottle tree.

We all desire to photograph the bottle tree and its pink flowers. And I hope we’re lucky enough to find them blooming. But nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the bottle tree. The blooming season can vary a lot. And also, a strong storm might blow the flowers away.

Oh! I almost forgot it, sea-turtles and Egyptian vultures are often seen here.

5:00 pm

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Look! As the Sun goes down the golden light begins to fall on the lagoon.

The spot is perfect to use both a wide angle lens and a telephoto lens if you wish to capture some parts of the landscape.

Open PhotoPills and check this out:

Insert your first screenshot here
Insert your second screenshot here

Don’t know how to use PhotoPills? Don’t worry, you’re at the right place. We’ll learn how to make the most of PhotoPills while in the field.

As the Sun sets, the crescent Moon (2.5%) will be setting too, getting lower and lower in the sky.

Golden hour begins at 5:05 pm, Sunset is at 5:34 pm, golden hour ends at 5:47 pm, and blue hour ends at 5:55 pm.

6:00 pm

After the blue hour, when light begins to fade away, we’ll pack up and go back to the camp, where a delicious dinner awaits.

Our daily meals will be packed with fresh seafood, tasty mixed-salads, lamb stew, grilled tuna, fried-chicken, local bread and honey and many more dishes… All typical Socotra’s recipes and with a focus on local ingredients.

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7:30 pm

The astronomical twilight ends at 6:45 pm. It’s when the nighttime begins. And if the sky is clear, we’ll be right by the lagoon, photographing the thin part of the Milky Way completely vertical (and no Moon). Or some Star Trails if you prefer it.

9:00 pm

As soon as we’re happy with our shots, we’ll go to bed. Because tomorrow we’ll get up very early to photograph the Milky Way.

We’ll be sleeping in tents planted on the sand (one tent per person). And you don’t need to bring any camping gear with you, all will be provided (mattress, sleeping bag...).

Photographic pills:

  • Sunset at Detwah lagoon.
  • Bottle tree under golden hour light.
  • Wildlife at Detwah lagoon.
  • Vertical thin Milky Way over Detwah lagoon.
  • Star Trails over Detwah lagoon.

Day 2. Wednesday, February 22nd - The Pink Queen

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2:30 am

Wake up! We’re going to photograph the Milky Way arching above the landscape, the rock formations and above one very special bottle tree.

It’s a 40 min hike uphill to get to the tree.

The Moon is below the horizon. The Milky Way is arching in the south-east. And the Galactic Center is high in the sky, right in the middle of the arch. I have never seen the Milky Way like this!

We have one hour to photograph the scene. Let’s enjoy it!

5:00 am

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As the blue hour begins, the scene changes completely. The sky is filled up with beautiful cold colors. Later, as the Sun rises, the blues give way to the reds and oranges. The colors of the golden hour...

Colors that fall on the lagoon and landscapes, just in front of us.

Blue hour begins at 5:24 am, golden hour begins at 5:33 am, Sunrise is at 5:46 am and golden hour ends at 6:14 am.

7:00 am

Breakfast at the camp.

The Moon (5.4%) rises in the east at 7:25 am.

8:00 am

To the boat!

We’ve planned a whole morning of fun in the sea: swimming, snorkeling, exploring the cliffs, photographing dolphins, the puffer fish, sea-turtles and the local fisherman.

Don’t forget to bring your swimming suit :)

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12:30 pm

Lunch at the camp and free time.

We have a whole area to enjoy. Don’t expect to see many tourists in this remote place.

4:00 pm

For Sunset we have again many options.

One option is to stay at the lagoon to include it as our foreground as the Sun sets behind the cliffs.

Another option is to hike up again and photograph the bottle tree and the lagoon under the golden light.

Which one are you going to choose?

Golden hour begins at 5:05 pm, Sunset is at 5:34 pm, golden hour ends at 5:47 pm, and blue hour ends at 5:55 pm.

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7:30 pm

Dinner at the Camp.

9:00 pm

Today we’re planning to go to bed early because the idea is to photograph the Milky Way again early tomorrow morning.

But, if the skies are clear and there is a chance to photograph the Milky Way (and Star Trails), we’ll shoot from Sunset to Sunrise :P

Everything it’s optional of course.

Photographic pills:

  • Milky Way arch and Galactic Center over the landscapes of Socotra.
  • Sunrise over Detwah lagoon.
  • Bottle tree under golden hour light.
  • Wildlife and fisherman from the boat.
  • Sunset at Detwah lagoon.
  • Vertical thin Milky Way over Detwah lagoon.
  • Star Trails over Detwah lagoon.

