This is my most unique, adventurous and remote drone photo trip so far! After 4 years of taking drone enthusiasts all over the world, it is now time for the first Socotra drone trip in November 2024.

With a small group of enthusiastic drone photographers we will create the adventure of a lifetime. This is the kind of trip you will be telling your grandchildren about! 😍

Over the course of 8 days I will show you the best drone spots on this isolated island, help you to improve your drone photography through live workshops in the field and composition/editing workshops in our private tented camp. We’ll share best practices and tips in a small group of like-minded participants. And in general we’ll just have a lot of fun in the most unique location in the Arabian Sea.

Only 1 spot left! 😲

Socotra drone trip 2024
Socotra drone trip 2024

Interested? Join my trip now:

Fill out your details below to get all the info + how to book your spot!


Socotra drone trip 2024 in a nutshell:

  • 6 people + myself
  • 8 days of adventure on Socotra island
  • 12-19th of November (8D/7N)
  • Private 4×4 cars with driver (2-3pax per car)
  • Remote camping in private tents
  • Local guide who speaks English
  • Private chef to prepare us 3 fresh meals a day
  • Logistics team to set up the tents + camp every day
  • Sunrise & sunset drone shoots at the most epic locations
  • Several outdoor hikes to incredible canyons and natural pools*
  • 1 boat tour where we usually see dolphins** 🐬 (with the drone!!)
  • Drone coaching in the field
  • Composition & Lightroom editing workshops at the tented camp
  • Official drone permit for Socotra

* moderate fitness is required 🥾

** plenty of spinner dolphins in the area. If we’re lucky and the dolphins stick around, we can even greet them from the water!

Spinner dolphins Mauritius
Spinner dolphins

Our camping tents on Socotra:

We use the iconic Al-Qadi tents, which are very adapted to the Socotra weather. The Al-Qadi tents have 4 windows and allow for more ventilation. Remember, Socotra can get very hot and stuffy during the summer. Technically they are designed for 2 pax, however each person will get their own tent for more comfort and privacy. Each tent comes with a mattress, blanket and pillow. You don’t need to bring anything.

You can also opt for the high-end luxury tent, which offer much more space and comfort during this trip.

The tents and sitting area will be set up for you by our team. Full service! We’ll also provide portable toilets and showers for your comfort.


Typical day:

In order to catch our locations in golden hour light, we’ll get up early every day. Usually during the day I have activities planned or one of the composition/Lightroom workshops. Here’s a typical day on the Socotra drone trip:

  • Rise and shine
  • 5:20 sunrise shoot
  • 7:00 Breakfast in the camp + back-up
  • Driving = charge batteries
  • Explore a canyon or waterfall or natural pool
  • 12:00 lunch at the Wadi, below some palm trees
  • Driving = charge batteries
  • Explore a sand dune or lagoon or cave
  • Or composition/Lightroom workshop
  • 16:00 sunset shoot
  • 17:30 Back-up / refresh / shower
  • 19:00 dinner at the camp
  • Chill in the sitting area
  • Sleep

These timings are indications. We will be flexible to circumstances / opportunities. All locations / activities are optional, if you wish to skip one and sleep in, it’s your holiday ☺️

Blue lagoon Socotra
Blue lagoon Socotra

Socotra drone trip pricing:

The tour prices are all-inclusive, meaning your 4×4 car with driver on Socotra island (2-3 pax per car), your camping tent (8D/7N), 1 boat tour, local guides, entrance fees for protected areas, official drone permit, all food & drinks & snacks are included.

On top of that you’ll get daily drone coaching in the field and composition/Lightroom workshops in the camp from me personally.

Your return flight from Abu Dhabi airport and your Socotra tourist visa are required extras. These have a fixed price and cannot be booked online, only through the agency I work with. So I will help you with that.

Socotra tent

Price: €3.400

  • Private tent
  • Incl. mattress, pillow and blanket
  • Set up every day by our logistics team
  • Best view on the stars!
Socotra luxury tent

Price: €3.900

  • Luxury tent
  • Additional comfort
  • Incl. better mattress, pillow and duvet
  • Set up every day by our logistics team
Passport Socotra

Price: €950 + 150

  • Return flight from Abu Dhabi airport (AUH)
  • Socotra tourist visa
  • Required!

Not included: your own flight to Abu Dhabi airport (AUH).


Previous drone trip testimonials:


Interested? Join my trip now:

Fill out your details below to get all the info + how to book your spot!

We leave in ...

Highlights of the Socotra drone trip:

The island of Socotra has many cool drone spots. To give you an idea, here are some of my highlight locations that we’ll definitely try to include in our 8 days together 👍 (click to enlarge)


FAQ drone trip:

  • I'm a beginner, can I join this trip?

    Yes, definitely. On every trip I get participants with different experience and skills, and I coach everyone on their own level. You need to be able to fly basic manoeuvres, the rest we'll learn on the trip, through my personal coaching, by learning from each other and through the composition workshops in our villa.

    Regardless of your starting point, all participants go home with a much-boosted self confidence while flying the drone and can now fly under any circumstances.

  • Do I need my own drone?

    Yes, you are supposed to bring your own drone and fly your own drone. If you have a spare drone, it's always good to bring it as well. I will also bring a back-up drone in case something happens.

