An Andaman trip is the closest most Indians get to a tropical island holiday without a passport. The water around Havelock and Neil is clear enough to see the coral from the boat, Radhanagar is regularly named one of the best beaches in Asia, and Port Blair carries some of the most moving history in the country.
It also needs more planning than a trip to Goa. You'll fly in, then move between islands by ferry, and the sea, the tides and the ferry timetable decide what you can do each day. This plan covers a six-day itinerary, how the ferries work, diving and snorkelling, where to stay, the best months and what an Andaman trip really costs.
A note on names
Several places in the Andaman Islands have been renamed in recent years, and you'll see both names on tickets and maps:
| Old name | New name |
|---|---|
| Port Blair | Sri Vijaya Puram |
| Havelock Island | Swaraj Dweep |
| Neil Island | Shaheed Dweep |
| Ross Island | Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep |
Most locals, ferry companies and hotels still use the old names in conversation, so this guide does too.
When is the best time for an Andaman trip?
- November to April is the best time: calm seas, clear water for diving and snorkelling, and mostly sunny days. December and January are the busiest and most expensive.
- October and May are shoulder months, with more chance of rain and choppier seas, but fewer people.
- June to September is the monsoon. Heavy rain, rough seas and cancelled ferries make it the worst time, though some people love the empty beaches.
Ferries can be cancelled at short notice in bad weather, at any time of year. Don't plan to take a ferry back to Port Blair on the same day as your flight home.
How to get to the Andaman Islands
Almost everyone flies to Port Blair's Veer Savarkar International Airport. There are direct flights from Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and a few other cities. Flights from Chennai and Kolkata are the shortest, about 2 hours, and usually the cheapest.
Ships from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam also sail to Port Blair, but they take three to four days each way and run only a few times a month, so they're for travellers with time to spare.
Indian citizens don't need a permit to visit the main tourist islands. Tribal reserves and some outer islands are off limits to everyone. Book flights early for December and January, and see our guide to finding cheap flights in India for how to time it.
A 6-day Andaman itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Port Blair
Land in Port Blair and check in near Aberdeen Bazaar, which is central and close to the jetty. In the afternoon, visit the Cellular Jail (about ₹30), the colonial prison where freedom fighters, including Veer Savarkar, were held in solitary cells. Stay for the evening light and sound show, which tells the jail's story and is far more powerful than it sounds. Book show tickets in advance in season.
Day 2: Port Blair to Havelock
Take a morning ferry to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), about 1½ to 2½ hours depending on the boat. Check in near Beach No. 5 or Beach No. 7, then spend the afternoon at Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7). It's a long curve of white sand backed by tall forest, and the sunset here is the most famous on the islands.
Day 3: Havelock: diving, snorkelling and Elephant Beach
This is the day for the water. Havelock has India's best dive centres, and a try dive for complete beginners, with an instructor beside you, costs about ₹4,500 to ₹6,500 depending on the centre and the site. No swimming experience is needed for most try dives. If you'd rather stay on the surface, take a boat or walk the forest trail to Elephant Beach for snorkelling over a shallow reef.
In the evening, relax at Kalapathar Beach, or come back at sunrise the next day, when it's at its best.
Choose a dive centre certified by PADI or SSI with good recent reviews. Ask how many divers each instructor takes, and don't dive within 24 hours of flying home.
Day 4: Havelock to Neil
Take the short ferry to Neil (Shaheed Dweep), the smaller, quieter island next door. Hire a bicycle or a scooter and visit the beaches: Laxmanpur for sunset, Bharatpur for calm water and glass-bottom boat rides, and Sitapur for sunrise. Neil is the place to slow down.
Day 5: Neil and back to Port Blair
See the Natural Bridge, a rock arch on the shore that you can walk to at low tide. Check the tide times the day before, since the walk is only possible for a few hours. Take an afternoon ferry back to Port Blair, and if there's time, watch the sunset at Chidiya Tapu, south of the city.
Day 6: Ross Island and home
Take the morning boat to Ross Island (about ₹50), the old British headquarters of the islands, now crumbling buildings wrapped in banyan roots and home to tame deer. If your flight is late, add North Bay for glass-bottom boats, snorkelling and sea walks. Then head to the airport.
