The Comoros archipelago is a three-island Indian Ocean nation sitting between Madagascar and Mozambique, made up of Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), and Anjouan (Ndzuwani). The Comoros Islands are among the least visited countries in the world, consisting of these three main islands, each offering distinct experiences from volcanic landscapes and marine biodiversity to historic towns and spice plantations. Travelers in 2026 come for hiking an active volcano, snorkeling in a protected marine park, watching humpback whales, touring spice distilleries, and walking the Arab-influenced medina of Moroni. Note that no formal tourism industry infrastructure is in place, and tourists participate in activities at their own risk. This guide covers everything needed to plan a Comoros trip, from what to do on each island to visa requirements, costs, and the best time to visit.

The Three Islands of Comoros at a Glance

Grande Comore, also known as Ngazidja, is the largest and most populous of the Comoros islands. It is home to the capital city Moroni, the volcano Karthala, and beautiful beaches. Visitors can also explore traditional villages and markets, and visit the Presidential Palace and the National Museum.

Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is the smallest of the Comoros islands. It is known for its natural beauty, including white-sand beaches and lush vegetation. Visitors can explore traditional villages, snorkel and dive in the coral reefs, and visit the Mohéli Marine Park.

Anjouan, also known as Ndzuwani, is known for its rich culture, history, and natural beauty. Visitors can explore traditional villages, visit the historic capital Mutsamudu, and take in the varied landscapes. The island is also home to many spices, including vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang.

Hiking Mount Karthala on Grande Comore

Mount Karthala rises 2,361 meters above the Indian Ocean, dominating the skyline of Grande Comore island. This active volcano offers one of Africa’s most unique hiking experiences, combining challenging terrain with natural beauty. Karthala ranks among the world’s most active volcanoes, having erupted more than 20 times since the 19th century. At 2,361m, it is the summit of the archipelago and one of the largest active craters in the world, with 8km in circumference, and a 1,600m altitude difference to the base camp. The hike and trek to the summit takes about five hours. The caldera is among the largest in the world, at 3km in diameter, with fumaroles around the craters.

Four bird species exist exclusively on Mount Karthala: the Karthala scops owl, Comoro drongo, Comoro white eye, and Humblot’s flycatcher. These unique creatures evolved in isolation on this remote volcanic island. While hiking tours to Mount Karthala operate year-round, the best time falls between April and November during the driest, most pleasant conditions. These months offer the best chance for clear summit views and more comfortable hiking temperatures. The dry season generally runs from May to October, making this the ideal period for planning an expedition. Day tours from Moroni start from around $100 per person with a guide, while fuller guided packages with transport run around $350.

Mohéli Marine Park Snorkeling and Diving

The Moheli Marine Park was established in 2001 to protect over 400 square kilometers of ocean and coastline. The park is a sanctuary for humpback whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and rare species such as the Livingstone‘s fruit bat. Visitors to Mohéli National Park can engage in snorkeling and diving to explore the coral reefs, observing marine life such as manta rays, parrotfish, and reef sharks. The park’s beaches also offer opportunities to witness sea turtles nesting, particularly in the village of Itsamia, where community-led conservation programs have been instrumental in protecting these species. The main base for water activities is Laka Lodge in Nioumachoua, which operates the island’s primary dive center and organizes boat excursions.

Humpback Whale Watching in Mohéli

From mid-July to October, humpback whales migrate to the warm, shallow waters around Mohéli to give birth, and if traveling during this season, visitors may even spot mothers with their calves. Guided boat tours allow travelers to watch whales breaching and dolphins playing alongside. Snorkeling and diving reveal coral reefs with manta rays, turtles, and colorful fish. Spinner and tropical spotted dolphins are often seen in these waters year-round, making for a reliable wildlife encounter. Laka Lodge on Mohéli organizes whale-watching boat trips. Note that responsible operators do not permit scuba diving directly with the whales, as this poses risks to both the animals and divers.

Sea Turtle Nesting at Itsamia Village

The park is a critical nesting site for green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles, with approximately 30,000 turtle landings each year, making it one of the world’s leading nesting sites for these endangered species. Mohéli is home to two species of marine turtles: the Green Sea Turtle and the Hawksbill Sea Turtle. Laka Lodge organizes visits to the best nesting beaches where visitors can watch these animals emerge from the Indian Ocean. You can get within a few feet as you watch 300kg giants pull themselves up the beach, dig a hole, and deposit their eggs in the sand. Almost every night, year-round, turtles emerge from the ocean to lay their eggs. The village of Itsamia has a community-run conservation program, and local guides manage visitor access to protect the turtles.

Exploring the Moroni Medina and Old Friday Mosque

Moroni, the capital of the Comoros, means “in the heart of the fire,” because of its location at the foot of Mount Karthala. It is an atmospheric place, steeped in Arabic heritage dating back to the 10th century. Stroll through a huge carved wooden gate into the medina, discover mosques and its ancient royal palace, and the port with its many moored dhows. Founded by Arab traders in the 10th century, Moroni’s medina feels untouched by mass tourism. Visitors can wander past spice stalls, fabric shops, and small cafés while hearing the call to prayer echo across the rooftops. The Old Friday Mosque, with its distinctive minaret, is a highlight. Dress modestly when visiting the medina and mosque area, as Comoros is a predominantly Muslim society.

Visiting the National Museum of Comoros in Moroni

The National Museum of Comoros in Moroni spans two floors and covers fauna and flora, history, and arts and crafts. The entry fee for adults is around 2,000 KMF (approximately $4.50 for two adults), and a docent tour in French can be arranged. Of particular interest is an island model showing the 2,361m Karthala volcano, which last erupted in 2006, a historical local kayak, a demonstration of ylang-ylang perfume production, a wooden 48-hole Awale game board, and a hall of natural history that includes the extinct 400-million-year-old coelacanth fish, discovered in 1938 and found in deep water caves in this area of the western Indian Ocean.

