Socotra Island, part of Yemen, is a haven for tourists but with a travel advice warning from the UK Government, it’s not a getaway for the faint-hearted and it’s very hard to reach

A beautiful island with alien trees and crystal blue waters is one of the hardest places to get to in the world.

Socotra Archipelago is unlike anywhere else. Sat 200 miles off the coast of mainland Yemen, close to the Horn of Africa, it is home to a unique array of plants and wildlife.

Tourists visiting the island can find respite under the shade of the dragon blood tree, a species native to the island known for its densely packed evergreen branches and named after the crimson-coloured sap it produces. Along the coastline, you’ll find long sandy beaches against a backdrop of emerald waters and up north, near the village of Qalansiyah, the Detwah Lagoon is surrounded by dazzling white sands.

UNESCO recognises Socotra Island as a site of universal importance due to its biodiversity, with nearly 40 percent of its plant species being exclusive to the island. The surrounding islands, including Socotra, are also notable for their land and sea bird breeding spots and unique coral reefs, which are home to over 700 species of coastal fish.

READ MORE: Woman buys six Italian homes for £5 in beautiful town and has big plans for them

Yemen, along with Somalia and Afghanistan, is typically viewed as one of the globe’s most perilous nations. The civil war in the country has made travelling there incredibly dangerous, with the UK’s Foreign Office warning simply: “FCDO advises against all travel to the whole of the Yemen due to the unpredictable security conditions. If you’re in Yemen, you should leave immediately.”

While Socotora is covered by that advice—meaning visitors travelling there do so at their own peril and risk having their insurance invalidated—the archipelago has a very low crime rate and has been little impacted by the 11-year war that continues to rage on the mainland.

The main difficulty for those dreaming of visiting is how to get there.

Janet Newenham is a professional traveller who has spent years visiting some of the world’s most inaccessible places. Since visiting Iraq several years ago, Janet has organised small group trips for women to some of these places. Including, in February, to Socotora.

“It’s a paradise island off the coast of Yemen. People in the extreme travel community know about it, but a lot of people don’t,” Janet told the Mirror.

“It’s hard to get to. There are two flights a week from Abu Dhabi, but you can’t book them in a normal way. You have to book them through WhatsApp. It’s through Emirates Aviation, and it’s a humanitarian charter flight. You have to WhatsApp them and then send a bank transfer.

“It was absolutely incredible. I never knew there were places like that in Yemen. It has bright blue water, white sand beaches, and dragon’s blood trees. You won’t find them anywhere else in the world.”

Due to a lack of hotels on the island, the group camped on the beach and in the mountains during their seven-day trip. “No hotels. No toilets. It was quite an extreme trip. It was like being on a desert island. You do see some tanks in Socotora, but they’re not from a recent war.”

Tour operator Socotra Island Expeditions describes the archipelago as “a benign security environment” which has not seen any acts of violence towards foreigners in recent years. Adventure seekers will need to secure an appropriate visa for travel before arrival, however, most travel agents can support tourists through the procedure, in addition to outlining the best travel routes and seasons.

Janet, who lives in Bali, Indonesia but comes from Cork in Ireland, runs small group trips through her website Janets Journeys.