Wadi Dirhur Canyon

Socotra Island, Yemen

Coordinates: 12.424005, 53.943928

Nearby Places

• Diksam Plateau 1 meters SW (245°)
• Dogub cave 8.95 Km SE (119°)
• Aomak Beach 12.26 Km SE (137°)

Wadi dirhur, along with Diksum Plateau, is considered Among the best spots in Socotra. The canyon itself is magical. It has an extraordinary ambiance. Lush vegetation overgrows the canyon – look like a tropical garden, which is a different experience after the barrenness of Dixam. There is a beautiful natural pond of the turquoise fresh water pool for swimming just downstream from the road. If you walk upstream, there are some beautiful narrows and smaller lakes. Clumps of palm trees line the edge of the wash, giving the place a truly exotic feel.

The river flowing through the Wadi creates a series of fantastic cascade lakes in the mountains. The locals call them natural pools. The natural pools are amazing. You can also do a little walking around if you wish. It was tranquil, no mosquitos, no other animals. If you are a nature lover, you will feel in paradise. If you walk deeper into the canyon, you can find a white rock that looks like a giant armchair.

Birds of all kinds inhabit the canyon. It is fascinating to keep watch over this feathered race.

Legend of Jinns among the locals

Wadi Dirhur Canyon has an ill fame among locals. A deserted house near a freshwater stream eloquently points out that even the availability of fresh water cannot seduce locals to live here because they have a great fear of genies, who live in the canyon according to the locals.

Know This

After visiting the plateau, you can descend to this Wadi, note that most of the time, the car cannot go down all the way, so you have to continue on foot. To reach the lakes from where the campers usually stop, you need to go along the river through the palm trees groves.

Mind that there are no organized camping facilities down there, no electricity or toilets, etc. so it will be the thorough blending in with nature.

If you want to get a walk in the canyon, it is highly recommended to take your shoes because the rocks are scorching.

Rough road (or instead path) going down to the valley requires excellent skills from the driver and taking it was an experience in itself.