If the changes in the following conditions have been clearly communicated in writing to the client before the conclusion of the contract and they are properly provided for in the program;
Any changes subsequent to the conclusion of the contract are subject to prior agreement of both the agency and the client, except as provided in the "impossibility of comply" clause.
These general conditions comply with the provisions of Decree-Law 61/2011 of May 6th, as amended by Decree-Law 199/2012 of August 24th.
The general conditions, which refer to an organized trip described in this program, along with the specific conditions provided to the client in the travel documentation at the time of booking, constitute the travel contract that binds the agency and the client.
The technical organization and sale of the activities included on this website are the responsibility of Papa-Léguas, a travel and tourism agency, with home office at Rua Manuel Assunção Mestre, nº22, 7780-199 Castro Verde, registered in the Commercial Registry Office of Lisbon with Taxpayer Identification Number 504163590. It has a share capital of €99,759.60 (ninety-nine thousand, seven hundred and fifty-nine euros and sixty cents). Papa-Léguas is also registered with the National Registry of Travel Agents and Tourism Operators (RNAVT) nº2275 and the National Registry of Tourist Animation Agents (RNAT) nº67/2014.
At the time of registration the client must deposit 30% of the service price, paying the remaining 70% up to 21 days before the service begins. If the registration takes place 21 days or less before the service begins, the total price of the service must be paid at the time of registration. Papa-Léguas, Agência de Viagens e Turismo Lda. reserves the right to cancel any booking that has not been paid for under the conditions mentioned above. Reservations are subject to the obtaining of a confirmation from suppliers for all services.
The prices of tours are presented per person and based on the occupation in a room shared by two people. The organizing agency will group clients who sign up individually for the same tour in pairs, by gender, and in chronological order of registration. Clients who are singled out must pay the respective individual supplement, when required by the service provider.
INFORMATION UNDER LAW N.º 144/2015 OF SEPTEMBER 8:
According to Law No. 144/2015 of September 8th, we inform that the customer may resort to the following Alternative Consumer Dispute Resolution Entities:
i) Customer Authority of Travel and Tourism Agencies at provedorapavt.com;
ii) Arbitration Commission of Tourism in Portugal at turismodeportugal.pt;
iii) Or any of the entities indicated in the list provided by the Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs at http://www.consumidor.pt, which we recommend consulting.
Complaints will only be considered if submitted in writing to the agency within a maximum period of 30 days after the completion of the services.
In the event of a complaint regarding non-compliance with contracted services, the customer may activate the Travel and Tourism Guarantee Fund provided for in DL 61/2011 of May 6, in its current wording, by submitting the respective complaint:
i) To the Customer Authority, as Papa-Léguas, Travel and Tourism Agency Ltd., is a member of the Customer Ombudsman for Travel and Tourism Agencies at www.provedorapavt.com. To benefit from this service, you must submit your written complaint within 20 business days after the end of the trip. Agencies are bound to comply promptly with any decisions issued by this entity.
ii) To Tourism of Portugal I.P. at www.turismodeportugal.pt within 30 days after: (i) the end of the trip; (ii) the cancellation of the trip attributable to the agency; (iii) the date of knowledge of the impossibility of its realization due to the agency; (iv) the closure of the establishment.
iii) To any of the entities listed on the website of the General Directorate for Consumer Affairs at http://www.consumidor.pt.
1) The agency is responsible for the luggage in the legal terms;
2) The Client has the obligation to complain to the service provider at the moment of subtraction, deterioration or destruction of luggage.
3) In international transport, if the luggage is damaged, the complaint must be made in writing to the carrier immediately after the damage is verified, and no later than 7 days after delivery. If the luggage is merely late in delivery, the claim must be made within 21 days from the date of delivery.
4) The presentation of such a claim will be an essential basis for Papa-Léguas, Agência de Viagens e Turismo Lda. to hold responsible the entity providing the service.
The responsibility of the agency will be limited to the maximum amount that can be demanded from the service providers, in accordance with the Montreal Convention of May 28, 1999, on International Air Transport, and the Bern Convention of 1961, on Rail Transport.