Day 3. Thursday, February 23rd - Dragon Blood

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3:30 am

One group has decided to hike up where the bottle tree is. The majestic Milky Way arch is up in the night sky again. There are stars all over the place. And among them, the Galactic Center, shining with power just above our heads.

Yesterday, we found a cool spot for a great Milky Way pano. And we’re right at the planned shooting spot, at the planned shooting time.

5:00 am

The other group is at the other side of the lagoon. The Sun is about to rise. And the idea is to capture it in the frame, along with the cliffs and infinite beach.

Blue hour begins at 5:23 am, golden hour begins at 5:32 am, Sunrise is at 5:45 am and golden hour ends at 6:13 am.

7:00 am

Breakfast at the camp.

The Moon (12.4%) rises in the east at 8:06 am.

8:30 am

It’s time to pack everything. Our next destination is right at the heart of Socotra, not far away from the Hajhir Mountains, the highest point of the island with 1,500 m of elevation.

10:30 am

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After a 2h drive we get to Wadi Shibanm, a natural area jam-packed with the rare dragon blood trees.

The Dracaena cinnabari (dragon blood tree) has a unique and strange appearance. It looks like a green umbrella. And its branches look like roots trying to reach the sky.

This special tree got its name from the blood-like color of the red sap that it produces... a very dark resin which was very much appreciated in the ancient times, and that it has many uses even today: dyeing wool, gluing pottery, breath freshener, lipstick... and because it is believed to be dragon blood, it’s also used in magic rituals and alchemy.

Mysticism apart, the dragon blood tree will be our main subject here.

12:30 pm

Lunch at the camp.

2:00 pm

Further south the camp, there is an area where we find a few cool dragon blood trees. This is the area we’ll scout for our sunset photos.

4:00 pm

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As the Sun goes down, its light hits the walls of the deep canyon in front of us.

There are dragon blood trees all over the place, but each one of us has found his own and planned a cool Sunset shot. The moment to press the shutter is approaching.

Golden hour begins at 5:03 pm, Sunset is at 5:32 pm, golden hour ends at 5:45 pm, and blue hour ends at 5:35 pm.

6:30 pm

Nighttime begins at 6:42 pm. And the thin Milky Way will be vertical at 7:36 pm, right when the Moon (15%) is about to set in the west.

We’ll use the light of the Moon to capture detail in the foreground (trees and landscape) while photographing the Milky Way.

8:00 pm

Dinner at the camp.

8:30 pm

The Moon has set at 8:37 pm, we’re in complete darkness, gazing at the stars...

But a few minutes ago, we took advantage of the Moonlight to take a nightscape shot of the dragon blood trees and the canyon next to the camp.

Now, our cameras are facing east. The idea is to create a cool Star Trails photo. We’ll include the celestial equator in the frame, so we expect the result to be stunning.

10:00 pm

Bed time. Tomorrow the Milky Way and the Galactic Center awaits.

Photographic pills:

  • Milky Way arch and Galactic Center over the landscapes of Socotra.
  • Sunrise over Detwah lagoon.
  • Bottle tree under golden hour light.
  • Sunset with dragon blood tree.
  • Vertical thin Milky Way with dragon blood tree under Moonlight.
  • Canyon and dragon blood tree under Moonlight.
  • Star Trails and dragon blood tree.

Day 4. Friday, February 24th - The Dragon Blood Forest

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2:30 am

The Galactic Center is visible from 1:22 am to 4:31 am. But we’ll wake up at 2 am, because we want to have it a bit higher in the sky.

At 3:30 am the Milky Way will be arching above the dragon blood trees in the south-east. It’s the perfect time for a panorama... and also for a beautiful diagonal of our galaxy.

5:00 am

Not far away from the camp, there is an immense dragon blood tree, perfectly placed for a great sunrise photo.

We’ll photograph the tree and the surrounding landscapes until the end of the golden hour.

Blue hour begins at 5:21 am, golden hour begins at 5:29 am, Sunrise is at 5:42 am and golden hour ends at 6:10 am.

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8:00 am

Breakfast at the camp.

11:00 am

We could have stayed here for an extra day, but we decide to drive 1h towards the east to an incredible forest of dragon blood trees.

Hundreds of trees dwell here.

12:00 pm

Set up the camp and lunch.

2:00 pm

The highlights here are both the forest of dragon blood trees and the isolated trees.

So open PhotoPills and check the Sunset direction and plan your shot. And then check the position of the Milky Way, and keep planning photos.

It’s going to be a fun day.

4:30 pm

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The action begins.

