Andaman 2026: Havelock, Neil & Port Blair Complete Guide
Quick answer: The Andaman trio of Port Blair, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), and Neil (Shaheed Dweep) delivers India’s clearest turquoise waters. Snorkel or scuba at Elephant Beach, watch sunset at Radhanagar (Asia’s best beach), and ferry-hop to Neil’s Bharatpur reef. October to May offers calm seas and visibility. A 6-night couple trip costs around Rs 80,000 including ferries, beach resorts, and one scuba intro dive.
Andaman has become the post-Covid honeymoon and family trip everyone wants to do, and 2026 is shaping up to be its busiest year yet. Direct flights from Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Delhi have multiplied, ferries are running on schedule again, and the rupee-friendly mix of beaches, scuba and seafood (with surprisingly good vegetarian options) keeps drawing crowds away from cheaper Bali trips.
This guide is for the first-timer who wants to do Port Blair, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep) without messing up ferry bookings or wasting a day at the ATR check-post. It is not for hardcore divers chasing Barren Island, or backpackers planning Diglipur and Little Andaman — those need a different kind of planning and at least 12 days.
Getting there
Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) at Port Blair is the only entry point. As of 2026, IndiGo, Air India Express and SpiceJet run direct flights from Chennai (MAA, 2 hours), Kolkata (CCU, 2 hours 15 mins), Bengaluru (BLR, 3 hours 15 mins) and Delhi (DEL, 5 hours 15 mins with a tech stop or non-stop on select days). Return fares in 2026 hover between Rs 11,000 and Rs 22,000 if you book 45 days out; last-minute December tickets cross Rs 28,000.
The old Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for Indian citizens was scrapped in 2018, so you do not need any permit to land at IXZ. However, certain protected tribal zones (Jarawa Reserve transit on ATR, Strait Island, North Sentinel) still need state-issued PAP and most are off-limits to tourists anyway. Carry an Aadhaar/passport for hotel check-in and ferry boarding — it is checked every single time.
Day-by-day itinerary (6 days)
Day 1 — Port Blair arrival. Land by noon, drop bags at a hotel near Aberdeen Bazaar. Head to Cellular Jail by 4 pm for the Light and Sound show (Rs 300 for adults, English show at 7:15 pm is better attended). Dinner at Annapurna Cafeteria for South Indian thali.
Day 2 — Ross Island and North Bay. Book the combined boat ticket (around Rs 750) from Aberdeen Jetty. Ross has the ruined British colonial buildings and tame deer; North Bay is where you can try the basic 20-minute scuba try-dive for Rs 3,500-4,000. Catch the 4 pm ferry to Havelock (Makruzz Gold/Green or Green Ocean 2, Rs 1,400-2,200 economy, 90 minutes). Check in at Havelock and walk to Beach No. 3 for sunset.
Day 3 — Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7). Hire a scooter for Rs 500/day or take a shared taxi (Rs 200 per head). Reach by 8 am to beat the crowd. The white-sand stretch genuinely is Asia’s best beach — bring a hat because there is no shade after 11 am. Lunch at Full Moon Cafe. Afternoon: try scuba diving at Elephant Beach with companies like Barefoot Scuba or DIVEIndia (Rs 4,500 for a beginner shore dive, Rs 6,500 for a boat dive, all gear included).
Day 4 — Havelock to Neil. Morning kayaking through mangroves with Andaman Kayak Tours (Rs 2,500 for a 2-hour sunrise paddle). Take the 1 pm ferry to Neil (Rs 1,100-1,800, 60 minutes). Neil is smaller and quieter. Cycle to Bharatpur Beach for snorkelling (Rs 500 with mask and fins) and Laxmanpur for sunset.
Day 5 — Neil Island full day. Sunrise at Sitapur (Beach No. 5) — the eastern tip, very few people. Glass-bottom boat at Bharatpur for non-swimmers (Rs 500). Natural Bridge at low tide — check the tide chart at your hotel, it is dry only 3 hours a day. Evening ferry back to Port Blair (book the 4:30 pm Makruzz, Rs 1,500).
Day 6 — Chidiya Tapu and departure. If your flight is after 3 pm, do an early-morning trip to Chidiya Tapu (30 km from town) for the biological park and Munda Pahar viewpoint. Stop at Corbyn’s Cove on the way back. Lunch and IXZ drop.
Where to stay
Port Blair: Hotel Sentinel and Hotel TSG Emerald View are reliable mid-range options at Rs 3,500-5,500 per night for 2026. Splurge at Fortune Resort Bay Island (Rs 9,000-12,000). Budget travellers should try Aparupa Resorts or Megapode Nest (state tourism property).