Regarding maritime transport, the liability of travel agencies, concerning their clients, for the provision of transport services or accommodation, when applicable, by maritime transport companies, in the event of damages resulting from their willful misconduct or negligence, will be limited to the following amounts:
a) € 441,436, in case of death or physical injury;
b) € 7,881, in case of total or partial loss of baggage or its damage;
c) € 31,424, in case of loss of a motor vehicle, including the baggage contained therein;
d) € 10,375, in case of loss of baggage, whether accompanied or not, contained in a motor vehicle;
e) € 1,097, for damages to baggage resulting from the damage to the motor vehicle.
Where applicable, the liability of travel agencies and tourism for the deterioration, destruction, and theft of baggage or other items in tourist accommodation establishments, while the client is staying there, is limited as follows:
a) € 1,397, in total;
b) € 449 per item;
c) The value declared by the client regarding the items deposited under the custody of the tourist accommodation establishment.
The agency's liability for non-bodily damages may be contractually limited to an amount corresponding to five times the price of the service sold.
For each reservation the following will be charged:
Reservation Expenses:
Alteration Expenses:
For each alteration (names, dates, type of apartment or room, travel, etc) : 50€ (fifty euros). Please note that the acceptance of such changes depends on the acceptance by the respective suppliers.
The client must have their personal or family documentation in good order (identity card, military documentation, authorization for minors, visas, vaccination certificates, and any other documents that may be required). The agency disclaims any responsibility for visa refusal or the client's denial of entry into a foreign country. The client is solely responsible for any costs incurred as a result of such a situation.
Travel in European Union:
Travel outside the European Union:
If the travel suppliers involved allow it, whenever a customer who is registered for a particular trip wishes to change their registration to another trip or the same trip with a different departure date, or any other changes, they must pay a fee as alteration expenses. However, if the change takes place 21 days or less before the departure date of the trip for which the customer is registered, or if the service providers do not accept the change, the customer will be subject to the expenses and charges specified under the “cancellation (termination)” section.
Once the trip has started, if a request is made to change the contracted services for reasons not related to the agency (e.g., extending the number of nights of stay, changing the flight), the prices of the touristic services may not correspond to those published on the website that prompted the contract.
The customer may transfer their registration by being replaced by another person who meets all the required conditions for the trip, provided that they inform the selling agency at least seven days in advance and such transfer is possible under the applicable air transport regulations. In the case of cruises and air travel, the prescribed period will be fifteen days in advance.
The transfer of the registration makes both the transferor and the transferee jointly responsible for the payment of the trip price and any additional charges incurred.
Whenever there are external reasons that justify it, the organizing agency may change the order of the itineraries, modify the departure times, or substitute any of the planned hotels with others of similar category and location. The agency must inform the client of such changes as soon as they become aware of them.
When the tour is dependent on a minimum number of participants the Agency reserves the right to cancel the organized tour if the number of participants reached is less than the minimum. In such cases, the Client will be informed in writing of the cancellation within 15 (fifteen) days.
The prices in the program are based on the costs of services and exchange rates in effect on the date of printing of the program, and are therefore subject to change resulting from variations in the cost of transportation or fuel, duties, taxes, fees, and exchange rate fluctuations up to 20 days prior to the date of departure.
Once the tour has begun, no refund is due for services not used by the client due to unforeseeable circumstances or for reasons attributable to the client, except for refunds by the respective suppliers. Failure to provide services foreseen in the travel program for reasons attributable to the organizing agency and if it is not possible to replace them with equivalent ones, entitles the client receive a refund for the price difference between the originally anticipated services and the services actually provided.
If, prior to the start of the journey and due to circumstances beyond the control of the organizing agency, it becomes unable to fulfill any essential service included in the travel program, the client has the right to cancel the trip and immediately receive a refund of all amounts paid, or alternatively, accept a modification and possible price variation.
If the aforementioned circumstances beyond the control of the organizing agency result in the cancellation of the trip, the client may choose to participate in another organized trip of equivalent price. If the proposed replacement organized trip is of a lower price, the client will be refunded the price difference accordingly.
The client or their companions are free to cancel the trip at any time.
i) Such cancellation implies that the client is responsible for the payment of all charges arising from the beginning of the fulfillment of the contract and their withdrawal, as well as a percentage that can go up to 15% of the price of the trip.
ii) If applicable, the client will be refunded the difference between the amount paid and the aforementioned amounts.
iii) The cancellation of travel services/organized trips whose reservation has been made using the voucher issued under Decree-Law No. 17/2020 of April 23rd is subject to a cancellation fee equal to the price of the service, in order to prevent simulated or fraudulent reservations made solely with the intention of anticipating the receipt of the voucher-entitled values.
