Port Blair to Baratang is roughly 100 km by the Andaman Trunk Road, a half-day trip because you travel in a timed convoy through the Jarawa tribal reserve, then cross the Middle Strait by vehicle ferry. Budget a full day. Leave Port Blair by 3:30 to 4:00 AM to catch the first convoy.

Most people picture a quick hop. Baratang is not that. The island sits about 100 km north of Port Blair, and getting there is a small logistics puzzle involving a road convoy, a vehicle ferry, and a speedboat through a mangrove creek. Done right, it is one of the more unusual day trips in the Andamans. Done wrong, you miss the convoy and lose the day. This guide is how our team on the ground in Port Blair actually runs it.

How do you reach Baratang from Port Blair?

You reach Baratang by road and boat, not by a single vehicle. The route breaks into four clear stages, and each one has a catch worth knowing before you leave.

Stage 1: Port Blair to Jirkatang checkpoint

The drive starts on the Andaman Trunk Road heading north. Jirkatang is about 46 km out and takes a little over an hour in a car. This is where the tribal reserve begins and where every vehicle registers for the convoy. Reach the checkpoint at least an hour before your convoy slot. The gate does not wait for stragglers.

Stage 2: The convoy through the Jarawa reserve

From Jirkatang, vehicles do not drive independently. They move in a guarded convoy through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, escorted by forest and police staff. The stretch runs roughly 40 km of dense forest. Photography of the Jarawa people is a serious criminal offence. Do not stop, do not roll down windows to interact, do not offer food or anything else. This rule is absolute, and it is enforced.

Stage 3: The Middle Strait vehicle ferry

The convoy ends at Middle Strait. A short vehicle ferry carries cars and buses across the creek to Nilambur jetty on the Baratang side. The crossing itself is brief, usually ten to fifteen minutes. On busy mornings the wait for a slot can be longer than the crossing.

Stage 4: Speedboat to the limestone caves

From Nilambur jetty, a small fibre speedboat runs through a narrow mangrove creek to the cave landing point. From there it is a walk of about 1.2 km to the limestone caves themselves. The mangrove ride is genuinely lovely and, for many visitors, the best part of the day.

What are the Baratang convoy timings?

Convoys leave Jirkatang at fixed times in a day, not on demand. As of early 2026 the commonly published departures are 6:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM, with the earlier two being the ones that make a same-day return realistic. To make the 6:00 AM convoy you need to leave Port Blair by around 3:30 to 4:00 AM.

Timings shift with weather, tide and administrative orders, and the ferry slots at Middle Strait have their own schedule that does not always line up neatly with the road convoy. Confirm the exact timings the day before you travel.

Do you need a permit for Baratang?

Yes, in effect. Every vehicle needs a convoy permit that is issued at the Jirkatang checkpoint, and you register there before joining the convoy. Only four-wheelers are allowed through the reserve. Two-wheelers are not permitted, so a private car, a shared cab or a bus is the only way through.

Indian nationals are cleared at the checkpoint with photo ID. Rules for foreign nationals passing through the tribal reserve have changed more than once in recent years, so foreign passport holders should confirm current permission before planning the trip.

How much does the Port Blair to Baratang trip cost?

Costs depend on whether you join a shared tour or hire a private vehicle, plus the speedboat at the caves. As of early 2026, here is the honest range.

Shared limestone cave package (sharing cab plus speedboat): about 2,100 to 2,250 rupees per person. The cheapest option. It covers the vehicle, convoy passage and the cave speedboat, but not meals or a mud volcano add-on.

Full shared group tour (mud volcano and guide included): roughly 3,000 to 3,500 rupees per person, depending on group size.

Private car for the day: about 4,000 rupees non-AC or 4,500 rupees AC for the whole vehicle, and up to around 6,000 in peak season. Split across six or seven people this usually beats a per-head shared package.

Speedboat at Nilambur jetty, if you drive yourself: around 400 to 900 rupees per person, bought at the counter. This is the one unavoidable extra, because the boat is the only way to the cave landing.

There is no separate ticketed entry fee for the limestone caves themselves. Prices move with fuel, season and group size, so treat these as a working range and confirm before you book. [VERIFY: current speedboat and shared/private tour rates for the season of travel]

What is there to see in Baratang?

Baratang is small and most visitors treat it as a day trip built around two or three sights. Here is what each one is really like.

The limestone caves

Naturally formed limestone chambers reached after the mangrove boat ride and the 1.2 km walk. The formations are worth the effort, especially the way daylight filters into the main chamber. Carry water and wear grippy shoes, because the path gets slick.

The mud volcano

Baratang has India’s only mud volcanoes. Be honest with your expectations. These are low mud mounds that bubble gently, not dramatic eruptions. Interesting for ten minutes, not a reason on their own to make the trip. We tell travellers to see it because it is close, not to build the day around it.

Parrot Island

At dusk, thousands of parakeets return to roost on a small mangrove island near Baratang. Watching them stream in at sunset is a real spectacle. The catch is timing. Parrot Island needs a late boat and usually an overnight stay in or near Baratang, which most day trippers cannot fit around the convoy schedule.

