If you have a tropical paradise on your travel bucket list and you don't want to take a red-eye flight from India and keep it relatively pocket-friendly, then an Andamans trip would delight you. We have you covered from how to reach the islands in the majestic Bay of Bengal to the best time to visit the Andamans to the must-include experiences in your itinerary.
We have covered our trip to the Andamans in 3 Chapters from the lens of travelling to the Andamans from any major city in India, experiences to include in your itinerary, island hopping in the Andamans, availability of vegetarian food in the Andamans, exploring the indigenous tribal culture and connecting the dots back to India’s freedom struggle.
You are reading Chapter 1.
Table of contents
How to reach Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
The Andamans is connected with most major airports in India including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bengaluru with direct flights to its capital city of Port Blair which has recently been renamed to Sri Vijaya Puram. Air India and IndiGo operate direct flights from most major Indian airports.
I was quite surprised when people asked me if I needed a passport as an Indian citizen to visit the Andamans, as it is very much a domestic flight and a trip within India for all Indian passport holders. The Nicobar Islands are currently off-limits for tourists due to the government's conservation and port infrastructure development efforts. However, Andaman Tourism is doing its best to woo travellers from the mainland.
The best time to visit the Andamans
Due to its close proximity to the equator, the Andamans is an all-year-round destination, however, pretty much like any other place in India - November to March would be the most preferable in terms of warm and balmy days against the scorching heat that kicks in from April along with the heavier rains later.
November to April is also a good time to indulge in water activities and scuba diving in the Andamans as the visibility underwater is great and the seas are relatively calmer from no to minimal rains. You can avoid peak December to avoid the crowds and make the most of the shoulder seasons to avail the best travel packages to explore the Andamans.
Places to visit in the Andamans
Port Blair, now known as Sri Vijaya Puram is the gateway to the clear azure hues of the Bay of Bengal. There are a few interesting things to do in Port Blair and around 48 hours in this capital city can help you do justice to most of what it has to offer.
You can also plan day trips from Port Blair to other islands in the Andamans, like the Baratang Island to explore the limestone caves, wade your way through mangroves, and spot the Jarawa tribal people from a distance, going about their day. Other popular day trips from Port Blair are to Ross Island and Chidiya Tapu.
The real beauty of the islands and the true island life lies beyond Port Blair, in the tinier and more remote islands in the Bay of Bengal. You can take a ferry from Port Blair to Havelock Island with its clear blue waters, such that you can spot marine life right at the shore. If you want the blue to get lighter and clearer, you can also hop over to Neil Island with pristine seawater. Both these islands are great spots for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Hotel recommendation in the Andamans
We opted for SeaShell, both at Port Blair and at Havelock which is a 4-star hotel chain in the Andamans. In Port Blair, SeaShell has rooms with a sea view along with a rooftop restaurant with stunning views of the bay in the evenings, ideal for a drink as the sun goes down.
In Havelock, SeaShell has a beach resort layout with wooden cottages, a private beach, an in-house spa, approximately 3 restaurants offering different cuisines within its premises, and a dive shop for scuba divers at its beach. Overall, we had a really good experience with SeaShell including great vegetarian food for us.
If you want to spend a little more, there is also Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels at Port Blair and Taj Exotica Resort & Spa at Radhanagar Beach in Havelock.
Planning your local commute in the Andamans
In Port Blair, it is easier to hail a local auto, however, they generally do not go by a meter and you may have to negotiate to pay them. Alternatively, you can book a chauffeur-driven car through a local tour agency to have the car and driver at your disposal for most of your day. However, this can be expensive and I’d suggest you opt for it only for your airport drop and pick up if you have a lot of luggage and jetty drop and pick up for your ferries to Havelock or Neil Island if you have heavy bags.
In Havelock or Neil Island, most of your activities will be coordinated by the resort, however, you can opt for a travel agent for your to and from jetty commute with your luggage. If you want to visit other cafes, restaurants and beaches on the island, you can opt for an auto that your hotel watchman can easily arrange for you.
Fun fact: A lot of restaurants in Havelock also offer free pick up and drop service, especially in the evening to a few hotels to attract guests as local commute can get challenging on the island. However, the free rides operate in slots which you may want to confirm by calling the restaurant.
You may want to book your day trips end-to-end with a travel agent for a more seamless and hassle-free experience. We booked our day trip to Baratang Island along with our airport and jetty commutes with Andaman Oceans who can be reached at +91-7063934042.
Andamans trip cost for a couple
A 5-night, 6-day Andamans trip for a couple will cost your anywhere between INR 1-2 lakhs depending on airfare, choice of hotel, choice of local commute, choice of restaurants and activities you opt for.
The flights, food, and local commute can be achieved for close to INR 50,000 and the rest depends on your choice of hotel, the season you travel, and the activities you book. For example, if you are scuba diving or going for the PADI open water diver course then all those would be your add-ons.
Last word
Andamans is a budget-friendly island retreat and you can scale it up to affordable luxury depending on your choice of hotel. It is ideal for young couples or for couples with young children as there isn’t a lot of walking or sightseeing and you can unwind at a good resort and watch the 6 AM sunrise and wrap up your day with an early sunset with everything going pitch black by 7 PM.
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