55 Best Things to Do in Andaman

Boasting of some of the most serene beaches, azure ocean waters and wonderful sites for diving, Havelock Islands is famed to be one of the most amazing tourist places in Andaman. The island boasts of many pristine places amidst its heavily forested landscape and charms the travellers with its most gorgeous natural surroundings. It is a dream come true for beach lovers who can visit the famous Radhanagar Beach, Kalapather Beach, Vijaynagar Beach and Elephant Beach here.

The landscape is truly beguiling and one can also look forward to indulge in activities like scuba diving, snorkelling and trekking when they are in Havelock Islands. Whether you are looking for adventure or wishing to soak in some tranquil moments to remember for a lifetime, Havelock Islands in Andaman is one of the most gorgeous places to be. One should try to visit Havelock Islands during the months from October to February as it is the best time to indulge in recreational activities. There are many beautiful hotels in Andaman, to provide the ultimate relaxation in holidays. Blessed with nature’s beauty, Havelock Islands is one of the perfect places for a beach vacation in Andaman.

Highlights: A few of the major highlights of Havelock Islands include snorkelling at Elephant Beach and watching the sunrise at Kalapather Beach. Another of the driving forces to visit Havelock Island is enjoying a kayak tour into the mangroves and witness the natural phenomenon of bioluminescence.

Activities:  Along with visiting the famous beaches like Radhanagar, Vijaynagar, Elephant and Kalapather, Havelock Island is famous for offering activities like beach combing, sunbathing, scuba diving, sea walk, snorkelling, surfing, swimming, game fishing, watching the sunset or sunrise, bird-watching, trekking, sailing, and kayaking.

Distance from Port Blair:  The island is at a distance of 41 km from the capital city, Port Blair.

A tiny island located to the south of Andaman is Neil Island, brimming with less explore marine diversity, coral reefs, long beaches and bewitching greenery. Being one of the tourist destinations in Andaman, Neil is so happy to become the host with revealing all that it has.

A romantically silent island unlike the hustle of Havelock Island, Neil Island is termed as the vegetable bowl of Andaman. A perfect place to simply relax and chill is the beaches here and the deserted shores are favourite to those who love to relax in utmost peace.

In two hours, one can explore the island by walking around. It got the name Neil after the British Brigadier General James Neill who stubbornly dealt with the rebels during the 1857 Mutiny. The rich cultivation of paddy is found in Neil Island that belongs to the Ritchies’ Archipelago between Havelock Island and Rose Island. 

Highlights: One of the major highlights of Neil Island is Neil Kendra, a beautiful curving bay full of white sand and holding the major jetty of the island made attracting by disarraying numerous colourful wooden fishing boats. Known to be the heart of the island, Neil Kendra has Bharatpur Beach on its left and Laxmanpur Beach on the right.

The richest collection of marine lives and coral reefs have given Neil Island the peculiarity of being one of the most thrilling scuba diving sites on the island. In addition to diving, Neil Island is home to those who love snorkeling, swimming, birding, cycling etc.

Activities: Glass bottom ride and snorkelling are the major activities available on Neil Island though there are enough opportunities to do diving and other prime adventure activities.

Distance from Port Blair: The island belongs to the South Andaman district is located about 36 km northeast from Port Blair.

Accommodations: Neil Island hotels and resorts in Neil Island.

If you are in the hunt for undiscovered gems of Andaman, Baratang Islands should definitely be on your list. It is known for its dense mangrove forests, exotic fauna and its ethnic population. A haven for shutterbugs, Baratang Islands is one of the most panoramic places to visit in Andaman. Even though it is slightly underdeveloped, Baratang Islands is where you can have your full dose of adventure. Tucked between South and Middle Andaman, Baratang Islands is a place which you will love if you like things untouched and unspoiled.

It is home to one of the oldest existing human races- the Jarawa tribe and many virgin beaches to let you bask in nature’s beauty. Some of the most exciting places to see in Baratang Islands include its gorgeous beaches, mangrove creeks, mud-volcanoes and mostly its limestone caves. It is one of the must visit tourist places in Andaman if you are a nature lover and wildlife enthusiast for the diversity of things it offers to the tourists. For a comforting stay after a day full of activities, you must check the resorts in Andaman.

