India · Popular · Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal
Andaman Islands
Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal · sea level
India's own tropical paradise — turquoise reefs, colonial ghost islands, and bioluminescent bays, all without a passport.
The Andamans offer 572 islands of largely pristine reef and rainforest with no international flight or visa hassle for Indians — a rare combination of Maldivian water colour and a genuine colonial-history narrative. Scuba diving here ranks among Asia's best value, with sites like Barracuda City and The Wall accessible even to first-timers.
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Go in
In season, days sit around 30° and nights near 23°.
What you'll see & do
The sights worth the trip, and how to spend the days around them.
To see
- Cellular Jail, Port Blair — 1906 British colonial prison with evening Sound & Light show narrating India's freedom struggle
- Radhanagar Beach, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) — Asia's best beach ranking, white sand backed by rainforest
- Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island) — British-era administrative ruin now overrun by deer and jungle
- Natural Bridge & Laxmanpur Beach, Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) — coral limestone arch at low tide, quieter pace
To do
- Scuba diving at Elephant Beach, Havelock — beginner discover-dives ₹3,500-4,500; PADI Open Water ₹18,000-22,000
- Sea-kayaking through mangrove creeks at Havelock's Manglutan area at dusk
- Bioluminescent plankton night swim off Neil Island (best Dec-Feb, no moon nights)
- Glass-bottom boat and snorkeling circuit at North Bay and Jolly Buoy Marine National Park
Before you go
- Makruzz and Nautika Royal/Deluxe class ferries book out 45–60 days ahead during Dec–Feb peak season; confirm travel dates and book immediately or clients risk being stranded in Port Blair or limited to economy-only sailings.
- June–September monsoon causes significant disruption: Nautika suspends service entirely, Makruzz drops multiple sailings (especially afternoon slots), most dive operators and water-sport centres close, and Jolly Buoy Marine National Park shuts completely; government ferries continue at reduced frequency as the most reliable fallback, so build at least two buffer days into any monsoon itinerary.
- ATM coverage is sparse on Havelock and Neil; UPI is widely accepted but BSNL and Airtel 4G have frequent dead zones — advise clients to carry ₹8,000–10,000 cash per person.
Days, already shaped
3-day plan
- Day 1 Port Blair: Cellular Jail, Ross Island boat trip (30 min each way), Sound & Light show evening
- Day 2 Havelock (Swaraj Dweep): 2-hr speed ferry; afternoon Radhanagar Beach, sunset swim
- Day 3 Havelock-Neil-Port Blair: morning Elephant Beach snorkel; ferry to Neil, Natural Bridge at low tide, evening ferry back to Port Blair
5-day plan
- Day 1 Port Blair: Cellular Jail, Samudrika Naval Museum, Corbyn's Cove Beach, Sound & Light show
- Day 2 Port Blair day trip: North Bay glass-bottom boat + Ross Island ruins; afternoon free
- Day 3 Havelock: speed ferry; check in, Radhanagar Beach afternoon
- Day 4 Havelock: full-day Elephant Beach — scuba discover-dive or snorkel, kayak mangroves at sunset
- Day 5 Neil Island & return: morning ferry to Neil, Natural Bridge at low tide, Laxmanpur Beach, evening ferry Port Blair
7-day plan
- Day 1 Port Blair: arrive, Cellular Jail, Sound & Light show; overnight Port Blair
- Day 2 Baratang convoy: 0530 departure Jirkatang checkpoint, limestone caves, mud volcanoes, return by evening
- Day 3 Port Blair islands: North Bay snorkel, Ross Island ruins, Chidiya Tapu sunset birding
- Day 4 Havelock: morning speed ferry; Radhanagar Beach, beachfront dinner
- Day 5 Havelock diving: full-day 2-tank dive at Barracuda City / The Wall for certified divers, or PADI course day 1
- Day 6 Neil Island: ferry; Bharatpur Beach reef snorkel, Natural Bridge low-tide walk, bioluminescent night swim
- Day 7 Return Port Blair: morning ferry, Anthropological Museum, afternoon flight
Getting there, permits & day trips
By air — Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ), Port Blair — direct flights from Chennai (1.5 hrs), Kolkata (2 hrs), Delhi (3.5 hrs), Mumbai (3 hrs); IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet; fares ₹6,000-18,000 one way depending on advance booking
By rail — No railway on the islands. Travellers arrive by air only; nearest mainland railheads are Chennai Central or Howrah (Kolkata), then fly
By road — No road or bridge link to mainland. Inter-island movement by ferry: Port Blair to Havelock 1.5-2 hrs (Makruzz/Nautika speed ferry, ₹1,200-1,800 one way); Port Blair to Neil 1.5-2 hrs; government ferries cheaper but slower (3-4 hrs). Book online at andamans.gov.in or via operators weeks ahead in peak season
On a Driftibo trip we handle the transfers.
Permits & entry — Indian nationals need no inner-line or protected-area permit for the main tourist islands — South Andaman, Middle Andaman, North Andaman, Havelock/Swaraj Dweep, Neil/Shaheed Dweep, and Baratang. Transit through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve (Baratang route) requires joining a convoy at Jirkatang checkpost; four daily slots run at approximately 6:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 3:00 PM, each with a 30-minute vehicle registration window — confirm exact timings at the checkpost the evening before, as they have changed more than once. No stopping, no photography, and no interaction with tribal members are enforced inside the reserve; violations carry a fine up to ₹10,000 and imprisonment up to three years under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Amendment Regulation 2012. Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island is open to Indian tourists with a Forest Department permit for national park access; the rest of the Nicobar group requires special permission from the Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar District, and is effectively closed to leisure tourism. Jolly Buoy (Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Wandoor) charges ₹50 per Indian adult — some current trade sources now quote ₹75, so verify locally before quoting clients; daily visitor numbers are capped and permits are best obtained from the Forest Department or Directorate of Tourism office in Port Blair in advance, as walk-ins at Wandoor Jetty are turned away once the quota fills. Foreigners require a Restricted Area Permit for several islands; this requirement does not apply to Indian passport holders.
Day trips nearby
- Baratang Island (3 hrs road + creek boat from Port Blair) — mud volcanoes and limestone caves; requires 0530 Jirkatang convoy, full day
- Jolly Buoy Island (2 hrs boat from Wandoor, 35 km from Port Blair) — Marine National Park snorkel; open Oct-May only, closed alternate months for reef recovery
- Cinque Island (advanced dive site, 45 min boat from Port Blair) — pristine walls and sharks; requires certified diver and Forest Dept permit ₹500
- Ross & Smith Islands, North Andaman (connected by sandbar, 6-hr drive/ferry from Port Blair) — remote twin islands, worth an overnight for travellers with extra days
Seasons and access shift — we reconfirm every detail before we quote.