A volcanic archipelago off Africa’s east coast is where you will find Comoros, a country made up of four main islands including Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mohéli and Mayotte.
The region is found between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean.
The unique region features historic towns to explore including palaces, mosques and citadels with pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters.
Yet despite their beauty, these islands remain largely untouched by mass tourism tourists, allowing visitors to enjoy stunning – but quiet – tropical beaches.
Comoros’ islands were formed in the Tertiary and Quaternary periods, with certain regions having undergone three volcanic phases between 15 million and 500,000 years ago.
Despite its volcanic destruction, visitors will be in awe at Comoros’ lush forests and vibrant coral reefs offering a plethora of activities for outdoor thrill-seekers.
Visitors can enjoy endless hikes, snorkelling and diving as well as a variety of tasty local delights.
The vibrant underwater world is a big reason why people visit Comoros, which rivals the most renowned diving destinations.
Here visitors can encounter rare wildlife including the Livingstone’s fruit bat and the island’s sea turtles.
Comoros offers a mixed mosaic of island life with miles of tranquil sandy beaches and turquoise waters but with far less crowds than many other tropical beach islands.
In 2022, the Comoros welcomed 50,360 tourists arrivals indicating the region’s slow but steady tourism increase as the year before saw 28,800 tourists – a steady jump compared to only 7,000 tourists recorded in 2020.
A large reason why Comoros has a weak tourist industry is down to the region’s political climate with a number of upheavals over the past three decades.
Another reason for its distinctive lack of tourists is due to the region’s limited ferry infrastructure, which makes travel between the islands rather tricky.
According to Lonely Planet, there are two main airlines which run flights between the islands – including ABAviation and Inter-Iles Air.
Despite Comoros’ lack of tourists and the region’s tumultuous history, these volcanic islands offer a unique charm with warm temperatures and even warmer people.
This post was originally published on here