Why this ride
It goes by way of Socotra b, Socotra a, back through Socotra a and back through Socotra B.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Socotra A and Sabunya
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 109 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 1 h 54
- 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.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Socotra A
Socotra looks as if evolution has been running its own experiment. The island, a long way east of the Horn of Africa and well south of Arabia, has been separated from the mainland for millions of years, and as a result a large share of its plants, perhaps a third, and many of its reptiles and snails, are found nowhere else. The Socotra Archipelago was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2008, and the images that come to mind are of the dragon's blood tree, with its umbrella-shaped crown of stiff branches, and the swollen bottle trees clinging to the rock.
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 is where the day begins. Next is Socotra b.
2. 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 comes up 29 km in. Next is Socotra B.
3. 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 a.
4. 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, about halfway. Next is Sabunya.
5. 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 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 b.
7. 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, late in the day. Next is Socotra A.
8. 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
The route ends here after 229 km.
Leg by leg
Socotra A to Socotra b
Socotra A → Socotra b is 17 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 a
Socotra B → Socotra a is 22 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Socotra a to back through Socotra a
Socotra a → back through Socotra a is 1 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Socotra a to back through Socotra B
back through Socotra a → back through Socotra B is 22 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 Socotra A
back through Socotra b → Socotra A is 17 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.