Detwah Lagoon

Detwah is a shallow lagoon at the western end of Socotra, held behind a bar of white sand that shifts with the season, and the water inside is warm, waist deep across most of it and an intense turquoise against the sand. Cliffs rise behind. It is a protected area within the archipelago that UNESCO inscribed in 2008, and camping on the beach above it is how most people see it.

What you'll find

• The shallow lagoon - warm turquoise water waist deep across most of its area.
• The sand bar - the strip that closes the lagoon and shifts through the year.
• The cliffs - the limestone rising behind the beach.
• The camping ground - the shore above the lagoon where visitors stay.

When to go

October to April is the cool season and the practical window. The summer monsoon from June closes the island's transport. Water is warm year round.

Before you go

Facilities are camping and nothing else. Access to Socotra requires arrangements made well in advance. The lagoon changes shape and depth through the year.

Nearby

Qalansiyah is east, and Shuab is west along the coast.

Key facts