If for reasons not attributable to the client, the agency has to cancel the organized tour before the departure date, the client can choose to:
i) Being immediately refunded all amounts paid;
ii) Optionally, choose to participate in another organized tour and be refunded for any difference in price.
The liability of the travel agency organizing the trips included in this program and arising from the assumed obligations is covered by a civil liability insurance policy with Fidelidade Insurance Company, under policy number 9257343, for an amount of 75,000€ (Seventy-five thousand euros), in accordance with the applicable legislation.
The prices mentioned in this program already include the Value Added Tax at the current rate of 23%
This program is valid from 01/01/2022 to 12/31/2022
Arrival or departure times:
Departure and arrival times are stated in the local time of the respective country of destination and according to respective airline schedules at the time of printing this program, and may therefore be subject to change.
Hotels / Apartments:
Apartments - In case the accommodation is contracted in apartments, the client is responsible for informing the number of people that will occupy the apartment. If there are more people than booked, the apartments may refuse admittance.
Hotels - The prices shown are per person and are based on double occupancy. Not all hotels have triple rooms and usually an extra bed is placed in the room, which may not be of equal quality. In rooms equipped with two beds or a double bed, the triple may consist only of those beds.
The list of hotels and apartments in the program is indicative, as is their category, which is based on local criteria and classifications that are sometimes different from those used in Portugal.
Meals:
Unless otherwise indicated, the prices shown for the Half Board and Full Board supplements do not include drinks.
On arrivals at the hotel after 7PM the first meal service will be breakfast the next day, on the last day and except for the possibility of late check-out, the last service of the hotel will be breakfast.
Check-in and check-out times:
The check-in and check-out times on the first and last day, will be defined according to the first and last service. As a rule, without binding character, the rooms can be used from 2PM on the day of arrival and should be left free by noon (12PM) on the day of departure.
In the apartments, the entry takes place generally at 5PM on the day of arrival and must be left free by 10AM on the day of departure.
Special conditions for children:
Given the conditions applied for children (destination and provider) it is recommended to always question the special conditions that may apply to the tour in question.
Insurande:
The agency offers the sale of insurance that can be purchased depending on the tour to guarantee assistance situations and cancellation expenses.
The maximum age limit, for the insurance, is 75 years-old.
See our full Data Protection and Privacy Policy here.
Documentation
The necessary documentation may vary, depending on your nationality, the country of origin and the places you will travel to. For further information, consult the relevant embassy websites or contact Papa-Léguas. According to Yemeni law, visas will not be issued to people who have the stamp of Israel in their passport.
Flights
Between Abu Dhabi and Socotra:
Air Arabia is the only airline that flies to Socotra, with a single direct weekly flight on Mondays connecting Abu Dhabi, UAE to the island of Socotra.
AUH- SCT 11:30 AM Departure (local Abu Dhabi time) Arrival 12:30 PM (local Socotra time) SCT- AUH 03:00 PM Departure (local Socotra time) Arrival 17:00 PM (local Abu Dhabi time)
It is a government charter flight and they do not offer online reservations yet. This means that reservations will have to be handled by Papa-Léguas with our local partner, and being a flight with high demand, we advise that this be done 3 months before the travel date when reservations open. Less than that, it can be risky to secure a seat on the flight.
Between Home Country and Abu Dhabi:
The flight to Abu Dhabi can be purchased through Papa-Léguas or by the traveler. If you do so, please ensure that you are at Abu Dhabi airport at least 3 hours before your flight to Socotra departs, i.e. at 8:30 am (local time).
If you choose to leave the airport in Abu Dhabi and spend the night in the city, on the way there and/or on the way back, Papa-Léguas can help you with hotel reservations.
Individual Supplement
Those who choose the single supplement will get their own tent and a private room at the hotel on the last night.
Security
Socotra Island is isolated from mainland Yemen, physically and culturally. The moving Yemeni war has not touched the island, nor is there any provision for it. The local people are warm and welcoming, friendly and hospitable too. So is Socotra safe? Yes, there are no violent conflicts in Socotra.