    That being said, I guide the participants during all flights and it's very rare that a drone crashes or is lost. Really.

  • What drones are supported?

    I know pretty much all cinematic DJI drones by heart. Most often I see DJI Mavic 2/3 series, DJI Mini 3/4 series, DJI Air 2/3 series. More and more FPV drones as well, such as the DJI Avata 1/2 or the original DJI FPV.

    Occasionally, participants also bring an Autel drone, which is completely fine. However I'm less familiar with their app and settings. In the end, it all comes down to the same thing though. So don't worry.

  • Who is this Johan?

    Hi there 👋 I’m a professional drone photographer and educator from Belgium. I’m always traveling around the world to create beautiful and creative drone shots. I love taking photos of spectacular landscapes and looking for cool topdown patterns. My Tatacoa Desert photo won the 'Abstract' category in the prestigious Aerial Photography Awards 2020.

    I have worked with brands such as DJI and PolarPro. You can see my videos for the launch of the DJI Mini 3 in 2023 and more recently also for the launch of the DJI Air 3. Commercially I also work a lot with tourism boards and the best luxury hotels all over the world. Atlantis the Royal in Dubai was my latest big hotel project, where I was contracted as the director of aerial photography, spanning both drone photography - with the Inspire 2 - and helicopter shoots.

    When I’m not traveling, I like to educate other drone photographers through my drone trips. It's already been 4 years since I launched my first drone trip to the Azores! And ever since, I've been building on this experience to create more unique drone trips for you.

    Apart from drone trips, I also do 1-on-1 coachings and run the Drone Adventurers Community.

  • Where are the other participants from?

    My trips have really become very international. I attract participants from the USA, over Europe to Asia. I would say the majority is from Western and Central Europe though. Browse through my testimonials to discover the different countries!

    Last time I checked I counted 24 different countries 😲

  • Will I be the only female in the group?

    Actually surprisingly, the majority of my participants are female. About 60% vs 40% male. So you will def. not be the only one. I love having a good gender balance, it makes for the most fun groups.

  • Can I bring my partner?

    No, I only accept drone photographers. No +1's. This is to ensure that the focus remains on the droning and learning aspect of the trip. And we can all nerd out about drones without any interruption or social judgement 😇

    You are of course free to add some days before or after the trip with your partner, to explore the destination even more. I would even recommend that.

  • What if I need to cancel my trip?

    In the unfortunate event that you need to cancel your trip, reach out to me immediately!

    • Before 3 months to departure: You have already paid your down-payment, which is not refundable.
    • Within 3 months of departure: The 2nd and final payment has been made and is not refundable.
    • If I still find a replacement for your spot, I will refund you 60% of the final payment and you can keep 60% of the down payment as a credit for a future trip.

     

FAQ Socotra:

  • What make Socotra so special?

    Socotra's unique biodiversity and its unspoiled landscapes make it a truly extraordinary destination, especially with the drone. Because of the remoteness and limited accessibility only 4.000 tourists visit the island per year. That means, we'll be exploring the island all by ourselves!

    Just let that sink in that for a second 🤯

    Socotra has been listed as a UNESCO World Hertitage site since 2008, because of its incredible biodiversity. Read more on the UNESCO website.

  • Is Socotra safe to visit?

    Yes, it is safe to travel to Socotra. The island has always remained untouched by the conflict in Northern Yemen and has never been part of the civil war. Socotra offers a peaceful and natural environment, allowing us to explore its stunning landscapes and unique biodiversity without any concerns.

  • What kind of food can I expect?

    Our private chef will use fresh ingredients to cook a tasty meal 3 times a day. Remember, we are on a remote island, so not everything is available. However, we can get fresh locally-caught fish and free-range chicken every day. This will be complimented with rice or pasta and some vegetables. Add some seasoning and freshly laid eggs in the morning and voila, happy stomachs.

  • Are there any showers and toilets?

    Most nights we'll sleep in a campsite with basic showers and toilets. Toilet paper will be provided. You need to bring your own toiletries, shampoo and towel though. On the other locations, we'll take a portable shower and portable toilet. For your comfort ☺️

  • Can I charge my batteries?

    All the 4x4 cars are equipped with a 12V sine wave inverter and a multi-plug, so you can charge your devices in the car - while driving. The multi-plug typically has 2x USB-A and 4x US type B plugs. So take a universal converter, to make sure you can connect. And then you should be good to charge your phone, camera batteries, drone batteries etc...

    Additionally, a power bank is never a bad idea!

  • Is there mobile internet on Socotra?

    You can buy an Etisalat tourist SIM in the Abu Dhabi airport. It only works in a few areas of the island. And even then, mobile internet is very very slow. This is part of what makes traveling to Socotra so unique and helps you be in the moment.

    If you absolutely do need internet, we can provide a StarLink for the trip, which will allow 4G speeds all across the island.

  • Do I need a visa for Socotra?

    Yes. Everyone needs a visa when traveling to Socotra. The tourist visa comes at a fixed price of $150, to be paid to the local government. I will request the visa for you.


Here are some drone photos from my previous Socotra trip in November 2023:

If you want to see more photos, check out my Socotra drone photos album.