Anjouan Ylang-Ylang Plantation and Distillery Tours

Anjouan is famous for its spice plantations, producing cloves, vanilla, and ylang-ylang essential oil. Visitors can tour distilleries to see how flowers are distilled into perfume oil, or walk through farms where vanilla vines climb volcanic slopes. These plantations are central to Comoros’ economy and cultural identity. Guided tours often include demonstrations of harvesting and distillation, as well as opportunities to buy locally produced oils and spices. Ylang-ylang is one of Comoros’ primary exports and forms the basis of Chanel No. 5 perfume and other famous fragrances. Tours of local distilleries in Anjouan typically cost $15 to $30 per person depending on the guide and the length of the visit.

Mutsamudu Medina and Historic Sites on Anjouan

Visitors to Anjouan’s Mutsamudu can explore traditional building styles and working ylang-ylang distilleries. Anjouan is rated as the most beautiful island of the three. Walkers can explore the capital Mutsamudu to see historical citadels and the medina, and then venture out to explore the Col de Patsy, a particularly beautiful valley, and the nearby Tatringa Falls. The capital dates back to the 15th century when the Comoros islands served as a key trading post, and the stone architecture reflects a layered history of Arab, Swahili, and Portuguese influence. Getting to Anjouan from Grande Comore takes around 25 minutes by internal flight or several hours by ferry.

Livingstone’s Fruit Bat Forest Hikes on Mohéli

Mohéli’s national park was created in agreement with 10 neighboring villages to protect endangered Livingstone’s fruit bats, whose wingspan reaches 1.5m, and the green turtles that lay eggs on the beaches of Itsamia. Hiking trails through the island’s forests provide chances to spot endemic bird species and the Livingstone’s fruit bat. A short hiking experience in the subtropical rainforest allows visitors to observe one of the world’s largest bats, the critically endangered Livingstone flying fox. Forest hikes depart from Laka Lodge or Fomboni and are best arranged through local guides or eco-lodges. The bats roost in the forest canopy and are most active at dusk.

Island-Hopping Between Grande Comore, Mohéli, and Anjouan

Comoros is made up of four main islands, each with unique culture and attractions. Visitors can take a ferry or charter a boat to explore the islands and see the different landscapes and cultures. Trips between the islands typically rely on short internal flights, with the route from Grande Comore to Mohéli taking around 25 minutes, or a combination of boat and air travel. Ferry scheduling is irregular and can be disrupted by weather, so building flexibility into the itinerary is important. If the weather is favorable, all vessels depart from Chindini on the southern tip of Grande Comore, from where you can take a ferry to Mohéli or Anjouan.

Beaches on Grande Comore Including Chomoni and Bouni

Grande Comore has a varied coastline ranging from black volcanic sand on the western coast near Moroni to lighter beaches further south and east. Chomoni Beach on the east coast is among the more popular with both locals and visitors, offering calmer waters than the exposed western shore. Grande Comore’s capital Moroni welcomes visitors with its old medinas and historic sultan palaces, while Chomoni beach and the Dragon’s Back lookout provide natural scenery. Beach dress codes are worth noting: Comoros is an Islamic country, and while relatively liberal, visitors should respect local customs and dress respectfully when walking around villages and beach areas.

Coelacanth Spotting and Diving in Comoros Waters

Humpback whales frequent Comorian waters between July and November. These waters are also home to rare coelacanths, prehistoric fish long thought extinct. The coelacanth, a fish species dating back 400 million years and believed extinct until its rediscovery in 1938, has been found in the deep underwater caves of the western Indian Ocean around the Comoros. There are good diving facilities throughout the Comoros, particularly on Mitsamiouli, where sn

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9 Days Comoros Island Tour – Grande Comore, Mohéli, Anjouan, Volcanoes, Culture, and Marine Life | 7 Days Comoros Island Trip – Grande Comore, Mohéli, Local Culture, Volcanoes, Beaches & Marine Life | 5 Days Comoros Tour – Moroni, Mount Karthala, Island Villages & Beaches |
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Comoros Tour FAQs

Why Choose Comoros For Your Tour

The Comoros is a volcanic archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique offering some of the most accessible and uncrowded whale shark snorkelling in Africa, the active Karthala volcano on Grande Comore (one of the world’s largest active calderas at 3 kilometres wide), pristine reefs accessible from shore, and a Swahili-Arab cultural blend expressed in white-walled medinas, mosque minarets, and the intoxicating ylang-ylang perfume plantations that make the Comoros the world’s largest ylang-ylang exporter. Independent travel costs approximately $80 to $150 per person per day. The Comoros covers 2,235 square kilometres across three main islands (Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Mohéli) and the fourth island of Mayotte (a French territory), with a population of approximately 900,000 people.

Where To Go in Comoros

When Is the Best Time To Visit Comoros

The best travel months are May to October, the dry season, with comfortable temperatures and the clearest reef visibility. Humpback whales are present from July to September. Green turtle nesting peaks from June to September on Mohéli. The wet season from November to April brings cyclone risk; January to March carries the highest cyclone risk.

What is the Average Cost of a Tour to Comoros

Comoros mid-range independent travel costs approximately $80 to $150 per person per day. Small hotels on Grande Comore cost from $40 to $100 per night. Karthala volcano guided trek for two days costs approximately $80 to $150 per person. A visa on arrival is available to most nationalities for free or a small fee at Moroni Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport. Ethiopian Airlines, Air Madagascar, and regional carriers serve the islands.