Roughly 1,000 kilometres off India's east coast, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold some of the clearest water, quietest beaches and richest coral reefs in the country. There's far more to do here than sunbathe: you can walk on the seabed in a helmet, dive a reef for the first time, ride a boat through mangrove creeks to a limestone cave, or stand inside a colonial prison that shaped India's freedom struggle.
This guide covers the best things to do across the islands, grouped by the kind of day you're after, with practical notes on where each one happens and how to fit it into an andaman tour package.
1. Spend a Day on the Beaches
The beaches are the reason most people come, and they rarely disappoint. Unlike busier Indian coastlines, even the popular ones stay uncrowded enough to find your own patch of sand.
- Radhanagar Beach (Swaraj Dweep / Havelock) — Beach No. 7, regularly listed among Asia's finest, with powder-white sand and a famous sunset
- Kalapathar Beach (Swaraj Dweep) — quieter, framed by black rocks, best in the morning light
- Bharatpur Beach (Shaheed Dweep / Neil) — shallow, calm water that's easy for swimming and families
- Laxmanpur Beach (Shaheed Dweep) — the natural rock bridge at low tide and a gentle sunset
- Corbyn's Cove (Sri Vijaya Puram / Port Blair) — the closest beach to the city, about seven kilometres out, good for an arrival evening
- Wandoor Beach — the gateway to the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
Read next: Places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands for a fuller list of beaches and landmarks across the archipelago.
2. Try Scuba Diving, Even as a Beginner
The Andamans are widely considered India's best diving destination, and you don't need certification to start. Introductory dives run with an instructor holding you throughout, with no swimming experience required, and most operators handle a short briefing and medical check before you get in.
Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) has the widest choice of dive centres, with more at Shaheed Dweep (Neil) and North Bay near Sri Vijaya Puram. Certified divers can head further out to deeper reefs and wreck sites.
3. Walk on the Seabed
Sea walking is one of the islands' signature experiences and needs no swimming ability at all. You wear a helmet that supplies air, descend a few metres, and walk along the seabed with fish moving around you at arm's length. It's offered at North Bay Island and Elephant Beach on Swaraj Dweep.
4. Snorkel the Coral Reefs
Elephant Beach is the easiest place to start snorkelling, with coral close to shore and calm shallows. Jolly Buoy and Red Skin islands, inside the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, have some of the clearest water anywhere in the archipelago, though they open to visitors alternately for six months each to let the reefs recover.
For those who'd rather stay dry, glass-bottom boats and semi-submarine rides at North Bay show the same coral without getting in the water, which makes them a favourite with young children and older travellers.
— Want the beaches and water sports handled in one booking? The Andaman Oasis Escape package pairs Port Blair sightseeing with a Havelock beach stay on a short, easy itinerary.
5. Visit the Cellular Jail
Known historically as Kala Pani, the Cellular Jail held political prisoners during British rule, including V.D. Savarkar. Walking the wings and cells gives you a far clearer sense of that history than any account can, and the evening light and sound show is the single most recommended experience in Sri Vijaya Puram. Build it into your first or last night in the city.
6. Explore Ross Island and the Museums
Ross Island (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep) was the British administrative capital, and its ruins — the Chief Commissioner's house, the church, the old government buildings — are now half-swallowed by forest, with deer wandering between them.
Back in the city, three museums are worth an afternoon: the Anthropological Museum on the islands' indigenous communities, the Samudrika Marine Museum run by the Navy, and the Forest Museum at Chatham, home to a sawmill established under the British.
— Prefer a trip that stays close to the city's history and reefs? The Andaman Elegance Escape package covers Ross Island, North Bay and a full Port Blair city tour without any long ferry days.
7. Take the Baratang Day Trip
One of the more unusual days out in the islands. You leave Sri Vijaya Puram before dawn, drive north through reserve forest, then board a boat that winds through mangrove creeks to reach a set of limestone caves. When conditions allow, a mud volcano is added to the route. It's a long day, but a completely different landscape from the beaches.
8. See the Bioluminescence at Night
On dark, moonless nights, plankton in the water around Swaraj Dweep glows blue when disturbed, so every stroke of a kayak paddle leaves a trail of light. Guided night kayaking trips through the mangrove creeks are the usual way to see it, and they're timed around the lunar calendar rather than sold on fixed dates.
Read next: Bioluminescence in Andaman Island for the best beaches, timing and what to expect on a night kayak.
9. Go Birdwatching at Chidiya Tapu
Chidiya Tapu, the island's "bird island", sits a short drive from Sri Vijaya Puram and combines forest, mangroves and coastline. Parakeets, drongos, doves and sea eagles are all common sightings, and the short Munda Pahad trek from here ends at a clifftop sunset viewpoint that most visitors rate above the city beaches.
10. Trek Through the Rainforest
Trekking isn't the first thing people associate with the Andamans, but the forest interior rewards it. The route from Madhuban to Mount Manipur (Mount Harriet), the archipelago's highest point, is the best-known trail, running through dense forest and across wooden bridges with sea views opening up near the top.
11. Watch a Sunset Over the Water
Sunsets are a daily event here, and a few spots stand out: Radhanagar Beach on Swaraj Dweep, Laxmanpur on Shaheed Dweep, and Chidiya Tapu near the city. A harbour dinner cruise from Sri Vijaya Puram offers the same view from the water, with the lit-up coastline drifting past.
Read next: Romantic getaways in Andaman: best spots for couples if you're planning the trip as a couple.
12. Eat Fresh Seafood by the Sea
Fish comes in daily, so a simple grilled catch of the day or a coconut fish curry is usually better value and better eating than anything more elaborate. Sri Vijaya Puram has the widest range, from Aberdeen Bazaar street food to sit-down restaurants, while Swaraj Dweep leans towards beach shacks and resort kitchens.
Where to Stay
Where you sleep decides what you can reach easily, so it's worth settling your base before booking activities.
- Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) works for arrival and departure nights and all the museum and history days — compare hotels in Port Blair
- Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) is the hub for beaches, diving and night kayaking — browse hotels in Havelock Island
- Shaheed Dweep (Neil) suits a quieter night or two — see hotels in Neil Island
You can also compare hotels in Andaman across all three islands in one place.
Inter-Islands Transfer
Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep are reachable only by sea. Private air-conditioned catamarans run daily with reserved seating, and morning sailings are generally calmest. Seats sell out between October and April, so book your ferry from Port Blair to Havelock as soon as your flights are confirmed, and leave at least three hours between your return ferry and your flight home.
Best Time to Visit
October to May is the main season, with calm seas and reliable ferry schedules. December to April brings the clearest underwater visibility for diving and snorkelling. The monsoon months from June to September mean fewer crowds and greener islands, but rougher water and more disruption to boat trips, so keep a buffer day if you travel then.
— Travelling as a couple? The Honeymoon Sunset Escape package is a four-night island-hopping route built around sunsets and beach time, and one of the more popular starting points for an andaman honeymoon package.
