6 Nights 7 Days Andaman Tour

Built during British colonial rule and known as Kala Paani, the Cellular Jail held Indian freedom fighters including Veer Savarkar. We visit in the evening for the light and sound show, which walks you through the prisoners' experiences inside these walls. The jail opens 9:00 AM and the evening show is the highlight of Day 1.

A crescent-shaped beach about 8 km from the city centre, Corbyn's Cove is one of the smallest beaches in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Water sports run from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, including jet skiing, banana boating and parasailing. Also offers Sea Karting, a self-driving kart guided by a professional master.

Radhanagar is the number one place to visit on Havelock, with pristine clear water, soft white sand and thick tropical foliage. The water stays shallow far out, so wading is comfortable. It is 11 to 12 km from Havelock Jetty, roughly 25 to 30 minutes by vehicle. Open 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, no entry fee.

Elephant Beach is the most exciting and adventurous spot on Havelock, with white sand, turquoise water and a coral reef just below the surface. Reached by boat from Havelock Jetty (roughly Rs 1,000 round trip with snorkeling). On site you can do parasailing, banana rides, sea walking, swimming and speed boat. Open 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Named after the village of Kala Patthar, this beach pairs silky sand with the black rocks that give it its name, plus lush green vegetation behind the shore. Calmer and quieter than the busier Havelock beaches. About 6.5 km from Havelock town and 13 km from Radhanagar. No entry fee.

Diving in Havelock happens around Nemo Beach, where the confined bay creates pool-like conditions for beginners, with clear visibility and minimal current. Both shore and boat dives are possible. Popular reefs include Nemo Reef, Aquarium, Tribe Gate and Red Pillar, plus Lighthouse and Purple Haze as boat sites. Dive centres run from 7:00 AM.

Bharatpur sits just 500 metres from Neil Jetty, the obvious first stop on Neil. Shallow water and soft sand make swimming easy, and it carries the widest range of water sports on Neil: jet ski, banana ride, glass-bottom boat, snorkeling and boat scuba. Best window 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM when the tide is in.

Named after Laxman from the Ramayana, Laxmanpur is the leading tourist spot on Neil and the nearest sunset point. White sand, lush mangroves and a long, flat stretch of shore make for the breathtaking sunsets it is known for. Located 2.5 km from Neil Jetty on the west coast. On clear nights it is a quiet stargazing spot.

Also called Howrah Bridge, this is a naturally formed rock arch sculpted over time by waves, with smaller natural arcs of coral around it where you can see marine life in the pools. Best visited at low tide when the formation is clearly accessible. The walk in is along a wet, rocky path strewn with dead corals, so wear shoes with grip.

Sitapur is the Sunrise Beach of Neil. Thanks to its position on the eastern edge of the island, it offers the best sunrise in the Andamans, with beautiful golden light over the water. It is 5.9 km from Neil Jetty, so we leave early. Swimming is not advisable here due to strong currents.

Once the administrative headquarters of the British, with bungalows, church, bakery, hospital and market. Japanese forces occupied it during World War II before the British reclaimed it in 1945. Today we walk through colonial ruins, barracks, the lighthouse, with peacocks, deer and rabbits roaming. Ferries leave Aberdeen Jetty every 5 to 10 minutes from 8:30 AM.

Chidiya Tapu is a village destination at the southernmost tip of South Andaman, about 25 km from Port Blair, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by road. We time the visit for 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM so we catch the sunset between the islands. Forests here host the Andaman Woodpecker, Bulbul, Drongo and Treepie. Swimming is prohibited due to nearby crocodile sanctuaries.