Terms of Service

1. About Visit Socotra

Visit Socotra arranges and coordinates expedition travel to Socotra Island, including accommodation, ground transportation, local guides, meals, permits, optional services, visa assistance where applicable, and other travel-related arrangements described in the selected expedition.

Certain services are provided by independent local operators, airlines, hotels, guides, transport providers, government authorities, payment processors, and other third parties.

By using our website, creating a booking, or purchasing an expedition, you agree to these Terms of Service, our Privacy Policy, and our Cancellation Policy.

2. Booking Confirmation

A booking is not confirmed merely by selecting a departure date or completing a booking form.

For standard Visit Socotra expeditions, full payment is required at checkout.

A booking is confirmed only after:

• the required payment has been successfully received and verified;
• the booking has passed any applicable availability or capacity checks; and
• Visit Socotra has issued a booking confirmation.

If payment fails, is reversed, disputed, or cannot be verified, the booking may remain pending or may be cancelled.

3. Expedition Packages

Visit Socotra may offer more than one fare type for the same expedition.

The principal fare options may include:

Non-Refundable Fare

A lower-priced booking subject to strict cancellation terms.

Flexible Fare

A higher-priced booking that provides cancellation flexibility according to the applicable cancellation schedule.

The specific fare, price, inclusions, exclusions, departure date, and cancellation conditions shown during checkout form part of your booking.

4. Prices

Unless otherwise stated, expedition prices are maintained in United States Dollars (USD).

The website may display estimated amounts in other supported currencies for convenience. Currency conversion may be performed by the payment provider and may differ slightly from the displayed estimate.

Any exchange-rate difference, foreign transaction fee, card issuer fee, bank fee, or payment-provider conversion fee is outside the control of Visit Socotra.

5. Traveller Pricing

Traveller pricing may depend on age as of the expedition departure date.

Where applicable, child and infant pricing is calculated automatically from the traveller's date of birth and the expedition pricing policy.

Customers must provide accurate dates of birth and nationality information. Incorrect information may result in:

• an incorrect fare;
• an incorrect visa requirement;
• a price adjustment;
• a booking modification; or
• cancellation where the correct information materially affects eligibility or capacity.

6. Visa Requirements

Travellers are responsible for ensuring they are legally permitted to enter Yemen and Socotra.

Visit Socotra may coordinate or assist with visa processing where available.

A visa or visa-processing fee may apply depending on nationality.

Yemeni nationals and nationals of GCC member states may be exempt from the standard Visit Socotra visa fee under the applicable booking rules.

For other nationalities, the applicable visa fee is currently USD 200 per traveller, unless otherwise stated during booking.

A visa fee may apply to children and infants where a visa is legally required.

Visa approval is ultimately controlled by the relevant authorities and cannot be guaranteed by Visit Socotra.

A delay, rejection, revocation, or failure to issue a visa does not automatically create a right to a refund beyond the cancellation terms of the fare purchased.

7. Passports and Travel Documents

Each traveller is responsible for:

• holding a valid passport;
• ensuring the passport meets applicable validity requirements;
• providing accurate passport information;
• providing required photographs or supporting documents;
• ensuring names on bookings match travel documents; and
• complying with immigration and entry requirements.

Visit Socotra is not responsible for losses caused by incorrect, expired, incomplete, or missing travel documents.

8. Flights

Unless explicitly stated as included, flights are not included in the expedition price.

Flight schedules serving Socotra may change with limited notice.

Travellers are responsible for arriving at the required departure airport in sufficient time.

Visit Socotra is not responsible for airline cancellations, delays, schedule changes, missed connections, baggage issues, or other airline-related losses, although our team may assist with alternative arrangements where reasonably possible.

Any additional costs caused by flight changes remain the traveller's responsibility unless expressly agreed otherwise.

9. Expedition Itinerary

Socotra is a remote destination.

The itinerary may be affected by:

• weather;
• sea conditions;
• road conditions;
• flight schedules;
• permits;
• environmental restrictions;
• safety considerations;
• local authority instructions;
• supplier availability; or
• other operational conditions.

Visit Socotra may change the sequence, timing, accommodation, campsite, activity, route, or destination where reasonably necessary.

A change made for safety or operational reasons does not automatically constitute cancellation of the expedition.

Where possible, we will provide a reasonable alternative of similar value or experience.

