Best Time to Visit
October to May (dry season, calm seas, best visibility for diving); avoid Jun-Sep monsoon
Language
Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, English at tourist establishments
Currency
Indian Rupee (INR)
Time Zone
IST (UTC+5:30)
Airport
Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair (IXZ)
Population
~400,000 (Andaman & Nicobar Islands union territory)
Climate
Tropical; warm year-round 23-31°C, heavy monsoon May-September, humidity 70-90%
Safety Rating
Very Safe — low crime; main risks are sea currents and jellyfish; restricted areas require permits
Permit
Indian nationals: no permit needed. Foreigners: Restricted Area Permit (RAP) issued free on arrival at IXZ airport
Famous For
Radhanagar Beach (Asia's best beach), scuba diving, Cellular Jail, bioluminescence, coral reefs
Consistently rated Asia's best beach — a 2 km crescent of powdery white sand backed by rainforest on Havelock Island. Free entry. Sunset here is legendary. Swim only in designated areas (strong undercurrents). No facilities beyond basic changing rooms. Allow 3-4 hours. Lifeguards on duty till 5 PM.
Colonial-era prison in Port Blair where Indian freedom fighters were held in solitary confinement. Entry: INR 30 Indians, INR 200 foreigners. Sound-and-light show at 6 PM (Hindi) and 7:15 PM (English), INR 50-100. Museum inside documents the brutal history. Allow 2-3 hours including the show. Closed Mondays.
Some of India's best diving with 20-30m visibility, coral walls, manta rays, and reef sharks. PADI Open Water course: INR 25,000-35,000 (3 days). Discovery/try dive for beginners: INR 4,000-6,000 (1 dive). Top sites: Barracuda City, The Wall, Aquarium. Dive India and Barefoot Scuba are reputable operators.
Snorkeling paradise with vibrant shallow coral reefs just 30 meters from shore. Reach by boat (INR 600-1,000 return, 20 min from Havelock jetty) or a 40-minute forest trek. Snorkeling gear rental: INR 300-500. Glass-bottom boat: INR 500. Best 9 AM-2 PM for visibility. Allow half a day.
Quieter, less commercialized island with natural rock formations like the Howrah Bridge (natural rock arch). Cycle around the entire island in 3 hours (rental INR 200/day). Laxmanpur Beach for sunset, Bharatpur Beach for snorkeling. Ferry from Havelock: INR 700-1,200 (1 hour). Allow 1-2 days.
On moonless nights (new moon), certain beaches glow electric blue from bioluminescent plankton. Best spots: Long Island and some stretches of Havelock's west coast. Free but timing is everything — needs dark, calm nights. Best Dec-Feb. No flashlights or phone lights in the water. Ask local dive shops for current conditions.
Atmospheric ruins of the former British administrative headquarters, now overtaken by deer and jungle. Ferry from Port Blair (INR 150 return, runs 8:30 AM-2 PM). Entry: INR 30. Light-and-sound show. Japanese bunkers from WWII remain. Photography paradise. Allow 2-3 hours. Closed Wednesdays.
Fly into Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ). Most flights from Chennai (2 hours), Delhi, Kolkata, or Bengaluru.
Arrive at Port Blair airport(30 minutes)
Foreign nationals receive free 30-day RAP on arrival. Carry passport at all times
Transfer to hotel in Aberdeen Bazaar(30 minutes)
Auto-rickshaw INR 100-150. Hotels: TSG Emerald (INR 3,000-5,000) or budget options INR 1,000-2,000
Lunch at New Lighthouse Restaurant(1 hour)
Seafood thali with fresh fish, crab, and prawn (INR 200-350)
Cellular Jail visit and sound-and-light show(3 hours)
Colonial prison where freedom fighters suffered. Entry INR 200 foreigners. Museum first, then evening show at 6 PM (Hindi) or 7:15 PM (English, INR 50-100). Powerful and moving
Former British administrative HQ (now atmospheric ruins) and snorkeling at North Bay.
Ferry to Ross Island from Phoenix Bay Jetty(20 minutes)
INR 150 return. Runs 8:30 AM-2 PM. Closed Wednesdays
Ross Island exploration(2 hours)
Atmospheric ruins overtaken by deer and jungle. Japanese WWII bunkers. Photography paradise. Light-and-sound show
Snorkeling at North Bay(2 hours)
Glass-bottom boat (INR 500) or snorkeling (INR 500-800 with gear). Coral gardens visible from the surface. Sea walking available (INR 3,000-4,000)
Return to Port Blair and dinner(1.5 hours)
Icy Spicy at Aberdeen Bazaar for seafood and North Indian (INR 300-500)
Take the morning catamaran to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) — the island paradise. Settle in and hit Radhanagar Beach for sunset.