When is the best time to do the Port Blair to Baratang trip?

October to mid-May is the reliable window. Seas are calmer, the mangrove creek boats run on schedule, and the convoy rarely gets disrupted. December and January bring the biggest crowds and the earliest sellouts of convoy slots, so start earlier on those mornings.

Avoid the June to September monsoon if the caves are your goal. Rough water and heavy rain lead to boat cancellations at the creek, and there is nothing more deflating than driving four hours only to find the speedboats grounded. If you must travel in the monsoon, keep the plan flexible and have a backup day.

How our team sequences a Baratang day so nothing falls apart

Baratang is not a hard trip. It is a chain of timed connections, and if one link slips, the rest of the day unravels. Here is the order our team plans it in, built from running this route in every season.

●  Start with the 6:00 AM convoy and work backwards. The first slot from Jirkatang dictates everything else. Jirkatang is about 46 km from Port Blair, roughly seventy to ninety minutes of driving depending on where you start in town, and you must reach the checkpoint an hour before departure to register. That puts your Port Blair start at 3:30 to 4:00 AM. It feels brutal at that hour. It is also the difference between a calm day and a stressful one, because catching the first convoy means you clear the reserve early, reach the caves before the crowd, and keep the later return convoys as a comfortable buffer if anything runs slow.

●    Book the vehicle and permit ahead in peak season. From mid-December to January, convoy demand is high and cars get scarce the night before. Fix your vehicle and confirm the convoy paperwork a day or two in advance rather than hoping to arrange it at dawn. A driver who runs this route often already knows the checkpoint staff and the registration drill, which quietly saves you time at Jirkatang.

●        Beat the boat queue, not the road. The real bottleneck is the speedboats at the caves. Every vehicle in your convoy reaches Nilambur jetty within the same half hour and wants the same fibre boats through the mangrove creek. On the first convoy you are near the front. On the 9:00 AM convoy you can lose forty five minutes in line. We send one person to the boat counter the moment the vehicle parks, while the rest grab water and the washroom.

●   Pack for the boat, not the car. Wear shoes you can walk 1.2 km over damp ground, not slippers. Carry a litre of water per person, because there is no reliable shop at the cave point. Keep your phone and wallet in a zip pocket or dry bag, since the mangrove ride throws spray. Skip the heavy picnic. There is little shade and nowhere comfortable to sit, so a light snack beats a full lunch.

●    Decide the mud volcano and Parrot Island question before you leave. If you only want the limestone caves, a same-day return on the early convoy is easy. If you genuinely want Parrot Island at sunset, accept that you are staying the night near Baratang, because the parakeet roost falls too late for the return convoy. Forcing both into one day is the most common way people end up disappointed. Pick one plan and commit.

●      Treat the Jarawa reserve with respect. It is not a safari. No photos, no stopping, no interaction of any kind. Beyond being the law, it is basic respect for a community that did not ask to become a roadside attraction. Keep the windows up, keep moving, and let the forest be.

Planning your Andaman trip with andamantourism.org

Baratang rewards people who get the timing right, and that is exactly the kind of local detail a mainland travel desk tends to miss. andamantourism.org is an Andaman-based team. We live with these convoy schedules, the seasonal boat cancellations at the creek, and the permit formalities at Jirkatang, and we book against them every week. That on-ground knowledge is the difference between a smooth Baratang day and a wasted one.

If you would rather not manage the 4:00 AM start and the boat queue yourself, we arrange the vehicle, the convoy paperwork and the cave boat as one plan, and we slot Baratang sensibly into a wider itinerary.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Baratang and return to Port Blair in one day?

Yes. On the early 6:00 AM convoy, a same-day return is comfortable and is how most travellers do it. You are back in Port Blair by late afternoon or early evening. The one thing you cannot fit into a day trip is Parrot Island at sunset.

How long does Port Blair to Baratang take?

Plan for a full day. Driving is around two and a half to three hours each way, but convoy waits, the ferry queue and the cave boat push the round trip to a full day out of Port Blair.

Is the Baratang trip worth it?

For the limestone caves and the mangrove boat ride, yes, if you enjoy landscapes over beaches. If you are chasing classic Andaman beaches, Havelock and Neil deliver more. Many travellers treat Baratang as a change of scene rather than a highlight, and that is a fair way to frame it.

Are two-wheelers allowed to Baratang?

No. Only four-wheelers can pass through the tribal reserve in the convoy. Use a car, a shared cab or a bus.

Can you take photos in the Jarawa reserve?

No. Photographing the Jarawa people is a criminal offence and is strictly enforced. Do not stop or interact anywhere inside the reserve.

The post Port Blair to Baratang: The Complete 2026 Route, Convoy and Ferry Guide appeared first on AndamanTourism.org.

TL;DR: Chidiya Tapu sits about 25 km south of Port Blair, a 45 minute to one hour drive by taxi, local bus, or your own scooter. In our view it is South Andaman’s best free sunset point, wrapped in mangrove and birding forest. Come by late afternoon, and do not plan to swim here.

