Why this ride
The stops in between: Socotra c, Socotra B, Socotra h and back through Socotra B. It was put together for the scenery rather than the shortest line.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Socotra Archipelago and Socotra h
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 369 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 7 h 18
- 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 Archipelago → Socotra c
27 km on Socotra Archipelago → Socotra c.
Chapter facts
- Length
- 27 km
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. 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 is where the day begins. Next is Socotra c.
2. Socotra c
The dragon's blood tree looks like an umbrella turned inside out, with a dense crown of branches spreading from a thick trunk, and it grows almost nowhere else on earth but the island of Socotra, in the Arabian Sea between Yemen and Somalia. Its red resin was traded in antiquity as a dye and medicine. Socotra has been isolated for millions of years, and about a third of its plant species are found nowhere else, including bottle trees with swollen trunks, desert roses and frankincense trees. UNESCO lists the archipelago for its extraordinary biodiversity.
Read the complete Socotra c write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Socotra c comes up 42 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
85 km in you reach Socotra B. Next is Socotra h.
4. Socotra h
Socotra looks like the set of a science fiction film. On this island in the Arabian Sea, about three hundred and fifty kilometres off the coast of Yemen, the dragon's blood tree spreads its branches like an umbrella turned inside out, desert roses swell from the rocks with fat, bottle-shaped trunks, and frankincense trees cling to the cliffs. Around a third of the plant species here exist nowhere else on Earth, the result of millions of years of isolation, and the archipelago became a World Heritage site in 2008.
Read the complete Socotra h write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Socotra h, 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 sits at 169 km, about halfway. Next is back through Socotra c.
6. back through Socotra c
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Socotra c write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Socotra c comes up 212 km in. Next is Socotra Archipelago.
7. Socotra Archipelago
Return visit. Read the place description above.
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 closes the day.
Leg by leg
Socotra Archipelago to Socotra c
Socotra Archipelago → Socotra c is 27 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Socotra c to Socotra B
Socotra c → Socotra B is 47 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Socotra B to Socotra h
Socotra B → Socotra h is 53 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Socotra h to back through Socotra B
Socotra h → back through Socotra B is 53 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Socotra B to back through Socotra c
back through Socotra B → back through Socotra c is 47 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Socotra c to Socotra Archipelago
back through Socotra c → Socotra Archipelago is 27 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
More motorcycle rides nearby
- Socotra h and Socotra e (249 km) · 315 km
- Socotra B and Socotra d (307 km) · 342 km
- Socotra g and Socotra d · 334 km