Andaman in 5 days: Port Blair, Havelock and Neil
By Ganesh ·
A 5-day Andaman plan: a day in Port Blair (now Sri Vijaya Puram), two nights on Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) for Radhanagar beach and diving, a night on Neil (Shaheed Dweep), then back. Ferries, best months and rough costs.
Five days in the Andaman Islands is enough for the classic trio: one night in Port Blair, two on Havelock and one on Neil, with your last morning back in Port Blair for the flight home. The islands have new official names: Port Blair is now Sri Vijaya Puram, Havelock is Swaraj Dweep and Neil is Shaheed Dweep. Ferry tickets and signboards use both, so it helps to know them.
The plan
| Day | Where | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fly in, Cellular Jail, light and sound show | Port Blair |
| 2 | Ferry to Havelock, Radhanagar beach at sunset | Havelock |
| 3 | Scuba or snorkelling, Elephant beach | Havelock |
| 4 | Ferry to Neil, Natural Bridge, Laxmanpur sunset | Neil |
| 5 | Morning ferry to Port Blair, fly home | Home |
Day by day
Day 1, Port Blair
There are direct flights from Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi and a few other cities. Most land by midday. Spend the afternoon at the Cellular Jail, where freedom fighters were held, and stay for the evening light and sound show (tickets sell out in season, so book at the counter early). Corbyn's Cove is the nearest beach for an evening walk.
Day 2, Havelock
Take a morning ferry, about 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on the boat. Private catamarans are faster and more comfortable; government ferries are much cheaper but sell out and are harder to book online. Check in, rest, then go to Radhanagar beach for the late afternoon. It's a long, wide beach with forest behind it, and the sunset there is the best on the islands.
Day 3, under water
Havelock is where most people try scuba diving for the first time. You don't need a licence for a "discover" dive with an instructor. Book with a dive centre that has good recent reviews and asks about your health first. If you'd rather stay on the surface, take a boat to Elephant beach for snorkelling. Kala Pathar beach is quiet in the evening.
Day 4, Neil
Neil is a short ferry ride from Havelock and much smaller and calmer. Hire a scooter or an auto for the day. See the rock arch called the Natural Bridge at low tide (ask your hotel for the time), swim at Bharatpur beach and watch the sunset from Laxmanpur.
Day 5, back to Port Blair
Take the earliest ferry you can, so a delay doesn't cost you your flight. If your flight is in the evening, there's time for Ross Island (now Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep) with its ruined British buildings and deer.
Ferries
- Book private ferries (Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean and others) a few weeks ahead from October to May.
- Carry a printout or screenshot and your photo ID. Check-in closes about 30 minutes before departure.
- Sea conditions can cancel sailings, especially from June to September. Leave a gap before your flight home.
Rough cost per person
| Item | Budget (₹, approx.) | Mid-range (₹, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Return flights (from Chennai or Kolkata) | 9,000-15,000 | 14,000-22,000 |
| Stays, sharing a room, 4 nights | 6,000-10,000 | 14,000-30,000 |
| Ferries (three legs) | 3,000-4,500 | 4,500-6,500 |
| Scuba or snorkelling | 2,000-5,500 | 4,500-7,000 |
| Local transport, tickets, food | 5,000-8,000 | 8,000-12,000 |
| Total | 25,000-43,000 | 45,000-77,500 |
Prices jump around Christmas, New Year and the Diwali holidays. Book early for those weeks.
When to go
October to May. December to March has the calmest sea and best visibility for diving. June to September is the monsoon: rough seas, cancelled ferries and many dive centres closed.
Questions people ask
Do Indians need a permit?
Not for Port Blair, Havelock and Neil. Some tribal reserves and restricted islands are off limits to everyone.
Can I add Baratang?
Yes, as a long day trip from Port Blair to see limestone caves and mangroves. You leave at about 3 am and travel in a convoy through the Jarawa reserve, where stopping and photography are banned.
Is mobile signal OK?
BSNL and Airtel work in Port Blair and the main parts of Havelock and Neil. Data can be slow. Download offline maps and carry some cash, as ATMs on the islands sometimes run dry.
Photo: Havelock Island, Radhanagar Beach before sunset, Andaman Islands by Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
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