Travel planning this year is not what it was even twelve months ago. Several of the easy overseas trips that Indian families once booked without a second thought have quietly become harder, costlier, or simply uncertain. Thailand has brought the visa back, the Middle East is under heavy advisories, and fares to Europe have climbed sharply. If you have been comparing options for a 2026 holiday and feeling that something is off, you are not imagining it.
We at Dekho Andaman are based on these islands and plan trips here through every season, so we spend a lot of time helping families weigh exactly this decision. Below is an honest look at what changed on the popular overseas routes this year, and why the Andamans now make more sense than they have in a long time.
The Popular Overseas Trips Got Harder This Year
The three destinations that usually top an Indian traveller’s shortlist have each run into a different problem in 2026. None of them is off the table, but each now carries a cost or a risk that did not exist last season.
Thailand Brought the Visa Back
For years Thailand was the default first international trip for Indian families, helped by the 60-day visa-free entry that ran from 2024. That window has now closed, and the change is recent.
- The visa-free entry ended on 19 May 2026. The Thai Cabinet scrapped the arrangement and moved Indian passport holders back to a paid visa.
- Visa on Arrival now costs around THB 2,000. That is roughly 5,900 rupees per person, paid in cash at the airport, for a stay of up to 15 days.
- A 60-day tourist e-Visa is the alternative, but it has to be applied for and approved before you fly.
- A digital arrival card is mandatory for everyone, filled within 72 hours of arrival, or the airline can deny boarding.
For a family of four, that is close to 24,000 rupees in visa fees alone, plus the paperwork and a fresh chance of a slip at immigration, before a single hotel is booked.
The Middle East Is Under Heavy Advisories
The other big connecting hub, and a holiday in its own right, is in a worse position through 2026. The continuing Iran and Israel tension has kept a long list of countries under serious travel warnings, and the effects reach well beyond the conflict zone.
- Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon are marked do-not-travel by several governments.
- The Gulf states most tourists pass through sit under reconsider-travel warnings, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan.
- Airlines have cancelled and rerouted flights across the region through the first half of the year.
- Tension around the Strait of Hormuz has pushed fuel prices up for every airline, which feeds straight into ticket costs.
For an ordinary family holiday, that mix of safety advisories and last-minute schedule changes is very hard to plan around.
Europe Fares Have Jumped
The same fuel and airspace problems land directly on European holidays, and the numbers are steep this year.
- Jet fuel is running about 50 percent higher than late last year.
- Fares to the favourite European spots have climbed sharply year on year, Greece by around 64 percent, Turkey by close to 59 percent, and Spain by about 45 percent.
- Rerouting around closed airspace has stretched some long-haul flights by an hour or two each way.
- By most accounts, summer 2026 is the most expensive international season in years.
None of this is meant to scare anyone off travel. It is simply the honest picture, and it explains why many of our guests this year are looking closer to home.
Why Andaman Sits Outside All of That
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are Indian territory, and that single fact removes most of the headaches above in one stroke. There is no visa to chase, no advisory to track, and no foreign currency to manage, because you never leave the country.
For Indian citizens there is no visa, no entry permit, and no passport requirement for the main tourist islands. You travel on the same government photo ID you use for any domestic flight, with no immigration counter, no per-head visa fee, and no currency exchange eating into the budget. The whole layer of cost and paperwork that now sits in front of a Thailand or a Europe trip simply does not exist here.
The route itself is just as settled. You fly within India, to an Indian airport, over Indian airspace, so there is no conflict zone to avoid and no chance of your destination landing on a do-not-travel list the week before departure. Port Blair, now officially Sri Vijaya Puram, is well connected by direct and one-stop flights from Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad, and these are domestic sectors priced in rupees rather than long-haul fares caught in the fuel and airspace mess. The biggest variable you plan around is the weather, which follows a predictable seasonal pattern we know well.
There is also the quieter comfort of staying inside the country. Indian food is everywhere, Hindi and English are understood freely, your mobile network runs on the plan you already have, and if you ever need a hospital, a pharmacy, or a police helpdesk, the system is familiar. For first-time travellers, elderly parents, and young children, that ease of mind is worth a great deal.
Andaman Versus an Overseas Trip in 2026, Side by Side
It helps to see the two choices next to each other. The table below sets out what each option actually asks of you this year.