Highlights: This island is one of the most striking places in Andaman for nature lovers as it offers myriad attractions like its limestone caves, mangrove creeks, tidal swamp forests and its interesting mud volcanoes.

Activities: Being a nature’s paradise, Baratang Island is a delight for witnessing nature at its best and involving yourself in activities like trekking and bird watching. One can indulge in boat riding through the mangrove forests and explore the limestone caves here. For the beach lovers, there in Baludera Beach where one can swimming and snorkeling.

Distance from Port Blair: Baratang Island is about 100 km away from the capital city, Port Blair.

One of the most amazing places to visit in Andaman for water sports and leisure tour, Elephant Beach should not be missed from your Andaman holiday itinerary. Boasting of heavenly coral reefs and its enthralling underwater marine life, Elephant Beach is a great spot to spend your holiday time in Andaman.

Whether you seek relaxing or a bustling escape from the monotony of daily life, Elephant Beach will charm you in all the ways. It offers a number of water sports which include diving, snorkelling along with a range of other adventure activities like bird watching, trekking and kayaking.You must check other islands of Andaman consisting of great beaches and make your tour marvelous by visiting them.

Best visited during the months of November to February, Elephant Beach is an ideal place to watch the infinite sea and have an adventure with water activities. One should try to visit during the early morning and watch the sunrise in the sky at Elephant Beach. Along with the pristine natural landscapes, Elephant Beach is a great holiday respite to explore marine life, enjoy trekking and having a picnic at the beach. It is mostly known for its coral reefs and offers an unparalleled underwater fun for all the nature lovers in Andaman.

Highlights: In Elephant Beach, the most amazing attractions and things to do are snorkelling and sea walking. Along with that you can explore other beaches like Govindnagar Beach, Radhanagar Brach and Kalapather Beach. Some other exciting activities to indulge in at Elephant Beach include sunbathing, scuba diving, surf riding, fishing, swimming, gazing at the sunset or sunrise, bird-watching, trekking, kayaking and more.

Activities: Mirror boat rides, Snorkeling, Diving, Bird-watching, Swimming, Kayaking, Trekking, Gaze at the sunset or sunrise

Distance from Port Blair: The distance between Port Blair and Elephant beach is approximately about 70 km.

The one and only confirmed active volcano in South East Asia is on Barren Island and recently in 2017, it appeared in news all over the world as the eruption happened in the volcano once again. The name is completely suitable for the island as it does not promote any type of human inhabitants and it is completely barren. The first identified eruption on this island happened in the year of 1787 and then on, there were around ten eruptions happened here.

The volcanic island is placed in the middle of a volcanic belt and that too on the edge of the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates. The highest peak of the volcano stands up to 354 meters. But it is confirmed that most of the volcanoes on the island are found underwater.

Highlights: Since the island is inhabited by humans, there are a lot of animal species are found among which, some of them are really unique. The total diameter of the island is 3 kms and there you can find a big crater, about half km from the shore.

Activities: The sea plane ride above the island to enjoy the aerial view of the whole place is a recognized activity. For sightseeing and nature walk, this island is the best as you will come across the huge volcanoes and the nearby rock structures.

Distance from Port Blair: It lies around 138 kilometers northeast of Port Blair. There is a strict rule that the visitors will be allowed to go to the island only by the chartered boats with the permission of the Forest Department.

Here's our full guide on the top things to do in Andaman, which will help you in planning your trip. 

Also known as Kala Pani, Cellular Jail is one of the unmissable tourist attractions located at Port Blair in Andaman. The three storied building has 698 cells that are connected to each other in the shape of a starfish. The place is famous for offering a fantastic sound and light show in the evening offering a delightful insight into the historical struggle for independence.

It is one of the remnants of past colonial rule in India and today stands as a testimony to all those brave hearts who laid down their lives at the hands of British atrocities. Some of the famous freedom fighters who were captured here include Veer Savarkar and Bakuteshwar Dutt.

