5 DAYS IN ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS – TRAVEL GUIDE

A week time is perfect to explore Andaman and Nicobar Islands in leisure. However, we enjoyed a lot in 5 days (4 N / 5 D) journey skipping a few places in our itinerary.

We don’t prefer to travel through tour packages as it gets weird sometimes. I did some research about the places that we wanted to see in Andaman and planned the trip accordingly. We checked with a few of our friends who have been to Andaman and took their help before we started with our bookings.

I would say that the best time to visit Andaman would be between Dec – Feb months. Because, we planned our trip in the first week of November and it didn’t favor us to visit a few islands as it gets too cloudy or canceled due to bad weather. In Andaman, the day ends by 5:30 PM and dusks quickly dissolves into pitch dark. So we had to start early in the morning to hop islands in order to keep up with our ferry timings.

Planning a trip to Andaman? Book an early flight to Port Blair! We have an Air India flight from Chennai at 05:05 AM and arrives Port Blair at 07:20 AM. In just two hours, you’ll land in the beautiful paradise. Our trip covered three nights in Port Blair and One night in Havelock Island.

Day 1: Ross Island, Cellular Jail, Corbyn’s cove – Port Blair

Arrive to Port Blair, check into your hotel. Rent a bike and reach Rajiv Gandhi water sport complex at 9 AM. Get a boat ride to Ross Island. It is located at a distance of 2 Kms away from Port Blair.

Boat ride costs Rs. 700 (to and fro) and they give only one hour to walk around the island. It isn’t enough to explore. You need at least 2 – 3 hours fully to explore the island in leisure. Talk to few operators before you board the boat. Entry ticket to the Island costs Rs. 30. It’s closed on Wednesday.

Viper Island is a small island with ruins of jails and gallows built during British colony. North Bay is only meant for water sport rides and nothing much. Havelock Island is the best place for all water sport rides. Pristine white sandy beach and turquoise water offers much visibility with live corals. These two islands can be avoided as it may disappoint you.

Post your lunch at Port Blair start to Cellular Jail around 1:30 PM.

Entry tickets are Rs. 30 per head and additional Rs. 200 for camera. It’s open on all days except on Mondays and on national holidays. Timing: 9 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 5 PM

Then, head to Corbyn’s cove beach around 4 PM and spend your day until dusk.

Take a look at this post: Unrivalled beauty of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Day 2: Limestone caves, Baratang Island

This would be a long arduous journey of 12 hours, so start early by 2 AM in the morning.

Refer this post: Hidden Treasures – Limestone Caves, Baratang Island

Day 3: Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island

After breakfast at the hotel, start to Port Blair – Phoenix Bay Jetty to board your ferry to Havelock Island. You could also book in Makruzz, that’ll take you in 90 minutes to Havelock Island. The first ferry starts at 8:15 AM.

As you reach Havelock Island, check into your hotel and relax. You’ve full day to explore the beautiful island! By noon, start hanging around the beaches of the island or just go to Radhanagar beach and spend until evening.

Take a look at these posts: Pristine Paradise – Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island and Scuba Diving at Neemo’s Reef, Havelock Island

Day 4: Elephant Beach, Havelock Island

Start your day early to visit sunrise at Kalapathar Beach.

Have breakfast at your hotel and then start to Elephant Beach from Havelock jetty. You could also trek through forest just before Radhanagar beach to reach Elephant Beach.

You could enjoy all water sport activities here as the water is crystal clear with colorful fishes and live corals. Go for deep snorkeling instead of complimentary snorkeling. Jet Ski, scuba diving, sea walking and glass bottom boat ride are the best to try over here. There’s not a much difference between scuba diving and sea walking, so we chose only scuba diving. People with medical illness aren’t allowed for scuba diving and sea walking. Banana boat ride, sofa ride didn’t fantasy us.

