Travel Guide: 4 Nights and 5 days in Andaman

I visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands in March 2013. Before going there I did a pretty exhaustive study about the place. Based on that here I am presenting a sample 4 nights and 5 days travel plan.

If you want to include Havelock Island in your Andaman trip, you must have at least 4 nights to spend. Due to the mismatch in Havelock Ferry timing and outward flight timings from Port-Blair, you cannot go to Havelock on the day you reach Port-Blair and you cannot take the return flight on the same day you come back from Havelock. So, minimum span of trip including Havelock must be four days.

The following assumes a 4 nights and 5 days trip. Here is a sample travel guide:

Day 1: 

Arrive at Port Blair. Port Blair is a small city but very clean and beautiful. Go ahead and check into a hotel. Take bath, have lunch and relax for a few minutes. After lunch visit Anthropological Museum which displays the tools, models habitats, art and handcrafts of the aboriginal tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

At Anthropological Museum, Port Blair

Proceed to Corbyn's Cove beach and relax with a cup of tea in the slanted benches under coconut trees as the sun sets. The route from Aberdeen Bazaar (main market of Port Blair) to Corbyn Cove beach is spectacular. You can even enjoy some water rides in this beach but I won't suggest that. There are plenty of times you can do it afterwards.

Corbyn's Cove Beach, Port Blair, Andaman

In the evening, watch the Light and Sound Show at Cellular Jail where our hundred years of freedom struggle comes alive. Note that the visiting hour for Cellular jail is from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm and for light show the time is 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm. So, if you might want to break your Cellular Jail visit in two parts. One for Cellular Jail tour, then visit Sagarika Shopping center (or something else) then comeback for the light and sound shows. As Port Blair is a small city, every thing is really nearby.

Cellular Jail at Port Blair

Shaheed Jyoti at Cellular Jail, Port Blair

If you manage to start early you can also include: Samundrika (Naval Museum), Marina Park (another sea museum), Chatham saw mill etc. Most of the museums saw mill and Cellular Jail are closed by 4pm or 5pm so many people break Port Blair sight-seeing into two days. But in my personal opinion, there are more in Andaman other than Port Blair.

Overnight at the Port Blair hotel

Day 2:
Have breakfast by 7:30 am and then reach Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports complex and start a full-day cruise trip to Ross Island, North-Bay Island, and Viper Island. This is usually a complete package and includes cruise between islands, a minimal vegetarian lunch, and a small trip in glass bottom boat to see corals. Start at Ross Island (remains of the old capital). Then go to North Bay Island and try Sea Walking. Finally take the cruise to Viper Island.

Ross Island, Andaman

Ruins of an old church at Ross Islands, Port Blair

At North Bay Island the cruise includes a small trip on Glass Bottom Boats to see corals. You have to pay extra for an extended trip. You can also take a snorkeling trip there to see underwater corals. I strongly suggest trying the underwater “Sea Walking” where they drop you in the sea bed with an oxygen mask. Then you can literally walk under the see and touch the underwater flora and fauna. You can feel the corals, look at the sea anemone as thousands of colorful fishes swim all around you. You can even feed the beautiful fishes with your own hand.

North Bay Island

Sea Walking at North Bay Island, Andaman

After North Bay, proceed for an hour and a half long harbor cruise to reach the Viper Island. Here for the first time you will get a feel of the vastness of the blue ocean. Lunch is served inside the cruise. 

Gallow Hall at Viper Island

Many years before the Cellular Jail was constructed, it was the jail at Viper Island that was used by the British to hang the female prisoners. You can still see the gallows here. You again enjoy the harbor cruise while coming back to Port Blair. 

Sunset at Port Blair

Overnight at Port-Blair hotel

Day 3:
Take the ferry from Port-Blair Jetty to reach Havelock Island. There are luxurious private boats (Makruzz from Phoenix Bay jetty) as well as Govt. ships. This trip takes around 2 to 2.5 hours through the deep blue sea. Spend some time in the deck and you might see glimpses of Dolphins and Flying Fishes. Try again to see them in the return ferry if you could not see them in the onward trip.

Govt. Ferries that will carry you from Port Blair to Havelock

Check into a hotel/resort. Enjoy some time in the private beach if your resort has one. The water is so clear and waves are so soft, it almost feels like a lush swimming pool. If you are careful you can even spot some tiny Ghost Crabs and Hermit Crabs.

Resort at Havelock Island

Govind Nagar Beach (private to the resort)

By 2:30pm proceed for Radhanagar Beach. This beach was rated Best Beach in Asia by Time in 2004. You must spend at least 3-4 hours in this beach. Waves are smooth, water is crystal clear and the sunset is simply magical. Let the pictures do the talking.

Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island

Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island

Elephant Rides at Radhanagar Beach

Sunset at Radhanagar Beach

Overnight at Havelock Island resort.

Day 4:
Take the return ferry from Havelock. Reach Port Blair by noon. After lunch you may take a second trip for Port Blair sight-seeing. May be you can do some shopping at Sagarika. Note that Sagarika is closed on Sundays. You may feel the second half of the day is a waste of time but unfortunately there is no way to avoid it. As most other activities start pretty early in the morning, there is not much else to do today.

Cellular Jail Again

Overnight stay at Port Blair Hotel.

Day 5:
Take an early morning flight to come back home with everlasting beautiful memories.

Have one more day to spare? Go to Jolly Buoy Island.

Take a trip to Jolly Buoy/Red Skin Island through Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. Boat leaves from Wandoor Jetty (~20 km from Port Blair) at 10am. You need to have valid ID proof with you (driving license/pan card/voter ID etc.) and the ticket must be purchased in advance. Have your travel agent purchase the tickets for you. The natural beauty at Jolly Buoy is spell bound. You may also take an extended snorkeling trip here (Rs. 500).

Deep rain-forest in the back and mangroves in the front on the way to Jolly Buoy.

Small Islands on the way are actually tips of underlying mountains

The Jolly Buoy Island

Hermit Crabs

You should have an extended snorkeling trip (Rs. 500 in March 2013) here and see living marine creatures yourself. You can even grab a starfish with your own hand.

Another key thing to note is the different colors if the sea due to the sharp difference in sea depth. You can see the sharp under sea ridges while snorkeling. A marvelous experience.

Difference in colors of the sea water

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Originally posted by Joydip Datta at Quora. Links to original posts: post 1 and post 2. 
All images are original and Copyright (C) 2013, Joydip Datta. All rights reserved. 
Text is (C) 2013, Joydip Datta under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.