Essential Comoros: Grande Comore + Mohéli
Duration : 8 days
Route : Moroni Grande Comore (3 nights, Karthala, beaches) → AB Aviation flight Mohéli (4 nights, Marine Park turtles and whales, Laka Lodge) → return flight Moroni
Custom travel to Comoros
Comoros, one of the Indian Ocean's best-kept secrets, is a volcanic archipelago halfway between Madagascar and Mozambique, 11-13 h by air from Paris. Nicknamed 'the Moon islands', it gathers three islands: Grande Comore, dominated by Karthala volcano (2,361 m, one of the world's most active) and its capital Moroni; Anjouan, whose ylang-ylang plantations supply 80% of world production and scent Chanel N°5; and Mohéli, the wildest, whose Marine National Park protects green turtles and humpback whales. A fourth island, Mayotte, belongs to the same geographic archipelago but has remained a French department since 2011, a political distinction that clearly separates the two destinations. A French-speaking, confidential destination (40,000 visitors a year) with a blended Arab-Bantu-Swahili culture where Sunni Islam shapes daily life, it rewards 8 to 10 off-the-beaten-track days of preserved beaches, turquoise lagoons and snorkeling among 700 fish species.
Highlights
- Karthala volcano (2,361 m, one of the world's most active)
- Mohéli: Marine National Park (turtles, whales)
- Anjouan: ylang-ylang (80% world production)
- Preserved beaches and turquoise lagoons
- Authentic Arab-Bantu-Francophone culture
- Exceptional snorkeling (700 species)
Sample itineraries
Complete Comoros: 3 islands
Duration : 10 days
Route : Moroni (3) → Anjouan flight (3 nights, ylang-ylang, Mount Ntringui 1,595 m) → Mohéli flight (3 nights) → return flight Moroni (1)
Comoros + Mayotte combined
Duration : 12 days
Route : Moroni (2) → Mohéli (3) → Mayotte (5 nights, lagoon among the world's most beautiful, snorkeling, whales) → return
When to go
May-October is the best period (dry season, calm sea). July-October: HUMPBACK WHALE OBSERVATION (Mohéli, world top). October-March: green turtle nesting (Mohéli). Avoid December-March (rainy season, possible cyclones, difficult Karthala ascent). Humidity generally stays high year-round due to the tropical oceanic climate, but sea breezes temper the heat along the coasts. For the Karthala ascent, favor June-September, when the summit is most often free of clouds, offering the best chances of a panoramic sunrise view.
- Cool dry season (ideal) (June – August), Karthala accessible, first whales
- Humpback whale peak (September – October), Humpback whales at max, crystalline waters
- Inter-season (short rains) (November – December), Nesting turtles (Mohéli, October-March)
- Rainy season (not recommended) (January – April), Karthala closed (fog), rough sea
Practical information
Very safe (very low crime rate). Past political instability (military mutinies, last 1999 coup) but tourists not affected since 2000. Visa on arrival (€30, valid 45 days, euro payment). No mandatory vaccine (except yellow fever if arriving from endemic country). RECOMMENDED antimalarial (malaria present, especially Mohéli). Avoid tap water. Cards accepted in tourist hotels and Moroni, cash (KMF or €) elsewhere. French omnipresent (official language, colonial heritage), Arabic for religious. Modest attire off beaches. Tipping: €5-€10/day for guides and drivers (essential to their income). Decent mobile coverage in Moroni and Mutsamudu (Comores Telecom, Telma) but weak or absent on Mohéli and in remote areas of Anjouan; download useful documents before departure. ATMs are rare outside Moroni: bring enough cash in euros or dollars to exchange locally.
Frequently asked questions
When?
May-October (dry season). July-October: humpback whale peak. Avoid January-April (monsoon, cyclones).
How long?
8 days for Grande Comore + Mohéli. 10 days for 3 islands. 12 days combined with Mayotte.
Budget?
€3,200-€4,500 per person for 8 days in comfort, excluding flights. Premium: €5,200-€7,500. Flights: €800-€1,200.
Visa?
Visa on arrival for French citizens (€30, valid 45 days, euro payment).
Family?
Ideal for families (preserved beaches, snorkeling, whales, French-speaking culture). Karthala from age 14 (physical effort).
How to get around?
Inter-island AB Aviation flights between 3 islands (30-min flights). 4×4 with driver on each island. Narrow but paved roads.
Safety in Comoros?
Very safe (very low crime rate). Past political instability but tourists not affected since 2000.
Combine?
Yes: Comoros + Mayotte (30-min flight, French department), Comoros + Madagascar, Comoros + Tanzania (Zanzibar), Comoros + Kenya.
Tips?
€5-€10/day for guides and drivers. 10% in restaurants. Major income source.
Modest attire?
Yes off beaches (covered shoulders and knees, attire respectful of Muslim culture). On beaches, swimwear accepted.
What vaccines and health precautions should I plan?
No mandatory vaccines for French citizens, except yellow fever if arriving from a country where the disease is endemic. It's recommended to be up to date on routine vaccines (DTP, hepatitis) and to take antimalarial medication, as malaria is present across the archipelago, particularly on Mohéli. Pack a basic first-aid kit, as the nearest pharmacy can be far away on the rural islands.
What should I pack?
Light, loose clothing suited to humid heat, modest attire for visits away from the beach, sturdy walking shoes for Karthala, swimwear and your own snorkel mask if you have one. Add sunscreen, mosquito repellent, a headlamp for turtle-nesting observation, and some cash in euros, as ATMs are rare outside Moroni.