15 best things to do in Andaman islands

Skies in love with the Sun, golden beaches, turquoise waters, and serene ambiance make Andaman islands the perfect to go destination.

An ultimate destination, Andaman and Nicobar island is not the only beauty of 572 archipelagoes but it an ideal adventure seekers place which includes water activities, activities for nature lovers, and sightseeing tours of Andaman that can blindly opt for.

Getting There: How to reach the Andaman Islands?

Airways: Deboard at Vir Savarkar Airport in Port Blair

Ship transportation: Alight at Haddo Wharf Port in Port Blair; ship services are available from Chennai, Kolkata, and Vizag.

Best Time to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

Andaman anchors an annual tourism celebration in December and January. But the islands can be seen anytime between October and May. The water is crystal clear and calm, perfect for snorkeling and swimming. The temperature is not too extreme and is between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

The beauty of the stunning and exotic island

1. Snorkeling at Beaches

Beginners in snorkeling, this is your big chance. The best water activity at the best spot in India, you can enjoy this island. See the extraordinary marine life and see the rare corals because you are snorkeling on elephant beaches on the North Bay Island or Havelock Island. Advice: Go for Havelock because the water is very clear compared to northern water. Cost: INR 500 to INR 1000*

2. Havelock Island

The scene is so beautiful that you can frame it in your lovely memories, small light stars and galaxies floating under their feet instead of the blue sky above or seems like they have fallen down from the sky, just jaw-dropping! You can experience this drop-dead gorgeousness while you are on the beach at Havelock Island. Just appreciate the countless add-on beauty of illuminating water. The shininess in water is because of the presence of phytoplankton in the sea waters. Note: "Biologominations" can only be seen on “NO” moon nights". Kayak tours are organized by tourism experts. Ask any scuba guide and they will connect you with the right person. Cost: No charges for visiting the bioluminescent beach in Andaman*

3. Scuba Diving

For Scuba diving in the Andaman islands, it is not necessary that you should know how to swim; Great! Yes, many people do not go for scuba diving thinking that swimming is important, but it is not the truth in this case. If you want to try tougher levels of scuba and want to go to open water, then it is must to know swimming skills. But this is also not true for PADI Scuba Diving or Sea Walking. There are many places to try scuba diving in Andaman. So do not worry, just try the game and discover colorful corals and fascinating water life. Cost: INR 1,800 onwards*

4. Riding a Banana Boat at Port Blair

Riding on the banana boat adds fun at another level, an exciting thing to experience in Andaman islands. At one time, 6 people can ride boat-shaped boats that are tied behind the speedboat to gain rush. This is a completely safe activity as long as your life jacket follows the instructions given. Cost: INR 620 per person*; including charges of the banana boat, life jacket, and instructor* Also Try: Kayaking, jet skiing, and speedboat riding.

5. Trying the Glass Bottom Boat ride

The most attractive thing to do who are really afraid of water! It is an easy ride and gives you a good view of the coral underneath with proper safety gear, it is also good for children. In fact, glass-bottom sailing is the most unique thing you will experience in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. When you go through the sea, you see marine life through a glass base in the boat as you continue boating through the sea. Finding the place: These glass-bottom boats function between Water Sports Complex & North Bay Coral Island and between Port Blair and Jolly Buoy Island.

Where to try: These glass-bottom boats function between Water Sports Complex & North Bay Coral Island and between Port Blair and Jolly Buoy Island.

Cost: INR 500 per person onwards*

6. Parasailing at Havelock Island

To satisfy your anxiety flood, try parasailing. Enjoy all these things on Havelock Island, this activity is a mixture of both air and water adventure. The person is tucked behind the motorboat while harnessed with a parachute, you get to fly like a kite behind the boat because it accelerates into the sea.

Cost: Charges for parasailing depends on the season you visit the island and the location you are parasailing at*

7. Swimming with Elephants at Havelock Island

Also Read: 21 Top Places To Watch The Most Beautiful Sunset In The World

Andaman gives you the opportunity to swim with the Star Elephant - Rajan. A 60+ elephant loves the company of people and is very friendly. However, you have to book your swim with Rajan in advance.

Cost: NA*

8. Traveling in a Sea Plane

One of the special plus exclusive things to do in Andaman is Taking off in a seaplane run by Pawan Hans  You can experience this unique ride on Havelock while going from Port Blair or on return. Seaplanes can take only 9 passengers at a time and the flight time is 15 minutes. The exact distance, if covered by the ferry (boat ride) takes approximately 2 hours.

