Andaman & Nicobar

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are an Indian union territory in the Bay of Bengal, physically much closer to Myanmar and Thailand than to the Indian mainland. There are more than five hundred islands in the chain and only a small handful are open to visitors, which is a large part of why the reefs and beaches are in the condition they are, these islands are known for clear blue water, white sand beaches, coral reefs, and tropical forests. The Nicobar group is closed to tourism entirely. In practice an Andaman trip means Port Blair, Havelock and Neil, with Baratang and Long Island as extensions for travellers with more time. Most travellers begin their trip in Port Blair, the main gateway to the islands .  Browse our Andaman and Nicobar Tour Packages to find the right itinerary for couples, families, and groups.

Port Blair is where you arrive, and where most people spend the first and last night rather than the middle of the trip. Its main draw is the Cellular Jail, the colonial prison built to hold Indian political prisoners in near-total isolation, each in a single cell in a seven-wing radial design. The site is now a national memorial and the evening light and sound show tells the history in a form that lands better than the plaques do. Corbyn's Cove is the town beach, and the Samudrika naval marine museum is a genuinely useful hour before you get in the water.

Havelock, officially Swaraj Dweep, is the centre of gravity for most trips. Radhanagar Beach on its western side is regularly named among Asia's best, and unusually for a beach with that reputation it deserves it: a wide arc of white sand backed by forest, with no development on the sand itself and a sunset that people arrive early for. Elephant Beach, reached by boat or a muddy forest walk, is where most snorkelling and water sports run from. Havelock is also where India's diving industry is concentrated, with several established schools running everything from a first shallow dive to full open-water certification.

Neil Island, officially Shaheed Dweep, is smaller, flatter and slower. It is a forty-minute ferry from Havelock and the change of pace is immediate. Bharatpur Beach has the easiest shallow snorkelling in the islands, Laxmanpur is the sunset beach, and the natural rock bridge on the eastern shore is visible only at low tide, so check the tide table before you walk out. Two nights on Neil is the sweet spot; a day trip does not do it justice.

Baratang, north of Port Blair, is a different sort of day: a convoy drive through the Jarawa tribal reserve, a boat through mangrove creeks, and a limestone cave. The tribal reserve section has strict rules, no photography and no stopping, and they are enforced. It is a long day and it divides opinion. Skip it on a short trip.

The reefs are the real reason to come. Water clarity is best between December and April, coral cover around Havelock and Neil is healthy compared with much of the Indian Ocean, and the diving is unusually beginner-friendly because the sites are shallow and the currents are mild. A discover-scuba dive requires no prior experience and no certification. Snorkelling from Elephant Beach or Bharatpur costs very little and shows you a great deal.

One practical thing that shapes every itinerary: inter-island travel is by ferry, ferries book out, and they cancel in rough weather. Build a buffer night in Port Blair before your outbound flight rather than cutting it fine.