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Beach · Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Andaman Islands · Travel Tips, Day Trips & FAQs

🗓️ Best time: October to May ⏳ Ideal: 5–6 days ✈️ IXZ 📮 744101
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Where to stay in the Andaman Islands

Where you base yourself in the Andamans is really a question of which islands you build your trip around. Almost everyone splits their nights between Port Blair and one or two of the beach islands. Choose by island and budget tier rather than by brand, and book well ahead in the December–April high season, when the better rooms on Havelock and Neil sell out early.

Port Blair. The transport hub and the place you will arrive, depart, and probably spend your first and last nights. Accommodation ranges from simple guesthouses and mid-range hotels near the town and harbour to a handful of more comfortable properties on the ridges and near Corbyn's Cove with sea views. Staying central puts you close to the jetties (useful for early ferries), the Cellular Jail and the airport. It is a working town rather than a resort, so treat Port Blair as a practical, well-connected base rather than a beach holiday in itself.

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep). The main beach base and where most travellers spend the bulk of their nights. Options run the full range — backpacker huts and budget guesthouses in the village areas, comfortable mid-range beach stays, and a cluster of upscale resorts strung along the eastern beaches and the road toward Radhanagar. The trade-off is between being near the jetty and village (convenient, livelier) or out along the quieter beaches (more scenic, more isolated). This is the island to give the most nights if diving, snorkelling and beach time are your priority.

Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep). Smaller, quieter and more low-key, with fewer and generally simpler places to stay — guesthouses, eco-stays and a growing number of mid-range options. Neil suits travellers who want a slower, greener, less-developed island feel and are happy with modest comfort. One or two nights here pairs naturally with a longer Havelock stay.

A practical note. Power and water supply on the smaller islands can be less reliable than on the mainland, and many places run on generators for part of the day; the more remote beach properties may have limited connectivity. Confirm what is included, how you will get from the jetty to the property, and — if a sea view or beachfront matters — exactly what you are booking, as descriptions vary widely. Wherever you stay, favour operators who handle the ferry-and-transfer logistics for you, since that is the fiddliest part of an Andaman trip.

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Day trips and island-hops from Port Blair

Port Blair is the natural base for a string of day-trips and island-hops, most of them by boat and all of them at the mercy of the weather. Book boat and ferry trips a day or more ahead in high season, carry photo ID (and, for foreign nationals, permit documents), and never plan a return so tight that a delayed boat would cost you a flight.

Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island) — about 3 km, a short ferry. The easiest half-day from Port Blair: a quick harbour crossing from Aberdeen Jetty to the jungle-swallowed ruins of the old British administrative capital, with roaming deer and peacocks. Usually combined with North Bay on a single boat outing.

North Bay Island — a short boat trip. The reef-and-water half-day: snorkelling, glass-bottom boats, sea-walking and beginner scuba over accessible coral, paired with Ross Island. The best near-Port-Blair option for first-time reef experiences.

Chidiya Tapu — about 25 km, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by road. A relaxed evening or morning trip south of the capital for birdwatching, forest trails and a famous sunset over the Bay of Bengal from the Munda Pahad viewpoint, with a biological park nearby. A gentle, road-based alternative to the boat trips.

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Jolly Buoy / Red Skin) — Wandoor, about 30 km, roughly an hour by road plus a boat. A full-day marine excursion to one of the two visitor islands (opened alternately by season) for pristine coral, snorkelling and glass-bottom boats in a strictly protected, plastic-free zone. Confirm the currently open island and the day's boat schedule before setting out.

Baratang Island — about 100+ km by road, a long full day. The islands' most adventurous day-trip: a very early start up the Andaman Trunk Road, travelling in an escorted convoy through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve (with the strict no-stopping, no-photography rules described above), then vehicle-ferry crossings to reach Baratang's limestone caves — approached by a mangrove-creek boat ride — and the mud volcano. It is a long, tiring day that starts before dawn and depends heavily on the convoy timings and tides; go with an operator who knows the schedule, and be prepared for it to run late.

Island-hops to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep). These are less "day trips" than overnight legs — the ferry times and the richness of each island make same-day returns pointless. Treat Havelock (about 1.5–2 hours by fast ferry) and Neil (a shorter hop beyond) as places to stay one or more nights rather than to visit and rush back, and slot them into the itinerary as described above.

For any boat trip, remember that sea state is the deciding factor. Trips to the outer marine parks and northern islands are the first to be cancelled when the weather turns, so keep a flexible day or two in reserve and don't hinge your whole trip on a single outing.

