Asia's best beaches, world-class snorkelling, and India's most underrated island destination — the complete planning guide.
The Andaman Islands sit in the Bay of Bengal, 1,400km from the Indian mainland, but only 2 hours from Chennai and Kolkata by air. Here, within India, you will find beaches that rival Thailand and the Maldives — turquoise water, white sand, and coral reefs teeming with life. Radhanagar Beach on Havelock Island was ranked Asia's best beach by Time magazine. The waters around Neil Island have coral gardens with sea turtles and reef sharks visible without scuba equipment. No passport required. No foreign exchange. Just India's most spectacular island scenery.
October–May (Best Season): The tourist season when seas are calm, visibility for snorkelling and diving is excellent, and all ferry routes are operational. October–November: post-monsoon freshness, excellent weather, fewer crowds. December–March: peak season, busiest and most expensive — book ferries and hotels 4–6 weeks ahead. April–May: getting rough towards end but still manageable.
June–September (Monsoon): Southwest monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas. Ferries between islands are frequently cancelled. Most water activities suspended. Not recommended.
By Air: Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair. Direct flights from Chennai (2 hrs), Kolkata (2 hrs), Delhi (3.5 hrs), Mumbai (3 hrs), Bengaluru (2.5 hrs). IndiGo, Air India, Go First operate routes. Book 6–8 weeks ahead — Andaman flights are limited and sell out quickly in peak season.
By Ship: From Chennai, Kolkata, or Visakhapatnam. Takes 3–4 days. Interesting experience but very slow — not recommended as primary transport.
Port Blair (South Andaman): The capital and main entry point. Cellular Jail (Kala Pani) — the colonial prison where India's freedom fighters were incarcerated, with a moving Sound and Light show. Ross Island ruins. Corbyn's Cove beach. North Bay Island for snorkelling. Most travelers spend 1 day in Port Blair before heading to the outer islands.
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep): The crown jewel of the Andamans. Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7) — Asia's best beach with 2km of white sand and calm turquoise water. Elephant Beach — the best snorkelling accessible from shore. Emerald Gecko (top dive centre). Havelock deserves 2–3 nights minimum.
Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep): The quietest and most beautiful of the main islands. Natural Rock Bridge. Bharatpur Beach — calm water, excellent for swimming. Laxmanpur Beach — outstanding sunset. Small, manageable, peaceful. 1–2 nights recommended.
The government ferry between Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil Island must be booked weeks in advance during peak season (December–March). This is the most common mistake made by independent Andaman travelers — assuming they can book ferries on arrival. They cannot during peak season. Private speedboats are faster (1 hour to Havelock vs 2.5 hours on the government ferry) but significantly more expensive. We handle all ferry bookings as part of every Andaman package — this alone is a major reason to book through an operator rather than independently.
Andaman is one of India's best snorkelling and diving destinations. Water visibility: 15–25 metres in peak season.
Best snorkelling spots: Elephant Beach (Havelock) — accessible by boat, excellent coral and fish without scuba. North Bay Island (Port Blair). Bharatpur Beach (Neil Island).
Scuba diving: Excellent sites around Havelock and the Ritchie's Archipelago. Dive India and Barefoot Scuba are the most reputed dive operators on Havelock. PADI Open Water course available — 3–4 days.
Beginner tip: Glass-bottom boat tours at North Bay and Elephant Beach give excellent marine life views without snorkelling or diving.
Fresh seafood dominates — the Andamans have outstanding fish, prawns, lobster, and crab at reasonable prices. Must try: Grilled fish at a beach restaurant, prawn curry, and crab masala. Most hotels and beach restaurants serve both seafood and vegetarian options. Vegetarians can eat well — rice, dal, and vegetable curries are always available but the cuisine is primarily seafood-oriented.
Budget per couple, 6 days, excluding flights:
The Andamans are India's most undervisited outstanding destination. Radhanagar Beach is genuinely one of Asia's finest. The snorkelling at Elephant Beach is world-class. The lack of crowds compared to Goa, the cleanliness of the water, and the island experience without international travel make it extraordinary value. Every Indian who wants a beach holiday should visit the Andamans at least once before going to Bali or Thailand.