The Port Blair to Chidiya Tapu run is one of the easiest half-day trips you can add to an Andaman itinerary, and one of the most rewarding if you get the timing right. Most people come for the sunset. What they do not expect is the forest, the birds at first light, and a short hill walk that opens onto the sea. Our team on the ground in Port Blair sends travellers down this road most weeks, so here is exactly how the trip works, what it costs, and what to skip.

How far is Chidiya Tapu from Port Blair?

Chidiya Tapu is about 25 km from Port Blair, and the drive takes 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic through town and the state of the forest road. Some signboards and older guides quote 30 km, measured from different points in the city, so do not be thrown if your driver’s odometer reads a little more or less.

The route heads south out of Port Blair, past the outskirts and into progressively greener country. The last stretch is a winding forest road with tree cover on both sides. This is the southernmost point of South Andaman that most visitors reach easily by road, which is part of why the light out here feels different from the busier beaches up north.

How do you get from Port Blair to Chidiya Tapu?

You have four realistic options: a private taxi, the local bus, a rented scooter or car, or a booked half-day tour. Most first-time visitors take a taxi and hold it for the return, because public transport back after sunset is unreliable.

By taxi, the simplest option

A one way taxi runs roughly 600 to 1,000 rupees, and a round trip with the driver waiting for sunset is usually 1,200 to 1,800 rupees as of early 2026. Agree on the waiting time before you leave, because the entire point of this trip is the light at the end of the day. Fares climb during peak season in December and January, so confirm the number up front rather than at the drop-off.

By local bus, cheapest with a catch

State buses leave from the STS bus stand in Port Blair for around 45 to 50 rupees per person and run roughly hourly through the day. The catch is the return. Service thins out after 5 pm, which is exactly when the sunset crowd wants to head back. Take a bus and you risk being stranded or forced to leave before the sky peaks. We only suggest the bus for an early birding trip, not for the sunset.

By rented scooter or car

A scooter is the freedom option and the road is genuinely pretty, but the last stretch is a winding forest with weak mobile signals and animals crossing at dusk. Ride it in daylight, carry your licence, and try to start the return before full dark. Self-drive cars are less common on the islands, so most visitors take a car with a driver rather than driving themselves.

On a half-day tour

Many Port Blair sightseeing circuits fold Chidiya Tapu into an afternoon that also covers nearby spots. This is the low-stress choice if you would rather not negotiate fares or watch the clock yourself.

What is there to do at Chidiya Tapu?

Four things carry the trip: the sunset point, the Munda Pahad forest walk, dawn birding, and the biological park on the way in. The beach itself is for looking, not swimming.

1. The sunset point

This is why Chidiya Tapu earns its reputation. The west-facing shore, backed by silhouetted trees and exposed mangrove roots, turns the sky orange and pink as the sun drops toward the water. Sunset falls between about 5 pm and 6 pm depending on the season. Arrive 60 to 90 minutes early to claim a spot on the rocks and watch the colour build rather than rushing in for the final ten minutes.

2. Munda Pahad trek

A short 1.5 km forest trail climbs to a viewpoint over the sea and takes about 30 to 40 minutes round trip. It is gentle, shaded, and fine for families with older kids. Watch the gate. Entry to the trek generally closes around 3 pm, so this is a plan-early activity, not something you tack on after the sunset. If the walk matters to you, build the whole afternoon around it.

3. Birdwatching at Bird Island

Chidiya Tapu means Bird Island, and the name is earned at dawn, not dusk. Early mornings bring parakeets, drongos, kingfishers, and white-bellied sea eagles working the forest edge and the shoreline. Serious birders come at first light with local guides who know where the Andaman endemics tend to sit. If birds are your reason for coming, this is a morning trip, not a sunset one.

4. Chidiya Tapu Biological Park

A short distance before the beach, the biological park keeps native Andaman species including saltwater crocodiles and spotted deer, and it works well as a first stop on the way in. Entry is modest, around 20 to 25 rupees for Indian visitors, with camera charges extra. Reported timings vary by source and season, and the park is usually shut one day a week, so confirm locally before you build it into a tight schedule.

When is the best time to visit Chidiya Tapu?

Come between October and May for clear skies and clean sunsets, and arrive in the last 90 minutes of daylight. The monsoon months, June to September, bring clouds and rain that flatten the sunset, though the forest is at its greenest and the birds are active.

There are really two best times here, and they pull in opposite directions. For the sunset, evening in the dry season wins. For birds, early morning wins, and the season matters less. You cannot do justice to both in the same short visit, so decide what you are coming for before you fix the hour. Weekends in season get busy on the rocks, so a weekday evening gives you more room and quieter photos.

Can you swim at Chidiya Tapu?

No. Swimming is not allowed at Chidiya Tapu. Saltwater crocodiles use the surrounding mangrove creeks, and the seabed is rocky with unpredictable currents. Treat this as a look-only beach.

There are warning signs along the shore, and nets have been placed near the water in the past because of crocodile sightings. Stay on the rocks and the sand, keep children close, and do not wade into the mangrove-fringed water, especially at dawn or dusk when crocodiles are most active. This is not a beach to test the rules on. The reward here is the light and the wildlife, not the water.

