Port Blair, Havelock & Baratang – 6 Days in the Andamans

An early start for the morning ferry to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep). Your private ferry has reserved seats, and the crossing takes roughly 1.5 to 2.5 hours, with the islands coming into view as the water turns clear and green. You are met at Havelock jetty and taken to your hotel to check in and have lunch.

In the afternoon you head to Radhanagar, often ranked among Asia's best beaches, a long arc of soft white sand backed by tall forest. The water is gentle for most of the year, good for a swim in the flagged area, and the sunset here is the best of the trip. Dinner is at the hotel or near Govind Nagar.

At a glance: Time needed: ~2.5 hrs at the beach · Travel: ~3 hrs total · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning (by 6:30 AM): Check out and transfer to Haddo jetty.

• Morning (7:00–9:00 AM): Private ferry from Port Blair to Havelock, about 1.5–2.5 hrs.

• Noon: Check in at the hotel and have lunch (own cost).

• Afternoon (3:30–6:00 PM): Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7) for a swim and the sunset.

• Night: Dinner at the hotel or near Govind Nagar.

Travel for the day

• Hotel → jetty → hotel: private transfers at both ends.

• Port Blair → Havelock: private ferry with reserved seats.

• Hotel → Radhanagar → hotel: private car, about 20–25 min each way.

Tips & what to carry

• Ferry check-in closes about 30 min before departure. Keep your ID handy.

• Swim only where the lifeguard flags are up; the current at Radhanagar can be strong.

• Keep a change of clothes and a towel for after the swim.

• Children may get seasick on the ferry. Carry tablets and a light snack.

Overnight: Havelock

In the morning a short boat ride takes you from Havelock jetty to Elephant Beach, where coral and fish are just a few metres from the shore. Your free snorkelling session is here, with a guide and gear, so even children and first-timers can float over the reef and see parrotfish, clownfish and bright coral in calm water.

There is time on the beach afterwards, and if you want more, sea walks, glass-bottom boats and jet skis are on offer at a cost. You are back on Havelock for lunch. In the evening, Kalapathar Beach on the east coast is quiet, with black rocks along the water's edge and turquoise shallows, a peaceful end to the day.

At a glance: Time needed: ~4 hrs · Travel: ~1.5 hrs total · Pace: Moderate

Schedule

• Morning (8:00–9:00 AM): Transfer to Havelock jetty and take the boat to Elephant Beach, about 20–30 min.

• Morning (9:00 AM–12:30 PM): Free snorkelling session with a guide and gear, then time on the beach.

• Optional: Sea walk, glass-bottom boat or jet ski at Elephant Beach, paid on the spot.

• Noon (1:00 PM): Boat back to Havelock and lunch at the hotel (own cost).

• Evening (4:30–6:00 PM): Kalapathar Beach, about 1.5 hrs.

• Night: Dinner at the hotel.

Travel for the day

• Hotel → jetty → hotel: private transfer.

• Havelock → Elephant Beach → Havelock: boat, about 20–30 min each way.

• Hotel → Kalapathar → hotel: private car, about 20 min.

Tips & what to carry

• Elephant Beach boats run only in the morning and can stop if the sea is rough.

• Wear swimwear under your clothes and carry a towel and water shoes.

• Don't touch or stand on the coral; it is protected and easily damaged.

• Use reef-safe sunscreen and a hat; there is little shade on the beach.

Overnight: Havelock

A day with no early start. The morning is free to enjoy the beach or the pool, then a photographer meets the family for a complimentary 30-minute photoshoot on the beach, timed for the softer light of the morning. It is a good chance for a family picture with the whole group in it for once.

After lunch and check-out you take the afternoon ferry back to Port Blair, about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. You are met at the jetty and taken to your hotel, and the evening is free to rest or walk down to Aberdeen Bazaar. Dinner is at the hotel.

At a glance: Time needed: ~1 hr photoshoot · Travel: ~3 hrs total · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning: Free at the beach or the hotel pool.

• Morning (9:00–10:00 AM): Complimentary family photoshoot on the beach, 30 min of shooting within about 1 hr.

• Noon: Check out and have lunch (own cost).

• Afternoon (around 2:00–4:30 PM): Private ferry from Havelock to Port Blair.

• Evening: Check in at the hotel. The evening is free.

• Night: Dinner at the hotel.

Travel for the day

• Hotel → Havelock jetty: private transfer.

• Havelock → Port Blair: private ferry, about 1.5–2.5 hrs.

• Port Blair jetty → hotel: private transfer.

Tips & what to carry

• Wear matching or similar colours for the photos. Whites and pastels look best against the sea.

• Keep your hand bag light, with tickets and ID, for the afternoon ferry.

• Ask the photographer when and how you will receive the photos.

Overnight: Port Blair

An early start, and worth it. The road north from Port Blair runs in a government convoy through the Jarawa tribal reserve, where strict rules apply. At Middle Strait you cross to Baratang by vehicle ferry, and from Baratang jetty a speedboat takes you through narrow creeks walled in by mangroves, with roots arching over the water.

The boat drops you at a forest trail, and a walk of about 1.2 km each way brings you to the limestone caves, where your guide points out stalactites and stalagmites shaped over thousands of years. On the way back you see the mud volcano, a small, bubbling mound of grey mud, and stop for lunch at a local restaurant before the convoy back to Port Blair.

At a glance: Time needed: ~4 hrs sightseeing · Travel: ~7 hrs total · Pace: Full

Schedule

• Early morning (around 4:00 AM): Leave the hotel for the Jirkatang check post. The convoy gates open at fixed times.

• Morning (around 8:30 AM): Cross to Baratang by vehicle ferry.

• Morning (9:00–11:30 AM): Speedboat through the mangrove creek to the limestone caves, then the forest walk of about 1.2 km each way.

• Noon (12:00–1:00 PM): Mud volcano and lunch at a local restaurant (own cost).

• Afternoon (1:30–5:30 PM): Convoy back to Port Blair.

• Evening / Night: Rest at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.

Travel for the day

• Private car to Baratang and back, about 3 hrs each way including the convoy.

• Vehicle ferry at Middle Strait and speedboat to the caves.

Tips & what to carry

• No photography or videography of the Jarawa tribe, and no stopping inside the reserve. These are strict rules, with heavy fines.

• Carry ID proof for every traveller, packed snacks and water. Food options are basic.

• Wear shoes with grip for the cave walk; the path is uneven.

• Sleep early the night before; the hotel can pack breakfast for the 4:00 AM start.

Overnight: Port Blair

A slow last morning before the airport. Have breakfast and take a last walk along the seafront near Marina Park, where you can watch the boats come in.

If your flight is in the afternoon, there is time for Corbyn's Cove beach or the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum, which has a good collection of shells, coral and marine life and a short history of the islands. Then check out and transfer to the airport, about 20 minutes away.

At a glance: Time needed: Free until departure · Travel: ~20 min to the airport · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast and a last walk along the seafront.

• Optional: Corbyn's Cove beach or the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum, about 1 hr, if the flight is in the afternoon (entry paid locally).

• Then: Check out and transfer to the airport, timed to reach 2 hrs before your flight.

Travel for the day

• Hotel → airport: private transfer.

Tips & what to carry

• Don't pack shells, coral or sand from the beaches. Taking them is banned and checked at the airport.

• Samudrika is usually closed on Mondays.

• Keep your ID handy; there is a security check at the airport entrance.