Socotra is one of the most alien looking places on Earth. Rather than focus on the area’s geographical beauty, I chose to highlight the beauty of its people and the lives they live.

Socotra, Yemen is an island archipelago located in the Indian Ocean. It’s tiny and secluded. Socotra is also known as Yemen’s Galapagos because of the amount of flora and fauna native to the island. Here you’ll find white sand beaches with emerald water, beautiful mountain ranges lined with sand dunes and hidden caves, and insane landscapes of alien-like plants.

One that includes going from the sea, to the desert, to the mountains all in one day.

Most people think Socotra’s landscapes and geography are the most interesting things about the island. But I find beauty in the people who live by the land here. It’s hard to come by a place that has kept its way of life for so long and can be this beautiful, yet have hardly any tourism.

The lack of education and resources available to the people of the island.

The peacefulness here, despite the turmoil on mainland Yemen.

The people of Socotra live by the land. They have little to no contact with the outside world, making it feel as though you’ve taken a trip back in time, far away from the modern world. The tribes near the ocean live by fishing, while those in the mountains live by farming. They speak Soqotri, which is entirely different from the mainland’s Arabic, showing how long this magical land has been secluded from the rest of the world.