What you deal with | Overseas trip, 2026 | Andaman trip, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | Required again for Thailand, with fees and paperwork per person | None for Indian citizens |
| Passport | Mandatory | Not needed, domestic ID only |
| Currency | Exchange and its spread, foreign cash | Rupees throughout |
| Safety advisories | Active across the Middle East | None, Indian territory |
| Airfare trend | Up 45 to 64 percent on popular routes | Stable domestic rupee fares |
| Mobile and data | Foreign SIM or roaming pack | Your existing plan works |
| Biggest risk | Schedule and advisory changes | The weather, which is seasonal and predictable |
For most families the islands come in at a fraction of what Thailand or Europe costs this year, for scenery that loses nothing in the comparison.
What You Actually Get on the Islands
The safe, easy choice is sometimes the boring one, but Andaman is not that. What you save in paperwork you gain in the kind of scenery people fly to Southeast Asia for in the first place, and you get it without the visa queue at the other end.
- The beaches are the headline. Radhanagar Beach on Havelock, now Swaraj Dweep, regularly ranks among the best in Asia, a long curve of white sand and clear water with very little built along it.
- Neil Island is the slower neighbour. Now Shaheed Dweep, it is greener and more relaxed, known for its natural rock arch at Laxmanpur and unhurried sunsets.
- The diving holds its own against far pricier destinations. The reefs around Havelock run from gentle shallows that anyone can try to richer sites like Tribe Gate, with marine life that surprises most first-time divers.
- There is real history here too. Port Blair carries the weight of the Cellular Jail, whose evening light and sound show gives the trip a serious, reflective hour alongside the beach days.
- The ferries are part of the holiday. Comfortable air-conditioned vessels run the Port Blair to Havelock to Neil triangle through the day, each crossing a stretch of open blue water that most guests remember long after they are home.
The Honest Part: Andaman Is Easy, Not Effortless
We would rather you arrive prepared than oversold, so here is the fine print. Andaman takes some planning, but it is the ordinary, controllable kind, not the visa-and-advisory uncertainty hanging over the overseas options this year.
- Book the inter-island ferries in advance. Seats between the islands sell out in peak season, so the Port Blair to Havelock and Havelock to Neil legs are worth locking in early rather than leaving to the day.
- Plan around the two seasons. October to May is the calm, popular window with the fullest schedule. May to September is wetter and quieter, with some sailings reduced.
- Book flights early for the best fare. Domestic airfares are stable, but seats to Port Blair are not unlimited, and early booking still pays.
Manage those three things and the rest of the trip falls into place. The point is not that Andaman has zero planning. It is that the planning is simple and fully in your control.
When to Go and How to Plan
The best stretch for most travellers is October to May, when the seas are calm, the skies are clear, and the ferry schedule is at its fullest. May to September is quieter and greener, with some reduced sailings and the occasional spell of rain, which suits travellers who prefer fewer crowds and lower rates.
The journey is straightforward. You fly directly to Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram) from a metro city (Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi etc.), then move between the islands by ferry. We usually suggest a settling day in Port Blair before heading out to Havelock or Neil, so the trip starts at an easy pace rather than a rush. But if you have lesser days in hand then keep most of those precious days only for Havelock Island
Also read : Best Time To Visit Andaman in 2026
Plan Your Andaman Trip With People Who Live Here
If you had Southeast Asia or Europe on the shortlist and the numbers or the paperwork have started to feel heavy, the Andamans deserve a serious look. It is the rare 2026 holiday with no visa to chase, no conflict to route around, and no currency to worry about, and it still gives you the beaches, the water, and the time off you wanted in the first place.
We at Dekho Andaman are based on the islands and operate here through every season. We know which flights connect well, which stays suit which island, and the order in which ferries should be booked so your days actually line up. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we will build an itinerary that fits, with an honest picture of what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Indians need a visa or permit for Andaman?
No. Indian citizens need no visa, no passport, and no entry permit for the main tourist islands. You travel on a normal government photo ID, the same as any domestic flight. Only foreign nationals require a permit, which is issued on arrival.
Is Andaman safe to travel in 2026?
Yes. The islands are Indian territory with no conflict, no border risk, and no travel advisory concerns. The only real planning variable is the season and the weather, both of which are predictable.
How do you reach Andaman?
By air into Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram) from cities like Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad, followed by ferries between Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil.
What is the best time to visit?
October to May is the most popular window, with calm seas and the fullest ferry schedule. May to September is quieter and greener, with some reduced sailings and lower rates.
Is Andaman cheaper than an international trip this year?
For most families, yes. With no visa fee, no currency exchange, and domestic rupee airfares, an Andaman holiday often costs a fraction of Thailand or Europe in 2026.
