Neil Island, officially known as Shaheed Island, located in Ritchie's Archipelago is amongst the most beautiful islands of Andaman. This beach paradise is 36 kilometers from Port Blair in the Bay of Bengal. Stunning white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and the vibrant marine life of Neil Island attract travelers from across the globe to this beautiful and relaxed place.

Check out this handy guide on Neil Island for a perfect vacation in this astounding island.

Interesting Facts About Neil Island

Before you head to Neil Island on your next vacation, check out these interesting facts about it:

• Neil Island is a small and beautiful island which is located at a distance of 37 kilometers south of Port Blair.
• Neil Island is called the vegetable bowl of Andaman Islands as the climatic conditions here make it one of the most fertile areas in Andaman.
• You can take ferries to Neil Island from Port Blair and Havelock Island.
• Neil Island is ideal for travelers looking for a peaceful escape.
• The names of the beaches here are inspired by the mythological characters of the Ramayana, especially Ramnagar, Laxmanpur, Sitapur, and Bharatpur.

Best Time To Visit Neil Island

Neil Island experiences a tropical climate and remains pleasant throughout the year. However, the best time to visit here is from October to May, when the weather is best for sightseeing and water sports adventure.

Winter

Winter is the most preferred time to explore the exquisite beauty of Andaman. The average temperature remains between 14 to 30 degrees Celsius. The skies are clear during this season giving a perfect chance of sightseeing and other adventurous excursions. The popular Island Tourism Festival of Andaman is also celebrated during this time.

Summer

Summer is not much hot here at Neil Island. The temperature remains moderate but the days are humid. Evenings are awesome during this time of the year, making you enjoy the cool breeze while taking walks on the serene beaches.

Monsoon

Neil Island remains wet throughout the monsoon season. If you are interested in seeing the beautiful vegetation of Andaman then this is the time to plan your visit. However, heavy rainfalls may hamper your sightseeing programs!

Adventurous Things To Do In Neil Island

There are numerous exciting activities to do in Neil Island. Here are the most adventures experiences one must encounter while holidaying in Neil Island Andaman:

1. 3 Point Tour

The three-point tour of Neil Island makes you explore the three main beaches here. This tour starts from Howrah Bridge with Bharatpur Beach being your first destination, followed by Laxmanpur and Sitapur Beach respectively.

Bharatpur beach is undoubtedly the most beautiful.

Laxmanpur beach is the best on the island to watch the sunset. It is a tiny and wild beach where it is possible to be alone for hours, and also offers a sunset worth seeing. It is deep enough to snorkel and see the Dugong, a dolphin with a round head typical of the area that swim slowly and are very friendly.

Sitapur is the westernmost beach of the island, the part furthest from the center and less inhabited. It is perfect for bathing and there are usually no people.

Ramnagar Beach is another on the list. A definitely-not-miss beach is huge, expanding from one point to another.

2. Scuba Diving

Neil Island gives you a chance to become a certified scuba diver. You can register with any of the scuba diving schools here and learn this adventurous water sport. If you already know the sport then Neil Island gives you an opportunity to sharpen your skills.

3. Snorkeling

Bharatpur Beach in Neil Island is believed to be best for snorkeling. The clear turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs entices the snorkelers with its unique and thriving marine life. You can also hire the snorkeling gear here at an affordable price.

4. Relaxing By Beach

Neil Island is amongst the most serene and secluded places to visit in Andaman. You can spend leisurely hours here at your own pace. Relaxing by the beach and witnessing the mesmerizing sights of sunset and sunrise is another awesome experience you must not miss out on while staying here!

A visit to Neil Island will surely give you enormous chances to revive yourself and have a perfect vacation away from the hustle of the city. So plan a trip to Andaman and witness the mystic beauty and peaceful ambiance of Neil Island that offers one of the best holiday time to its visitors.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands form a pretty archipelago in the Bay of Bengal in the deep seas between India and Bangladesh. The ocean around the islands is brilliant turquoise blue. The sparkling crystal waters will never fail to fascinate the visitors who travel to this remote part of the world to live a life breathing in the sheer natural beauty.

The variegated colours of the ocean is adorned with brilliantly hued corals and this attract a tremendous variety of colourful marine life that creates a fairy tale world underwater. This marine world combines with the sparkling silver sands of the sandy white beaches to create a heaven on earth.

The Andaman Islands has breathtaking sights under the water and incredible marine diversity. Exploring the sea life of Andaman is one of the most memorable adventures. Newlyweds are often choosing Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal as their prime honeymoon destination and there are also the family vacationers.

But is the place only for these two groups of holiday people? The answer is the most resounding no. You do not have to buy a grand Andaman honeymoon package to enjoy a solo holiday. By the way, traveling solo to Andaman is in vogue too. It is among the best ways to introspect and dive deeper into yourself.

