Plan my tour to Andaman and Nicobar Island

Andaman and Nicobar placed in between Indian ocean and Bay of Bengal is filled with treasure of coral reefs, biggest and largest carbs and turtles, wide variety of habitant waterbodies like Dugong, Birgus latro, century’s old history during British Raj, World War 2 and to Rs. 20 Indian note with image of Indira point, Island has left its mark. But still remains covered, untouched and one of most mysterious perversde secret of India.

Andaman and Nicobar encompass of total 572 inlands with only 36 open for tourist whereas Nicobar has no access to tourist…Hence a well-kept Secret

Inspired by Malay language Andaman gets its name after Hanuman and Nicobar is land of Naked

Andaman and Nicobar Island in a single sentence is a ‘whole different world’ unlike any other place.

Best time to visit Andaman is between November to April when the sky is clear and blue so is the water. The pristine clear and sparkling blue water which enables one to see the underwater bodies like coral reefs and colorful fishes from the bay of the island 

So I am here to share my experience and help you plan your tour to Andaman and Nicobar Island

There are plethora of websites which you can scroll through, blogs you can read through, travelers you speak to, there are many packages available from you can choose to. But important is when you have taken your time and money out from your busy schedule. It is of utmost importance, that you invest your energy and time explore the right spots. No miss on the Must see!!

Hence to ensure that one can plan ones tour from whichever source. It is important to know the Must See List (MSL)

MSL that’s what I call it (check below)

An MSL would mention the more irresistible places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Island failing which your tour might seem incomplete. 

Following the MSL would help you while selecting a tour package or while customizing your tour plan according to your number of days available and zeal to explore the most!!

TA (Tag Along) is also an important parameter which one needs to consider while planning a tour. As an Adage goes “It’s not the place but the people that matters”. Similarly it is not what package you take it is about whether a specific package will help all your TA to enjoy the tour completely

So let’s get on with it  

But the most important thing that one needs to remember and follow to save real time and money is to have a planned itinerary and pre bookings done for Makruzz. As water way is the only way to travel different island in Andaman

MSL – 7 Night 8 day package 

TA – Backpackers and Friends

Objective – Adventure, Thrill, Economical, Juggadu types

Day 1 – Port Blair local sightseeing Cellular Jail

There are 2 ways, reach Port Blaire by air way OR water way. Ships are available from Chennai, Kolkata and Vishakhapatnam to Port Blaire or Reach Veer Savarkar International airport in Port Blaire. The tour to Andaman begins in the flight only before landing. Which gives a beautiful breath-taking aerial view of the complete Andaman and Nicobar Island. It’s a view worth every penny spend on the flight ticket.

Reach Port Blaire around afternoon as there are selected flights. Prefer to book a hotel near Port Blaire Phoenix Bay jetty. After a quick Lunch and rest step out by 2.30pm to explore Port Blaire. Rent a vehicle from the Hotel or airport to visit the local sightseeing places in Port Blaire. While you rest ask the tourist guide to book the ticket for an evening show of around 6pm or 7.15pm for the Cellular Jail Sound and Light show.

Cellular Jail also known as Kala Pani was a colonial prison used by the British especially to exile political prisoners to the remote archipelago in the Island. The prisoners were tortured through various means and ways by British jailors. The screams and the revolt of prisoners can still be felt in the dark cells of the Jail.

Many notable dissidents such as Batukeshwar Dutt, Yogendra Shukla and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, among others, were imprisoned here during the struggle for India's independence. Today, the jail serves as a national memorial monument

TIMINGS FOR CELLULAR JAIL & JAIL MUSEUM:

09:00 AM to 12:30 PM, 01:30 PM to 04:45 PM (Open all days except national holidays)

Entry Fee (INR):30/-, Camera: 200/-, Video Camera:1000/-, Film shooting per day with prior permission  10000/-

 