Frequently asked questions about Andaman Islands

Q1 What is the best time to visit the Andaman Islands?
October to May, and ideally December to April, when the seas are calm, the water is clearest for diving and snorkelling, and ferries run reliably. Avoid the southwest monsoon (roughly mid-May to September), when heavy rain, rough seas and frequent ferry cancellations disrupt plans.
Q2 How do you reach the Andaman Islands?
Only by air or by sea. Most visitors fly into Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) at Port Blair, with domestic connections from Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and other cities. Alternatively, government passenger ships sail from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam, taking about three to four days each way.
Q3 Is there a train to the Andaman Islands?
No. The Andamans are about 1,200 km out in the Bay of Bengal, with no railway or road link to the mainland, so there is no nearest railway station. Rail journeys end at a mainland port city such as Chennai, Kolkata or Visakhapatnam, from where you continue by flight or ship.
Q4 How many days do you need for the Andaman Islands?
Five to six days is ideal, allowing time for Port Blair's history, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep), plus a little slack for weather. Four days covers the essentials at a rush; a week or more lets you add diving, Baratang or the marine national park.
Q5 Do Indian tourists need a permit for the Andaman Islands?
Indian nationals do not need a special permit for the main tourist islands, though you should carry government photo ID for ferries and check-ins. Certain areas — tribal reserves and the Nicobar Islands — remain closed to all tourists regardless of nationality.
Q6 Do foreign nationals need a permit for the Andaman Islands?
Foreign tourists have historically needed a Restricted Area Permit, though rules were relaxed for many inhabited islands from 2018 and permits for the main tourist areas are typically issued on arrival at Port Blair airport. Permit policy has changed more than once, so verify the current requirement with the Andaman & Nicobar administration before you travel.
Q7 What is the nearest airport to the Andaman Islands?
Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) at Port Blair is the archipelago's only airport for scheduled passenger flights, and the gateway for almost every visitor. It operates as a domestic airport with connections to mainland Indian cities.
Q8 How do you travel between the islands?
By boat. Government ferries and private high-speed catamarans link Port Blair with Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep); Baratang and the northern islands are reached by the Andaman Trunk Road plus vehicle ferries. Book inter-island ferries in advance, and expect cancellations in rough weather.
Q9 Is the Cellular Jail worth visiting, and what is the Light and Sound show?
Yes — it is the historical heart of the islands, the former colonial prison where many freedom fighters were exiled. The evening Light and Sound show narrates the prison's story on its walls in Hindi and English at separate times; tickets are separate from daytime entry, and shows can be cancelled in bad weather, so confirm the schedule locally.
Q10 Which is the best beach in the Andaman Islands?
Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7) on Havelock is the most celebrated, named "Best Beach in Asia" by Time in 2004 and a superb sunset beach. Elephant Beach on Havelock and Bharatpur and Laxmanpur on Neil are other favourites, the latter better for shallow swimming and reef walks.
Q11 Can beginners scuba dive in the Andaman Islands?
Yes. Havelock is India's leading dive base, with certified schools offering introductory "discovery" dives requiring no prior experience, as well as full certification courses. North Bay near Port Blair also offers beginner-friendly reef experiences. Conditions are best in the calm, clear dry season; book with established, agency-affiliated operators.
Q12 Can you photograph the indigenous tribes or visit their areas?
No. Photographing or filming tribal people is illegal, and tribal reserves are off-limits. On the Andaman Trunk Road through the Jarawa reserve (en route to Baratang), vehicles travel in escorted convoys with strict no-stopping, no-interaction and no-photography rules. Learn about the communities at the Anthropological Museum instead.
Q13 Is it safe to visit the Andaman Islands and swim there?
The Andamans are broadly safe for tourists, including families and solo travellers, with normal precautions. The main hazards are sea-related: strong currents at some beaches, rough seas and cancellations in monsoon, and the general remoteness. Follow lifeguard flags and local advice, and never plan a same-day ferry-to-flight connection.
Q14 What food is the Andaman known for?
Fresh seafood above all — fish curry with rice, grilled fish, prawns, crab and lobster — alongside strong South Indian staples (dosa, idli, thali meals), Bengali fish dishes and plenty of coconut and tropical fruit. Vegetarian and North Indian food is easy to find in Port Blair and on the main islands.
Q15 Can you visit the Nicobar Islands or North Sentinel Island?
No. The entire Nicobar group is closed to tourists, and North Sentinel Island, home to the uncontacted Sentinelese, is strictly off-limits with a maritime exclusion zone around it. These restrictions protect isolated indigenous communities and are enforced by law.

Sources & further reading

  • Andaman & Nicobar Tourism — https://www.andamantourism.gov.in
  • Andaman & Nicobar Administration — https://www.andaman.gov.in
  • India Meteorological Department — https://mausam.imd.gov.in
  • Directorate of Shipping Services, A&N Administration — https://shipping.andaman.gov.in
  • Andaman & Nicobar Police (permits & registration) — https://police.andaman.gov.in
  • Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism — https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in
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