Makruzz/Green Ocean catamaran to Havelock(1.5 hours)
INR 1,000-1,800. Book 2-3 days ahead at makruzz.com. Departs 8:30-9 AM. Carry seasickness meds
Check into Havelock accommodation(30 minutes)
Barefoot at Havelock (luxury, INR 8,000-15,000), Symphony Palms (mid-range, INR 3,000-6,000), or Beach No. 3 guesthouses (INR 1,000-2,000)
Lunch at Full Moon Cafe(1 hour)
Near the jetty. Fresh fish and chips, smoothie bowls (INR 200-400)
Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7) sunset(3 hours)
Asia's best beach — 2 km of white sand backed by rainforest. Swim in designated areas. Lifeguards till 5 PM. The sunset here is legendary. Free
Experience Havelock's world-class diving. Beginners can do a discovery dive; certified divers explore deeper sites.
Scuba diving with Dive India or Barefoot Scuba(4 hours)
Discovery dive for beginners: INR 4,000-6,000 (1 dive, includes training). Certified: 2-tank dive INR 6,000-8,000. Sites: Barracuda City, The Wall, Aquarium. 20-30m visibility
Lunch at B3 (Beach No. 3 area)(1 hour)
Something Different restaurant — grilled fish and coconut curry (INR 200-400)
Rest on Govind Nagar beach(2 hours)
Quiet stretch near the dive shops. Hammock, book, and coconut water
Dinner at Anju Coco Resto(1.5 hours)
Lobster and crab butter garlic — some of the freshest seafood you'll eat (INR 400-800)
Snorkeling paradise and mangrove kayaking — a perfect mix of coral reefs and quiet waterways.
Boat to Elephant Beach(20 minutes)
INR 600-1,000 return from Havelock jetty. Or 40-minute forest trek
Elephant Beach snorkeling(2 hours)
Vibrant shallow coral 30m from shore. Gear rental INR 300-500. Glass-bottom boat INR 500. Best 9 AM-2 PM
Mangrove kayaking(2 hours)
Guided kayak through mangrove channels. Spot kingfishers, mudskippers, and monitor lizards. INR 1,000-2,000 through local operators
Sleep in, then afternoon ferry to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) for the natural rock bridge and quieter beaches.
Ferry to Neil Island(1 hour)
INR 700-1,200. Or make it a full day by taking the morning ferry
Natural rock bridge (Howrah Bridge)(1 hour)
Natural coral rock arch — best at low tide. Laxmanpur Beach 2 for sunset
Bharatpur Beach snorkeling(1.5 hours)
Shallow reef snorkeling. Less crowded than Havelock. Gear rental INR 200-300
Morning ferry back to Port Blair for your flight.
Early Makruzz to Port Blair(1.5 hours)
6:30-7 AM ferry. Book ahead. Reach jetty 30 min early
Last seafood lunch at Port Blair(1 hour)
Amaya at Corbyn's Cove for beachside seafood (INR 300-500)
Transfer to IXZ airport(30 minutes)
Auto INR 100-150. Flights to Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru
Foreign nationals receive a free 30-day Restricted Area Permit (RAP) on arrival at Port Blair airport (IXZ). Covers Port Blair, Havelock, Neil, and most tourist islands. Some islands like North Sentinel and Nicobar require special permission (and are effectively off-limits). Carry passport at all times — random checks happen on ferries.
Government ferries are cheap (INR 400-600) but infrequent and uncomfortable. Private operators Makruzz and Green Ocean offer faster, AC catamarans (INR 1,000-1,800, 1.5 hours Port Blair to Havelock). Book 2-3 days ahead at andamantrunk.com or makruzz.com — they sell out in peak season. Carry seasickness medication.
Direct flights from Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru to Port Blair (IXZ). Flights from Chennai are most frequent and cheapest (2 hours, INR 4,000-8,000 one way). Book early for peak season (Dec-Jan). Ships from Chennai/Kolkata take 3-4 days and are only for the adventurous (INR 2,000-6,000 depending on class).
Andaman is pricier than mainland India due to import costs. Budget stays: INR 1,000-2,000/night. Mid-range: INR 3,000-6,000. Luxury (Barefoot at Havelock, Taj Exotica): INR 15,000-40,000. Meals: INR 200-600 at local restaurants. Fresh seafood is excellent and affordable (fish thali INR 200-350). ATMs exist but often run dry — carry enough cash.
ATMs on Havelock and Neil run out of cash frequently, especially weekends and holidays. SBI ATM at Havelock is the most reliable. Carry INR 10,000-15,000 in cash when leaving Port Blair. Most hotels accept UPI/cards but many dive shops, restaurants, and boat operators are cash-only.
Always swim at beaches with lifeguards. Radhanagar has rip currents — stay within flagged areas. Box jellyfish are present Nov-May; wear a rash guard. Never touch coral while snorkeling — it's alive and protected. Sunburn is severe at equatorial latitude — SPF 50+ is essential. Stay hydrated.
Andaman's coral reefs are protected. No collecting shells, coral, or sand (punishable by fine). No plastic bags on beaches. Don't use sunscreen with oxybenzone — it kills coral (use reef-safe brands). No drone flying without permission. The indigenous Sentinelese people must never be contacted — approaching North Sentinel Island is illegal and dangerous.
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