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Karthala360by Discovermores

Choose your tour

Zero Effort, Soft Trek, Bivouac or the full climb: they all lead to the caldera. Choose according to your fitness, your time and the experience you are looking for.

In 10 seconds

Which tour is right for me?

Your fitness
Your time
Children with you?

Age of the youngest. The climb is not open to children under 5.

Compare

At a glance

TourEffortWalkingDurationMin. agePriceBook
Zero Effort
The crater without the effort: ideal for families or if you are short on time.		Effort: Easy≈ 25 min1 day5+€175
pp for 2		Book
Soft Trek
A real two-hour hike, without the full climb.		Effort: Easy to moderate≈ 2 h1 day8+€125
pp for 2		Book
Volcano Bivouac
A night above the clouds and sunrise over the caldera.		Effort: Moderate to hard≈ 2 h on day 12 days, 1 night12+€150
pp for 2		Book
Full Climb
The whole of Karthala, from the rainforest to the crater rim.		Effort: Hard≈ 6 h up1 day15+€90
pp for 2		Book

Walking uphill on foot

  • Zero Effort≈ 25 min
  • Soft Trek≈ 2 h
  • Volcano Bivouac≈ 2 h
  • Full Climb≈ 6 h

Minimum age

  • Zero Effort5+
  • Soft Trek8+
  • Volcano Bivouac12+
  • Full Climb15+

Effort out of 4

  • Zero Effort1 / 4
  • Soft Trek2 / 4
  • Volcano Bivouac3 / 4
  • Full Climb4 / 4

Price per person, for 2

  • Zero Effort€175
  • Soft Trek€125
  • Volcano Bivouac€150
  • Full Climb€90
Family on the caldera, in the clouds

Zero Effort

Effort: Easy

The crater without the effort: ideal for families or if you are short on time.

4×4MVOUNICALDERA
See the route on the map · dotted: 4×4 · solid: on foot

The 4×4 drops you near the top. A short walk across the caldera takes you to the crater rim.

Duration
1 day
Walking
≈ 25 min
Price
€350 for 1 to 4 people, then €50 per extra person (i.e. €175 pp for 2, €88 for 4)
Departures
Every day, on request, at least 48 hours in advance
Group
Private group, 1 to 4 people for the flat rate (more with a supplement)
Suggested contribution
€10 per person, optional
Minimum age
5 years

Access: 4×4 up the mountain (about 10 km from Mvouni), then about 25 minutes’ walk across the caldera

Who is it for: Families, people not used to walking, visitors short on time.

Included

  • Local guide and safety briefing
  • Return transport from Moroni
  • 4×4 from Mvouni (about 10 km each way)
  • Water for the day

Typical day

  • 7:00 am: pick-up at your hotel in Moroni
  • About 2 hours by 4×4 from Mvouni
  • About 25 minutes’ walk across the caldera to the crater rim
  • Break at the top
  • Back in Moroni around 3 pm

Times are indicative and adjusted to the weather and the group’s pace.

Parfait avec deux enfants de 7 et 10 ans : le 4×4 fait la montée, la courte marche sur la caldeira suffit pour être impressionné.
Prénom, Pays · Zero Effort · mois année · Review written in French
Book this tour See the GPS track
Family on the trail, the sea below

Soft Trek

Effort: Easy to moderate

A real two-hour hike, without the full climb.

4×4MVOUNICALDERA
See the route on the map · dotted: 4×4 · solid: on foot

The 4×4 covers the longest part of the track. You walk the last two hours to the caldera.

Duration
1 day
Walking
≈ 2 h
Price
€250 for 1 to 4 people, then €50 per extra person (i.e. €125 pp for 2, €63 for 4)
Departures
Every day, on request, at least 48 hours in advance
Group
Private group, 1 to 4 people for the flat rate (more with a supplement)
Suggested contribution
€7 per person, optional
Minimum age
8 years

Access: 4×4 for about 7.5 km from Mvouni to the 4×4 stop (around 1,600 m), then about 2 hours’ walk

Who is it for: Occasional walkers who want a real hike without the full ascent.

Included

  • Local guide and safety briefing
  • Return transport from Moroni
  • 4×4 from Mvouni (about 7.5 km each way)
  • Water for the day

Typical day

  • 6:00 am: pick-up at your hotel in Moroni
  • About 1 h 30 by 4×4 from Mvouni
  • About 2 hours’ walk to the caldera
  • Break and discovery of the caldera
  • Walk back down to the 4×4, back in Moroni around 4 pm

Times are indicative and adjusted to the weather and the group’s pace.

Départ à l’aube, guide patient et attentif au rythme de chacun. Nous sommes arrivés au bord de la caldeira au moment où les nuages se sont ouverts.
Prénom, Pays · Soft Trek · mois année · Review written in French
Book this tour See the GPS track
Hiker facing the crater in the mist

Volcano Bivouac

Effort: Moderate to hard

A night above the clouds and sunrise over the caldera.

