Andaman Islands in 5 Days - Route, Costs and Logistics
Bijoy Da has been ferrying tourists around Port Blair harbour since his father handed him the boat in 2009. Sitting at Chidiya Tapu one evening, he explained why most five day Andaman trips fall apart before they even reach Havelock.
Travellers build their schedule the way they would plan a city trip, assuming every transfer runs on time because it is printed on a voucher. The ferries between Port Blair, Havelock and Neil run on wind and swell, not on a printed itinerary. A single choppy morning can rearrange your entire remaining trip.
Every operator, dive instructor and homestay owner I spoke with across three separate visits to these islands brought this up before I even asked about it. That tells you how central it is to actually enjoying five days here, rather than spending them anxious about missed connections.
This guide is built around that reality, and around a second problem that shows up constantly in Andaman planning. Almost every itinerary published online squeezes the same four or five attractions into five days regardless of how a traveller actually wants to spend their time.
A honeymoon couple, a family with a six year old, and a solo diver chasing certification dives all need a genuinely different five days, not the same checklist with a different cover photo. So this piece gives you the route, but it also gives you three different ways to walk through that same route, along with an honest account of what each pace costs you in terms of what gets left out.
Understanding the islands before you plan around them
Cellular Jail did not become a museum piece by accident, and knowing what it actually was changes how the visit lands.
Kala Pani, the old term for exile here, meant more than a harsh prison sentence. In the Hindu belief systems of the era, crossing the ocean was believed to strip a person of caste and social standing. Being transported to these islands was social erasure layered on top of imprisonment, a punishment designed to be permanent even for those who eventually returned.
The jail itself was built as a panopticon, seven wings radiating outward from a central watchtower, so that a single guard could observe every corridor at once without the prisoners knowing when they were being watched. Only three of the original seven wings survive today. The rest were dismantled after independence and their material repurposed for other government buildings on the island.
Walking through what remains, with the light and sound show narrating the stories of the freedom fighters held here, hits differently once you understand the building's design was psychological as much as physical.
Ross Island tells a stranger story. It served as the administrative headquarters of the British in the Andamans, a genuinely grand colonial outpost with a ballroom, a church, a bakery and a printing press, built to convince officers posted here that they had not really left England.
An earthquake in 1941 and the subsequent Japanese occupation left it in ruins. Today it is overrun with spotted deer and peacocks, neither of which are native to these islands. The British imported both species specifically to complete the illusion of an English country estate. They outlived the empire by nearly a century, and hearing a peacock call out from inside a roofless, tree strangled ballroom is one of the stranger sounds you will encounter anywhere in India.
The human geography of the islands is layered in a way that rarely gets mentioned. A Karen community, brought from Burma by the British in the 1920s specifically for their skill at logging teak, still lives around Webi and Lucknow villages near Mayabunder in North Andaman. This is distinct both from the Bengali refugee families who arrived after Partition and settled much of South and Middle Andaman, and from the indigenous Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa and Sentinelese peoples whose presence on these islands predates every later arrival by tens of thousands of years.
None of this geography fits inside a five day loop through Port Blair, Havelock and Neil. But it explains why the food, language and festival calendar across the islands feels like a genuine composite rather than a single mainland cuisine simply relocated to a beach.
Havelock Island, officially Swaraj Dweep, sits roughly 39 kilometres northeast of Port Blair and can only be reached by sea, with crossings taking 90 minutes to 2 hours depending on the operator and vessel.
Neil Island, officially Shaheed Dweep, sits geographically between Port Blair and Havelock, closer to the mainland jetty at roughly 36 kilometres from Port Blair. It also has a direct ferry connection to Havelock that takes about an hour, which is what allows a loop route rather than a there and back journey.
A five day plan built as Port Blair to Havelock to Neil and back to Port Blair matches the actual shape of the ferry network far better than visiting Neil first, since the Neil to Havelock direct sailings run at more convenient times than the reverse direction on most days.
Choosing your pace, and what each one actually costs you
The same five days can be walked through at three distinct speeds. The honest differences between them matter more than most itineraries admit.
Treats five days as time for exactly three real experiences: Port Blair's history, Havelock's beaches, and Neil's quiet. Generous buffer time around every ferry crossing, plus at least one entirely unplanned half day, usually kept free on Havelock since it has the most to simply wander into.
You take the speedboat to Elephant Beach both ways instead of the forest trek, to save energy for snorkelling. You skip stacking two water activities into one day. You arrive at Radhanagar an hour before sunset rather than treating it as a stop on the way to dinner.
