Andaman Islands

The Andaman Islands are about 200 islands in the Bay of Bengal. They are part of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Only a handful are open to tourists. Almost all trips go through Port Blair, which has the airport and the ferry jetties. From there travellers move on to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) for Radhanagar Beach and scuba diving. Others go to Neil (Shaheed Dweep) for a slower pace and tidal rock formations. Baratang has limestone caves and mangrove creeks. Port Blair itself has the Cellular Jail memorial and Ross Island. The draw is water activities, coral snorkelling and long empty beaches. Most of the inland area is protected forest and tribal reserve. Mid-January to mid-May usually has the calmest seas and best visibility. The monsoon from late May disrupts ferries and diving. Ferries can be cancelled at short notice in rough weather, so keep a spare day at the end of the trip. A week lets you see Port Blair, Havelock and Neil without rushing.