Longer Andaman trips
With 8 to 10 days, add:
- Baratang Island: limestone caves and mud volcanoes, reached by road from Port Blair through the Jarawa tribal reserve in a timed convoy. Photographing or interacting with the Jarawa people is strictly prohibited.
- Long Island and Diglipur: remote, quiet and almost untouched, in the north of the islands.
- More time on Havelock: an open water diving course takes 3 to 4 days.
How the ferries work
Ferries are the backbone of an Andaman trip, so it's worth understanding them.
| Type | Examples | Port Blair to Havelock | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private catamarans | Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean, ITT Majestic | 1½ to 2½ hours | About ₹1,200 to ₹2,500 |
| Government ferries | Directorate of Shipping Services | 2½ to 3 hours | Much cheaper, but hard to book |
Private ferries can be booked online weeks in advance, and they sell out in peak season. Book the whole Port Blair, Havelock, Neil and Port Blair loop at once, as soon as your flights are fixed. Government ferry tickets are cheap but are released closer to the date and sell out fast.
Where to stay
- Port Blair: Aberdeen Bazaar for budget hotels near the jetty, about ₹1,500 to ₹3,500 a night
- Havelock: Beaches 3, 5 and 7, from simple huts to resorts, about ₹3,000 to ₹15,000 a night
- Neil: quiet beach huts and small resorts, about ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 a night
Havelock has the most choice and the best dive shops. Stays near Radhanagar are the priciest, while those on the east coast near Beach No. 5 are better value.
What an Andaman trip costs
A rough budget per person for six days, for two people sharing, not counting flights to Port Blair:
| Budget | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Stays (5 nights, per person) | ₹6,000 to ₹9,000 | ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 |
| Ferries (Port Blair, Havelock, Neil and back) | ₹3,500 to ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 to ₹6,500 |
| Food (per day) | ₹600 to ₹900 | ₹1,200 to ₹2,000 |
| Local transport and entry fees | ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 | ₹4,000 to ₹6,000 |
| Diving or snorkelling | ₹1,500 (snorkelling) | ₹5,000 to ₹6,500 (try dive) |
| Total per person | ₹17,000 to ₹24,000 | ₹36,000 to ₹56,000 |
Return flights to Port Blair usually add ₹8,000 to ₹18,000 per person, depending on the city and the season. Booking early is the biggest saving.
What to eat
Seafood is the star: grilled lobster, crab and reef fish at Havelock's shacks, coconut fish curry, and plenty of South and East Indian food, since much of the population came from Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Bengal. Vegetarians eat well in Port Blair and reasonably well on the islands.
Andaman travel tips
Mobile data is patchy. Outside Port Blair, data can be slow or missing. Save maps offline and carry printouts of ferry tickets.
Carry cash. ATMs exist on Havelock and Neil but run out at busy times.
Protect the reef. Don't touch or stand on coral, use reef-safe sunscreen, and never take shells or coral away. Taking coral off the islands is illegal.
Respect the tides and flags. Swim only at safe beaches, and ask locals about currents. Some beaches have crocodile warnings, so read the signs.
Plastic is restricted. The islands discourage single-use plastic. Carry a refillable bottle.
What to pack for an Andaman trip
- Printed ferry tickets and ID for every traveller
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
- Light cotton clothes and one long-sleeved layer for the sun
- Swimwear and a quick-dry towel
- Waterproof phone pouch for boats and beaches
- Motion sickness tablets for the ferries
- Insect repellent for the evenings
- Enough cash for Havelock and Neil
The Andamans for families and honeymooners
With children: choose Havelock and Neil stays close to calm beaches, such as Beach No. 5 on Havelock and Bharatpur on Neil. Glass-bottom boats at North Bay and Neil, and snorkelling in shallow water at Elephant Beach, are easy and exciting for children. Avoid the longest ferry days with very young ones, and carry snacks for the boats.
As a honeymoon: splurge on one beautiful stay near Radhanagar, book a private sunset dinner on the beach, and try a beginner dive together. Spend an extra night on Neil, which is quieter and more romantic than Havelock. Our list of honeymoon destinations in India compares the Andamans with other options.
