Prepare your climb
Fitness, health, equipment and safety: everything you need to know before going up.
Before booking
Choose the right level
Choose according to your real fitness, not your mood of the moment. If in doubt, take the gentler tour: you enjoy the top more when you are not exhausted.
| Tour | Effort | Duration | Who is it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero Effort | Easy | 1 day | Families, people not used to walking, visitors short on time. |
| Soft Trek | Easy to moderate | 1 day | Occasional walkers who want a real hike without the full ascent. |
| Volcano Bivouac | Moderate to hard | 2 days, 1 night | Fit walkers who want to experience the mountain at night. |
| Full Climb | Hard | 1 day | Trained hikers used to long days of walking. |
Health
Tell the team, when you register, about anything that could make the trip difficult: heart or breathing problems (including asthma), knee or back pain, dizziness, pregnancy, a recent injury or ongoing treatment.
Minimum age: 5 (Zero Effort), 8 (Soft Trek), 12 (Volcano Bivouac), 15 (Full Climb). Minors take part with a responsible adult.
This advice does not replace a doctor’s opinion. If in doubt, see your doctor before booking.
It is cold at the top
At 2,361 m, it can be much colder than in Moroni, with wind, fog or rain that come in quickly. The night at the bivouac is cool. Bring warm layers even if you leave in the sunshine.
We climb all year round. From November to April, during the rainy season, the weather changes faster: trips are more often adapted or postponed, and planning a back-up date is a good idea.
In your bag
Equipment
Essential for everyone
- Closed shoes with a good grip (no sandals)
- Waterproof or windproof jacket
- A warm layer
- Cap, sunglasses and sunscreen
- The rubbish bag given by the team at the start
- Your personal medication
Depending on the tour
- Full climb: something to carry 2.5 litres of water (water provided), snacks, a comfortable backpack
- Bivouac: head torch, warm clothes for the night, light toiletries
- Pre-dawn start: head torch
Recommended
- Walking poles, useful on the way down
- Light gloves
- Power bank for your phone
To avoid
- Brand-new shoes never worn before
- A bag that is too heavy
- Light clothing with no protection against the rain
Today on Mount Karthala
Active volcano
Safety: the Go, Adapt, No Go rule
Karthala is an active volcano, in the mountains, where the weather changes quickly. Before each departure, the team takes a decision and records it in the data space.
- GoGood weather, track and trail passable, group ready, full team.
- AdaptEarlier start, slower pace, shorter route or gentler tour.
- No GoHeavy rain, wind, no visibility, impassable track or volcanic alert: the trip is postponed.
Who decides
The lead guide of the trip, with the Discovermores coordinator. A first opinion is given the day before at 6 pm, the final decision on the morning before departure. You are informed on WhatsApp.
Volcanic alert
We follow the bulletins of the Karthala Volcano Observatory (OVK) and of the Ministry of the Interior. From the yellow level, no trips take place. Alert levels
In an emergency
The guide carries a first-aid kit, a charged phone and a power bank, the group list and the emergency contacts. They know the points on the route where there is phone coverage. If there is a problem, they give first aid and alert the coordination team, which organises the descent and informs the emergency services in Moroni. A participant is never left alone.
On the trail
During the trip
- Stay with the group and follow the guide’s instructions. The guide may slow down, shorten or stop the climb if safety requires it.
- There is no phone network in places: do not rely on your phone.
- Stay on the trail, pick nothing, do not feed the animals.
- Carry all your waste back down, including food scraps.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do it without being sporty?
Yes. Zero Effort only requires 25 minutes’ walk across the caldera; Soft Trek about two hours. The full ascent on foot is for trained hikers.
What happens if it rains?
The trip may be adapted or postponed. If we postpone it, you choose a new date or a full refund.
How do I pay?
After our written confirmation, you pay a 30% deposit by bank transfer, PayPal (credit card accepted, no account needed), MVola or Wakati, then the balance on the day of departure at the latest. Details on the payment page.
When should I go?
All year round. From November to April, during the rainy season, trips are more often adapted or postponed: planning a back-up date is a good idea.
Do the guides speak English?
Tell us the language you prefer when you book: we will let you know which guide can take you and in which language.
Can children come?
Yes, depending on the tour and with a responsible adult. Minimum age: 5 (Zero Effort), 8 (Soft Trek), 12 (Volcano Bivouac), 15 (Full Climb).
Is transport from Moroni included?
Yes: pick-up at your hotel or a meeting point in Moroni, and return. For a departure elsewhere on the island, a supplement is quoted.
Can I rent equipment?
Yes, subject to availability: €5 for a backpack, €5 for a pair of walking poles, per trip.
Do I have to pay online?
No. The request is free. The booking is confirmed after talking with the team, who tell you the deposit amount and the payment methods.
Where do we sleep at the bivouac?
In tents, on the mountain, at a spot chosen according to the day’s conditions, always outside the caldera: the volcano’s carbon dioxide can build up in its hollows. Tent, sleeping bag, dinner and breakfast are provided.
Ready to go up?
Choose your date: the team confirms the weather and the details within 24 hours.