Things to do in Andaman

Andaman is full-on fun for the outdoor loving kind of person. One can find 'n' number of things which can be done in Andaman. There is so much to do and it includes:

1. Snorkeling
2. Cave Exploration (don’t miss the Bioluminescent cane in the Havelock Islands)
3. Scuba Diving
4. Banana Boat Ride
5. Glass Bottom Boat Ride
6. Parasailing 
7. Sea Plane Ride
8. Witnessing the Light and Sound Show at Cellular Jail
9. Trekking to Mt Harriet and Madhuban
10. Nature walks in Mongluton Rubber Plantations, Wandoor
11. Limestone Caving, Baratang
12. Bird Watching, Chidiya Tapu
13. Island Hopping
14. Grabbing a beer!
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It is important that you plan your Andaman vacation according to the season. Summers can get scorching hot and monsoons can make you stay back in your hotels altogether. Andaman offers the best tour package in winters. The tourism department generally recommends the months between October and late May. This is also the time when most activities are open to the public. If you have been planning to experience a sea walk, don’t plan between May and Mid-September. However, you can still get to snorkel, scuba dive, get a banana boat ride or jet ski. Similarly, The Elephant Beach and the Jolly Bouy Island in the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park are open for only about 8 months in the winters.

If you are a mainstream tourism, looking to make he most of your visit, the winter months are most recommended. However, the islands can be a different kind of fun during the monsoons too. Though many activities will be closed, there would be other opportunities like surfing and deep sea diving Many come to the Andamans during July and August to get a certification course in diving. Subject to weather conditions, all sightseeing places are open across the year.

The general climate of Andaman Islands is pleasant. However, the best season considered is October to April when monsoon isn’t forecasted and climate remains pleasant. Being surrounded by sea, the cool breeze helps to keep the temperature to range in between 23° C and 31° C. Monsoon brought by the southwest wind sets in during mid-May and continues till early October.

Season for nature lovers is May to December when forest is lush green and waterfalls are at their prime. Divers can enjoy the best during December to April and bird watchers during winter times.

If you want to explore the Andaman Islands complete, a lifetime wouldn’t be enough! That being said, it should be a minimum of 2 weeks trip to the Andamans if you are planning to touch all kinds of activities offered. This includes sea adventures, water sports, treks, food, safaris and more. A good tour package will have such itinerary which is needed to do various activities in Andaman.

There are 550 Islands in Andaman and Nicobar, and most of these are in Andaman. 26 of which are inhabited and many more fall under RAP (Restricted Area Permit). The ones you can visit and shouldn’t miss include:

1. Radhanagar Beach 
2. Jolly Bouy Islands Beach
3. Ross Islands
4. Havelock Islands (Elephant Beach)
5. Neil Island (Lakshmanpur Beach / Bharatpur Beach)
6. Port Blair (Wandoor Beach)
7. Baratang Islands
8. Ross and Smith Islands.

Andaman is a paradise for outdoor lovers. Tourists of all kinds flock to the Andaman Islands every year and include honeymooners, adventure tourists, photographers, family tours and even fun with friends. Well, whatever the kind you are, if you are travelling to Andamans for the first time, ensure that you participate in various things like these:

1. Snorkeling at Elephant Beach and North Bay
2. Witness bio-luminescence in the Havelock Island shores in the night
3. Scuba Dive (lots of locations across Andamans)
4. Ride a Banana Boat
5. Try the Glass Bottom Boat Ride
6. Para sail in Havelock
7. Travel to the Barren Islands on a sea plane
8. Trek to Mount Harriet
9. Explore the Baratang Caves
10. Take a helicopter tour from north to south Andamans

Andamans is the best place for scuba diving and snorkeling. The marine life is amazing and it would be a once on a lifetime experience. Scuba and snorkeling activities are offered all along the Andaman coastline and you might have to register before, depending on the season and the time of the day you are planning to take the dive.

The best places for Scuba Diving in the Andamans include:

1. Havelock Islands Lighthouse for night diving experience
2. Aquarium for beginners
3. Mac Point if you are keen on swimming with dugongs
4. Barracuda City for a swim with sea turtles
5. Seduction Point for the best coral reef experience (staghorn corals)
6. Neil Islands Margherita’s Mischief for a swim with sting rays and other out worldly creatures
7. K Rock, for a dive into volcanic rocks
8. Bus Stop, for a small reef experience
9. Junction, for pro divers
10. Port Blair Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
Other Points North Point, Cinque Islands Bala Reef, Little Andaman Fish Rock, Passage Island Corruption Rock, for a shipwreck experience.