Our first shot will be the forest from above. The view of the green umbrellas under the golden light is fantastic. Also, getting the Sun setting over the forest will produce goosebumps in our skin.

Golden hour begins at 5:03 pm, Sunset is at 5:32 pm, golden hour ends at 5:45 pm, and blue hour ends at 5:53 pm.

6:30 pm

When the night comes, the Moon (23.3%) goes down illuminating the landscape and forest. And the thin Milky Way is getting higher and higher in the sky until it is completely vertical at 7:27 pm.

8:00 pm

Dinner at the camp.

9:00 pm

The Moon is still up. It’ll set at 9:31 pm, so we have time to take a few more photos of Socotra under the Moonlight.

The Milky Way arch is getting lower and lower in the west. The core is still below the horizon but we can perfectly see the path of stars in the sky. It’s pitch black.

Look, that tree works great for a Star Trails shot. Are you in?

10:00 pm

Bed time. Sleep well my friends. Tomorrow is the secret day :P

Photographic pills:

  • Milky Way arch and Galactic Center over a dragon blood tree.
  • Sunrise aligned with a dragon blood tree.
  • Sunset over dragon blood forest.
  • Vertical thin Milky Way with dragon blood tree under the Moonlight.
  • Thin Milky Way arching over dragon blood forest.
  • Star Trails and the dragon blood forest.

Day 5. Saturday, February 25th - The Secret

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I’ve been giving you lots of details of this amazing expedition to Socotra.

Maybe far too many...

But on February 25th we’ll do something very special...

What will that be?

Well, you'll have to be there, with us, to figure it out :P

Day 6. Sunday, February 26th - Minimalism

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3:00 am

You hear noise outside the tent. Everybody is getting ready for the last Milky Way shot with the bottle trees. And you don’t want to miss it either.

You step out the tent, and there it is... our galaxy getting in place.

The core of the Milky Way is getting higher and higher in the sky, right at the center of the arch. You love the symmetry of the scene.

And below the arch, the beautiful trees.

5:00 am

Let’s face it. You can’t stop taking photos of the bottle trees. There is a kind of magical atmosphere around them.

The first beams of light catch us absorbed in our photography. And we keep taking photos until well past the golden hour.

Blue hour begins at 5:19 am, golden hour begins at 5:27 am, Sunrise is at 5:40 am and golden hour ends at 6:08 am.

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8:00 am

Breakfast at the Camp.

9:00 am

Our expedition continues towards the south towards Wadi Kalesan natural pools.

10:30 am

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After a 30 min hike, we get to the pools. It’s a beautiful area to photograph.

The pools, palm trees and the canyon are our subjects here...

But make sure to bring your swimming suit, because we’re going to plunge into the refreshing water to combat the heat.

12:00 pm

Lunch by the pools!

And when ready, we’ll hike back to the cars and to the sea :)

3:00 pm

Arher Beach is located on the north-east shore of Socotra. Here the white sand dunes seem to melt into the sea. Minimalism reigns here.

After setting up the camp between 2 immense dunes, we’ll go explore the area. There is a lot to see...

4:00 pm

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This afternoon we won’t be climbing the dunes. We’ll leave that for Sunrise. Instead, we’ll go find a good spot along the beach for Sunset.

The Sun is slowly setting behind the dunes, behind the tall cliffs, leaving the beach in the shade. But... if we go a bit further and turn the bend towards the south side of the shore, we’ll have the golden light in the foreground ;)

Golden hour begins at 5:02 pm, Sunset is at 5:30 pm, golden hour ends at 5:44 pm, and blue hour ends at 5:52 pm.

6:30 pm

Nighttime begins at 6:41 pm. A bit later, around 7:00 pm, the Moon (43%) starts to illuminate Arher beach and the dunes from the north and from above. The elevation of the Moon is 66º (pretty high!).

And we’ll take advantage of the light of the Moon to Photograph the beautiful landscape at night.

Also, on the right-hand side of the Moon, a pretty thin and faint Milky Way is completely vertical.

8:00 pm

Dinner at the camp.

9:00 pm

Bed time.

We need to save energy. Climbing the dune at night will require all the energy we have left :)

Photographic pills:

  • Milky Way arch and Galactic Center over a bottle tree.
  • Sunrise aligned with a bottle tree.
  • Natural pools at Wadi Kalesan.
  • Sunset over Arher beach (south side).
  • Archer beach under the Moonlight.

Day 7. Monday, February 27th - The Dune

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2:30 am

Those of you who want to hike up the dune with us are more than welcome. The others can sleep a bit more, and wake up later to photograph the Milky Way or Sunrise from the beach. The seascape from sea level is stunning too.

