The Andamans have roughly 300 beaches. Around fifty are realistically reachable, and maybe a dozen are worth building an itinerary around. That gap is where most trip planning goes wrong — travellers arrive with a list of twelve beaches and four days, then spend the holiday on ferries instead of sand.
This guide fixes that. Below you'll find every beach worth your time across Swaraj Dweep (Havelock), Shaheed Dweep (Neil) and South Andaman — with what each one is actually good for, how long it takes to reach, and when to show up. Radhanagar leads the list, and we'll explain why, but the more useful question is which three or four beaches suit your trip.
If you'd rather have the logistics handled, our andaman tour package options already sequence these beaches around the ferry timetable.
Andaman Beaches at a Glance
| Beach | Island | Best For | Crowds | Best Time of Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radhanagar | Swaraj Dweep | Sunset, swimming | High | 4–6 PM |
| Elephant Beach | Swaraj Dweep | Snorkelling, water sports | Very high | Morning |
| Kala Pathar | Swaraj Dweep | Photography, sunrise | Low | Early morning |
| Vijaynagar (Beach No. 5) | Swaraj Dweep | Quiet walks, swimming | Low | Sunrise |
| Bharatpur | Shaheed Dweep | Families, snorkelling | Medium | Morning |
| Laxmanpur | Shaheed Dweep | Sunset, Natural Bridge | Low–medium | Low tide, evening |
| Sitapur | Shaheed Dweep | Sunrise | Very low | 5:30–7 AM |
| Corbyn's Cove | Port Blair | Quick beach fix | Medium | Evening |
| Wandoor | South Andaman | Marine park access | Medium | Morning |
| Chidiya Tapu | South Andaman | Sunset, birdwatching | Low | Late afternoon |
| North Bay | Near Port Blair | Water sports hub | High | Morning |
Why Radhanagar Beach Tops the List
Radhanagar — locally still called Beach No. 7 — sits on the western coast of Swaraj Dweep, roughly 12 km from the Havelock jetty. In 2004, TIME magazine named it Asia's best beach, and two decades of tourism haven't undone that.
Three things set it apart from every other beach in the archipelago:
The scale. It's a wide, gently curving two-kilometre stretch. Even on a busy December afternoon, you can walk five minutes and discover empty sand.
The water. The seabed slopes gently for 50 to 100 meters before deepening, which makes it one of the few Andaman beaches where casual swimming is genuinely comfortable. Lifeguards are posted during daylight hours — stay inside the flagged zone.
The sunset. This is the real reason it ranks first. The beach faces due west, so the sun drops straight into the Bay of Bengal. Arrive by 4:30 PM, walk the shoreline while the light softens, and settle in by 5:15. It's the single most photographed hour in the Andamans, and it deserves the reputation.
Behind the beach runs a shaded forest trail through tall Andaman bulletwood — useful if you arrive at midday and need to wait out the heat.
Best for: Couples, honeymooners, families, sunset photography
Access: ~12 km from Havelock jetty, 25–30 minutes by road
Entry: Free
That west-facing sunset is why Radhanagar anchors nearly every romantic itinerary on the islands. Our andaman honeymoon packages build a private candlelit dinner around it.
Also read: The Cultural Tapestry of Andaman and Nicobar: Festivals, Traditions, and More
The Best Beaches on Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island)
Elephant Beach
If Radhanagar is for slowing down, Elephant Beach is for getting in the water. The reef starts just meters offshore in two to five meters of water — shallow enough that a first-time snorkeller sees parrotfish and clownfish within minutes of wading in.
You reach it either by a 20–30 minute boat ride from Havelock jetty or a 40-minute trek through forest from the road. The boat is more reliable; the trek closes in poor weather and after heavy rain.
This is also the archipelago's busiest activity hub — snorkelling, sea walking, jet skiing, banana boat, and glass-bottom boat all operate from the same stretch of sand. Go early. By 11 AM, crowds fill the beach and churn the water.
Best for: Snorkelling, sea walking, first-time water sports
Access: Boat from Havelock jetty or forest trek
Note: Operations are weather-dependent—confirm the morning of
You can compare pricing and durations for the full range of water activities in andaman before you fix your itinerary, which saves haggling on the beach.
Kala Pathar Beach
On the opposite, eastern coast of Swaraj Dweep, Kala Pathar takes its name from the dark rock outcrops scattered along the pale sand. It's the quiet counterweight to Radhanagar—fewer people, rougher beauty, and a sunrise that most visitors never bother to see because it means a 5:30 AM alarm.