Dive into the crystal blue waters found around the remote volcanic island of Narcondam and watch exotic undersea creatures. Be alert and you never know you could spot a Narcondam Hornbill up close and shoals of Parrotfish darting under the refreshing sea waters of the most interesting unpopulated volcanic areas on earth.

The variety of adventure activities in Andamans makes this place an unforgettable holiday destination. The wide range of adventure activities that baffle and allure tourists and travellers to Andaman include the fun and bubbly Banana Boat Rides that calls for splendid fun and excitement.

There is also the thrill of Snorkelling, Undersea Walking and Scuba Diving that gives you a peep into the maddeningly colourful beauty of underwater corals and gamut of fascinating sea creatures that adorn the surroundings. You can also go for an exciting Parasailing venture and feel the coolness and freshness of atmosphere.

The frantic moments of Jet Skiing or Speed Boating across the turquoise blue waters is equally thrilling. Fishing lovers can go for Sport Fishing or Angling in the wide seas.

1. Port Blair

It is the mecca for all the patriots who knew the struggles and tortures our freedom fighter went through. The place is as sacred as any pilgrimage. You either fly down to this capital city or deboard from a passenger ship. Either way, your enthralling journey through the landscapes of Andaman begins here on the eastern side of the South Andaman Island.

You get to see Cellular Jail referred to as Kala Pani in the days of the British Raj as the very first thing on the list with the light and sound show performance. It tells the stories about the prisoners who gave their sweat and blood to secure our future.

The dark, dingy, claustrophobic cells of the historically infamous Cellular Jail gives veritable impression of the colonial era and the hardships braved by the valiant freedom fighters of our nation. Experience the saga of freedom struggle and the heroic deeds of the freedom movement through the poignant Light and Sound Show of Cellular Jail held every evening in the premises.

If aboriginal history is your thing, the Anthropological Museum is an interesting place to get to know about the native tribes.

2. Diglipur

Next destination on our trip is Diglipur which is all the way up north of the Andaman Islands. A bus trip requiring 8 hours (more or less) is all that you need to get addicted to the faint jungle aroma and quiet chatter of the birds out there. The options of helicopter and ferry are also available. So choose what you must for the 300 Km of the journey.

Offbeat travelers get what they come here looking for, peace, serenity and a lot more time for self. Of course, life is a little less crazy and commercialized here than the much famed Havelock and Neil Islands that are found almost on all the Andaman tour packages.

Lesser known yet most gravitating, the Kalipur Beach has brown mud and rocky formations to keep you amused for hours. Turtle nesting is also carried out here, but you need to be in season to get a glimpse of that, which is December-January.

The other beach that will definitely catch you off guard is the shoreline of the Ross and Smith Islands which are one in the morning during low tide and two by the evening during the high tide. Puzzled? Well, the two are separated by a fine sandbar which is walkable in the morning but gets sunk under water when the seawater rises. And this is not the Ross Island near Port Blair, of course.

The famous Ross Island is a must-visit destination while you are on an Andaman tour. It is an island filled to the brim with the historical remnants of British occupancy in India. The ruins of churches, ancient buildings, colonial architecture still stand to enchant travellers. The island is a shady cove with hundreds of coconut trees lined everywhere and fresh breeze blowing on from the salty sea.

For the hikers by nature, Saddle Peak is the place to flex some leg muscles. Here is some wilderness to get familiarised with. So it is time to hike the Saddle Peak at 732m, the highest of the Andaman Islands. And highest point often translates into bewitchingly spectacular view of the areas around. You just have to lay your eyes on the treasures lying below you.

The mud volcanoes in Diglipur offer a superbly exciting view of as many as 41 effervescent muddy pits that oozes out mud. The mud volcano are undoubtedly a natural wonder and are surrounded by thick woods The craters of the mud volcanoes emit natural gas created by the decaying matter below the surface.

3. Neil Island

Neil Island can be reached from Port Blair or from Havelock Island. Located halfway between Port Blair and Havelock, Neil also has wonderful beaches. The Neil island is the tranquility raised to the bucket. Something ideal during the day is to go to the beach, to walk, or to visit the market. Most people only come to photograph the natural bridge carved into a large rock.

Read More: Neil Island Travel Guide

4. Havelock Island

The topmost adventurous activities in India is scuba diving at Andaman which takes place at Havelock beach. It's the new Ko Pha Ngan! Crowded! Full of drunks! And of hotels! Havelock is something more boisterous and that it has more tourist offer than its neighbors. Havelock not only seemed like a pretty quiet island, but with the right point of activity that all vacation paradise requires.

Who does not like having options to eat well and be able to have a beer after a day at the beach? Havelock Island is where the majority of tourism is concentrated and that is why it is where more activities take place. Diving is one of the attractions of the island and there are several hostels that offer departures. It's a relatively small island, but with enough to not get bored.