The place was one of the most infamous prisons of the past as the freedom fighters were punished inhumanly by the Britishers. The place is a must visit for history lovers to have a sneak peek into the history and struggle that went down in the construction of this jail. The place is recognised as a national memorial monument and owned by the Government of India.

Highlights: Tourists should try to explore the jail by visiting the picture gallery that houses a number of photos of freedom fighters. Often used as background for filming Hindi movies about the colonial past, the place has many fascinating remnants of history like the hanging cell and condemned cell. Some of the other unmissable attractions of Cellular Jail included its Exhibition Gallery, Art Gallery, Old Photographs Gallery, Gallery on First War of Independence and Netaji Gallery. There is also the Swatantrya Jyoti, an eternal flame of freedom keeps glowing in the memory of freedom fighters

Activities: One of the popular activities to do here is sightseeing and revisiting the history of the grim colonial past Of India.

Distance from Port Blair: It takes around 15 kilometers to go there from Port Blair.

Timing: National Memorial: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Closed on Mondays)

Entry Fee: INR 30

All fans of eco-tourism should pack their bags and have an exciting vacay at Diglipur when they are visiting Andaman. It is famous for its green landscapes and its exotic marine life which makes it a must visit for nature lovers. The island is renowned for having many prominent beaches like Kalipur Beach, Ross and Smith Islands, Ramnagar Beach and Pathi Level Beach.

There is also the Saddle Peak Mountain National Park which can be accessed from Diglipur. It is replete with many exciting attractions with rare animals like Andaman wild pig, Andaman hill myna, Andaman imperial pigeon, water monitor, dolphins, whales and the Saltwater crocodile.

A must visit for trekking aficionados, Diglipur is the largest peak in the archipelago of Andaman islands and offers a wonderful sight of its unique wildlife. One of the most visited tourist places in Andaman, Diglipur is sure to leave you enthralled with its gorgeous scenery consisting of glittering white sands, nice weather, lofty palms and its exciting marine life. Diglipur is one of the most serene spots if you forget all the worries of your life and enjoy an eco-friendly holiday.

Highlights: The main attractions of Diglipur are Kalipur Beach, Diglipur National Park, Ram Nagar Beach, Mud Volcano, twin islands of Ross and Smith and Saddle Peak National Park. This place is luxuriant in flora and fauna, which makes it a must visit for wildlife enthusiasts.

Activities: Trekking, Snorkeling, and Mangrove creek safari are some of the activities the activities that one can enjoy on their holiday in Diglipur island.  Beach combing, sunbathing, surf riding, swimming, fishing, bird watching, trekking in Jungle, sailing, kayaking are some other activities not to be missed here.

Distance from Port Blair: Diglipur is at a distance of 290 km by road from Port Blair.

Find out the list of top hotels in Port Blair with best facilities and comfort for your memorable stay.

Known as Beach No.5 is Vijaynagar Beach in the north east part of Havelock Island. Very remote from the crowded locations on Havelock Island, Vijaynagar Beach is close to heart for those who love to spend time in utmost calmness. The regular touch of the sapphire blue water on the pearl like sandy beach makes no noise and it is one of the reasons why tourists chosen it as the perfect space for romantic couples and families. Don't forget to check the resorts for couples in Andaman.

The beauty of the beach has been praised so much by those who visited it. It is always better to come here freely, just to roam around, or to float on the shallow water, or to read under the large shade given by the huge trees on the shore or to do sunbathing. The collection of Mahua trees and palms is the significant ornament making the beach a splendid place to sit back and relax as much as time one wants to. This is one of the magnificent attractions in Andaman.

Highlights: A photographer's paradise is Vijaynagar Beach; especially the sunrise views from the beach is incomparably magnificent. When the sun’s fresh rays spread all over the wide sea, the entire atmosphere starts blushing in all possible colours and there is no better sight from the beach would satiate a photographic mind. The native birds appear during the fresh mornings add effective colours to the sunrise pictures.

Activities: The beach is recognized for relaxed swimming and sunbathing. Adventure activities are not yet a fashion on this inevitable part of Havelock Island.

Distance from Port Blair: Vijaynagar Beach is located at a distance of about 38 kms from Port Blair but from Havelock jetty the beach is lying 9 kms away only.