Like scuba Diving, there’s a range of snorkeling spots scattered across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They include:

1. North Bay Island, Port Blair
2. Elephant Bach, Havelock Islands
3. Jolly Bouy Island, Port Blair
4. Red Skin Island, Port Blair
5. Aquarium, Havelock
6. South Button, Swiftlet Rock
7. Henry Lawrence, Tamarind Camp
8. Middle Button, Turtle Island
9. Kalipur, North Andaman
10. Lalaji Beach, Long Island

No, all the equipment are readily provided with your snorkeling/scuba diving package. It is mandatory that you get into the wet suit provided by the activity organizers for a safe and pleasurable experience. You might want to take an underwater camera however. If you don’t have one, the organizers will be able to provide it to you at no or little extra cost.

A pre-booking is required if you are planning to experience a sea walk in the North Bay or the Elephant Islands. A general sea walk lasts for about a couple of hours and costs about INR 4,800. Do check the timing of the activity before booking your slot.

The seaplane experience in the Andamans was launched back in 2011 and the flights connect Havelock and Port Blair. You may also take up a sea plane ride to reach the Barren Islands. The availability of a sea plane depends on the booking for the day and the weather forecast.

For tourists, a sea plane ride between Port Blair and Havelock would cost up to INR 4,100. Sunday is off day for sea plane rides. Booking for sea planes need to be done from the ANIDCO Ticket Counter at Havelock Islands, Port Blair or the Diglipur Islands.

Trekking is one of the most sought after activity in the Andamans. The popular trekking routes include:

• Mount Harriet – South Andaman – Madhuban
• Chidiya Tapu – South Andaman – Kala Pahad
• Havelock – South Andaman – Elephant Beach
• Baratang – Middle Andaman – Limestone Caves
• Diglipur Island – North Andaman – Raman Caves and Saddle Peaks

If you are trekking for the first time, it is recommended that you go through a trek organizer. Most hotels run daily treks in groups and it would be a safe and pleasurable experience. Safety issues come from the terrain and the frequently changing weather conditions.

If you are trying to see wild dolphins along the Andaman Islands, a ship ride would be the best way to do it. Dolphins are commonly seen on your way to the Havelock Islands or a ride in the North Passage and the Lalaji Bay.

Witnessing the Andamans from the top is a heavenly experience. The deep blue sea, golden sands, green forests and wide range of colors can be a lifetime of experience. Helicopter rides are available between North and South Andamans and takes approximately 3 hours to complete. You would be flown in a Pawan Hans helicopter operated by the AAI.

A one way ride between Port Blair,the Capital and Neil Island/Havelock Island costs about INR 860, as of October 2011.

Tourists to the Andaman and Nicobar islands commonly experience bouts of bronchial asthma, stomach ailments, respiratory infections and malaria. It is necessary to take the required medicines and also understand that:

• There are limited number of super specialty facilities for neurology and cardiology
• Pregnant women should avoid sea travel
• Carrying your medical record helps if you are taking a certain kind of medicine
• It can be risky to drink water from streams, falls, and rivers
• Carry your prescribed medicine for asthma
• Use Mefloquine or Chloroquine as anti-malaria drugs

Generally, you wouldn’t need any extra medicine, other than a first aid kit for any kind of activity in the Andamans. However, if you have been suffering from certain ailments like Asthma, it is necessary that you have the preparations. Most activities can be quite tiring and you might want to have your inhaler handy.

Andaman Islands is a photographer’s delight. The amazing sightseeing spots of Andaman provide a platform for the photographers. The blue seas, golden beaches, red mountains, and the green forest present a scenic opportunity. A unique culture, topography and wildlife ensure that no photographer comes empty handed. If you are planning on doing underwater photography, the Andamans will always been the first place you would want to run to! Some of the most photographed destinations/places in the Andamans include:

• Havelock Islands
• Elephant Beach
• Lakshmanpur Beach
• Ray Hill
• Mayabunder
• Katchal Island
• Austin Creek
• Ross and Smith Islands Beach
• Lalaji Bay Beach
• Butler Bay Beach
• Lamia Bay Beach
• Neil Islands
• Baratang Islands
• Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
• Kaala Pathar Beach