Havelock: Symphony Palms and TSG Blue Resort sit at the Rs 8,000-14,000 range with breakfast. Munjoh Ocean Resort is the splurge pick at Rs 18,000-25,000. Backpackers — Holiday Inn Beach Resort (no relation to the chain) and Pellicaan Resort run dorms and cottages at Rs 1,800-3,000.
Neil: Summer Sands, Pearl Park Beach Resort and SeaShell Neil are the steady mid-range choices at Rs 5,500-9,000. The island has very limited luxury — Taj Exotica is on Havelock side, not Neil.
Common mistakes
- Booking ferries on the day. Makruzz, Green Ocean and Nautika sell out 7-10 days in advance during peak season (October to April). Use makruzz.com and greenoceanseaways.com directly — agents charge Rs 300-500 extra.
- Underestimating ATR closures. Although tourists rarely use the road route to Diglipur, the Andaman Trunk Road closes for Jarawa convoy timings and weather. Stick to ferries.
- Visiting in June-August. Monsoon is severe. Ferries cancel, scuba shuts down, and you will spend three days in your hotel room. Best window: November to early March.
- Skipping travel insurance for scuba. Most diving deaths in Andaman involve uninsured tourists with hidden cardiac issues. Buy a basic plan that covers PADI activities — costs Rs 600-1,000 for the trip.
- Carrying too much cash. ATMs in Havelock and Neil run out by evening. UPI works at almost all restaurants and dive shops now. Carry Rs 10,000 cash as buffer, that’s it.
Vegetarian food
Andaman is not a vegetarian wasteland the way Goa often is. Annapurna Cafeteria in Aberdeen Bazaar does proper Tamil-style sambar rice, masala dosa and curd rice for Rs 150-250. Icy Spicy near Cellular Jail is decent for North Indian thalis. On Havelock, Something Different and Full Moon Cafe both have dedicated vegetarian menus — try the paneer tikka pizza and Israeli shakshuka (egg, but skippable). Anju-Coco at Beach No. 5 (Havelock) does Jain food on request. On Neil, Garden View Restaurant and Dugong are the safe picks for sabzi-roti-dal. Local sweets like coconut barfi are easy to find at Sippy Downtown shops in Port Blair.
Money, SIM and connectivity
Jio and Airtel have post-paid and prepaid coverage in Port Blair and most of Havelock town. BSNL still reaches further corners. Data is slow — expect 4G that behaves like 3G. Wi-Fi at hotels is patchy; do not plan to work remotely. ATMs of SBI, ICICI and Axis are in Port Blair; Havelock has 2-3 ATMs that often go dry. UPI works at most decent restaurants. International cards work at premium resorts only.
Packing checklist
- Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50 (the regular kind is now banned at some beaches in 2026)
- Quick-dry shorts, rash guard, two swimsuits
- Floaters plus one closed shoe for the Cellular Jail walk
- Dry bag (Rs 400 in Decathlon) for ferry rides
- GoPro or basic underwater camera
- Mosquito repellent — Odomos is enough
- Basic medicine kit: Avomine for ferry sickness, ORS, Combiflam
- Power bank — boat trips drain phones fast
FAQs
Do Indians need any permit for Andaman? No. The RAP for Indian citizens ended in 2018. Foreign nationals still need a permit at IXZ.
Is scuba safe for non-swimmers? Try-dives at North Bay and Elephant Beach are conducted in 6-8 metres with one-on-one instructor support. Anyone in basic health can do it.
Can I do Andaman in 4 days? Yes, but you will spend half of it on ferries. 6 days is the sweet spot. 8 days adds Neil Island properly plus Baratang limestone caves.
How much does a 6-day Andaman trip cost for 2 people in 2026? Realistic range: Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.4 lakh, excluding flights.
Are credit cards accepted? At hotels and Makruzz yes. At restaurants and small dive shops, UPI is more reliable.
Is alcohol available? Yes, at licensed hotels and beach shacks. Dry day on the 1st of each month.
Sample budget breakdown (per person, 6 days, mid-range)
- Flights from Bengaluru/Chennai (return): Rs 14,000
- Hotels (5 nights, twin-sharing): Rs 18,000
- Ferries (4 legs, Makruzz economy): Rs 6,000
- Local transport, scooter, taxis: Rs 3,500
- Food (6 days): Rs 5,500
- Scuba (1 boat dive + 1 try dive): Rs 9,000
- Sightseeing tickets (Cellular Jail, Ross-North Bay, museums): Rs 2,500
- Buffer: Rs 4,000
- Total: approximately Rs 62,500 per person
