Travel Guide to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The last lost tribes of Eurasia inhabit the remote archipelago, of which only 9 islands are open to foreign tourism to respect the voluntary isolation of the aboriginal communities.

Travel to Andaman and Nicobar is synonymous with pristine landscapes, picture-postcard beaches, unparalleled underwater life and endemic wildlife easily spotted in its nature reserves.

India’s most remote archipelago is focused on sustainable tourism and protecting its uncontacted tribal groups.

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Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (अण्डमान और निकोबार) are two archipelagos located between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. They have over 600 islands closer to Burma and Thailand, although they belong to India in the form of a Union Territory. They have a demographic link with the state of West Bengal. You can include it in your trip to North India or South India, as you have to connect from Kolkatta or Chennai airports.

The part of Andaman and Nicobar, open to international tourism, has opted for sustainable travel and the recovery of the historical memory of these islands used as prisons in colonial times. Nature and conservation lovers will find almost virgin islands where they can dive and enjoy sustainable stays in the middle of nature.

In May 2013, the Andaman and Nicobar archipelagos were declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco.

How to get to Andaman and Nicobar

The only feasible way to reach the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is by plane. Lately, frequencies have increased as many Indian travelers have also decided to discover this extraordinary archipelago.

Flights to Port Blair

The flight to Port Blair is not cheap. There are few frequencies, and you usually have to take the flight from Kolkatta or Chennai. From other Indian cities, you will have to make a stopover.

Andaman and Nicobar ethnic groups

Andaman and Nicobar are one of the most remote destinations in India. Anyone intending to visit them should take several things into consideration. The islands are inhabited by mainlanders, but retain aboriginal groups that deserve special protection. There are also Karen people.

Some of the islands are populated by uncontacted tribes. The Government of India prohibits access and provides special protection to these groups who at one time decided to return to seclusion on their island and leave contact with the outside world. Recently, a Protestant missionary was killed while trying to access an island where tribal groups lived.

Honoring these tribal groups and their desire not to be exposed to the outside world, we do not include images of their members in accordance with the United Nations guidelines on the dignity of indigenous peoples.

The former Port Blair jail

The capital of Andaman and Nicobar is also the largest city in the archipelago. Andaman and Nicobar was a Danish settlement in the Indian Ocean. The Danes hardly took possession of the territory.

When the British acquired the rights to the islands, Great Andaman became a colonial presidium. At the end of the 19th century, Celullar Jail was built. The Port Blair Jail became famous as a lock-up for political prisoners. The jail space is now a hospital and is maintained as a memorial to the struggle for independence.

Port Blair also hides bunkers from World War II, so it combines history and basic services on the island of Great Andaman.

Havelock Island

The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago has opted to open only a few islands to tourism and orient this industry towards sustainability and the conservation of a unique natural environment.

Havelock Island is one of the few areas where sustainable tourism has been promoted. There are only five villages on the island where travelers can stay. The rest of the extension is covered by thick vegetation and has several fine sandy beaches. Radha Beach has been voted the best beach in Asia on several occasions.

Havelock has several diving destinations and good snorkeling options, and is well-connected to Great Andaman and the other islands open to tourism.

Scuba diving and snorkeling in the Andaman Islands

The diving opportunities on the islands are almost endless. The seabed remains untouched with coral reefs, shipwrecks and active underwater volcanoes. The best if you want to experience the most remote diving scenarios is a live aboard on Narcondam Island, the Invisible Bank and the West Andaman Seamounts.

Snorkeling lovers should not miss Jolly Buoy Island with a unique diversity of corals and fish. If you are only going to visit Havelock and Great Andaman, you will also find dive sites that will meet your expectations.

Wildlife in Andaman islands

The isolation of Andaman and Nicobar has allowed for the preservation of extensive endemic fauna and flora. From the saltwater crocodile to the Nicobar pigeon, you will find unique mammals, birds and reptiles. On the islands open to tourism, the proximity of natural areas makes it easy to encounter these specimens.

There is also a large community of wild elephants that were brought from India to work in the forestry industry. The pachyderms were released after the company went bankrupt. You will find herds of elephants on Interview Island, the largest nature reserve in the Andaman.