How to time the Chidiya Tapu run so you actually catch the sunset

The most common mistake is treating Chidiya Tapu as a whenever trip. The sunset is the one fixed point that will not move for you, so plan the afternoon backwards from it. Pick one of two plans, because the forest walk and the sunset do not fit in the same window.

Plan A: sunset only, what most travellers want

●        Leave Port Blair by about 3:30 to 4 pm.

●        Reach Chidiya Tapu by 4:30 to 5 pm and settle on the rocks.

●        Hold your taxi with an agreed waiting charge.

●        Skip Munda Pahad. Its gate closes to new entries around 3 pm, well before the good light.

Plan B: birds and the forest walk

●        Leave Port Blair around 6 am for first light.

●        Bird the forest edge, then clear Munda Pahad before the 3 pm gate.

●        Be back in town by lunch.

Time it right

●   Sunset is roughly 5:00 to 5:10 pm in peak winter, and drifts past 6 closer to summer.

Do not get caught out

●  The dark drive: the last 8 to 10 km is a winding forest with animals and weak phone signals. Budget 45 to 60 minutes back and do not plan it as if it were daylight.

●   On a scooter, that dark ride is the real risk, not the sunset. Carry a working headlight and take it slow.

●        Little reliable food at the point, so carry water and a snack.

●        Mangrove forest means mosquitoes at dusk, so pack repellent.

Planning your Andaman trip with andamantourism.org

We are a local, Andaman-based operator, not a mainland agency reselling a route it has never driven. Our team lives and works in Port Blair, and the Chidiya Tapu run is one we send travellers on most weeks. That is why we can tell you the sunset drifts past 6 pm in summer, that the Munda Pahad gate shuts around 3, and which drivers will wait through the sunset without fuss. We book the vehicle, brief the driver on timing, and slot Chidiya Tapu into a Port Blair day so you are not wasting an afternoon or racing the light.

If you are building a wider trip, see our guide to things to do in Port Blair  and our Andaman honeymoon packages that pair the Chidiya Tapu sunset with Havelock and Neil.

Port Blair to Chidiya Tapu FAQ

How far is Chidiya Tapu from Port Blair?

About 25 km, a 45 minute to one hour drive. A few sources quote 30 km depending on the start point in the city.

How much does a taxi from Port Blair to Chidiya Tapu cost?

Roughly 600 to 1,000 rupees one way, and 1,200 to 1,800 rupees for a round trip with the driver waiting for sunset, as of early 2026. Fares rise in the December to January peak.

Is there a bus to Chidiya Tapu?

Yes. State buses run from the STS bus stand in Port Blair for around 45 to 50 rupees, roughly hourly by day. Returns get unreliable after 5 pm, so the bus suits morning trips more than sunset visits.

What is the best time to see the Chidiya Tapu sunset?

Arrive 60 to 90 minutes before sunset, which falls between about 5 pm and 6 pm depending on the season. October to May gives the clearest skies.

Can you swim at Chidiya Tapu beach?

No. Swimming is not allowed because of saltwater crocodiles in the mangrove creeks, a rocky seabed, and strong currents. Enjoy it as a look-only beach.

Do you need a permit for Chidiya Tapu?

You do not need a special permit to visit Chidiya Tapu. It sits in South Andaman and is reached directly from Port Blair. Foreign nationals should carry their passport as identification.

Is Chidiya Tapu worth visiting?

Yes, if you come for the sunset, the birding, and the short forest walk. No, if you are expecting a swimming beach. Set that expectation and it rarely disappoints.

The post Port Blair to Chidiya Tapu: Distance, How to Reach and Sunset Guide appeared first on AndamanTourism.org.

How far is Diglipur from Port Blair?

Diglipur sits roughly 290 to 325 km north of Port Blair by road, depending on which route and ferry crossings your driver takes. By sea the gap is shorter, about 180 km. Either number tells you the same thing: this is the longest single journey most travellers make in the Andamans, and it is not a place you reach in an hour.

The road option follows the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR), the spine that connects South, Middle and North Andaman. It threads through Jirkatang, the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, Baratang, Middle Strait, Kadamtala, Rangat and Mayabunder before it finally drops you into Diglipur. Port Blair was officially renamed Sri Vijaya Puram in September 2024, so you will see that name on newer ferry manifests and government bus boards. It is the same city.

What is the best way to get from Port Blair to Diglipur?

For most tourists the government ferry is the sensible pick: it is cheap, you can sleep or read instead of gripping a seat for 12 hours, and it lands you close to the Aerial Bay jetty. Choose the road only if you actively want to break the trip at Rangat or Baratang, or if the ferry days do not line up with your plan. The helicopter is the fastest by a mile, but seats are scarce and rarely guaranteed for tourists. Here is the quick comparison.

All fares as of August 2026. Confirm current rates before you travel; government fares and helicopter subsidies are revised periodically.

Port Blair to Diglipur by ferry: Schedule and Fares

The government ferry is the most cost-effective way to cover the water. It leaves the Haddo (Phoenix Bay) jetty in Port Blair around 07:00 and reaches Aerial Bay jetty in Diglipur near 16:00, running via Rangat, about 9 hours on the water. The catch is frequency: these ferries sail only 3 to 4 times a week, and there is no private high-speed ferry on this route the way there is to Havelock or Neil.

