Planning a dream vacation to the Andaman Islands? Let us help you pick the islands you should be visiting! Among the 572 Islands in the Andaman Archipelago, here are a few of the best islands to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, that make for an ideal holiday vacation. From the most famous islands to uninhabited ones, each one offers a unique experience. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a deep dive into nature, these beautiful islands provide the perfect ambience for an unforgettable trip.
Get ready to explore stunning beaches, Exotic marine life, vibrant coral reefs, and lush tropical forests.
Most Famous Islands to Visit in Andaman and Nicobar
1. Port Blair
Port Blair, located South of Andaman Island, is the capital city and the only entry and exit point of the major islands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Port Blair offers a blend of nature and rich history that creates unforgettable memories. Visit Cellular Jail in Port Blair Soak in the glorious sunsets and enjoy bird watching at Chidiya Tapu, where you can also enjoy scuba diving at some of the best spots in the region. Explore the museums in the Andaman Island to learn about the island’s interesting cultural heritage, and don’t miss a visit to Chatham Island to explore Chatham Saw Mill, one of the oldest saw mills in Asia. Spice up your adventure by hiking Mount Harriet National Park for an ariel view of all the Islands nearby in Andaman. For beach lovers, Wandoor Beach and Corbyn’s Cove Beach in Port Blair are the perfect spots for water sports and relaxation in Port Blair. And Port Blair is the gateway to all the enthralling Islands including Havelock Island and Neil Island.
2. Havelock Island
Havelock Island, also known as ‘Swaraj Dweep’, is one of the best islands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Known as the scuba diving capital of India and a diver’s paradise with some of the best dive spots in the country with vibrant coral reefs and Exotic marine life, Havelock Island attracts divers from all over the world. Havelock Island offers dense tropical forests with natural beauty, and pristine beaches including Radhanagar Beach, which is ranked among Asia’s best beaches, Elephant Beach, a popular spot for snorkelling, sea walking and water sports like jet skiing and Kalapathar Beach perfect for relaxing. Sink your toes into powdery sands, dive into the crystal-clear waters at Elephant Beach and soak up the sun. It’s like stepping into a tropical paradise where time slows down and every wave invites a dip in the Andaman Sea.
3. Neil Island
Neil Island, also known as ‘Shaheed Dweep’, is a cute little island village worth exploring among the popular islands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Neil Island offers lovely sandy beaches offering breathtaking sunset views and is perfect for snorkelling and scuba diving in more secluded spots with vibrant coral reefs. It is a quiet, quaint island with few commercial establishments, making Neil Island the perfect spot for a relaxing vacation. Neil Island is less crowded than Havelock Island and is all about peaceful beaches, perfect for strolls and maybe encountering a friendly crab or two along the way!
4. Ross Island
Ross Island, also known as ‘Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island’, is one of the best islands in Andaman and Nicobar that offers a blend of history and natural beauty. Once the capital of the Andaman Islands during British times and widely known as ‘Paris of the East‘, it’s just a short 15-minute speed boat rides from Port Blair. Explore the historic world war ii colonial ruins, and stroll on the white sandy beaches. Additionally, the island is home to various wildlife. Forget distant zoo sightings, here, you might end up in a game of tag with the local deers as they roam freely, adding a dash of unexpected fun to your island adventure.
5. North Bay Island
North Bay, located in the South Andaman Islands is renowned as one of the famous islands in Andaman and Nicobar for water sports and offers a range of exciting water activities. North Bay Island is home to a historic lighthouse, which is featured on the old 20-rupee note, offers Ariel views of nearby Islands like Havelock Island, Neil Island and Ross Island, adding to its stunning beauty and significance. Guess what? North Bay Island is also a hidden gem for budget travellers, conveniently accessible by a short boat ride from Port Blair, offering affordable activities like scuba diving, sea walking, snorkelling, glass bottom boat rides and banana boat rides. Even though it’s affordable, we don’t recommend scuba diving here due to crowded conditions and poor visibility.
6. Long Island
Long Island is one of the cleanest islands to visit in middle Andaman Island and is your go-to for peaceful virgin beaches, minus the crowds. Swim in clear waters and explore Lalaji Bay Beach, a must-visit beach destination on Long Island known for its pristine beaches that feel like you’re swimming in a pool, which are even better than the famous Radhanagar Beach in Havelock Island. With its narrow roads, this small island village feels like stepping back in time to Havelock Island 30-40 years ago walking through lush forests As the name suggests, there are some long treks that are best to do early in the morning, and unlike New York’s Long Island, here you won’t dodge traffic, just some tropical wildlife.
Long Island can be reached by ferry from Phoenix jetty in Port Blair, Rangat Island and Havelock Island.
7. Little Andaman
Little Andaman, also called as ‘Hutbay’, your pocket-sized paradise in the Andaman and Nicobar Island, offers a relaxed escape from the tourist crowds. Picture yourself on this remote island with uncrowded sandy beaches like Butler Bay Beach, taking leisurely swims, and easily exploring tropical rainforests. Unlike various islands in Andaman and Nicobar, little Andaman has breathtaking waterfalls hidden within the island’s lush green forests. The island’s surf spots might be small, but they pack a big punch, making it the only destination for surfer’s dreams in the Andaman Islands. Surf camps are open for a period of 3 months during the peak season. There are ferries from Port Blair to Hut Bay Jetty operating thrice a week.
