Have you dreamed of a destination that offers crystal blue-green waters, beautiful white beaches, a plethora of marine life and water sports, umpteen outdoor activities and delicious cuisine? It’s time to visit the Andamans!
Most favoured aport in Andamans (picture credits: patrick-jansen-Unsplash)
Best time to visit
Summer :
Summer in the Andamans begins in April and lasts till June, with warm but pleasant weather. This is the ideal time of the year for scuba diving, snorkelling, boat rides or trekking.
Monsoon :
Now while water sports and underwater exploration may not be the highlight of this season, the monsoons are actually a beautiful thing to witness in the Andamans. The temperature drops to a comfortable chill and makes for great warm drinks and yummy hot snacks. This is a good time to visit for cosy, romantic getaways, and indoor fun with friends.
Winter :
Tourist season oscillates between summer and winter, but winter is certainly more popular because of the pleasant and enjoyable weather. With temperatures ranging between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, winters are considered to be the best time to visit the Andamans for the best of indoor and outdoor holiday fun.
A nap on the hammock just feels right (picture credit: pexels-asad)
When to book tickets:
Make sure you’re on top of your bookings when planning a trip to the Andamans. Of course, this involves determining whether you are travelling by yourself, with friends or family, and with or without children. Each travel dynamic has its own set of travel guidelines and planning timelines. Some useful tips, while booking is:
- Get mid-week tickets: Everybody is aiming for a long weekend getaway so flight tickets or hotel bookings are always going to be a struggle. Instead, opt for a mid-week booking, which is not only more likely to be available in more than one option, but will likely be lighter on your wallet as well.
- Vacation Time for Kids: If you’re travelling with kids, then plan your trip around their school vacations. There are three primary vacation options, namely, the summer holidays, Christmas vacation around December-January, and a Diwali break around October and November. Choose your tickets in a way that give your kids a couple of days to get back into school mode before their vacation ends.
- Early Birds: Remember, if you book your trip early, it’s likely you will have more flight and hotel room options. It’s always good to plan ahead. If you have a certain number of days on leave, book in between those days, in case you need to adjust your booking one or two days back and forth.
Ross island ruins have its own charm (picture credits: ahmed-siddiqui-Unsplash)
What to do at different times of the year:
April to June: Summer is the best time for outdoor activities like scuba diving, snorkelling, boating and trekking. The Andamans offer many beaches, hiking trails and gorgeous diving spots. Laxmanpur Beach offers a secluded holiday experience, with beautiful views, that salty sea air, and some solitude for romantic holidayers and private groups. If you’re looking for more action, try Havelock Beach, known for a plethora of fun activities to choose from including diving, snorkelling, swimming, water sports, boating and more.
July to September: A magical curtain of romance falls over the Andamans during the monsoon season. It’s a photographer’s paradise, with lush greenery and stunning views. And let’s not forget that this time of the year is perfect for travellers with tighter budgets. You can choose from a wide range of accommodation options during this time, without worrying about very expensive tariffs. Even though outdoor activities by the water and sand are limited, there’s still a lot you can do in the Andamans during the monsoon. You can take a long walk along the gorgeous Radhanagar Beach, or take a scenic drive through Andaman Trunk Road. On a sunnier day, you could go snorkelling at Bharatpur Beach, or visit the Kalapani Cellular Jail for an interesting stroll down India’s history, and then top the day off with some delicious seafood.
October to March: Winter offers the best indoor and outdoor fun for travellers in the Andamans. If you are into marine life and water sports, then you can totally avail yourself of the fun activities on numerous beaches. But if you want to go indoors and still enjoy the weather and views, there are many options available for this too. The Andamans boast some vibrant multi-coloured coral reefs at Jolly Buoy Island, which you can marvel at on a dive underwater. If you just want to relax on the beach and get a tan, stay above sea level and do that, too. There’s even parasailing, jet-skiing, and dolphin-spotting on the cards if it interests you. If you’re enthralled and curious about marine life, then there’s the Marina Park and Aquarium, which offers an unforgettable visual experience of the unique species of marine life prevalent here, including fishes, corals, crabs, sawfish, shellfish, lobsters, and guitarfish.
Witness the exotic corals and marine life- (picture credit : pixabay)
How to get there
Since the Andamans are islands, the two ways to get there are by sea or air. The airport is at Port Blair and is accessible by air from various major cities in India including Kolkata, Chennai and Visakhapatnam. If you want to travel by sea, you would have to sail from the ports of either Kolkata, Chennai and Visakhapatnam. The journey would take about 3 to 4 days.
Sunbathing on the shore- (picture credit – pexels_pixabay)
Keep in mind
Some important tips that will ensure your vacation is fully enjoyable include:
- Get a weather forecast for your period of stay in the Andamans before travelling there.
- Pre-book a local tour guide who speaks the local language as well as your preferred language, who can take you around.
- Always keep your luggage and travel documents locked and your IDs with you.
- Plan your trip in advance and save money.
- Observe the local dressing and social etiquettes, especially in the less commercial areas.
The Andamans are a paradisiacal vacation destination for good reason. Be it any time of the year, and you can rest assured you will have a holiday to remember. Every season has something special to offer and suits every kind of traveller. Choose your days, plan ahead, make your bookings and you’ll be on this magical island in no time!
Also Read: When is the Best Time to Visit India
About Joynel Vaz
They say, "Curiosity killed the cat". But it only helped Joy grow. If there's anything that Joy is proud about, it's his beer belly, his unrelenting love for food and his bicycle rides. Our money will always be on him if he gets in an eating competition. We feel that Joynel's love for offbeat destinations come from his ability to quietly go about his work. He might not know where he is going, but he always keeps a watchful eye on his guests and knows their whereabouts.
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