Things to Do in the Andaman Islands: Beaches, Diving, History & Jungle Creeks

Spend a day at Radhanagar beach

Radhanagar (Beach No. 7) on Havelock is a long curve of white sand backed by tall forest, with calm, clear water for much of the season. Sunsets here are the most famous in the Andamans. Lifeguards are posted and flags mark safe areas.

Best time

Afternoon to sunset

Good for

Everyone

Things to do in Havelock Island

Snorkel at Elephant beach

Elephant beach on Havelock, reached by boat or a forest trek, has shallow reefs for snorkelling and water sports such as sea walking and jet skis.

Good for

Families, first-time snorkellers

See Neil Island's natural bridge

Neil (Shaheed Dweep) is a small, quiet island with a natural rock arch on the shore, reached at low tide, as well as calm Bharatpur beach, Laxmanpur for sunset and Sitapur for sunrise.

Things to do in Neil Island

Walk on the Ross and Smith sandbar

In the far north, near Diglipur, Ross and Smith islands are joined by a narrow sandbar with water on both sides. The area also has Saddle Peak, the highest point in the islands, and Kalipur beach, where turtles nest.

Diglipur guide

Scuba dive

The Andamans are one of India's best places to learn to dive. Havelock and Neil have many dive schools offering try dives for beginners and certification courses. Sites have coral, reef fish, turtles and occasionally rays. Choose operators affiliated with recognised agencies and check their safety record.

Best time

November to April

Good for

Beginners and certified divers

Snorkel and sea walk at North Bay

North Bay, a short boat ride from Port Blair, offers snorkelling, glass-bottom boat rides, sea walking and semi-submarine trips over coral. Its lighthouse appears on the old 20-rupee note.

North Bay guide

Snorkel at Jolly Buoy

Jolly Buoy, in the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near Wandoor, has some of the clearest water and healthiest coral near Port Blair. It is open in the dry season, with Red Skin island open in the monsoon. Plastic is strictly banned on the islands.

Good to know

Permits and limited numbers; no plastic

Jolly Buoy guide

Visit the Cellular Jail

The Cellular Jail, completed in 1906, held Indian freedom fighters in solitary cells; it was known as Kala Pani. Now a National Memorial, it has a museum and an evening light and sound show that tells its story.

Of the seven original wings, only three remain; the rest were demolished after independence. The museum inside lists the names of prisoners, and the gallows and the oil-mill yard where prisoners were forced to work are still preserved.

Time needed

2 hours plus the show

Things to do in Port Blair

Explore Ross Island

Ross Island, renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, was the British administrative headquarters until an earthquake in 1941 and the Japanese occupation. Its church, bakery and houses are now ruins wrapped in tree roots, with deer and peacocks wandering among them.

Ross Island guide

Visit Baratang's caves

Baratang, north of Port Blair, is reached on the Andaman Trunk Road through a tribal reserve in regulated convoys. A speedboat through a mangrove creek and a forest walk lead to limestone caves. A mud volcano and Parrot Island are nearby. Photography of and contact with the Jarawa people are strictly prohibited.

Time needed

Full day

Good to know

Very early start; strict rules in the reserve

Baratang guide

Watch sunset at Chidiya Tapu

Chidiya Tapu, at the southern tip of South Andaman, is known for its birdlife and sunsets. A short trek leads to Munda Pahar beach.

Chidiya Tapu guide

See bioluminescence

On dark, moonless nights, some beaches on Havelock glow with bioluminescent plankton. Guided night kayaking trips through mangroves are the best way to see it.

Best time

Moonless nights

Visit Long Island and Lalaji Bay

Long Island, in Middle Andaman, is a quiet island with a forest trek to Lalaji Bay, a secluded white-sand beach with clear water. Ferries are infrequent, so it suits travellers with time.

Surf at Little Andaman

Little Andaman, a long ferry ride south, has surf breaks, waterfalls in the forest and Butler Bay beach. Facilities are basic, and parts of the island are tribal reserve.

See Rangat and Mayabunder

On the drive north along the Andaman Trunk Road, Rangat has mangrove walkways and turtle nesting beaches, and Mayabunder has creeks and villages of Karen settlers from Myanmar.

Eat Andaman seafood

Grilled lobster, crab, prawns and reef fish are widely available, often cooked in Bengali or South Indian styles. Ask for the day's catch and agree prices first.

October to December

The seas calm after the monsoon, the islands are green, and it is a good time for diving and beaches. December is peak season with high prices.

January to April

Clear skies, calm water and the best visibility for diving and snorkelling. The most popular time for families and honeymooners.

May to September

The south-west monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas. Ferries and water sports are often cancelled, but prices drop and the forests are lush.

What are the best things to do in the Andaman Islands?

Relax at Radhanagar, dive and snorkel off Havelock and Neil, see the Cellular Jail and Ross Island, visit North Bay and Jolly Buoy, explore Baratang's caves and watch sunset at Chidiya Tapu.

How many days are enough for Andaman?

Five to seven days for Port Blair, Havelock and Neil; more for the north.

What is the best time to visit the Andamans?

October to May, when seas are calmer. November to April is best for diving.

Do Indians need a permit for the Andamans?

Indian citizens do not need a permit for the main tourist islands. Tribal reserves are off-limits.

Is Andaman good for a honeymoon?

Yes. Quiet beaches, sunsets at Radhanagar, try dives and island resorts on Havelock and Neil make it one of India's most popular honeymoon destinations.