It takes a while but we get there, to the top of the tallest dune in Arher Beach. We’re on time to photograph the Milky Way arching over the beach.

The Moon is below the horizon, so we’ll have to take a night long exposure for the foreground too. We’ll show you how to calculate with PhotoPills the exposure time you need to use ;)

5:00 am

Suddenly the natural light begins to invade the scene. First the cold blue hour and then the pink and orange tones of the golden hour.

The Sun begins to rise aligned with the end of the beach. What a beautiful dawn.

Blue hour begins at 5:17 am, golden hour begins at 5:25 am, Sunrise is at 5:38 am and golden hour ends at 6:06 am.

7:00 am

Breakfast at the camp.

8:00 am

Free time.

We’ll spend the whole day at Arher Beach, exploring it looking for all sorts of photo opportunities. And relaxing on the beach, swimming and recovering from an intense week of photography.

12:00 pm

Lunch at the camp.

2:00 pm

Siesta time (nap time).

There is nothing better than a good nap to gain a bit of energy for the afternoon and night shootings.

4:00 pm

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In the morning, everyone has found a cool photo opportunity for the afternoon. So we’re all ready, at the planned shooting spots, waiting for the light to come.

A few are photographing the white dunes, a few more are taking long exposures of the seascapes, and others are photographing the Sun as it disappears behind the cliffs.

Golden hour begins at 5:02 pm, Sunset is at 5:31 pm, golden hour ends at 5:44 pm, and blue hour ends at 5:52 pm.

6:30 pm

Once again...

Nighttime begins at 6:41 pm. A bit later, around 7:00 pm, the Moon (53%) starts to illuminate Arher beach and the dunes from the north and from above. The elevation of the Moon is 63º (pretty high!).

And we’ll take advantage of the light of the Moon to Photograph the beautiful landscape at night.

Also, on the right-hand side of the Moon, a pretty thin and faint Milky Way is completely vertical.

8:00 pm

Dinner at the camp.

9:00 pm

Bed time. This is our last night on Socotra.

Photographic pills:

  • Milky Way arch and Galactic Center over Arher beach.
  • Sunrise aligned with the end of Arher beach.
  • Sunset over Arher beach (south side).
  • Archer beach under the Moonlight.

Day 8. Tuesday, February 28th - The Farewell

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2:30 am

Come on! Let’s go photograph the last Milky Way.

Like the day before, the team is split in two. A few PhotoPillers want to photograph the Milky Way and the Sunrise from the beach. Others want to climb up the dune again.

5:00 am

As everyday, the Sun is rising in the east, as planned :P

Click, click, click.

Our cameras sing one last time in Socotra.

Blue hour begins at 5:17 am, golden hour begins at 5:25 am, Sunrise is at 5:38 am and golden hour ends at 6:06 am.

7:00 am

Breakfast at the camp.

10:30 am

And we arrive at Socotra airport just in time to take the 12:10 pm flight back to Abu Dhabi.

Bye bye Socotra!

We’re already missing you...

Book now and save $500 (only 12 spots)

To book your spot to join the expedition to Socotra at a reduced price of $5,500 (the official price is $6,000), a $2,500 deposit is required by Sunday, November 27th.

Payment in full is required by Sunday December 18th, 2022.

Please, finalize your booking as soon as possible. The seats are sold on a first come, first served basis.

BOOK NOW

What’s included in the price
  • A 8-day expedition photographing the Milky Way, the crescent Moon and the golden light with the hidden treasures of Socotra.
  • 8 days of learning, fun and adventure with Marco Grassi and Ramiro Torrents (PhotoPills Masters) and the funniest geek community – the PhotoPillers.
  • Full immersion in the PhotoPills method (Imagine.Plan.Shoot!).
  • 7 nights of camping (one person per tent). And you don’t have to pitch the tent.
  • 3 meals a day packed with delicious fresh local ingredients.
  • Beverages (water and soft drinks)
  • All activities on the Secret day.
  • Ground transportation during the expedition in comfortable 4x4 vehicles.
  • Special visa to get to Socotra (170$).
  • All transfers.
What’s not included
  • Flights/transport to Abu Dhabi.
  • Flight from Abu Dhabi to Socotra (850$). We'll book it for you.
  • Medical and travel insurance coverage (strongly recommended).
  • Snacks and alcohol.
  • Anything not mentioned in the “included” list.

Do you want an example of how huge this will be?

