Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Four reasons we keep coming back to Andaman & Nicobar Islands

When to come — month by month

Andaman has just two seasons — dry (October-May) and monsoon (June-September). Sea conditions matter as much as weather: in monsoon, inter-island ferries cancel frequently and scuba operators close several sites. The dry-season window is generous and reliable.

November through mid-March is the gold window — calm seas, all ferries running, all dive sites open. Avoid mid-June to mid-September entirely unless you specifically want fewer crowds at the cost of bad sea conditions. October is the underrated value month — rates are 30-40% below December but the weather has settled.

Getting there

Andaman is reached only by air or ship. Port Blair is the entry point; from there ferries connect to Havelock and Neil islands.

Sample journeys we run

Starting points, not templates. Every itinerary gets rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests.

What it costs

Andaman is more expensive than mainland Indian destinations because everything ships in. Pricing below is per person on twin-sharing, INR, excluding flights to Port Blair. Peak season (December-February, May) runs 30-40% above shoulder rates.

What isn't included: Port Blair flights (₹8,000-25,000 round-trip from mainland, higher from Delhi), scuba certification full PADI (₹22,000-28,000 for 4-day course beyond discover-dive), water sports add-ons at Elephant Beach (₹1,000-3,000 per activity), private boat charter to North Bay (₹4,000-8,000), Baratang Jarawa convoy entry permit (₹500). Photography fees at some sites. Tipping for dive instructors ₹500-1,000.

Permits we handle for you

Most of Andaman is open to Indian and foreign tourists without permits. Restricted areas (Nicobar Islands, Sentinel Island, Jarawa tribal reserve) are not accessible. Foreign nationals previously needed Restricted Area Permits (RAP) but these were relaxed in 2018; some specific districts still require RAP.

Indian nationals: no advance permit work needed. Foreign nationals visiting standard tourist islands: no permit, just standard immigration registration at hotels. For restricted-area-permit-required circuits, we apply 15+ days in advance through Andaman administration.

Bring the right layers

Andaman is tropical year-round — warm, humid, sun-intense, and wet in monsoon. Pack light fabrics and serious sun protection.

What you're walking into in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Andaman's permanent population (~400,000) is mostly Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and Punjabi settlers brought by the colonial and post-independence governments. There are also five indigenous tribal groups — Great Andamanese (population ~50), Onge, Jarawa, Sentinelese (uncontacted), Shompen — most of which are protected from outside contact. Tribal areas are strictly off-limits to visitors. Bengali is the most spoken language; Hindi works everywhere; English is fine in tourist areas.

Andaman is laid-back and tourist-friendly. Modest swimwear is fine at hotel pools but locals stay covered at most public beaches — bikinis at Radhanagar are common but Indian families on holiday may stare. Carry sarongs for transit and meals. Photography is fine except: never photograph indigenous tribal members under any circumstances (this is criminal); don't photograph the Jarawa convoy en route to Baratang (also restricted). Tipping: ₹100-200 for ferry crew, ₹500-1000 for dive instructors per certification, ₹50-100 for waiters. Alcohol available at hotel bars and licensed shops; beer most common. Andaman is dry on Cellular Jail visit days and during light-and-sound shows. Time zone is IST — same as mainland.

Questions we get all the time