Covid-19
Health restrictions may vary, depending on various factors, such as your country of origin. We recommend scheduling a Travel Medicine consultation before your trip. For further information, consult the websites of relevant agencies or contact Papa-Léguas.
Tour Leader
This is a trip of adventure and cultural discovery. The person who leads this trip is a person with experience in the country to be visited, with a network of contacts and knowledge that facilitates an interaction and a cultural experience that you want to be unique. Their mission is to lead the group during the whole trip facilitating the interaction and integration of the group with the places to be visited.
The tour leader’s role should never be confused with that of a tour guide. No specific knowledge about monuments, museums, or other places of tourist interest is required of the tour leader.
If your trip includes places that, due to their historical, geological, biological or artistic complexity, need a guide, this will be hired in advance and there will be an explicit reference to his existence in the trip program.
Some people travel the world in a year, I decided to travel calmly. In each country I’ve visited I tried my best to absorb the culture, history, ways of life, taste the food and drinks, make friends and help whenever I could. And it’s exactly this that attracts me to traveling, leaving my comfort zone, the novelty, learning, freedom, landscapes, scents, people, and in the end the backpack’s weight is compensated by the lightness of the soul.
Estamos a preparar o seu programa de viagem.
Aguarde por favor...
A mysterious world, the island of myths and legends – Socotra.
Its ancient name in Sanskrit means “the land of bliss” and it is one of the most isolated territories of continental origin. It has become unique due to its flora and fauna, with the majority of species being endemic and not found anywhere else on Earth. Socotra is the only place in the world where bottle trees or the famous Dragon’s Blood trees exist!
This island is part of the territory of Yemen, located 200km off the coast in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and remains untouched by military conflict. It was classified as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2008, with one-third of its plants and 90% of its reptile species being exclusive.
Socotra, also known as the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean,” is considered by the World Conservation Monitoring Center to be one of the ten richest islands in the world. It has lush landscapes, unique animals, magical trees, warm and smiling people, turquoise waters with colorful corals and fish, dolphins, and turtles. It is undoubtedly the last true paradise on Earth.
Come on a trip of a lifetime and experience a dream destination in Socotra with travel leader Carla Henriques.
If you sign up for both trips, the Road trip in the Sultanate of Oman followed by the trip to Socotra, you will receive a discount of 150 EUR.
There is only one way to get to Socotra, and that is on the weekly flight that connects Abu Dhabi and the island. So on this day we start the journey to the United Arab Emirates where, depending on the flight, we can wait a few hours at the airport or even go out to explore.
Abu Dhabi offers visas on arrival for European citizens, and if you arrive early you can spend the night in town and take the opportunity to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque or the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum.
Night on board.
Note: the arrival/departure dates may vary, depending on your origin city. If you have any doubts, contact Papa-Léguas for further clarification.
For some reason Socotra is known as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean. It has a unique universal importance, with a more than rich biodiversity: 37% of plant species, 90% of reptile species, and 90% of snail species exist nowhere else in the world. The marine areas in Socotra are less degraded than most Indian Ocean reefs, and the archipelago itself is an important dispersal and replenishment center for the surrounding seas.
Upon arrival in Socotra, the tour leader Carla Henriques will be waiting for you with the jeeps to take you to the northeast side of the island.
We go to the Dihamri Marine Protected Area, which houses one of the richest coral reefs and marine life on the island. Dihamri is blessed with over 200 species of colorful fish and over 5 coral reefs that inhabit the island. Here we will have time to swim and snorkel, and set up our camp.
Night in Dihamri in eco-campsite.
Early in the morning we will go to the Homhil Protected Natural Area, home to many types of endemic plants: the bottle trees, olibanum, and the famous dragon's blood trees. These extraordinary-looking trees are native to Socotra and are classified as "vulnerable to extinction." They can grow to over 9 meters tall and live for 600 years, produce berries and a bright red sap, hence their name. They have been used for centuries as everything from traditional medicine to lipsticks and even as varnish for violins - the dye "dragon's blood" is believed to have been responsible for the intense color of Stradivarius violins.
When we reach Homhil, we will follow several trails that take us to a viewpoint where there is a natural pool and a view of the villages below on the plain. There we will be able to swim and enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the Arabian Sea, as if we were in an infinity pool.