Swimming isn't the point here; the rocky sections and shallow shelf make it awkward. Photography is. The color contrast between dark rock, white sand, and turquoise water is the most striking on the island.
Best for: Sunrise, photography, quiet walks
Access: ~10–12 km from Havelock jetty
Best time: 5:30–7 AM, or late afternoon for softer light
Vijaynagar Beach (Beach No. 5)
A long, palm-backed stretch on the eastern coast where you can walk for twenty minutes and pass nobody. There are no water sports operators here, which is precisely the appeal. The water is shallow and calm enough for a slow swim, though watch for currents further out.
Several of the island's better resorts sit along this stretch, so it doubles as the beach you can walk to barefoot from your room.
Best for: Long walks, sunrise, couples who want solitude
Access: ~10 km from Havelock jetty
The Best Beaches on Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island)
Bharatpur Beach
About a kilometer from the Neil jetty, Bharatpur is the most practical beach in the archipelago for families. The water stays shin-deep for an unusually long way out, the reef sits close to shore, and glass-bottom boats run regularly for anyone who'd rather stay dry.
It's the beach you can visit spontaneously on arrival in the afternoon without planning a whole day around it.
Best for: Families with young children, snorkeling, glass-bottom boats
Access: 1 km from Neil Jetty—walkable
Laxmanpur Beach and the Natural Bridge
Laxmanpur is Neil's answer to Radhanagar: west-facing, wide, built for sunsets. But it has something no other Andaman beach does—the Natural Bridge, a coral rock arch carved by tidal erosion, reachable on foot across the exposed reef flat at low tide.
Check the tide chart before you go. At high tide, the bridge is inaccessible, and the walk is pointless; at low tide, the reef flat fills with tide pools holding starfish, sea cucumbers, and small crabs. Wear closed shoes—the coral rock is sharp.
Best for: Sunset, tide pools, photography
Access: ~2 km from Neil Jetty
Timing: Low tide for the bridge, 5–6 PM for the sunset
Sitapur Beach
On the eastern tip of Neil, Sitapur is the archipelago's best sunrise beach, and almost nobody goes. Backed by limestone formations and forest, with tide pools among the rocks, it rewards an early alarm with an hour of near-total solitude.
If your Neil itinerary has a spare morning, this is where to spend it.
Best for: Sunrise, quiet mornings, photography
Access: ~6 km from Neil Jetty, 15 minutes by scooter or auto
Best time: 5:30–7 AM
Travelling with family?
Our Andaman Family Grand Tour – Premium sequences the family-friendly beaches — Bharatpur, Corbyn's Cove and Radhanagar — with comfortable transfers and unhurried travel days.
View the Family Grand Tour – Premium →
The Best Beaches Around Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram)
Corbyn's Cove Beach
Seven kilometres from the city centre, Corbyn's Cove is where you go on arrival day when the ferry to Havelock isn't until tomorrow. It's a coconut-palm-lined curve with jet ski, speedboat, and parasailing operators, decent facilities, and easy taxi access.
It doesn't compete with Havelock or Neil on beauty, and it doesn't need to. It's the convenient one.
Best for: Arrival or departure day, quick water sports
Access: 7 km from Port Blair
Pairs with: Cellular Jail and the Light and Sound show the same evening
Wandoor Beach and Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
Wandoor sits about 30 km from Port Blair and functions less as a beach than as a departure point. Boats run from here to Jolly Buoy and Red Skin Islands—which alternate seasonally so each reef gets a recovery period—where the snorkeling is the cleanest anywhere near Port Blair.
Motorized water sports are banned inside the park, plastic is prohibited, and visitor numbers are capped by permit. Budget five to seven hours for the full excursion.
Best for: Pristine reef snorkelling, eco-conscious travellers
Access: 30 km from Port Blair
Note: A Forest Department permit is required; arrange in advance.
Chidiya Tapu
"Bird Island," at the southern tip of South Andaman, roughly 25 km from Port Blair. Dense forest, serious birdlife, and a sunset viewpoint that locals rate above Corbyn's Cove. It's a half-day trip and the best option in South Andaman for anyone who wants nature rather than beach loungers.
Best for: Sunset, birdwatching, photography
Access: ~25 km from Port Blair
North Bay Island
A short boat hop from Port Blair, North Bay is the water-sports hub of South Andaman—snorkeling, sea walking, glass-bottom boat and jet ski all in one place. It's commonly bundled with Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep) as a single day trip, which makes it an efficient use of a Port Blair day.