Timing of SOUND & LIGHT SHOW AT CELLULAR JAIL

The saga of the heroic freedom struggle, brought alive in a motion, in the Cellular Jail, is very popular among the tourists. Two Hindi shows on all days at 6:00 pm and at 7:15 pm except on Monday, Wednesday & Friday when second show is in English at 7:15 pm. Entry fee for Adult is 50/- (INR)

After an amazing experience and getting yourself enlightenment about the history. Time to go early to bed and prepare for a long Day 2

Day 2 – Wandoor beach, Jolly Bouy, Sunset at Chidyatapu

Say good morning by 6am sounds early…. Don’t worry Sunrises by 5 am in Andaman. Have heavy breakfast

Step out and move towards like Wandoor beach by 7 am. It will take around 45 min to reach Wandoor beach from there take a ferry to Jolly Bouy Island. It will take around 45 min from ferry to reach Jolly Bouy

One of the cleanest Island in Andaman. And a no miss on the List. As soon as you land on the Island you will feel the serene and tranquillity of the place. The soothing breeze will kiss you and move ahead. The island is rich in corals and one will not be able to hold oneself from not going in the water. Spend 3-4 hours on the Island enjoy the natural coconut water and fruits served on the Island. Jolly Bouy is also an ideal place to do water activities like snorkelling

Being the cleanest and to maintain the reputation you won’t be allowed to food on the Island and definitely not throw waste on the beach. Jolly Bouy gets definite entry into the MSL

Return to Wandoor Beach by 4pm visit Chidyatapu and soak yourself in the melting sun and oneness of water and sun. Enjoy the sunset at Chidyatapu

Return back to the hotel and Port Blaire and Enjoy the rest of the evening with some wine and delicious dinner at the hotel. As most of the shops and restaurants shut by 7.30-8 pm in Andaman

Day 3 – Havelock Island visit Radha nagar beach

Start early from Port Blaire pack your Bags and go to Phoenix bay by 9am take a Maxcruzz to Havelock Island. Reach Havelock by 11 am visit the hotel, freshen up, Lunch, Rest and Leave for Radhanagar Beach. One can rent a bike from the hotel for local sightseeing

Radhanagar Beach garners a spot as one of the longest and most beautiful beach in India. With white sand and clear blue water a blissful experience sitting on the shore and listening to the waves roar. Seeing the sun warmth melt in the water is a mesmerising experience. This experience can only be felt. Radhanagar Beach is MSL in Andaman List

Return to the hotel and enjoy the view of Indian Ocean with some beer. Lying under the arms of clear sky and starts

Day 4- Scuba Diving and Elephant Island

Start your day early by 6am to enjoy water sports like Scuba and Sea walking. Scuba is a MSL in Andaman. It’s a no miss for water lovers. Starting Scuba early in morning will ensure you get see undisturbed corals, fishes and other water bodies

After an hour of scuba session wrap up by 8 am and leave for Elephant Island. Reach Havelock dock and take a ferry for Elephant Island and 15-20 min ferry. The boat ride passes through a light house

The unique part of Elephant Island is its turquois water, lush green trees and the corals that starts at a depth of less than a meter and can be seen from the shore. Hence an ideal place for snorkelling

Spend 3-4 hours at the Island enjoy the landscape be at leisure, talk a walk along the beach, enjoy Banana boat, one can also carry beach ball and have a fun time amidst beautiful Island

Return back to Havelock Island and spend the night at the hotel

Day 5 – Neil Island, Hawrah Natural Coral bridge

From Havelock take a Macruzz to Neil Island. As the name suggested Neil means Blue. The water of this island is Royal Blue

Neil Island is amongst the smallest Island of Andaman with limited amenities. I mean there are no ATM’s on this Island and sunsets by 4.30 pm means no night life...But Neil has its own charm that one who goes on the island can't escape it...

From the minute you arrive at the port one will fall in love with the Island. The water is one which will pull you towards itself and the corals can be seen clearly from the Bay

Reach the hotel and move to visit Hawrah Natural Bridge of dead corals found in Neil Island

A huge area which has small ponds with coral and fishes. This is one of the most spectacular place for all the photographer. A definite no miss, an MSL for photographer to capture dramatic pictures of the Island and the Coral Bridge

While on your way back one can visit nearby beaches Bharatpur and Lakhanpur beach

Day 6 – Ross Island

From Neil Island take the 1st Macruzz to Port Blaire and reach Port Blaire within 2 hours. Reach the Hotel in Port Blaire have breakfast and leave for Ross Island.