Vessels you will commonly see on the route include MV Jollybouy and MV Rani Lakshmi. Seats come in three classes, and the price gap between islander and non-islander fares is large.

Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram) to Diglipur government ferry fares, as of August 2026.

Booking opens two days before departure, either at the ferry counters in Port Blair or on the Andaman and Nicobar shipping portal (dss.andamannicobar.gov.in). Book your return from Diglipur as early as you can, because a cancelled or full return ferry can strand you up north for a day or two. If you get seasick, the chair class cabin is worth the extra rupees on a 10 hour crossing.

Port Blair to Diglipur by bus and road

The bus is the cheapest way to reach Diglipur, and it is how most islanders travel. Government ATR buses and private operators leave from the STS bus terminal at Mohanpura in Port Blair. Government buses are basic, non-AC, and cost around Rs 300 to 400. Private semi-sleeper and AC coaches run Rs 600 to 800 depending on seat type. Operators like SSV Transport and Apna Lines sell online, and many seats also appear on Redbus.

Most buses leave very early, between 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning, so they clear the Jarawa reserve convoy and reach Diglipur by evening. Total road time is 10 to 12 hours with stops at Baratang and Rangat. Carry water, snacks and a little cash, because long stretches of the ATR have no shops, no reliable mobile signal and few clean toilets. The bus itself boards a vehicle ferry at Middle Strait, so part of your ticket includes floating across a creek.

What is the Andaman Trunk Road convoy, and what are the rules?

Every road traveller to Diglipur passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, and you cannot drive it freely. Vehicles gather at the Jirkatang check post and cross the reserve in a timed, police-escorted convoy. There are only a few convoy slots a day in each direction, so missing yours means waiting hours for the next one.

Inside the reserve the rules are strict and non-negotiable, and we tell every guest the same thing. Do not stop. Do not photograph or film the Jarawa. Do not offer food, money or anything else, and do not roll the windows down to interact. These are legal protections for a vulnerable Indigenous community, and the fines and consequences are real. Roughly midway you reach Middle Strait, where a vehicle ferry carries the bus or car across to the Baratang side, a crossing of about 15 to 20 minutes. From there the road continues north through Kadamtala and Rangat.

Port Blair to Diglipur by Private Cab or Taxi

A private cab is the comfortable, flexible choice, and the one we book most often for families. Expect Rs 18,000 to 40,000 for the car depending on size (a sedan versus a Tempo Traveller) and whether it is one way or round trip. The drive is 9 to 11 hours and gives you door-to-door service, plus the freedom to stop for the limestone caves at Baratang or a leg-stretch at Rangat. When you book, confirm in writing whether the quote includes fuel, tolls, the Middle Strait vehicle ferry fee and the driver’s night halt at Diglipur. Those extras are where surprise costs hide.

Port Blair to Diglipur by helicopter

The fastest way to reach Diglipur is the Pawan Hans helicopter operated under the Andaman administration, which covers the hop in about an hour instead of a full day on the road. The tourist fare is around Rs 5,250 one way; islanders pay a heavily subsidised Rs 2,100. It sounds ideal, and the aerial view of the archipelago is genuinely special. The reality is that seats are extremely limited, allocated on priority to government officials, residents and medical or emergency travel, with tourist seats released only when spare. The service does not run daily and is very weather-sensitive. Treat it as a lucky bonus, not a plan you build a trip around.

What our Port Blair team tells travellers before the Diglipur trip

We handle this route most weeks of the season, and the gap between a smooth Diglipur trip and a wasted day usually comes down to a handful of things no schedule tells you. This is the on-ground briefing we give our own guests.

•  Give Diglipur two nights, three if you want Saddle Peak. One night means you arrive shattered at dusk and leave at dawn, having seen a jetty and a hotel ceiling and nothing else. Two nights lets you take Ross and Smith on a full day at the right low tide, when the sandbar is walkable. The Saddle Peak trek on its own eats a morning, so add the third night if that climb is on your list.

•  Read the cab quote line by line before you pay. An 18,000 rupee headline can climb past 25,000 once the Middle Strait vehicle-ferry fee, the tolls, the driver’s night halt at Diglipur and the return-leg fuel are added in. Get every one of those in writing. The cabs we book fold the ferry fee and the halt into the number, which is exactly where families get stung on the doorstep.

•  Stay at Kalipur, not Diglipur town. The town is a working bazaar, not a base. Kalipur puts you five minutes from the turtle beach and the Ross and Smith boat point and saves an hour of backtracking every morning. North Andaman carries a fraction of Havelock’s rooms, though, and the few good Kalipur stays fill weeks ahead in turtle season, so lock your room the day your dates firm up.

•   Book the turtle night watch through the Forest Department, not a beach tout. Kalipur’s nesting watch is run by the department, free or near enough, with the no-flash and no-touch rules actually enforced on the sand. Anyone charging a private ‘turtle tour’ fee at the beach is selling you what the department already runs for nothing. Ask your stay to point you to the right ranger for the night.

