Why this ride
The stops in between: Socotra Archipelago, Socotra B, back through Socotra B and back through Socotra Archipelago. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Socotra g and Sabunya
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 171 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 3 h 12
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. 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 g → Socotra Archipelago
48 km on Socotra g → Socotra Archipelago.
Chapter facts
- Length
- 48 km
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Socotra g
Socotra's south coast feels like the far side of a very strange moon. Here the island drops from the granite spine of the Haggier mountains onto a broad gravel plain that runs down to a hot, wind-scoured shore, with dunes piled against the cliffs and nothing taller than a goat for miles.
Read the complete Socotra g write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Socotra g is where the day begins. Next is Socotra Archipelago.
2. 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 comes up about 48 km into the recorded legs. 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
about 80 km into the recorded legs you reach Socotra B. Next is Sabunya.
4. 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 192 km, about halfway. Next is back through Socotra Archipelago.
5. back through 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
back through Socotra Archipelago comes up about 123 km into the recorded legs. Next is Socotra g.
6. Socotra g
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Socotra g write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Socotra g closes the day.
Leg by leg
Socotra g to Socotra Archipelago
Socotra g → Socotra Archipelago is 48 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Socotra Archipelago to Socotra B
Socotra Archipelago → Socotra B is 32 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Socotra B to back through Socotra B
Socotra B → back through Socotra B is 1 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
back through Socotra B to back through Socotra Archipelago
back through Socotra B → back through Socotra Archipelago is 42 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Socotra Archipelago to Socotra g
back through Socotra Archipelago → Socotra g is 48 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
More motorcycle rides nearby
- Socotra B and Socotra A · 161 km
- Socotra g and Socotra a · 206 km
- Socotra B and Socotra d · 154 km
- Socotra Archipelago and Socotra B · 74 km