Socotra Island: The Most Alien Place on Earth You Can Actually Visit

If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you accidentally booked a trip to another planet, Socotra Island is your spot.

Floating in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Yemen, Socotra looks less like Earth and more like the concept art for a sci-fi movie. Over one-third of its plant life exists nowhere else on the planet, including the famous Dragon Blood Trees — umbrella-shaped giants that ooze deep red sap once used as medicine, dye, and incense.

What makes Socotra so wild?

• 🌳 Dragon Blood Trees & Bottle Trees that look aggressively unbothered by reality

• 🏝️ Empty white-sand beaches with zero resorts in sight

• 🐐 Goats that casually climb trees (because of course they do)

• 🌌 Near-perfect stargazing thanks to almost no light pollution

What it’s like to visit

This is not a “sip cocktails by the infinity pool” destination. Trips are typically guided eco-adventures involving camping, hiking, snorkeling, and eating very fresh seafood. Accommodations are simple, the vibe is slow, and the payoff is massive: raw, untouched nature in a way that’s getting harder to find anywhere else on Earth.

When to go

The best time to visit is October through May, avoiding the intense summer monsoon winds. Travel is limited and controlled, which helps preserve the island — and keeps it feeling truly undiscovered.

Why it belongs on your bucket list

Socotra isn’t trendy. It isn’t over-photographed. And it definitely isn’t crowded. It’s the kind of destination that makes seasoned travelers pause and say, “Wait… where is that?” — which is exactly why it’s unforgettable.

If you’re chasing places that still feel like secrets, Socotra Island might be the most surreal one left.

Check out places to stay

Expedia Links