Cost: INR 2,000 per person for a 1-way flight*

9. Dolphin Watching

Dolphin is one of the favorite things for tourists to see in Andaman. The marine life lovers who are planning to see dolphins in Andaman, do not miss the opportunity to go to Lalaji Bay Beach on Long Island, Jolly Buoy located in the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Havelock Island. The minute you will watch them your heart will aggravate to see them more! There are numbers of cruises from which you can opt. Some of them are Super saver cruise, Grand cruise, Sunset cruise etc. and enjoy the splendid and magical marine life world through the transparent glass while you are in cruise.

Charges- NA*

10. Rubber Plantations Visit

Also Read: 10 Most Haunted Forests Around The World

Experience another most unique things to do in Andaman is scuba diving or island hopping or nothing but traveling to the Rubber plantation. Located in Wandoor, which is only 20 minutes' drive from Port Blair, one of the largest rubber gardens on the island. When you arrive there, you can see hundreds of golden brown sheets of rubber. If you want to get acquainted with the rubber plantation and its related things, then you can also choose a guided tour, which you can find yourself as you will easily get them there. Apart from this, you can also take a site of coconut, betel nut, and other spices plantation apart from rubber. Charges: No charges to visit place*, only if you go guided tour. Duration: The complete tour of this great rubber plantation will not take more than half an hour*

11. Baratang Island

Baratang Island in Andaman offers some rare experiences. Wrapped in folds of dense and mysterious tropical forests with white areas of sandy beaches. Limestone caves, Mud Volcano located near Jarwa Creek are popular attractions of this island. Passing by the mangrove ecosystem allows you to witness the beautiful birds. Parrot island is another exciting trip to Andaman where you can see thousands of parrots during the falling of the sun.

12. Smith Island

In Andaman, there are two twin islands that have joined together to form a single group of island. Have a must pay a visit to these islands especially for the travelers all around the corner of the planet. These beautiful islands are in the North Andaman, some nautical miles away from the Diglipur jetty. This makes the islands truly beautiful and separates them from the remains of the islands, that is, these two islands are connected to a specialty, Sandbar. It's like the incident that you face both islands, you see things like a road which is actually a sandbar connecting both islands. Apart from this, accordingly, during a walk, one can go from island to next island. This white, the sleek sandbar enters the ocean at the time of high tide and then surfaces up again in the middle of the high tide.

13. Mud Volcanoes, Diglipur

You will be amazed to see the active mud volcanoes located at Diglipur in Andaman which is approximately 350 km North of the city of Port Blair. There are a series of small volcanoes that have been ejecting mud forcefully for quite a few years now! The amount is indeed so much that you can see drainage of the mud that has made its own path down the valley. Except for Diglipur, you can experience the active mud volcanoes only in Baratang in the Andaman islands. How to reach: Via boat ride or a seaplane from Port Blair you can reach Diglipur from where you can board the local bus to reach Shyan Nagar where the active volcanoes are located.

14. Explore Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

At a distance of approximately 16 kilometers south of Port Blair, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is located. The entire park extends over an area of 282 square kilometers and compiled of 17 islands. The Park spreads between Rutland Island and South Andaman Island, an island belongs to the Rutland Island. Only two islands out of 17 islands can be approachable by visitors that are Red Skin and Jolly Buoy Islands. The boat service and the glass-bottom floor boat service are good for reaching the exploring through these islands. You can even go snorkeling in the ocean and can witness a variety of sea creatures and rare corals on these islands in the most serene and undisturbed form. Best time to visit: November to March. Timing: 9 AM to 3 PM on all days of the week except Monday* Entry fee: INR 50 per person adult and INR 25 per person children* Location: State Highway 8, Wandoor, Andaman Islands, Andaman, and Nicobar 744301, India. Activities to do there: swim, snorkel, glass-bottomed boat*

15. Explore Limestone Caves

Limestone caves are situated in the Barting Islands of amid Andaman and are a long-day journey. After reaching Batting Island, you need to ride a half-hour boat ride to go through the mangrove streamlet and putting a full stop at Nayadera Jetty. After landing off the boat, you need to walk through the curving tropical jungle trail for one kilometer and a half. The reason for the formation and unique structures in the limestone caves is because of the presence of calcium carbonate. The immense sedimentary limestone composition is a result of compression over centuries and millenniums of the gradual deposits of ingredients such as shells, skeletons, and corals etc. The whole route from Baratang Jetty to  Nayadera jetty is very attractive. Best time to visit: Winter season, from November to February* Timing: 9 AM to 5:30 PM on all days of the week except Monday* Entry fee: INR 10 per person (Indian), INR 250 per person (foreign national)* Location: Baratang Island, Middle Andaman India Activities to do there: Boating, cave exploration, etc.