Seahawks Scuba - How do I Travel to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of more than 572 Islands located southeast of mainland India in the Bay of Bengal. The remotely located Islands are blessed with diverse marine ecosystems, beautiful pristine beaches, and unmatched natural beauty. Multiple species of colourful coral reefs, unique sea dwellers, and a dense fish population in crystal clear waters make it a perfect destination for scuba diving in Andaman. The Islands attract lakhs of tourists every season to try recreational watersports, chill out at white sandy beaches, explore Andaman’s history, and relax in the tropical rainforest.

Port Blair, Havelock Island, and Neil Island are the top tourist attractions in the Andaman Islands. Tourists must plan a 7-day trip to cover all the popular Islands while Diglipur, Baratang, and Mayabandar are the extensions to the trip that will add a few more days to explore Andaman.

Considering, you are planning for a 7-day trip to the Andaman Islands. The break-up of each day tour is as follows.

Port Blair

Day 1

On day one, you will arrive at Port Blair. You can check in to your hotel and relax. After lunch, you can plan a trip to Chidiya Tapu and witness a beautiful sunset. On arrival, you can explore the local market of Port Blair, try seafood or local cuisine, and enjoy the nightlife.

Day 2

On day two, plan a trip to Ross and Northbay Island after breakfast. Try popular watersports at Northbay Island and visit Ross Island to grasp the history of British remnants. Wild deer are a popular attraction roaming on the Ross Island.

Post lunch, plan a trip to explore the popular museums, cellular Jail, and local sights of Port Blair. Post sunset, try delicious food at a popular restaurant or plan a dinner cruise at Port Blair.

Havelock Island

It is the most popular tourist Island in Andamans known for its diverse marine life, crystal clear waters, dense mangrove formations, best trekking routes, and tropical rainforests. Scuba diving in Havelock is the most prominent watersport amongst other activities.

Day 3

On day three, board an early morning ferry to Havelock Island. Check in to your hotel in Havelock, have breakfast, and relax for a while. Post lunch, plan a trip to Radhanagar Beach. Play, relax, swim on the beach, and witness a beautiful sunset at Radhanagar Beach. Post sunset, have delicious food at a popular local restaurant. Something different, Full Moon Cafe, Kathmandu Cafe, and Anju Coco are popular eateries in Havelock.

Day 4

Wake up early and visit Kala Phattar Beach to witness the enchanting sunrise views. After that, have breakfast and go for a refreshing scuba diving session, recommended watersport of the Island. Post scuba diving, visit Elephanta Beach to try numerous watersports in crystal clear waters. Trek to Elephanta Beach is recommended to have a feel of nature as well. Avoid trekking during monsoon season. If the time, you can again visit Radhanagar Beach to watch the sunset.

Neil Island

Day 5

Catch a morning ferry to Neil Island. Check in and relax. then, visit Bharatpur Beach to try numerous watersports. Visit Laxman Pur Beach to watch the sunset. Try local cuisine at night while sitting in a beachside cafe staring at blinking stars.

Day 6

Visit Natural Bridge, Sitapur Beach, and local sightseeing on Neil Island. Then catch an afternoon ferry to Port Blair. Explore the local shopping markets of Port Blair and purchase gifts for your loved ones.

Port Blair

Day 7

It is the last day of your Andaman trip. Pack your bags and travel to the Airport for morning departures.

Best ways to reach the Andaman Islands from mainland India

There are only 2 ways efficient and convenient ways to reach Andaman and Nicobar Islands from mainland India.

1. Waterways: Scheduled ships pile from the main ports of India I.e. Kolkata, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam to the Andaman Islands. It is the cheapest way and might take approximately 48–72 hours to reach Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman Islands. The ship transportation will cost INR 2600 to 10000 per person one way based on seat class. The prices might fluctuate as per availability and seasonal occupancy.

1. Airways: The major city airports of India I.e. Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Banglore have daily direct flights to Veer Savarkar International Airport located in Port Blair, Andaman Islands. It is the fastest way which takes 2 hours to reach the Andaman Islands. The air transportation will cost INR 8000 to 25000 per person one way based on seat class. The prices might fluctuate as per availability and seasonal occupancy.

Best options to travel within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Inter-Island Transportation

The term Inter-Island Transportation means travelling between 2 or more Islands. Ferries or speed boats are the only options to travel between 2 Islands in Andaman.

• Private ferry: It is the fastest available route for inter-island transportation. A private ferry takes around 90 minutes to pile between Port Blair to Havelock and Havelock to Neil Island. Nautika, Makruzz, Green Ocean, and ITT Majestic are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands private ferry operators. They usually pile amongst Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil Island. The cost of transportation starts from INR 1500 per person (one way) to travel between 2 Islands. The prices might fluctuate as per availability and seasonal occupancy.
  
  

• Government ferry: It is the cheapest and comparatively slow inter-island transportation mode. A Government ship usually takes 2.5 hours to pile between 2 Islands. MV Chouldari, MV Bambooka, MV North Passage, and MV Wandoor are the names of popular public-owned ferries in Andaman. The cost of transportation starts from INR 800 per person (one way) between 2 Islands.

Note: Helicopter services are also available for inter-island transportation but are mainly focused on medical and other emergency services.

Intra-Island Transportation

The term Intra-Island transportation means travelling within an Island. Private cabs, Autorickshaws, and buses are the best options to travel within an Island.

Private cabs: This is the most convenient way to explore local sightseeings on an Island. They give priority to tourists' comfort and prefer the best driving routes. Tourists can hire cabs for round trips, half-day or full-day as per requirements. Prices might fluctuate between INR 1200 to 4500 for booking 4 seater or 7 seater cabs.

Autorickshaws: It is the headache-free fastest travel mode to pile from one place to another on an Island. You can also hire Autorickshaws for round trip, half, and full day. It is a cheaper option than private cabs but with a limited seating capacity of 2–3 people. Prices might fluctuate between INR 250 to 3500 as per needs.

Bus: It is the cheapest way to travel between points on an Island. The drawbacks of the service are limited or fixed routes, time-consuming, fixed timings, and hassle and bustle while travelling. Budget travellers are good to go with this option while it is least recommended to tourists visiting for a limited time to the Andaman Islands. The ticket price from one point to another might be INR 25 to 50 per head.