The Andaman Islands are India's best-kept secret and most pristine tropical destination. 572 islands in the Bay of Bengal, most uninhabited, with some of the clearest water in Asia. The diving rivals Thailand's Koh Tao, the beaches rival Maldives at a fraction of the price, and the jungle interior hides wildlife found nowhere else on earth.
Andaman Essentials
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Fly from Chennai (2 hrs), Kolkata (2.5 hrs), or Delhi (3.5 hrs with stop) to Port Blair (VTZ) |
| Best time | October to May. Avoid June–September (monsoon, rough seas, ferries disrupted) |
| Main islands | Port Blair (base), Havelock (Neil), Neil Island, Ross Island |
| Permits | Indian citizens: No permit needed. Foreigners: Restricted Area Permit (free, get at Port Blair airport) |
| Currency | Indian Rupees. Card acceptance is limited outside Port Blair — carry cash |
| Connectivity | Limited internet on islands. Embrace the offline experience |
Andaman 5-Day Itinerary
| Day | Island | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Port Blair | Cellular Jail sound and light show (7pm), Corbyn's Cove beach, Anthropological Museum |
| Day 2 | Havelock Island | Ferry from Port Blair (2.5 hrs). Radhanagar Beach (Asia's best beach by Time Magazine) |
| Day 3 | Havelock | Scuba diving at Elephant Beach, sunset at Radhanagar again |
| Day 4 | Neil Island | Short ferry from Havelock. Laxmanpur beach sunset, quiet and beautiful |
| Day 5 | Port Blair → fly | Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park for glass-bottom boat, airport |
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Bioluminescent plankton: On moonless nights at Havelock's beaches (August–November is best), the waves glow blue with bioluminescent plankton. Walk into the water at night and your hands glow. It is free, magical, and one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena most travellers will ever experience.
Andaman Budget
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (return from Chennai) | ₹4,000–12,000 | ₹8,000–18,000 |
| Accommodation/night | ₹800–1,800 (guesthouse) | ₹3,000–8,000 (resort) |
| Inter-island ferry | ₹400–700 per crossing | ₹400–700 |
| Food/day | ₹600–1,000 | ₹1,200–2,000 |
| Scuba dive (PADI beginner) | ₹3,500–5,000 | ₹5,000–8,000 |
| Total 5 days | ₹15,000–28,000 | ₹35,000–65,000 |