10. Accommodation and Camping

Expeditions may include camping, hotel stays, or a combination of both.

Where optional hotel upgrades are purchased, hotel availability remains subject to confirmation.

Accommodation standards in Socotra may differ from equivalent ratings in other countries.

11. Optional Add-ons

Optional services may include, for example:

• hotel upgrades;
• drone permits;
• visa services;
• connectivity services;
• private services; or
• other expedition enhancements.

Add-ons are subject to availability and may have separate supplier or government conditions.

Government fees, permits, third-party services, and services already purchased on the traveller's behalf may be non-refundable.

12. Traveller Responsibilities

Travellers must:

• follow instructions from guides and expedition staff;
• respect local laws, customs, communities, and religious practices;
• follow conservation and environmental rules;
• avoid behaviour that places themselves or others at unreasonable risk;
• provide accurate medical, dietary, and accessibility information where relevant;
• arrive at agreed meeting points on time; and
• behave respectfully toward staff, local communities, wildlife, and other guests.

Visit Socotra may refuse participation in an activity or remove a traveller from an expedition where conduct creates a material safety, legal, or operational risk.

No refund is due for services missed because of serious misconduct.

13. Health and Fitness

Travellers are responsible for assessing whether they are physically capable of participating in the expedition.

Socotra expeditions may involve:

• uneven terrain;
• hiking;
• heat;
• remote areas;
• camping;
• limited medical infrastructure; and
• long drives on unpaved roads.

Travellers should seek appropriate medical advice before travel where necessary.

14. Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended, particularly coverage for:

• medical treatment;
• emergency evacuation;
• trip cancellation;
• trip interruption;
• delayed travel;
• baggage loss; and
• supplier or airline disruption.

Insurance is arranged directly between the traveller and the insurer.

Visit Socotra is not responsible for an insurer's decision to accept or reject a claim.

15. Cancellation by the Traveller

Cancellation rights depend on the fare purchased.

Non-Refundable bookings and Flexible bookings have different cancellation rules.

The full Cancellation Policy forms part of these Terms.

16. Changes Requested by the Traveller

Requests to:

• change departure date;
• replace a traveller;
• change traveller details;
• modify add-ons; or
• otherwise amend a confirmed booking

are subject to availability, operational feasibility, pricing differences, supplier costs, and approval by Visit Socotra.

A requested change is not effective until confirmed by us.

17. Cancellation or Change by Visit Socotra

Visit Socotra may cancel, postpone, or materially alter an expedition when reasonably required by:

• safety conditions;
• weather;
• flight disruption;
• government restrictions;
• permit issues;
• force majeure;
• supplier failure;
• insufficient operational capability; or
• circumstances outside our reasonable control.

Depending on the circumstances, available options may include:

• rescheduling;
• transferring the booking;
• travel credit;
• an alternative itinerary; or
• a refund of recoverable amounts.

Third-party or already-incurred costs may not always be recoverable.

18. Force Majeure

Visit Socotra is not responsible for failure or delay caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including:

• extreme weather;
• natural disasters;
• war or civil unrest;
• government action;
• border closures;
• epidemics or pandemics;
• aviation disruption;
• strikes;
• transport interruption;
• permit restrictions; or
• telecommunications failures.

Where such an event occurs, our priority will be traveller safety and maintaining the expedition where reasonably possible.

19. Limitation of Liability

Adventure travel involves inherent risks.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Visit Socotra is not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or economic losses arising from circumstances outside our reasonable control or from acts or omissions of independent third-party suppliers.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded.

20. Website Use

Users must not:

• misuse the website;
• attempt unauthorized access;
• interfere with website security;
• submit fraudulent information;
• misuse payment systems; or
• copy or exploit protected content without permission.

21. Intellectual Property

Website text, photography, videos, design, branding, logos, and original content belong to Visit Socotra or their respective licensors unless otherwise stated.

They may not be commercially reproduced without written permission.

22. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms where necessary to reflect operational, legal, payment, or service changes.

The terms applicable to an existing confirmed booking are generally those accepted when the booking was made, unless a change is required by law or is expressly agreed with the customer.

23. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of Saudi Arabia, without prejudice to any mandatory consumer-protection rights a traveller may have under the laws of their own country of residence.

24. Contact

Questions regarding these Terms may be sent to:

hello@visit-socotra.com