Water activities and what they cost
Prices change with the season and the operator, but as a rough guide:
| Activity | Where | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Snorkelling | Elephant Beach (Havelock), North Bay | ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 |
| Try dive (no experience) | Havelock and Neil | ₹4,500 to ₹6,500 |
| PADI Open Water course (3 to 4 days) | Havelock | ₹25,000 to ₹35,000 |
| Sea walk (helmet underwater walk) | North Bay, Elephant Beach | ₹3,000 to ₹4,000 |
| Glass-bottom boat | North Bay, Neil, Elephant Beach | ₹500 to ₹1,500 |
| Semi-submarine | Port Blair | ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 |
| Mangrove kayaking | Havelock | ₹2,500 to ₹4,000 |
Night kayaking at Havelock, when the water glows with bioluminescent plankton on dark nights, is one of the most magical experiences on the islands. Book it for a night close to the new moon.
The Andamans for non-swimmers
You don't need to swim to enjoy the Andamans. Try dives are designed for complete beginners, with an instructor holding you the whole time. Sea walks let you walk on the sea floor with a helmet that supplies air. Glass-bottom boats and the semi-submarine show you the coral without getting wet. And Radhanagar's calm, shallow water is perfect for paddling. Always wear the life jacket the operator gives you, and tell them honestly if you can't swim.
Havelock or Neil: which to choose?
Havelock has more stays, the best dive centres, Radhanagar Beach and a livelier evening scene. Neil is smaller, quieter and cheaper, perfect for cycling between beaches and doing very little. On a six-day trip, give Havelock three nights and Neil one. If you're short of time, skip Neil rather than rushing Havelock.
Respecting the islands
The Andamans are home to indigenous peoples, including the Jarawa, whose reserve the road to Baratang passes through. Photographing, filming, stopping or offering anything to tribal people is strictly illegal. The islands' coral is also fragile: don't stand on reefs, take shells or feed fish.
A sample day on Havelock
- 6:00: sunrise at Kalapathar Beach
- 8:30: breakfast, then a try dive or snorkelling trip, when the water is calmest
- 13:00: lunch and a rest through the hottest hours
- 15:30: Radhanagar Beach for a swim and the long walk along the sand
- 17:30: sunset at Radhanagar
- 20:00: grilled seafood dinner, or a night kayak through the mangroves on a dark night
This rhythm, water in the morning and beach in the evening, works on almost every day of an Andaman trip.
Getting around the islands
On Port Blair, use autos, app-free taxis and buses. On Havelock and Neil, rent a scooter (carry your licence) or a bicycle, or hire an auto for the day. Distances are short, but there's little public transport, so arrange your jetty transfers with your stay.
Common Andaman trip mistakes
- Booking flights before checking ferries. Ferries sell out; make sure you can get to Havelock on your dates.
- Planning a ferry on the day you fly home. Weather delays happen, so be back in Port Blair the night before.
- Running out of cash. ATMs on Havelock and Neil sometimes run dry.
- Skipping the Cellular Jail light show. It's the most moving evening of the trip.
- Spending all your time on Havelock's busiest beach. Neil and the quieter coves are just as beautiful.
Plan your Andaman trip with JrnyLoop
Tell JrnyLoop where you're flying from and that you're going to the Andaman Islands, and it plans each day: the Cellular Jail in the evening for the light show, Radhanagar at sunset, Kalapathar at sunrise, and the dive and snorkel mornings when the water is calmest. It also budgets the trip for your group and packs for the beach and the boat.
If you're deciding between islands, compare the Andamans with a Lakshadweep trip, and for a beach holiday on the mainland, see our Goa trip plan and our guide to the best beaches in India. Planning it as a honeymoon? See our list of honeymoon destinations in India.
The short version
Go between November and April. Give it six days: a night in Port Blair for the Cellular Jail, three on Havelock for Radhanagar and the reef, one on Neil, and a last morning on Ross Island. Book flights and ferries together and early, keep a spare half-day for the weather, and try at least one dive or snorkel. The water is the reason you came.
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