•  Treat the ferry’s 4 pm arrival as the plan, not a promise. The boat is timed 07:00 out of Haddo to 16:00 into Aerial Bay, but rough North Andaman water pushes it later often enough that you should keep that first evening free of any fixed booking. On the crossing itself, the AC chair or bunk class earns its extra rupees if you are prone to seasickness. The open seat deck is a long nine hours in swell.

•  Draw your cash and fill the tank in Port Blair. ATMs in Diglipur exist but run dry, and card machines are patchy, so carry what you need well before Baratang. If you are self-driving, do not count on a fuel stop across the long ATR stretches between the checkposts. Top up in Port Blair and again at Rangat, never on the assumption of a pump somewhere on the way.

• Break the drive at Rangat rather than enduring it in one shot. Same distance, a completely different day. A night at Rangat or Baratang buys you the limestone caves or Amkunj beach and lands you up north rested, instead of turning twelve hours on the ATR into something you simply survive.

When is the best time to travel from Port Blair to Diglipur?

The honest answer is November to April, and December to January if turtles are your reason for going. That window gives you the calmest seas, the most reliable ferry sailings and Kalipur’s nesting season all at once. It is also the busiest and priciest stretch, so book early.

Avoid the peak monsoon from roughly late May through August. The North Andaman sea gets rough, government ferries to Diglipur are cancelled at short notice, and the ATR can flood or trigger landslips that hold convoys for hours. The road technically stays open, but a washed-out day up north is a miserable place to be stuck. September and October are a shoulder gamble: quieter and cheaper, with weather that can still turn.

Do you need a permit to travel to Diglipur?

Indian citizens do not need any permit for Diglipur or the ATR. Foreign nationals no longer require the old Restricted Area Permit for most of the popular Andaman islands after the rules were relaxed, though a few zones remain restricted and the situation is reviewed periodically. Whatever your nationality, the Jarawa reserve convoy rules on the ATR apply to everyone, every time.

Foreign national permit (RAP) rules for the Andamans have changed more than once. Confirm the current requirement for your specific itinerary before booking.

What is there to do once you reach Diglipur?

Diglipur earns the long haul. The headline sight is Ross and Smith Island, twin islands joined by a natural sandbar you can walk across at low tide, with clear water and easy snorkelling. Kalipur beach is the most important sea turtle nesting ground in the Andamans, where Olive Ridley, green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles come ashore between November and March; join the Forest Department’s guided night watch and follow the no-flash, no-touch rules. For hikers, Saddle Peak at 732 m is the highest point in the Andaman Islands and a proper trek. Nearby you can also fit in the Alfred Caves and the mud volcano.

Planning your Andaman trip with andamantourism.org

Reaching Diglipur is one of those trips where local knowledge saves you a wasted day. We are a locally run, Andaman-based operator with our team on the ground in Port Blair, and we handle the North Andaman route constantly. That means we know which ferry days are actually running this week, how the convoy timings have shifted, which cab drivers include the Middle Strait ferry fee honestly, and which stays near Kalipur are worth booking. We hold real relationships with the operators, hotels and boatmen up north, the kind of detail a mainland travel desk simply cannot track. If you want the Port Blair to Diglipur leg planned around ferries, convoys and turtle season instead of guesswork, that is exactly what we do at andamantourism.org.

Port Blair to Diglipur: FAQs

How long does it take to travel from Port Blair to Diglipur?

About 9 to 10 hours by government ferry, 10 to 12 hours by bus or cab on the ATR, and roughly 1 hour by the Pawan Hans helicopter when a seat is available.

Is there a direct ferry from Port Blair to Diglipur?

Yes, the government ferry runs directly from Haddo (Phoenix Bay) jetty to Aerial Bay jetty via Rangat, but only 3 to 4 times a week. There is no private high-speed ferry on this route.

Can I do Diglipur as a day trip from Port Blair?

No. The one-way journey alone is 9 to 12 hours. Plan at least two nights so you actually get time at Ross and Smith Island and Kalipur.

How much does the Port Blair to Diglipur bus cost?

Government ATR buses cost around Rs 300 to 400 per person. Private semi-sleeper and AC coaches run about Rs 600 to 800, as of August 2026.

Is the Port Blair to Diglipur road safe?

Yes, when you follow the rules. The ATR crosses the Jarawa reserve in a police-escorted convoy with strict no-stop and no-photography rules. Travel by day, keep to the convoy, and do not attempt the reserve stretch alone.

Can foreigners travel from Port Blair to Diglipur?

Generally yes. Most Andaman islands no longer need the old Restricted Area Permit for foreign nationals, though some zones stay restricted and rules are reviewed periodically. Confirm the current requirement for your itinerary before you book.

The post Port Blair to Diglipur: Every Way to Reach North Andaman appeared first on AndamanTourism.org.

The Port Blair to Neil Island leg is the fiddliest hop in the Andamans right now. Private catamaran companies like Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean and ITT Majestic pour their morning sailings into the busier Port Blair to Havelock corridor. Direct private service to Neil comes and goes. So you are choosing between a cheap government boat that is hard to book, and a longer, pricier route through Havelock that you can lock in months ahead. We will walk you through both, with current fares, timings and the trade-offs we give our own guests.