This is a glimpse to what happened in the PhotoPills Expedition to Iceland. We had so many adventures and so much fun... We can’t wait for Socotra!

But you don’t have to take our word for granted. Here’s what some PhotoPillers say about the PhotoPills adventures:

“I went to Iceland expecting to have the opportunity to photograph the marvelous landscape and master nightscapes. What I encountered was so much more – 14 kindred souls from across the globe who share a passion for photography. Together we expanded our creative boundaries, learned from one another and had an insane amount of fun in the process. I am confident that everyone came away from the experience a better photographer.”

“From the very moment the guys from PhotoPills announced the expedition to Iceland... I didn’t think it twice! I was using PhotoPills but not at its full capacity, so I had no better chance to learn from the creators of this amazing app. The experience was even more amazing than anything I could have imagined. In Iceland, I discovered a bunch of folks as crazy about photography as I am. I had a blast!

Photography is a continuous learning process, you always find something new that motivates you to improve. And this adventure made me improve more than I could imagine.”

"The PhotoPills guys know how to create a fantastic experience. They bring an infectiously fun energy and are always willing to drop some handy photography knowledge on you that you will take with you. You take their trip and you'll for sure have a good time, get some amazing pics and leave a better photographer."

“During my experience in Iceland I lived wonderful moments and had surprises that were beyond the expected. It completely exceeded my initial expectations! Sharing knowledge, experiences and ways of working and living photography with such a great group has been one of the most enriching life experiences I have ever had.

Who he said that learning and knowledge sharing can not be wonderfully fun?”

“I can't say enough about what a fantastic time I had during the PhotoPills Iceland photo tour! The guys from PhotoPills and Donal Boyd were so knowledgeable, accommodating, and especially lots of fun. Never a dull moment – nonstop action and shooting of amazing landscapes for 10 days. I came away with enough images and memories to last a lifetime!”

FAQs

Can tourists visit Socotra?

Yes! Despite the on-going civil war in Yemen, it’s safe to travel to Socotra and the island is open to tourists.

There is a weekly direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Socotra island. It's a governmental charter flight and they don’t offer online booking yet. This unfortunately means that in order to get a seat on this in demand flight you need to be assisted by a local agency. To ease this process we use our local contacts to help make your flight reservations.

The price of the flight is $850 (not included in the price). We'll booked it for you.

Do I need a VISA to visit Socotra?

All tourists need a Yemeni visa to visit Socotra island. Our local team will take care of the whole procedure for you.

The process usually takes a few days and the visa will be issued in Socotra by the island authorities.

The only thing we need from you is a photo of the main page of your passport. Once we obtain your visa, we’ll send you a copy by email. You just need to print it and show it at the Dubai check-in counter in order to board the flight.

Our local team will be waiting for you with the original copy of your visa at the arrival hall at the Socotra airport.

The cost of the visa is $170 (included in the price).

IMPORTANT: You cannot obtain a Yemeni visa if you have a stamp from Israel in your passport, including border stamps from Jordan or Egypt. Change your passport before booking this trip up.

ALSO IMPORTANT: If you don't hold a US passport and intend to travel to the USA after this expedition, once you visit Yemen (after March 2011) you won’t be eligible for an ESTA application to the USA. Instead, you’ll need to apply for a regular tourist visa which is more expensive and requires a visit and interview at the American Embassy.

What’s the temperature in Socotra in February?

Daytime temperatures usually reach 29ºC (84ºF) in Socotra in February with moderate heat and humidity, falling to 19ºC (66ºF) at night.

What gear and clothes should I bring?

Your sense of adventure and fun, your camera and your sense of humor, of course.

Besides that? When you book your seat, we’ll send you an Information Package that will give you further details and suggestions about what to bring (gear, clothing, etc.).

Is travel insurance included in the price of the expedition?

No. Participants are suggested to purchase national or international medical and travel insurance coverage.

Also, we recommend you to choose a travel insurance that:

  • Covers trip cancellation costs.
  • Covers Covid-19 health, travel and cancellation costs.

What is the cancellation policy?

We hope you don’t need to cancel your spot, but if a situation arises where you don’t have a choice, our cancellation policy is the following.

If you cancel and the expedition is otherwise filled, we'll refund you the full booking fee you have paid, minus a $300 administrative fee.

If you cancel and the expedition doesn’t fill, then you’ll be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the expedition:

  • 61 days or more before the expedition: 100% refund, minus the deposit payment and the non-refundable costs that are withheld by our travel partners.
  • 60 days or less before the expedition: No refunds will be given.

Refunds will be paid using the same original method of payment.

Credits: All photographs by Marco Grassi

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