See this post: High on adventure – Elephant Beach, Havelock Island

If you are taking the boat ride, only 3 hours will be given and you’ll be taken back to Havelock jetty around 1:30 PM. You can then board your ferry to Port Blair and stay overnight in Port Blair

Day 5: Depart Port Blair

Post your breakfast at the hotel, you could spend some time in shopping and relax yourselves in a beach (We went to Chidiya Tapu, you could skip this and go to Wandoor Beach) before you head to the Airport.

We have a Spice Jet flight from Port Blair at 14:45 PM and arrives Chennai at 17:00 PM. We missed Diglipur and Neil Island from our trip due to time constraint.

If you’re planning for a week trip, then the below schedule helps…

It covers Port Blair (3 nights), Diglipur (2 nights), Havelock (1 Night), and Neil Island (1 night)

Day 1: Ross Island, Cellular Jail, Corbyn’s cove – Port Blair

Refer above scheduled day 1 itineraries from our 5 days trip.

Day 2: Limestone caves, Baratang Island

Start to Baratang Island early in the morning and visit limestone caves. Post your lunch at Baratang, you could start to Diglipur and stay there for a night. It’ll take five and half hour to reach Diglipur.

Day 3: Ross and Smith Island, Diglipur

Take a day trip to Ross and Smith Island – Twin Islands of Andaman and it is the best of the itineraries. Its 20 minutes shared boat ride from Aerial Bay jetty. You need to take permit from Forest department; the counter is available close to the jetty. Check with your helmsman and he’ll guide you through bookings. Only 3 hour will be given to tour the island and night stay is not available. Post your lunch you could visit Lamiya Bay Beach, Kalipur Beach which is famous for Olive riddley turtle nesting. You could stay in Diglipur for another night, so that you could opt for bus ride or else you could take ferry from Diglipur to Port Blair.

Day 4: Return journey from Diglipur to Port Blair

Start early in the morning from Diglipur to board a STS bus at 5 AM or from Aerial Bay Jetty at 7 AM to reach Port Blair. There are private buses also available. Book your tickets in advance. It’ll take 8 hours to reach Port Blair and you could stay in Port Blair for a night

Day 5: Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island

Refer above scheduled day 3 & 4 itineraries from our 5 days trip.

Day 6: Elephant Beach, Havelock Island & Neil Island

Post your lunch, start to Neil Island. Ferries are available from Havelock. Book your ferry tickets in advance. Stay there for a night.

Day 7:  Sir Hugh Rose Island, Neil Island

Start early to visit Sir Hugh Rose Island upon obtaining permission from Forest Department. Explore Lakshmanpur (Right of Neil island jetty), Bharatpur (Left of Neil Island jetty) and Sitapur beaches. Rental cycles are available to tour the island.

Ferries are available directly from Neil Island to Port Blair. We have Makruzz and govt. ferry at 4 PM. Stay in Port Blair for a night. You could go for some shopping at Aberdeen Bazaar.

Day 8:  Depart Port Blair

Post your breakfast at the hotel and start to the Airport. We have Air India flight at 8 AM and arrives Chennai at 10 AM.

Book all your tickets in advance for a hassle-free trip to Andaman Islands.

Fact File:

Location: Andaman and Nicobar Island is 1,190 Km from Chennai and it is one of the union territory of India.
Best time to visit: December – March. There will be very little sea sickness during Jan – Apr.
How to get there:

• By air – There are direct flights from Chennai to Port Blair is available at a duration of 2 hours 15 minutes.
• By Sea – Cruise from Chennai Port is also available which takes approximately 60 hours to reach Port Blair port. Those who have sea sickness will find it difficult to travel throughout the ship journey. It is advisable to choose flights.

Getting Around: Rental cars and Bikes are available. Do carry your driving license with you.
Where to stay: There are plenty of accommodations available for lesser budget to luxurious resorts. Even government accommodations are available and it has to be pre-booked.
Currency Preferred: Indian Rupee (INR) everywhere.

Here are 14 best Andaman travel tips that’ll help you on your first trip.

Enjoy your journey to the emerald islands of India!!

With Luv,