Is there a direct Port Blair to Neil Island ferry, or not?

Yes, but only one you can count on: the government ferry. It runs the direct Port Blair to Neil Island route, usually once a day, operated by the Directorate of Shipping Services. Private operators are a different story. Makruzz launched a direct Port Blair to Neil sailing in September 2025, ran it for a few months, then quietly pulled it in early 2026 because the numbers did not add up against the Havelock route. Other private operators have never run it directly.

Private direct service has been switching on and off, so treat it as a bonus, not a plan. If a private morning sailing to Neil shows up when you search your dates, book it. If it does not, use one of the two dependable routes below.

One quirk worth knowing. The reverse direction, Neil Island to Port Blair, is fully served daily by all four private operators. Boats overnight at Neil or Havelock and run back to Port Blair direct in the morning. So getting off Neil is easy. Getting onto it from Port Blair is the part that needs planning.

How far is Neil Island from Port Blair, and how long does the crossing take?

The Port Blair to Neil Island distance is roughly 37 km across open Bay of Bengal water. There is no road, no bridge, no land route, so ignore any driving distance Google Maps tries to show you. A vessel may weave slightly around smaller islands, which is why you will see figures quoted anywhere from about 36 km up to the low 40s.

Crossing time is 90 to 120 minutes on the government ferry. If you route via Havelock, the ferry time alone is longer once you add the two legs and the wait between them. More on that below.

What does the Port Blair to Neil Island ferry cost in 2026?

The short answer: The government ferry is by far the cheapest at around Rs 725 all in, while the via-Havelock private route runs roughly Rs 2,400 to Rs 2,700 per person. A private charter boat is a different universe of price. Here is how it breaks down.

Fares as of August 2026 and rounded. PSF is the Rs 50 Port Security Fee, charged per departure, so the via-Havelock route pays it twice. Private operators may add a fuel surcharge of roughly Rs 300 to Rs 325 per leg. Always confirm the live fare when you book.

For a solo traveller or a couple watching the budget, that Rs 725 versus Rs 2,600 gap is the whole decision. For a family that wants certainty and no 6 am scramble on a booking portal, the via-Havelock route usually earns its extra cost.

How do you book the government ferry to Neil Island?

You book it online through the DSS e-ticketing portal, run by the Directorate of Shipping Services at dss.andaman.gov.in. Locals still call it the STARS portal, and it is the only official channel. The catch is timing: the tourist quota opens exactly 2 days before sailing, at 9:00 AM IST, and in peak season those seats can vanish in five to fifteen minutes. Government ferries are built for local residents first, and the tourist allocation is small.

Step by step so you actually land a seat

●    A week ahead: Register on the STARS portal. First-time verification can take a day or two, so do not leave it to the last minute.

●   Confirm sailing exists: The government ferry does not run every single day. Check the published schedule for your date.

●    Two days before, be ready early: Log in by 8:55 AM IST. Do not assume you can sign in at 8:59 and click at 9:00.

●    At 9:00 AM sharp: The tourist quota is released. Refresh, select the Port Blair to Neil sailing, enter passenger details and pay within about five minutes.

●    Save the e-ticket immediately: Download the PDF the moment it is issued. The portal can struggle to re-issue tickets.

On the day, reach the jetty 60 to 75 minutes before departure. Government ferries close boarding well ahead of the sailing. Carry your printed e-ticket and the original photo ID that matches your booking. Government ferry tickets are non-refundable, so if you miss the boat, the money is gone. A common insurance move: hold a private via-Havelock booking as backup, and cancel it if your STARS seat comes through.

Should you route via Havelock instead?

For most travellers who plan more than two days ahead, yes. The via-Havelock route is the one you can actually book with confidence. You take a private ferry from Port Blair to Havelock, then a second private ferry from Havelock to Neil. Two tickets, one connection, and seats bookable up to around 60 days in advance.

How the connection works in practice

The Port Blair to Havelock leg takes about 90 minutes, with most departures clustered between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM. The Havelock to Neil leg takes 45 to 75 minutes depending on the operator. The important thing: you cannot reliably chain the earliest boats back to back. Boarding gates at Havelock close 15 minutes before sailing, and you need time to collect luggage and walk to the connecting counter.

A realistic day looks like this: catch a 6:30 AM ferry from Port Blair, reach Havelock around 8:00 AM, then take a late-morning or early-afternoon boat to Neil, arriving around midday. Total elapsed time is roughly six hours. The upside is that the Havelock layover is not wasted time if you grab breakfast near the jetty or fit in a quick beach stop.

One practical tip. If you book both legs as a single linked transaction rather than on two separate operator sites, a weather or technical cancellation gets you unified rebooking support instead of two separate refund fights.

What about a private charter boat?

It exists, and for most people it is overkill. A private charter from Port Blair to Neil costs roughly Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 for the boat, regardless of how many seats you fill. It only makes sense for a group of eight or more, where the per-head cost drops to something reasonable, or for a special occasion where direct private transit genuinely matters. There is no standard booking portal; you arrange it through a local operator or your hotel, usually with a day or two of lead time and full payment upfront.

Where do the ferries leave from and arrive?