8. Jolly Buoy Island
Jolly Buoy Island is your ticket to crystal clear waters, vibrant marine life, beautiful coral reefs, pristine beaches, and a break from the crowds. Swim, and soak up the sun in peace. It’s like finding a quiet spot at a party, just you and the ocean, no loud music or crowds! Among the Splendid islands to visit in Andaman and Nicobar, Jolly Buoy Island is covered with 70% tropical forests and stands out as the place where you can experience zero pollution and smell nature’s actual fragrances, thanks to the No-plastic zone. Part of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Jolly Buoy Island operates for six months of the year, after which it closes for six months and Red Skin Island opens during that period.
9. Ross and Smith Island
Ross and Smith Island, also known as the Twin Islands located in north Andaman Island, with pristine beaches and clear waters ideal for relaxing, swimming, snorkelling, and beach picnics. What makes them special is the thin 50-meter natural sand bar appearing during low tide, bridging the twin islands for a one-of-a-kind experience for adventure enthusiasts. You can reach these beautiful twin islands from Diglipur Island. You can reach Diglipur Island from Port Blair via sea route and road route. Remember to head back before high tide, unless you’re up for an unexpected solo swimming competition in the Andaman Islands.
10. Interview Island
Interview Island in the Andaman Islands is a nature lover’s paradise, offering an unforgettable jungle trek through lush greenery and calm breezes. Among the best islands to visit in Andaman and Nicobar, this is a photographer’s dream with its diverse wildlife and stunning flora. The 99 square km wildlife sanctuary is home to rare animals, mangrove swamps, marshlands, and evergreen forests, featuring wildlife like spotted deer, three-striped palm squirrels, Andaman woodpeckers, and white-headed starlings. Trekking the middle of this landscape guarantees a raw and memorable experience close to nature.
Uninhabited Islands to visit in Andaman and Nicobar
1. Parrot Island
Parrot Island, is one of the bird watcher’s islands in Andaman Nicobar Islands. Hop on a local boat from Baratang Island jetty in the afternoon for a scenic 20-30-minute ride, arriving just in time for the magical sight of parrots flocking back to their nests at sunset. It’s a short journey with breathtaking views, making every moment a memorable experience for nature lovers and bird watching enthusiasts. Remember, Parrot Island is an uninhabited island, so you can admire it from the comfort of your boat but can’t step foot on its untouched beaches, preserving its natural beauty for generations to come.
2. Barren Island
Barren Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, home to India’s only active volcano, has a raw and stunning beauty that’s truly unique. With no human inhabitants, hard vegetation, minimal wildlife, diverse marine life and vibrant coral reefs it’s a paradise for nature lovers. This exotic Island has rich marine life ensures your game fishing experience will be exceptional. Want to explore Barren Island? You can charter a private boat or join a shared day trip from Port Blair or Havelock Island to cruise around this volcanic island. Forget about grilling your barbeques here, Barren Island is among the islands in Andaman Nicobar Islands which has a strict ‘no-stepping’ policy!
3. Cinque island
Explore the Cinque Islands, one of the best islands to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a part of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, divided into North Cinque Island and South Cinque Island and connected by a beautiful sand bar. Known for its vibrant marine life, pristine beaches, and clear waters, it’s an ideal spot for a day trip from Chidiya Tapu in Port Blair via two-hour private charter boat rides, perfect for group travellers. You can also go scuba diving with special permission. Keep in mind that there are no accommodations on the Cinque Island, so plan for a refreshing day of exploration in these secluded beaches with the natural beauty of Andaman Island.
4. Narcondam Island
Norcondam, one of the volcanic Islands in Andaman Archipelago is a secluded paradise with a dormant volcano and rugged terrain covered in tropical forests. There are no facilities or vehicles here, making it a truly wild experience. It has rich flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species, and offers excellent bird watching from a distance. To visit, you can take a government ferry or charter a private live-aboard boat from Diglipur Island. But remember, Norcondam Island’s policy is clear- admire from afar, stepping foot on this Andaman Islands treasure is strictly prohibited!
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The kayaking experience was super fun and knowledgeable. Mr.Ali was very friendly and ensured we had a clam and a relaxing paddling experience and enriched us with facts about mangrove trees, it’s ecosystem and Abadman islands and clicked some cool pics 🙂
Ross Island is ideally a two part trip, the morning to evening portion includes going around the island looking at the ruins from the era of the British and Japanese rule. the late evening portion includes a spectacular sound, light & video show (yes you read it correctly!!) which has been created specially for Ross island by Revathi (the actress)
This is a over hyped, and not worth the time and money spent to reach here. It used to be called the “Paris of the East” when the British settled here. But everything is destroyed now.
The only good place here is a beach that is on the other side. You will need to climb down and up a lot of steps to get there.
It was a perfect location for family fun, the erstwhile Ross Island has all the history of a mini Paris, albeit at the cost of all Indian labour and is an example of the British opulence over poverty stricken India. Perfect for taking pics and the picturesque light house was delightful. We took the buggy as we were a large family with kids. There are deer and peacocks too.