What you gain instead is a trip that does not feel like a checklist, and noticeably less exhaustion on the flight home.
This is the pace the day by day route below is written around, and the one most first time visitors should default to. It fits Port Blair's evening jail show, a full day at Radhanagar, a proper half day at Elephant Beach with snorkelling or a discover scuba session, an evening bioluminescence kayak if the moon cooperates, and a full day on Neil covering both major beaches and Natural Bridge at the correct tide.
It does not try to squeeze in Ross Island, North Bay or Baratang, and it accepts one entirely device free evening rather than treating every hour as bookable.
Tries to add Ross Island and North Bay onto the Port Blair day, a full certified dive on Havelock rather than a discover session, and sometimes even a rushed Baratang detour squeezed against the departure day. Plenty of packages sell exactly this schedule.
It is physically possible on paper. In practice, every day starts before sunrise to catch the earliest ferries, a meaningful share of the trip is spent in transit rather than at the destinations themselves, and there is effectively zero buffer for a single delayed ferry.
The comfortable pace route, island by island
This is the sequence built around the comfortable pace above, the one most experienced Andaman travellers and local operators converge on once ferry timings are properly accounted for.
Port Blair, the harbour town most itineraries rush past
Fly into Veer Savarkar International Airport and resist the pull to treat Port Blair as a mere gateway. It genuinely deserves the afternoon.
A curved beach lined with coconut palms, close enough to the airport to work even with an early afternoon landing. Not the postcard beach the islands are known for, but calm enough for a first swim and a good place to decompress after a flight.
The reason to spend your first evening in Port Blair rather than rushing onward. The light and sound show narrates the stories of the freedom fighters imprisoned here against the jail lit up after dark, a genuinely different experience from a daylight walk through the same corridors.
The show alternates languages through the week, generally English on some evenings and Hindi on others. Confirm the current schedule at the ticket counter before building your evening around it, since arriving on the wrong night means missing it entirely.
Stay options: Sinclairs Bayview for sea facing rooms within walking distance of Corbyn's Cove, Fortune Resort Bay Island for a heritage property on its own private cliff, or SeaShell Port Blair for a dependable mid range base closer to the main jetty, which matters if your ferry the next morning leaves early.
Havelock and Radhanagar, the beach that put these islands on the map
Book the earliest sailing you can manage, generally the 6 30 or 7 00 am departure on Makruzz or Green Ocean. Arriving on Havelock by mid morning rather than early afternoon effectively buys you an extra half day on the island.
Havelock, officially Swaraj Dweep, is the largest of the inhabited islands in this loop and the one with genuine range, from backpacker guesthouses near the main market to some of the more considered eco resorts in the whole archipelago.
A long, gently curving stretch of pale sand backed by dense forest, with water shallow and calm enough for confident swimming well past the shoreline. It faces west, unusual among easily accessible Indian beaches, so the sunset drops directly into the sea rather than behind a headland or a line of buildings.
Time magazine ranked it Asia's best beach in 2004, a distinction that predates almost every resort currently operating on the island and is the actual reason Havelock shifted from a quiet fishing community into the tourist hub it now is.
Stay options: Barefoot at Havelock for a jungle facing eco stay within walking distance of Radhanagar, SeaShell Havelock for a comfortable mid tier property closer to the jetty and main market, or Symphony Palms Beach Resort for a genuinely budget conscious option within reach of both.
Elephant Beach, the reef closest to shore, and a night on dark water
Reached either by a roughly 40 minute forest trek from the trailhead near the plantation, genuinely pleasant in the cooler morning hours, or by a 20 minute speedboat transfer from the main jetty, the better choice if you want energy left for serious snorkelling once you arrive.
The coral beds closest to shore here are the easiest in all of Havelock for a first attempt at snorkelling, shallow enough that confidence rather than swimming ability is usually the limiting factor. That is exactly why most dive schools base their beginner sessions here rather than at Radhanagar.
Spend the afternoon on scuba itself, a full certified dive if you already hold a qualification, or a discover scuba session with a PADI or SSI affiliated school if this is genuinely your first time breathing underwater. Treat the affiliation number as something worth actually verifying rather than taking a certified label at face value, since safety standards vary more than most travellers assume in a destination this popular.
If your dates happen to fall in the dark moon window, this is the evening to book bioluminescence kayaking, which launches from a calm backwater near the main jetty rather than the open sea, needs no swimming ability at all, and rewards stillness and patience over any particular skill.