A great park that has been accepted well by the international tourists and a distinct idea and execution in India to preserve the sensitive and endangered species of marine species is Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in Andaman. It consists of 15 islands of mangrove creeks, rainforests, splendid coral reefs which have around 50 types and a huge collection of rare but colourful fish etc. 

This park came into existence in the year of 1983 under the solid Wildlife Protection Act of 1973 to keep the lives of marine animals safe and preserved as the underwater ecosystem was on the verge of destruction. The best time to visit the park is during the months from November to February and during monsoon, it remains closed.

Highlights: The park is comprised of two major island groups known as the Labyrinth Islands and Twin Islands which are situated about 16 km away from Port Blair to the south of it. This park boasts of the unimaginable size it spreads that is about 281.5 sq.km which have 17 small islands and the open sea creeks.

The fringing reefs are abundantly found in the park and that is one of the special reef species found on the island. Each island holds different type of vegetation. Tarmugli is the highest island in the park that displays the vast area of mangrove vegetation, sand covered beaches, sheet rocks etc.

Activities: One can get knowledge of marine species after visiting national park.

Distance from Port Blair: The park is located in Wandoor which is lying about 29 kms away from Port Blair. There are ferry services every 30 minutes from Port Blair boat jetty. The park is easily accessible via road as well.

Famous for the underwater corals, North Bay Island located near the Pheonix Jetty of Port Blair is yet another favourite tourist destination. Multiple clubs providing exhilarating scuba diving, snorkeling and sea walking at the island give it a special space in the hearts of adventure lovers. And because of this factor, North Bay Island is crowded all the time. 

If you wish to do a tour of North Bay Island, then you have to come at the Andaman Water Sports Complex where it starts from and the boats can accommodate up to 60 people and every boat will have a guide as well. The glass bottom boat ride to the island will give you a lot of chances to see the world of fish, typical sea flora and reefs inhabited underwater in harmony.

Highlights: Scuba diving and snorkeling are the most important activities available at the island and along with those, glass bottom ride is also has significant importance. The coral reefs and the marine animals make the underwater world enthralling.

Also, sea walk is considered to be a mind blowing activity and it opens up the doors to mingle with the colourful, rare species of sea. To do sea walking, you will be taken to the spot from the stationed sea walk paltoon and the experience of walking along the soft sea bed is memorable for a lifetime.

Activities: Sea walking and scuba diving in Andaman are considered to be the best adventure activities that can be done, as there are umpteen number of travelers do these activities regularly.

Distance from Port Blair: The island lies at a distance of about 42.4 kms from Port Blair and it would take around 1 hours and 30 minutes to reach there.

South Cinque Island and North Cinque Island are the two major portions that make the huge Cinque Island a vibrant and captivating beauty in Andaman. This famous underwater diving spot is located on the north side of the popular Duncan Passage and in the middle of Rutland and Passage Islands. The inhabited island is a surprising beauty to all the tourists arrive here. But the two divisions of the island are beautifully separated by a sandbar. 

Another important factor to know about Cinque Island is that it is a part of the very famous Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in Wandoor. And thus, the abundant presence of colourful marine lives is not a surprising feature. Tourists mainly arrive at Cinque to enjoy adventure activities, especially diving and snorkeling. The beautiful corals and fish species give away the admiring time underwater to every nature lover.

Highlights: Mostly, day visits are allowed on the island that too with the permission in advance from Chief Wildlife Warden. The astonishingly beautiful corals are the main feature of Cinque Island. The island itself is a sanctuary as it houses a large collection of variety coral reefs, sea weeds, multi coloured fish species, starfish, sea anemones, turtles and water snakes.

There is an authentic declaration on the name of the island which says that Cinque Island is the mostly visited island in Andaman archipelago.

Activities: As everyone is quite clear about the fact that Cinque Island is an incomparable destination for the best scuba diving spots, tourists arrive here in large numbers every year. Those who would not want to be so adventurous also will not be disappointed since the island gives opportunities to do snorkeling and swimming at their best.

Distance from Port Blair: It is at a distance of 38.9 kms from Port Blair.