It’s been more than three years I visited Andaman. However, I still remember every bit of my trip. Blue sky, the smell of the ocean, dancing reefs, sparkling sand, a place no less than paradise.
I visited Andaman in October 2016. It was a family trip, and we were a group of 10 people travelling together. Since we were travelling in a large group, we pre-booked our tour package to avoid any last-minute availability issues. The package included accommodation, transportation, meals and sightseeing that cost 15,000 INR per person approximately.
Tip: Make a list of all the activities that you want to do and keep a separate budget for them, ranging from 4,000 INR to 8,000 INR per person. Moreover, buy the tickets on the spot because of the ever-changing weather conditions.
Here’s a detailed itinerary of my trip where I share highlights of each place I visited along with some pictures and videos that I shot on my way.
Day 1: Reaching Andaman and Cellular Jail
We boarded an early morning flight, from IGI Airport New Delhi to Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman. It was a six-hour journey, with an hour-long layover at Visakhapatnam airport. We reached Port Blair at noon and headed to our hotel, which was quite close to the airport.
After having lunch at the hotel, we started our sightseeing. Cellular Jail was one of the main highlights of our day. The Jail complex was gigantic, with a marvellous view of the ocean. The architecture was brilliant but came with a nasty motive. Honestly, I could feel the pain while walking through the corridors, looking at the tiny cells strategically made to torture the political prisoners. We watched the Light and Sound Show that takes place every day in the evening. The narration was gripping and beautiful. On our way back we stopped by a local market.
Day 2: Ross Island and North Bay Island
We had two island visits planned for our second day. After having a delectable breakfast at the hotel, we headed to the Aberdeen jetty near the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports complex. Our boat ride was pre-booked and was time-bound.
I am a big fan of old buildings and historic sites, and Ross Island turned out to be my haven. We visited the smallest island of Andaman that was merely 20 minutes away from the capital city. We spent an hour strolling and clicking pictures around the island, exploring the highest and the lowest spots, playing with a herd of deer and feeding the birds.
After Ross Island, we headed to the neighbouring island North Bay for scuba diving. The island is popular among the tourists for its vast options of water activities. Half of our group went for a submarine boat ride, while the rest opted for scuba diving. It was an hour-long activity that included training time and diving. You can read about my experience here.
Day 3: Reaching Havelock Island and Radha Nagar Beach
We spent our next two days at the Havelock island, which is one of the most popular islands in Andaman. It is far from Port Blair and takes approximately 2 hours to reach.
After resting for a while, we headed to the Radha Nagar Beach. It is one of the biggest beaches in India, with pristine water surrounded by lush green forests. We enjoyed our time here, bathing in the high tides. After spending hours in the water, we then headed to the hawker market outside the main entrance to explore the shops and eat. I didn’t appreciate the washroom facility much as it was not very hygienic. Therefore, I would recommend carrying your toiletries and bathroom slippers.
Day 4: Vijay Nagar Beach and Elephant Beach
Bara
Since I am an early riser, I started my day at the Vijay Nagar Beach, watching a mesmerizing sunrise. After our breakfast, we headed to the Havelock port where a boat was waiting to take us to Elephant Beach. Another popular destinations for water sports.
We did a few water activities like Jet skiing and snorkelling. The coral reefs were so dense that we could see them from above. Two things that I didn’t like about the place were the shower area and the changing room. Both were poorly built and had safety issues. The day ended with a delicious meal at Barefoot Bar & Brasserie located next to the Havelock port.
Day 5: Baratang Island
Baratang Island is Andaman’s best-kept secret, famous for its natural wonders like the limestone cave and mud volcano. The trip to the island was strictly time-bound and involved several restrictions. We began our journey at 3 a.m. from Port Blair to Nilambur Jetty, which is the closest Jetty to Baratang Islands. A two-hour long bumpy ride took us to the transit gate of Andaman Trunk Road. The next two-hour journey was through a dense forest, thickly populated with Jarawa tribe. We were not allowed to eat, click pictures, or hold our phones during this journey.
After reaching the Nilambur Jetty, we hopped on a Ferry to reach Baratang Islands. We then headed to our first stop, the Mud Volcano that was 10 minutes drive away from the Jetty. Followed by a bumpy boat ride to the limestone caves. You can read about the complete experience here.
Day 6: Journey back home
There is no direct flight from Port Blair to Delhi. Therefore, the journey back home was long. We took an early morning flight from Port Blair until Chennai, where we had a 5-hour layover, and reached Delhi late evening.
It’s no surprise to why everyone calls this place a paradise, pristine beaches, excellent weather, abundant marine life, plenty of activities and great food. Head to the Andaman for an exalting experience!
Here’s a video to sum up my Andaman trip. Let me know what you think in the comments 🙂