From Port Blaire reach Aberdeen Jetty and take a ferry to Ross Island which takes around 20 min to reach. Ross Island a perfect place to revisit the history and heritage during British Raj and got its name after Sir Daniel Ross.

Ross Island served as administrative headquarters in Post Blaire equipped with all modern amenities such as Bakery, Bazaar, Stores, Water treatment plant, Church, Tennis court, Swimming pool, Printing press, Secretariat, Hospital and Cemetery. One can still find the ruins of the old bungalows build by British.

The Island has its own charm and mysterious stories associated and also known as Ghost Island. Visiting Ross Island would take around 3-4 hours and trust me you won’t even realise how the time fly’s.

But yes everyone has to return back before the sunsets not just the tourist but also localities as no one can stay back in Ross Island

The Island has to be visited failing which Andaman tour is incomplete. A definite MSL

Return to the hotel by evening and go to bed to prepare for a long day

Day 7 – Baratang and Limestone Caves

Say good morning by 4am Starting early by 5am and enjoy the scenic beauty of the long stretch ATR (Andaman Trunk Road).

Once you start from Port Blair early morning at around 4 am, the first halt is at Jirkatang (40 kms from Port Blair on road). 

At Jirkatang you will get a forest/police check post. The vehicles have to leave in convoys. There are 4 convoys throughout the day from Jirkatang (6 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 2.30 pm). So please take care of the timings. You cannot cross the forest unless you are in one of the convoys

From here starts a stretch of 49kms forest (Jarwah Reserve Forest), where you cannot halt your vehicle or walk on foot or take snaps/video. On the other end of the Jarwah Reserve forest is Middle strait jetty. The jetty will take you to the other side of the strait in about 15 minutes. Here you have reached Baratang islands

This is one of the most exciting part of journey, where you will see the tribes (Jarwah). (This is a shocking example of the human safaris that take place in the Andamans, where tourists drive through the Jarawa's forest trying to 'spot' them.

Jarwah are aborigines with only a small population of 500-600 known to have hailed from Africa many centuries back.

Once you reach at Baratang take a jetty/ speed boat to Limestone Caves. The boat journey through the heart of dense mangrove forest is simply breath-taking. The boat ride here is a lifetime experience for some to sail in Bay of Bengal

The tourist guide will help you understand the formations of Limestone Caves. Spend around 2 hours at the caves and take a tour back in the speed boat to Baratang to join the convoy

If Baratnag and Limestone is on your tour list take out complete day for this tour without clubbing any other activity with it

Return back to the hotel and take a hot water bath

Day 8 – Shopping

Start your day late have breakfast and check out from Port Blaire. Hire a vehicle to visit local Anthropological museum. The tour to the museum will helps one to understand complete heritage, culture and history related to Andaman. A non regret MSL

The local shop for souvenirs made of corals, shells are must have for back home. Reach Veer Savarkar International airport in Port Blaire

Finally say bye to Andaman and take a flight back to your hometown after a long on the go tour!!!

Talking about MSL its very difficult to select as every spot, Island has its own story, heritage and reason to be visited however, some spots which are non-negotiable are

MSL:

1. Cellular Jail
2. Jolly Bouy (Sea walk)
3. Havelock Island (Scuba diving)
4. Radha Nagar Beach
5. Ross Island
6. Hawrah Natural Bridge
7. Anthroplogical Museum 

There are many more permutation combination that are possible and can be done according to your preference and group which will be posted shortly

Have any specific questions/queries or need a planned cost estimate for a budgeted tour. Send your queries on planmytourto@gmail.com

Have views, feedback and suggestions you are welcome!!

Cheers have a superb tour and write back your experiences would love to hear!!