The most beautiful beaches of the Comoros and Mayotte, island by island

DiscoveryPublished 21 October 2026 5 min read

Four islands, four faces

The four islands were born of volcanoes, and their beaches bear the marks. Grande Comore, the youngest, lines up its black lava flows, between which coves of white sand nestle. Mohéli, the wildest, has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve in its entirety since 2020, land and sea included. Anjouan, with its steep slopes, has few beaches, but a few lovely surprises. Mayotte, the oldest, is surrounded by a 1,300 km² lagoon enclosed by a double coral barrier: its beaches open onto calm waters.

Everywhere, the dry season, from May to October, brings the calmest sea and the best weather for swimming. See also When to go?

Grande Comore: white sand and lava rocks

The north of the island has the most beautiful beaches. In Mitsamiouli, a long strip of white sand where outrigger canoes line up; a little further on, the wilder cove of Maloudja, whose coral seabed can be explored straight from the beach. Close by, the Trou du Prophète, a small bay ringed with black rocks, is one of the most photogenic spots on the island. Allow about an hour's drive from Moroni: see the north of Grande Comore.

Also in the north, Bouni beach, nestled in the greenery, is popular with families: a few snack bars, a volleyball court, and often nobody there on weekdays. On the east coast, Chomoni draws snorkellers with its rocky and coral seabed; bring water shoes. Finally, a few kilometres from Moroni, Itsandra combines swimming and history: the beach stretches out below the old city of the sultans, where ramparts and defensive towers still stand.

All our addresses: Grande Comore spots & tips.

Mohéli: the island of islets and turtles

Opposite the village of Nioumachoua, on the south coast, a handful of uninhabited islets ringed by reefs form one of the most beautiful landscapes in the archipelago, at the heart of Mohéli National Park. Swimming, picnics, snorkelling: trips are booked in the village, with the boatmen and the park guides. On one of the islets, ruins recall a darker history: Ouénéfou, the lepers' islet.

To the east, the beaches of Itsamia welcome green turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs every night. They are watched with the eco-guides of the village association, without white light or flash: see Itsamia, the turtle beach. In the north-west, Kavé Hoani beach, near the village of Hoani, offers white sand and peace and quiet; the Miringoni coast, to the west, is also suited to camping, far from any bustle. Ask the village for permission before pitching your tent.

Anjouan: few beaches, but lovely surprises

Mountainous and very green, Anjouan often plunges straight into the sea. In the south, Moya beach unrolls about 120 metres of fine sand between rocks and vegetation: it is the busiest on the island, with a small restaurant and one of its few hotels. Families gather there at weekends; come on a weekday for more peace. Don't confuse it with its namesake in Mayotte, on Petite-Terre!

At the western tip, the village of Bimbini opens onto a wide lagoon facing Mohéli. La Selle islet and its white sand beaches can be reached by boat, or on foot at the very lowest tides: check the tide times before setting off. All our addresses: Anjouan spots & tips.

Mayotte: the lagoon beaches

In the south of Grande-Terre, near Kani-Kéli, N'Gouja is the island's most famous beach: green turtles graze the seagrass beds in shallow water, and a simple mask is enough to swim a few metres from them. Come preferably at high tide, and keep at least three metres away: see N'Gouja beach.

By boat, White Sand Islet, a pristine sandbank that appears mainly at low tide in the middle of the lagoon, is one of the most photographed outings in Mayotte. In the north-west, Mtsamboro islet, home to a few fishing families, and the Choizil islets, with no buildings at all, can be reached by boat or on foot at low tide, ideally with an operator who knows the currents.

On Petite-Terre, Moya beach nestles at the foot of volcanic cliffs, at the eastern tip of the island. Turtles come here to lay their eggs: respect the marked areas and the posted rules, and leave no light on the beach at night. To discover the lagoon as a whole: the lagoon of Mayotte.

Good habits

• The sun is very strong: hat, water and reef-safe sunscreen, or better still a rash vest. Shade is rare on the wild beaches.
• At sea, beware of currents, especially near the passes in the reef, and wear water shoes against rocks, sea urchins and venomous fish. Beaches are rarely supervised: ask local people before swimming.
• Islets that can be reached on foot are only accessible at low tide: check the tide times so as not to be caught out on the way back.
• Turtles: don't touch them, don't chase them, and don't cut across their path when they come up to breathe. On nesting beaches at night, no white light and no flash.
• Dress: swimwear is for the beach; as soon as you leave it, cover your shoulders and knees, especially in villages and places of worship. See Languages & etiquette.
• Litter: take back everything you brought.

When to go?

The dry season, from May to October, is the most pleasant: temperatures of 23 to 28 °C, little rain and an often calm sea. From July to October it is also the season of humpback whales, which can be watched on boat trips. From November to April, the water is warmer, but showers are frequent and the risk of cyclones is highest from January to March. Turtles, for their part, nest all year round, with peaks that vary from beach to beach.