Day 1: Arrive Moroni — Capital of the Perfume Islands
Arrive at Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport on Grande Comore (Ngazidja). Transfer to your hotel in Moroni, the capital. Afternoon orientation walk through the old town’s narrow streets lined with traditional Swahili architecture — carved wooden doors, coral stone buildings, and the scent of ylang-ylang and vanilla in the air. Visit the iconic Friday Mosque (built 1427), one of the oldest mosques in the Indian Ocean. Welcome dinner featuring Comorian specialties: langouste à la vanille (lobster in vanilla sauce) and mataba (cassava leaves in coconut milk). Overnight Moroni.
Day 2: Moroni — Sultan Palaces & Volcanic Landscapes
Morning exploration of Moroni’s cultural heart. Visit the Volo Volo Market — a sensory explosion of spices, vanilla beans, tropical fruits, and handmade crafts. Continue to Iconi, the ancient capital, where the 18th-century Sultan’s Palace ruins perch dramatically on a clifftop overlooking the Indian Ocean. Afternoon drive to the northern tip of Grande Comore: visit Lac Salé (Salt Lake), a crater lake where local women harvest salt using centuries-old methods, then continue to the dramatic Trou du Prophète (Prophet’s Hole) blowhole. Sunset at Chomoni Beach with a seafood barbecue on golden sand. Overnight Moroni.
Day 3: Karthala Volcano & Mitsamiouli Coast
Early morning departure for Mount Karthala, one of the world’s largest active volcanoes (2,361m). Choose between a challenging full-day summit trek through dense rainforest to the vast crater (3km wide) or a half-day lower-slope trek through spice plantations with spectacular coastal views. Afternoon drive along the dramatic northeast coast to Mitsamiouli, stopping at pristine beaches and fishing villages. Visit the Trou du Prophète for sunset photos. Overnight Moroni.
Day 4: Fly to Anjouan — The Spice Island
Morning flight to Anjouan (Nzwani), the most lush and mountainous of the Comoros islands. Arrive in Mutsamudu, the island’s picturesque capital with its 15th-century citadel and medina. Afternoon walking tour through the medina’s labyrinthine alleys, past spice merchants, silversmiths, and traditional perfumeries distilling ylang-ylang essence. Visit the Sultan’s Palace and the iconic 18th-century Friday Mosque. Evening at leisure in the atmospheric port town. Overnight Mutsamudu.
Day 5: Anjouan — Waterfalls, Spice Plantations & Sambadjou Beach
Full-day exploration of Anjouan’s dramatic landscapes. Morning trek through spice plantations where cloves, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg thrive on volcanic slopes — the source of the “Perfume Islands” nickname. Hike to the beautiful Tratringa Waterfall cascading through tropical forest. Afternoon at Sambadjou Beach, one of the Indian Ocean’s most beautiful black-sand coves, for swimming and relaxation. Visit a local distillery producing essential oils from ylang-ylang flowers. Overnight Mutsamudu.
Day 6: Fly to Mohéli — Turtle Island Paradise
Morning flight to Mohéli (Mwali), the smallest and wildest of the Comoros islands. Arrive in Fomboni and transfer to the coastal village of Itsamia. Afternoon introduction to Mohéli Marine Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve protecting one of the Indian Ocean’s most pristine coral reef systems. Snorkel the shallow reefs just offshore, home to sea turtles, manta rays, and over 200 fish species. Evening beach walk with local turtle monitors — during nesting season (October-March), witness green sea turtles hauling themselves onto the beach to lay eggs. Overnight Itsamia eco-lodge.
Day 7: Mohéli Marine Park & Ouenefou Island
Full-day marine adventure. Morning boat trip to Ouenefou Island, an uninhabited islet surrounded by spectacular coral gardens. Snorkel among swirling schools of parrotfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish. Between July and October, look for humpback whales that migrate through the Mozambique Channel — Mohéli is one of the best places in Africa for whale watching. Afternoon visit to a traditional fishing village to learn about sustainable marine practices. Evening farewell dinner with local music and dance. Overnight Itsamia.
Day 8: Return to Moroni & Departure
Morning flight back to Grande Comore. If time permits, visit a vanilla cooperative and the National Museum in Moroni. Transfer to the airport for departure — carrying memories of Africa’s most undiscovered island paradise.
