Why this ride
From Qalansīyah it runs 111 km to Qalansīyah; allow about 1 h 56 of riding. The stops in between: Socotra B, Socotra Archipelago and back through Socotra b.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Sabunya and Socotra Archipelago
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 111 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 1 h 56
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
The recorded total and the leg detail need reconciliation. Inspect the leg notes before using this record for timing or navigation. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Scenic road chapters
Socotra b → Socotra Archipelago
The ride follows Socotra b → Socotra Archipelago for 19 km.
Chapter facts
- Length
- 19 km
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Socotra a
At the western tip of Socotra, near the fishing village of Qalansiyah, the island ends in a lagoon of almost unreal beauty. Detwah lagoon is a shallow basin of white sand and turquoise water, enclosed by dunes and limestone headlands, where fishermen pull up their boats on the beach and dolphins sometimes swim in the bay beyond. Socotra lies in the Arabian Sea, about three hundred and fifty kilometres off the coast of Yemen and closer to the Horn of Africa, and it has been isolated for so long that a large share of its plants and animals exist nowhere else on earth. UNESCO listed the archipelago in 2008 for its extraordinary biodiversity.
Read the complete Socotra a write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Socotra a comes up 29 km in. Next is Socotra B.
2. Socotra B
Towards the western end of Socotra, the land narrows and lowers, and the north coast curves into bays of sand so white they hurt your eyes in the midday sun.
Read the complete Socotra B write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
57 km in you reach Socotra B. Next is Socotra b.
3. Socotra b
Halfway along Socotra's north coast, between Hadibu and the fishing town of Qalansiya, the island shows its gentler face. The coastal plain is narrow here, a strip of pale sand and scrub squeezed between the sea and limestone plateaus that climb steeply inland, and the road runs along it for most of the way west. Both towns lie roughly thirty kilometres away in opposite directions, which makes the place a natural midpoint on the island's main east–west journey.
Read the complete Socotra b write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Socotra b, about halfway. Next is Socotra Archipelago.
4. Socotra Archipelago
Let us be honest from the first line: you will not ride your own motorcycle here, and you should think carefully before going at all. Socotra is an island in the Arabian Sea, part of Yemen, about three hundred and fifty kilometres off the coast of the Arabian Peninsula and closer to the Horn of Africa. Isolated for millions of years, it developed a flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth, and roughly a third of its plants are endemic. The most famous is the dragon's blood tree, shaped like an inverted umbrella, whose red resin has been traded since ancient times as a dye and medicine. The archipelago was listed by UNESCO in 2008 for its extraordinary biodiversity.
Read the complete Socotra Archipelago write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Socotra Archipelago sits at 115 km, about halfway. Next is back through Socotra b.
5. back through Socotra b
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Socotra b write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Socotra b comes up 143 km in. Next is back through Socotra B.
6. back through Socotra B
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Socotra B write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
172 km in you reach back through Socotra B. Next is back through Socotra a.
7. back through Socotra a
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Socotra a write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Socotra a, late in the day. Next is Sabunya.
Leg by leg
Socotra a to Socotra B
Socotra a → Socotra B is 22 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Socotra B to Socotra b
Socotra B → Socotra b is 15 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Socotra b to Socotra Archipelago
Socotra b → Socotra Archipelago is 17 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Socotra Archipelago to back through Socotra b
Socotra Archipelago → back through Socotra b is 19 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Socotra b to back through Socotra B
back through Socotra b → back through Socotra B is 15 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Socotra B to back through Socotra a
back through Socotra B → back through Socotra a is 22 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
More motorcycle rides nearby
- Sabunya and Socotra c · 126 km
- Socotra a and Socotra b starting at Qalansīyah · 79 km