Best for: Sea walking, first-time snorkelling, day trips
Access: Boat from Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex
Also read: Holiday Planning: Complete Guide/Checklist for Stress-Free Trips
Beaches Beyond the Usual Circuit
Most visitors never leave the Port Blair–Havelock–Neil triangle. If you have seven nights or more, these are worth the extra travel:
- Ross & Smith Islands, Diglipur — twin islands joined by a natural sandbar you can walk across at low tide. It is roughly 300 km north of Port Blair and requires a permit and an overnight stay.
- Butler Bay, Little Andaman — the archipelago's surfing beach, reached by a long ferry. Genuinely remote.
- Lalaji Bay, Long Island — reached by boat or a forest trek. Almost no infrastructure, which is the point.
- Merk Bay, North Passage Island — pale sand and exceptionally clear shallows, usually visited as a day trip from Long Island.
These require careful ferry planning and reliable local coordination—worth checking andaman ferry booking options early, since northern routes run far less frequently than the Havelock and Neil sailings.
Travelling on LTC?
Our LTC Complete Islands – Luxury itinerary covers the full island circuit with GST invoicing and documentation formatted for LTC claims.
View LTC Complete Islands – Luxury →
Radhanagar vs Elephant Beach: Which Should You Visit?
The two most-searched Andaman beaches offer opposite experiences.
| Radhanagar | Elephant Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Mood | Slow, scenic | Active, busy |
| Main draw | Sunset, swimming | Reef snorkelling |
| Best time | Late afternoon | Early morning |
| Access | Road, 30 min | Boat or forest trek |
| Cost | Free | Boat + activity charges |
| Weather risk | Low | High — trips get cancelled |
The honest answer: visit both on different days. They're on the same island, and they're not substitutes for each other. Do Elephant Beach in the morning when the water is clear and the crowds are thinner, and keep Radhanagar for the evening.
How to Fit These Beaches Into Your Itinerary
Ferry timings, not distance, decide what's possible. Here's what actually fits:
3 nights (Port Blair + Havelock) — Corbyn's Cove on arrival, then Radhanagar and Elephant Beach on Havelock. Three beaches, no rushing.
4 nights (Port Blair + Havelock + Neil) — Add Bharatpur and Laxmanpur. This is the sweet spot for most first-time visitors.
5–6 nights — Add Kala Pathar or Vijaynagar on Havelock, Sitapur on Neil, and either Wandoor or Chidiya Tapu in South Andaman.
7 nights or more — Everything above plus Diglipur or Long Island.
One rule holds regardless of length: don't schedule a beach on a ferry day. Crossings take up half a day when you factor in jetty reporting times, and a rushed beach visit is worse than not going at all.
Want the whole coastline in one trip?
Our Tropical Treasures of Andaman – Standard covers Port Blair, Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep with the beach sequencing already worked out around ferry timings.
View Tropical Treasures of Andaman – Standard →
Best Time to Visit Andaman Beaches
November to February is peak season—calm seas, clear water, temperatures around 23–30°C, and every water sport running. It's also the most crowded and the most expensive, and the better sea-view rooms close out weeks ahead.
March to May stays warm at 28–33°C with noticeably thinner crowds. Snorkelling visibility remains good through most of this window.
June to September brings the monsoon season. Water sports are suspended regularly, ferries get cancelled, and Elephant Beach trips become unreliable. Rates drop sharply, and the islands turn green, making it a good time for flexible budget travellers who won't be devastated by a lost beach day.
Daily timing matters more than most people expect. Beaches are best between 6 and 9 AM or after 4 PM. Between 11 and 3, the sun is punishing, and the light is flat for photographs.
Practical Tips for Andaman Beaches
- Reef-safe sunscreen only. Conventional sunscreen damages coral, and several operators now check.
- Never stand on coral. It kills the reef and cuts your feet. Both outcomes are avoidable.
- Carry cash. Card acceptance is patchy outside Port Blair, and network coverage is unreliable on Neil.
- Permits for the marine park. Jolly Buoy and Red Skin require Forest Department clearance; arrange this a day in advance, not on the morning of your visit.
- Closed shoes for rocky beaches. Laxmanpur's reef flat and the rocks at Kala Pathar are sharp.
- Take your rubbish back. Bin infrastructure on the smaller beaches is minimal.
- Check the tide chart before visiting Laxmanpur, Bharatpur, or the Ross & Smith sandbar. Tides govern all three.