Neil Island, the quieter half of the trip
Take a mid morning ferry across to Neil Island, officially Shaheed Dweep, and notice almost immediately how different its pace feels from Havelock. Neil is smaller, flatter and far less developed, genuinely coverable end to end by rented bicycle in a way hillier Havelock is not.
Close to where most ferries and boats dock. Calm, shallow swimming and glass bottom boat rides over a coral shelf close enough to shore that even non swimmers get a real look at marine life. One of the more genuinely family friendly stops across the whole itinerary.
On the opposite side of the island from Bharatpur, and quieter still, arguably the least crowded proper sunset point in this entire loop, since most day trippers never make it past Bharatpur.
A striking coral rock arch that locals call Howrah Bridge. The single detail almost every visitor misses is timing the visit against the tide.
Stay options: Tango Beach Resort for beachfront cottages a short walk from Bharatpur, or Pearl Park Beach Resort for a quieter, lower cost stay within easy reach of the same beach.
The return crossing and a last hour of context
Take the earliest available ferry back to Port Blair to build in genuine buffer time before your flight, since weather related delays on the water happen far more often than airline schedules quietly assume when they sell same day onward connections.
If a few spare hours remain, the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum and the Anthropological Museum together take under an hour to walk through and offer real grounding in the tribal history of these islands. A better use of a final layover than another pass through the souvenir shops near Aberdeen Bazaar, though a quick stop there for local spices, shell craft or the island's coconut based sweets is a reasonable last errand if time allows.
If five days does not fit your dates
Four nights five days, the version that drops Neil Island
Remove Neil Island from the loop and give the freed day to Havelock instead, splitting it between a full morning and afternoon at Radhanagar and a separate half day dedicated purely to Elephant Beach and diving.
What you gain is both of Havelock's signature experiences kept fully intact rather than rushed, and one fewer inter island ferry crossing, which meaningfully reduces the risk of a single bad weather day derailing your schedule.
Six to seven nights, the version that adds real breathing room
Add a full day trip to Baratang's limestone caves, reached by road through the Jarawa tribal reserve under strict no stopping rules, followed by a mangrove speedboat ride to the cave entrance. If your dates allow, add a day cruise toward Barren Island, home to India's only confirmed active volcano roughly 140 kilometres from Port Blair, reachable only on select cruise routes rather than any public ferry.
This length is also the first that genuinely allows a completely unplanned day, something almost no five day itinerary anywhere builds in deliberately, and which almost every traveller who has done a tight five day trip says afterward they wished they had.
What five days in Andaman actually costs in 2026
Cost figures circulating online vary enormously mostly because they describe entirely different trips bundled under the same headline number. Below is a realistic range for two travellers flying from a metro city, broken into three tiers.
| Category | Budget | Mid range | Comfort or luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return flights, per person, metro city to Port Blair | Rs 9,000 to 14,000, booked well ahead in a shoulder month | Rs 14,000 to 20,000 | Rs 20,000 and above, common close to travel dates or in peak season |
| Stay per night, double occupancy | Rs 1,500 to 2,500, guesthouses and simple hotels | Rs 3,500 to 6,000, branded mid tier resorts with proper beach access | Rs 8,000 and above, beachfront and villa style luxury resorts |
| Inter island ferries, round trip per person across the loop | Rs 1,200 to 1,800, economy class seating | Rs 1,800 to 2,500, premium or business class seating | Rs 2,500 and above, or a private speedboat charter |
| Water activities, snorkelling, one scuba session, kayaking | Rs 2,500 to 4,000, snorkelling and a shared kayak session | Rs 5,000 to 8,000, including a discover scuba or a single certified dive | Rs 10,000 and above, multiple certified dives plus private guided tours |
| Local transport, taxis and autos | Rs 50 to 300 per short trip | Rs 300 to 1,500 for a half day taxi hire | A private car with driver for the full stay |
| Food, per person per day | Rs 500 to 800, local thalis and beach shacks | Rs 1,000 to 1,500, resort restaurants and seafood specialities | Rs 2,000 and above, fine dining and resort meal packages |
Reaching Andaman by ship instead of flying
Flying is faster, but a genuine sea route exists from three mainland ports, and it remains a real option for budget conscious travellers, government employees who receive subsidised fares, and anyone who wants the experience of arriving by water.
| Departure port | Approximate duration | Approximate fare, per person one way | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | 3 to 4 days | Rs 2,500 to 10,000 depending on class, from a shared bunk to a private cabin | Roughly every 10 to 12 days, schedules shift by season |
| Kolkata | 3 to 4 days | Rs 2,500 to 10,000, same class structure as the Chennai route | Roughly every 10 to 12 days |
| Visakhapatnam | 3 to 4 days | Rs 2,500 to 10,000 | Less frequent than Chennai and Kolkata, confirm the current sailing calendar |
These ships are operated jointly by the Shipping Corporation of India and the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. Cabins fill up well ahead of sailing dates, so booking close to departure is genuinely risky.