The Havelock island is six times larger than Neil, but much of it is jungle and all the towns and beaches are concentrated in the north, while the resorts are lined along the east coast. The most famous beach of Havelock is Radhanagar beach with the wonderful Blue Lagoon that is in its final zone. Blue Lagoon beach is the prettiest. This beach was named best beach in South East Asia by a travel magazine.

Radhanagar Beach of Havelock Island is the most astounding beach that you can find on the face of earth. It is also popularly known as the Beach No 7. Radhanagar Beach was deemed the best beach of Asia in 2004 by Times.

The long stretch of pearly white sands offer some everlasting memories of sunsets and sunrises. As the blue oceans meet the blue skies, the calm waves let you plunge in its warm waters and play with the colourful fish and shells that adorn the beach sands. The beach shacks provide some of the tastiest treats.

Discover the secrets of the underwater world of the exotic coral reefs off the coast of Andamans. The fantastic wonders of marine universe open up as you see the varied types of fish, clams, oysters and hundreds of other marine creatures unfold their secrets in the depth of ocean waters. The enchanting world fascinates you and makes for a thrilling experience. The Elephant Beach of Havelock is a popular diving spot.

The main alternative to Radha Nagar is Elephant Beach, accessible through the jungle on an hour and a half trekking. It is a good beach to which many go snorkeling. Kala Pathar is a smaller beach but perfect to bathe because of its depth. The waters, of course, are also clean and crystal clear.

You can take go for scuba diving in Andaman if you are above 8 years. No matter whether you are going to do Scuba diving for the first time or have been doing it for some time, it really is an addictive sport and surveying vast and valuable marine resources underwater will be one of your most unforgettable experiences, interesting and luxurious your life.

In addition, every night there is live music in a different hostel. There is no party at night if it is what you are looking for. The best thing to move around the island is to rent a motorbike.

Go out from Havelock Island on a kayaking expedition off the coast into the darkness of the night and get enthralled by the mesmeric illumination on the water surface caused by the bioluminescent phytoplankton. Also, discover a gamut of information of the positioning of stars in the night sky and the constellations.

5. Little Andaman Island

Little Andaman Island is the one that is furthest away and can only be reached from Haddo in Port Blair. The trip lasts between 8 and 10 hours and is done on a government ferry. To return from Little Andaman you can return with the same boat or with a smaller one, which goes faster and takes much less (about 5 hours).

The two boats alternate, so depending on the day you want to return you will touch one or the other. The fast is much better not only for the time of the trip, but also because if you try, you can sit in a half VIP room with padded and reclining armchairs and air conditioning.

All the hostels on Little Andaman Island are on the road that follows the east coast. This is the only part of the island inhabited. The entire western part is practically virgin and only controlled by the indigenous Jarowa tribes of the area. Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the home to four Negrito tribes such as the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa and Sentinelese.

The ferocious Jarawas are the most enigmatic aboriginal tribe that lives in the islands of Andamans. They are a rare breed and exist on the face of this earth completely cut off from civilization following their primitive ways of life.

They reside in the South and Middle Andaman and give you a chance of knowing about them through the various expeditions and museum exhibits. Two other Mongoloid tribes such as the Shompen and Nicobarese also inhabit these islands. Little Andaman is wild and unknown. There are crocodiles who in the rainy season reaches the coast by the rivers.

Hutbay is the busiest town in the area where you are going to move. Although you have no illusions, it has only one street with some shops and little else. About 14 kilometers from Hut Bay heading south, there is a lone lighthouse that can be visited. Netaji Nagar Beach is the longest beach on the east coast of the island. It is deserted. There is nobody but a bird and the noise of the waves.

Butler Bay beach is much smaller than the first and is suitable for swimming. On the island there are two known waterfalls. White surf Waterfall is the small but the most accessible. You can arrive by motorbike perfectly, ideal to spend a nice afternoon. The Whisper Wave Waterfalls, on the other hand, is much further away. It takes an hour by motorcycle alone and there is about 4 km of trekking to see it.

6. Baratang Island

The Baratang Island, 100 kms from Port Blair, is blessed with exquisite beaches, enticing mangrove creeks, unique mud volcanoes and mysterious limestone caves. The sheer thrill of skirting through the dingy narrow mysterious limestone caves formed from the sedimentary rocks are nature’s marvel. The hike through the maze of dark caves after crossing the thickets surrounding the area is an out-of-the-world experience that should be visited to make your Andaman experience complete.

Along with the breath-taking beauty of the shimmering waters, white beaches and the rich underwater kingdom of Andaman seas, also go out into the open oceans in search of the enchanting world of larger marine species. On a dolphin watch trip, watch out for the playful animals as they jump up and down on the ocean surface.

They swim playfully and sometimes come close to the boats for the visitors to have a close look. The excitement and the thrill that ensues on such dolphin spotting adventure trips make for a crazy adventure. Keep the camera ready to catch the spirited creatures of the waves and ocean in their playful best. This is going to be one of the best holidays on a great Andaman holidays package.