4×4MVOUNICALDERA
See the route on the map · dotted: 4×4 · solid: on foot

Two days on the mountain, a night in a tent, sunset and sunrise above the caldera.

Duration
2 days, 1 night
Walking
≈ 2 h on day 1
Price
€150 per person
Departures
Every day, on request, at least 48 hours in advance
Group
From 2 people, price per person
Suggested contribution
€5 per person, optional
Minimum age
12 years

Access: 4×4 from Mvouni, then about 2 hours’ walk to the camp. The equipment is carried by the team

Who is it for: Fit walkers who want to experience the mountain at night.

Included

  • Local guide and safety briefing
  • Return transport from Moroni
  • Tent and sleeping bag
  • Dinner and breakfast
  • Water for the trip

Typical day

  • Day 1, 1:00 pm: pick-up at your hotel in Moroni
  • 4×4 from Mvouni, then about 2 hours’ walk
  • Camp set up before sunset, dinner
  • Day 2: sunrise over the caldera, breakfast
  • Discovery of the caldera, walk down, back in Moroni around 1 pm

Times are indicative and adjusted to the weather and the group’s pace.

Book this tour See the GPS track
Walking down through the Karthala forest

Full Climb

Effort: Hard

The whole of Karthala, from the rainforest to the crater rim.

MVOUNICALDERA
See the route on the map · dotted: 4×4 · solid: on foot

The full climb on foot: rainforest, high heathland, then the caldera. Nearly 2,000 metres of ascent.

Duration
1 day
Walking
≈ 6 h up
Price
€90 per person
Departures
Every day, on request, at least 48 hours in advance
Group
From 2 people, price per person
Suggested contribution
€2 per person, optional
Minimum age
15 years

Access: Full ascent on foot from Mvouni (about 370 m) to the caldera (about 2,300 m), about 11 km

Who is it for: Trained hikers used to long days of walking.

Included

  • Local guide and safety briefing
  • Return transport from Moroni
  • Water, juice and snack

Typical day

  • 4:30 am: pick-up at your hotel in Moroni
  • 5:00 am: start on foot from Mvouni (about 370 m)
  • Rainforest, then high heathland
  • Arrival at the caldera around 11 am, break
  • Walk back down the same way, back in Moroni around 5:30 pm

Times are indicative and adjusted to the weather and the group’s pace.

A long but rewarding day. The team checked the weather the evening before and adapted our start time, which made all the difference.
First name, Country · Full Climb · month year
Book this tour See the GPS track

New Quad & Buggy

Mount Karthala by quad or buggy

Another way up Mount Karthala: by quad or buggy, on the tracks of the volcano, with the Discovermores team.

From €150 per person

Route, duration and conditions (age, licence, equipment): the team will give you the details with the date.

Request a date Ask a question
Visitor standing on a quad, in front of the slopes of the volcano

Prices by group size

Zero Effort and Soft Trek are sold per vehicle: the flat rate covers up to 4 people. Bivouac and Full Climb are priced per person.

Total price for the group, excluding the optional environmental contribution.
Tour1 person2 people4 people6 people8 people
Zero Effort€350
i.e. €350 pp		€350
i.e. €175 pp		€350
i.e. €88 pp		€450
i.e. €75 pp		€550
i.e. €69 pp
Soft Trek€250
i.e. €250 pp		€250
i.e. €125 pp		€250
i.e. €63 pp		€350
i.e. €58 pp		€450
i.e. €56 pp
Volcano Bivouac€150
i.e. €150 pp		€300
i.e. €150 pp		€600
i.e. €150 pp		€900
i.e. €150 pp		€1200
i.e. €150 pp
Full Climb€90
i.e. €90 pp		€180
i.e. €90 pp		€360
i.e. €90 pp		€540
i.e. €90 pp		€720
i.e. €90 pp
Quad & Buggyfrom €150
i.e. €150 pp		from €300
i.e. €150 pp		from €600
i.e. €150 pp		from €900
i.e. €150 pp		from €1200
i.e. €150 pp

Children: no reduced rate, they count as participants. Minimum age: 5 (Zero Effort), 8 (Soft Trek), 12 (Volcano Bivouac), 15 (Full Climb). Prices in euros; payment in Comorian francs is accepted at the fixed rate of €1 = 491.96775 KMF.

Not included

  • Personal equipment (shoes, warm and rain clothes)
  • Backpack or walking poles rental: €5 each per trip
  • Personal insurance: not included, strongly recommended for visitors from abroad
  • Pick-up outside Moroni: supplement on quote
  • Personal expenses

Good to know

  • A booking is confirmed after talking with the team, never automatically.
  • The view from the top depends on the clouds: it is never guaranteed.
  • The 4×4 tours depend on the state of the track, checked the day before.
  • A trip may be adapted or postponed for safety reasons. The rules are in the terms of sale.

Found your tour?

Send us your date: no payment until we have confirmed the weather, the guides and the vehicle.

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