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🇰🇲Things to Do in Comoros
From climbing the active Mount Karthala to Moroni's coral-stone old town - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Comoros is a small volcanic archipelago in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and mainland Africa, known as the 'Perfume Islands' for its production of ylang-ylang used in French perfumery. It remains one of the least-visited countries in the region, with an active volcano holding one of the largest craters in the world as its most significant natural landmark. Here are 4 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Mount Karthala
One of the most active volcanoes in the world, with one of the largest volcanic craters on Earth, climbable over a 2-day guided trek from the town of Moroni.
📍 Grande Comore
🚉 The active volcano is climbed from Boboni or Mvouni above Moroni - shared taxis reach the villages, and the two-day ascent to the caldera requires a local guide arranged in the capital.
Moroni Old Town
Comoros's capital, with a coral-stone old town and the Ancienne Mosquée du Vendredi, one of the oldest mosques in the country.
📍 Moroni, Grande Comore
🚉 The medina and the Old Friday Mosque are on the harbour front, walkable from anywhere in central Moroni; shared taxis cover the rest of Grande Comore for a flat fare.
Mitsamiouli Beaches
White-sand beaches on the northern coast of Grande Comore, considerably quieter than comparable Indian Ocean beach destinations nearby.
📍 Mitsamiouli, Grande Comore
🚉 Mitsamiouli is at the northern tip of Grande Comore, about an hour from Moroni by shared taxi along the coast road, past the lava fields.
Ylang-Ylang Distilleries
Comoros is one of the world's leading producers of ylang-ylang oil, used in perfumes including Chanel No. 5, with small distilleries open to visitors around the islands.
📍 Anjouan Island
🚉 The distilleries are on Anjouan and Mohéli, reached by inter-island flights or ferries from Moroni - visits are arranged locally, as the stills sit in villages with no scheduled transport.
Mark Comoros, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Comoros?
4-5 days suits Grande Comore's main sights well, including the Mount Karthala trek and Mitsamiouli's beaches.
What's the best time to visit Comoros?
May-October is the dry season and the most comfortable time to visit. Cyclone season runs roughly November-April.
Is Comoros good for a first-time visit?
It's manageable but genuinely undeveloped for mass tourism - French is widely spoken, and organizing the Mount Karthala trek through a local guide is straightforward from Moroni.
Do I need a visa to visit Comoros?
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at the airport for short tourist stays. Check the official visa information for your nationality: diplomatie.gouv.km.
What are some things to do in Comoros on a tight budget?
Local Comorian food is inexpensive, Mitsamiouli's beaches are free to enjoy, and hiring a local guide for Mount Karthala is considerably cheaper than an international tour package.
Can I rent a car in the Comoros, and what licence do I need?
You can on Grande Comore, though shared taxis run everywhere for very little and are how most people travel. A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for visits, and the minimum age is generally 23. Roads are narrow and potholed, driving is on the right, and inter-island travel is by small aircraft or ferry rather than road. Fuel shortages happen, so fill up when you can. Confirm current requirements with a Comorian embassy before travelling, as official online information is limited.