French Islandshotels & tours About
FREN

Indian Ocean

Mayotte: hotels, sights and tours

A French island in the Mozambique Channel, between Madagascar and the Comoros. Its great asset is a vast lagoon with a double barrier reef, where sea turtles graze and humpback whales pass through from July to October. Tourism is little developed here, and the island is recovering from Cyclone Chido of 2024.

Photo: mwanasimba from La Réunion, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Where to stay on Mayotte

All 67 with filters and a map →

The choice of accommodation is limited, especially since Cyclone Chido: book ahead and ask about the water supply. For beaches and turtles the south of Grande-Terre is the most convenient; for the first and last night, Petite-Terre, near the airport.

Hotels 37Guest houses 28Apartments 1Gîtes and chalets 1

Petite-Terre Petite-TerreThe airport, a crater lake and the turtle beach 11 options2 nightsMamoudzou and the north-east Mamoudzou and the north-eastThe capital, the market and the barge quay 25 options0–2 nightsThe south of Grande-Terre The south of Grande-TerreThe best beaches, turtles and Mount Choungui 23 options3–4 nightsThe north-west The north-westThe Mtsamboro islets and quiet villages 8 options1–2 nights

Most complete listings

The whole directory →

Accommodation collections

Mayotte Beachfront hotels and guest houses on Mayotte21 places to stayMayotte Hotels near the airport on Mayotte25 places to stayMayotte Guest houses on Mayotte28 places to stay

Things to see

All 10 sights →
Lake Dziani Nature Lake Dziani An emerald lake in a volcanic craterThe Padza of Dapani Nature The Padza of Dapani Red eroded “badlands” in the south of the islandWhale watching in the lagoon Nature Whale watching in the lagoon Humpback whales and dolphins from July to OctoberDzaoudzi rock History Dzaoudzi rock The old colonial capital on a rockN'Gouja beach Beach N'Gouja beach Turtles graze a few metres from the shoreSakouli beach Beach Sakouli beach A quiet beach on the east coast with a view of the isletsMoya beach Beach Moya beach A beach beneath the cliffs where turtles lay their eggsThe white-sand islet Beach The white-sand islet A sand spit in the middle of the lagoon — by boat only

Tours and activities

All 7 tours →
A day on the lagoon by boat Sea and lagoon A day on the lagoon by boatDolphins, a white-sand islet and snorkelling on the barrier reef A full dayAll year; drier May — OctoberHumpback whales in the lagoon Whales, dolphins, turtles Humpback whales in the lagoonFemales with calves come inside the reef Half a day to a full dayJuly — OctoberThe turtles of N'Gouja and Saziley Whales, dolphins, turtles The turtles of N'Gouja and SazileyA swim above the seagrass and night-time nesting watches 2–3 hAll year; nesting peaks April — JuneDiving the Passe en S Sea and lagoon Diving the Passe en SA winding channel through the reef — the island's top dive site Half a dayAll year; best visibility May — NovemberMount Choungui with a guide Guided hikes Mount Choungui with a guideA steep climb to 594 m with an all-round view of the lagoon 3–4 hMay — OctoberPetite-Terre: Lake Dziani and the Moya beaches Guided hikes Petite-Terre: Lake Dziani and the Moya beachesA green crater lake and two beaches in volcanic coves Half a dayAll year, best in the morning

The island on the map

Green dots: sights; blue: beaches; purple: tour departure points. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Coordinates are approximate.

Getting there by air: fares from Paris

One-way from Paris from €505: the cheapest ticket found for each month.

MonthFromFlight dateAirportAirline
November 2026505 €Nov 27 DZAAir France, 2 stops see flights

Fares recorded on October 12, 2026 from recent searches on Aviasales: one way, one adult, checked baggage not always included. They are indicative: the actual fare is shown when you search and changes daily. Months with no data are left out of the table.

Rent a car

A car is the easiest way to reach beaches, trails and villages: public transport is scarce outside the towns. Book ahead in high season.

Discover Carscompare rental companies: Mayotte QEEQrental comparison site:Mayotte

Mobile data and eSIM

The island is inside the European Union roaming zone: with a French or EU plan you can normally use your phone as at home. Check your operator's terms all the same: some plans exclude the overseas territories or cap data there. If yours does not cover the island, or if you are coming from outside Europe, a prepaid eSIM avoids roaming charges.

An eSIM is bought online, installed before you leave and activated on arrival; your phone must be eSIM-compatible and unlocked. Compare the data allowance and validity period before buying.

YesimeSIM plans for the island AiraloeSIM plans for the island

The island at a glance

Status
French overseas department (976)
Currency
Euro (€)
Time
UTC+3 — 2 hours ahead of Paris in winter, 1 in summer
Flight
Paris → Dzaoudzi ≈ 10–11 h; from Réunion ≈ 2 h
Best season
May — October (dry season, whales from July)
Cyclones
December — April; in December 2024 the island was badly hit by Cyclone Chido
Languages
French, Shimaore, Kibushi
Area / population
≈ 374 km², ≈ 320,000 people (estimate)
Sockets
230 V, types C/E

Right for you if

  • You are an experienced traveller
  • You dive or snorkel
  • You want to see whales and turtles without the crowds

Not for you if

  • You want a comfortable resort holiday
  • This is your first independent trip to the tropics