Best time to visit, and what the monsoon actually looks like
October through May is the accepted travel window. Within it, October to February brings the coolest, driest weather and the calmest seas, which is exactly why it is also the most expensive and most heavily booked stretch of the year, particularly the final week of December through the second week of January.
March through May stays dry and reliably warm, with noticeably thinner crowds and lower resort rates, a reasonable trade for travellers who can tolerate more heat and humidity in exchange for better prices.
June through September brings the southwest monsoon, and while most travel content dismisses this period outright, the reality on the ground is more specific. Inter island ferries do get cancelled on genuinely rough weather days, water sports operators scale back their schedules, and the sea around both Havelock and Neil turns visibly choppier than in the dry months.
Reading a package quote correctly
Package pricing across Andaman operators is opaque enough that a handful of recurring patterns are worth understanding before committing any advance payment.
He said the single most important thing to remember is to never plan your final full day around an activity that depends entirely on calm seas. Keep that last day flexible, because on these islands the ocean sets the actual schedule, not the tour operator printing the voucher.
Matching the trip to who is actually travelling
Families travelling with young children
Skip the Baratang extension entirely even on a longer trip, since the road runs through the Jarawa tribal reserve under strict no stopping and no photography rules that are genuinely difficult to manage with restless children confined to a vehicle for the drive.
Couples and honeymooners
Consider swapping one activity heavy day for a private sunset boat ride off Havelock, which most resorts arrange quietly without ever listing it on their standard package menu. Ask for it directly at check in.
First time solo travellers
Havelock's hostel cluster near the main market has grown substantial enough that solo travel here is genuinely comfortable now, and the dive schools double as a low pressure, natural way to meet other travellers.
Second time visitors, or anyone with ten or more days
This is the group who should seriously consider the north, Diglipur's limestone caves and the mud volcanoes at Shyamnagar, along with the Karen settlements around Mayabunder, all far enough from the standard loop that a five day trip cannot reach them without sacrificing something already covered above.
Details rarely covered elsewhere
Common questions about a 5 day Andaman trip
Is 5 days enough for Andaman?
Yes, for a first visit. Five days is enough to properly cover Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island at the comfortable pace laid out above, without the checklist feeling that comes from squeezing in Ross Island, North Bay and Baratang on top of them. It is not enough if those extra stops matter to you, or if you want a genuinely unplanned day. In that case six to seven nights is the more honest target.
How much does a 5 day Andaman trip cost?
For two travellers flying from a metro city, a budget trip runs roughly Rs 35,000 to 45,000, a mid range trip Rs 65,000 to 90,000, and a comfort or honeymoon tier trip Rs 1.3 lakh and above. The full category by category breakdown, covering flights, stay, ferries, activities and food, is in the cost section above.
Do I need a permit to visit Andaman?
Indian citizens need no permit at all for Port Blair, Havelock or Neil Island. Foreign nationals require a Restricted Area Permit, issued free on arrival at the airport or seaport and valid for 30 days. Additional restrictions apply only to the far northern islands and the Nicobar group, for both Indian and foreign travellers.
Which islands should I cover in 5 days?
Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island, in that order, looping back to Port Blair for departure. This matches the actual ferry network better than any other sequence, since Neil connects directly to both Port Blair and Havelock, while trying to fit in Ross Island, North Bay or Baratang on top of these three usually means rushed mornings and very little time at each stop.
Can I reach Andaman by ship instead of flying?
Yes, from Chennai, Kolkata or Visakhapatnam, taking 3 to 4 days each way at fares between Rs 2,500 and 10,000 depending on class. The crossing alone consumes six to eight days round trip, which makes it impractical for a 5 day plan and better suited to a longer trip or travellers based near one of these ports.
Kalyan Panja writes long form travel guides for Travtasy and Explore Share Inspire, covering Indian and international destinations through culture, food and firsthand ground reporting.
this make me want to go.