What to see in Comoros: 10 must-sees

Stroll through the medina of Moroni, a 500-year-old labyrinth of cobbled alleys where the Friday Mosque and the ancient Persian arch rise. Stop at the spice market, take in the coral-stone facades, and observe the daily rhythm of the Comorian capital, amid vendors, bicycles, and calls to prayer.

Stop in Mutsamudu, the capital of Anjouan, a port city with 500 years of history. Climb to the 18th-century citadel that dominates the bay and step inside the mosque next to the souk, where spices and fabrics are sold. Visit the sultan's palace and head down to the port, active since the days of the Swahili trade routes. Notice the coral-stone architecture of the facades, with carved doors and whitewashed walls that have withstood the test of time. Wander the cobbled alleys of the old town and watch how the market sets the daily rhythm of the Comoros' second city.

Visit Mount Karthala, the largest active volcano in the Indian Ocean, and climb its 2,361 meters to the 4x3 km crater that holds a lava lake. Hike the 6-hour trails among geological formations, camp at the summit, and at dawn gaze out over the Mozambique Channel from high above Grande Comore. Along the way you'll see the wildlife and plants that inhabit its volcanic slopes—a setting where hiking and nature watching combine into a demanding but memorable day.

Dive into Lac Salé, a volcanic crater lake in the north of Grande Comore whose thermal waters stay at 35°C. Swim across its salty surface in front of the 16th-century Chiouda Mosque, a sign of the sacred character this place has preserved for centuries. Walk the trails that skirt the crater to spot birds, basalt rock formations, and vegetation adapted to the soil's salinity.

Watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean from the white-sand beaches of Mitsamiouli, in northern Grande Comore, where coconut palms line the turquoise water. Swim with sea turtles alongside the coral reefs, kayak among the volcanic rocks, and snorkel in crystal-clear waters. Stroll along the fine-sand shore as local fishermen return with their boats at dusk.

Travel by boat through the channels of Mohéli Marine Park, the first national park in the Comoros, and stop over coral reefs where green turtles, dolphins, and 200 species of fish coexist. Dive in clear waters, watch the turtles that nest on the protected beaches, and explore the coastal and inland trails. The island communities help keep watch over the area, where conservation depends on the balance between traditional fishing and controlled tourism.

Explore the medinas of the former sultanates of Ngazidja, Anjouan, and Mohéli, on Grande Comore, where mosques, palaces, and ramparts from the 15th to the 19th centuries preserve the memory of Swahili culture. Walk among coral-stone facades, carved doors, and inner courtyards that still shape everyday life. This ensemble, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, testifies to a living tradition that crossed centuries of Indian Ocean trade without losing its identity.