After lunch, we descend from the plateau to the northeast coast of the island via Wadi Shefa, to pick up transport and head to Arher beach. We will rest for a while among giant dunes and streams, and continue to Ras Erisel, located at the eastern end of the island where the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean intersect and many ships have sunk in the past.
The night is in a 1000 star hotel: our camp is between two gigantic dunes, under the hundreds of stars and close to the ocean breeze.
Night on the beach at Arher.
After breakfast, we will go to the village of Terbak, where the Hoq cave is located. Hoq is the largest cave on the island with a depth of 2 miles. It holds a rich history of Socotra and hides archaeological finds such as pottery, paintings, and wooden tables with an Aramaic language inscription dating back to 258 AD.
The morning will be walking, between getting to the cave and going in to explore. We will see an overwhelming beauty and variety of crystal decorations, such as stalagmites, stalactites and calcite floors.
In the late afternoon, we head to the Rosh Marine Protected Area to explore one of the best diving and snorkeling sites in Socotra. Rosh is home to dozens of species of colorful marine life and is one of the richest coral reefs in the archipelago.
Night in Rosh eco-campsite.
Today we continue to the south coast of the island, crossing the wonderful Defarhu canyon.
We will enjoy natural pools, see the endemic "bottle trees" of Socotra with their peculiar shape, and also the Boswellia sacra with its aromatic resin used for making incense and perfume.
We cross traditional villages until we reach the village of Hayf and Zahak, where we witness huge sand dunes pushed against the mountainside by the seasonal Socotra winds. Next we head to Omak Beach, where we spend the night.
Night in Omak eco-campsite.
The day begins with a trip to the Dixam plateau, approximately 700m above sea level, and the Shebahon viewpoint. This area is home to plant and bird species endemic to Socotra, such as the emberiza socotrana bird.
Take a deep breath before you reach the Shebahon viewpoint, because the view is breathtaking. Daerhu Gorge has awe-inspiring sights, beautiful scenery and unusual rock formations.
We then drive down to Wadi for lunch and a quiet walk to swim in the fresh water pools. Later in the afternoon, we headed to the Firmhin Protected Area to explore and have the enormous privilege of seeing the largest Dragon Blood Tree forest on the planet!
Once in Firmhin, we may also be lucky enough to see some more of Socotra's endemic and very rare birds.
Night in Dixam eco-campsite.
Let's explore the western part of the island.
Our first stop is Qalansiya; a traditional fishing village, and the second largest settlement on the island. After visiting the village, we continue to the Detwah lagoon, known for its magical landscape and its pristine sandy beach with turquoise water and relatively strong waves. This lagoon is embedded in a marine protected area and is the only Ramsar site in Yemen. A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated as being of international importance. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
Later in the afternoon we will take a short walk around the lagoon to meet Abdullah (Ellyia), a local resident who was born in a small cave near the lagoon. He still lives in his hometown with his friendly family members. Abdullah, also known as "Ellyia", the caveman who can be considered as the legend of the island! Their personality and daily lifestyle give insight into how the people of Socotra lived centuries ago.
Night in Detwah eco-camping.
Are you ready for another perspective of the island?
We will board a boat and head for Shuaab Beach. During the trip, if we are lucky, we will see dolphins, turtles and various sea birds, as well as enjoy the magnificent mountainous and rocky landscapes against the sea. When we get to Shuaab, we will be comfortable swimming and relaxing in an unspoiled place, as well as taking a look at a mangrove area.
Upon returning, we will visit the botanical garden for a workshop on local crafts with women from the Coastal Women's Association. This is a great opportunity to hear stories and learn more about Socotri culture. And who knows, maybe listen to some poems or songs, because in traditional Socotri culture, this is part of everyday life.
Finally, we will drive to the town of Habidu, where we will have our last dinner on this magical island and spend the last night in a hotel.
Hotel in Hadibu.
The morning is for relaxing, taking one last walk and packing.
Our flight leaves at 3PM and we arrive in Abu Dhabi at 5PM. For those who still have a flight the same day, spend the night on board.
For those who choose, you can spend the night in Abu Dhabi and board the next day.
Arrival in Origin city and end of Papa-Léguas services.
Note: the arrival/departure dates may vary, depending on your origin city. If you have any doubts, contact Papa-Léguas for further clarification.