In Port Blair, the government ferry departs from Phoenix Bay Jetty, while private catamarans use Haddo Wharf nearby, on the northern side of town close to Foreshore Road. The two are a short auto-rickshaw ride from Aberdeen Bazaar and the main hotel areas. At the other end, all ferries dock at Bharatpur Jetty on Neil Island, right beside Neil Kendra, the island’s main market. From Bharatpur it is a few minutes by auto or e-rickshaw to most Neil guesthouses and to Laxmanpur and Sitapur beaches.

Double check your departure jetty on your ticket. Turning up at Haddo when your boat leaves from Phoenix Bay, or the reverse, has caught out plenty of travellers.

What is the best time to make the Port Blair to Neil Island crossing?

The tourist season runs October to May, and that is when ferries are most frequent and the sea is calmest. Our honest pick is November to February: clear water, gentle swells and the most reliable schedules, though it is also the busiest window, which is exactly when the government tourist quota disappears fastest.

March to May is still good and a touch quieter, but hot. The monsoon months, roughly June to September, are the ones to plan around carefully. Seas get rough, and ferry sailings, especially the smaller government boat, are more likely to be delayed or cancelled at short notice. If you travel in the monsoon, keep your Neil days flexible and do not book a same-day onward flight out of Port Blair right after a Neil crossing.

Permits and what to carry

Indian nationals do not need a permit for Neil Island; just carry an original government photo ID such as Aadhaar, passport or voter ID that matches your ferry ticket. Foreign nationals no longer need a Restricted Area Permit for Neil Island as of 2026; a valid passport and Indian visa are enough. Nationals of Pakistan, China and Afghanistan still need prior approval, so check your own case before you travel.

What our team on the ground actually tells travellers about the Neil gap

One thing trips almost everyone up, and it is the reasoning we give guests before they book anything. The Port Blair to Neil problem is not a distance problem. Neil is closer to Port Blair than Havelock is. It is a scheduling and economics problem, and once you see that, the fix is obvious.

Why the route is awkward in the first place

Ferry operators chase the Havelock demand. Havelock, now Swaraj Dweep, pulls the bigger share of Andaman tourists, so operators load their prime morning slots onto that corridor. Neil gets served mostly as a second leg off Havelock, or through the government boat. That is why the network looks lopsided: easy to leave Neil, awkward to reach it directly. When Makruzz tried a dedicated direct sailing in late 2025, it could not fill the boat against those Havelock economics, and it lapsed. Nothing about the sea changed; the timetable just follows the money.

The four rules to plan every Neil trip around

●     Sequence Neil, do not detour to it. Slot Neil between Port Blair and Havelock on your route rather than as an out-and-back trip. A pattern that works beautifully: one night in Port Blair, ferry across for two nights on Neil, hop the short leg to Havelock, then take the easy direct private ferry back to Port Blair for your flight. You ride the network’s natural direction instead of fighting it.

●   Skip the day-trip idea. The direct government boat is cheap but a gamble on availability, and the via-Havelock route eats most of a day each way. Neil deserves an overnight, not a rushed there-and-back.

●   Plan for the harder route, treat the cheap seat as a bonus. The STARS booking window is a real skill. Being logged in at 8:55 and clicking at 9:00 two days out is the difference between Rs 725 and Rs 2,600. If your dates are fixed and fall in December or January, assume you will not win that lottery: budget the via-Havelock route from the start, and if the government seat comes through, enjoy the savings.

●   Leave a full day of slack before any flight. Sea conditions shift fast and the smaller government vessel feels it first. We never let a guest book a Neil crossing on the same day as a connecting flight out of Port Blair. A delayed ferry is a minor annoyance with a buffer, and a trip-ending problem without one.

Get those four right and everything else on Neil falls into place: the coral at Bharatpur, the sunset at Laxmanpur, the natural rock bridge at low tide.

Planning your Andaman trip with andamantourism.org

Sequencing islands, catching the STARS window and holding a backup ferry are exactly the kind of details that are hard to manage from the mainland. We are a local, Andaman-based operator working out of Port Blair, and our team watches these ferry schedules and quota windows every single day. We know which sailings are running this season, which operator dropped its fuel surcharge, when the government boat is likely to be pulled for weather, and how to slot Neil into a route so you are never fighting the timetable.

At andamantourism.org we book the ferries, line up the transfers at both jetties, and match your Neil nights to hotels we actually deal with rather than names off a listing site. That on-ground relationship is the difference between a smooth crossing and a stressful one, and it is knowledge a mainland travel desk simply does not have. If you want the Neil leg handled properly as part of a full Andaman itinerary, that is what we do.

Port Blair to Neil Island ferry FAQ

Is there a direct ferry from Port Blair to Neil Island?

Yes, the government ferry runs direct, usually once a day, for about Rs 725 with a 90 to 120 minute crossing. Reliable direct private service is not running as of 2026, so most travellers route via Havelock instead.

What is the cheapest way to get from Port Blair to Neil Island?

The government ferry at around Rs 725 all in. The trade-off is that its tourist quota is small and opens only two days before sailing on the STARS portal, selling out fast in peak season.

How much is the Port Blair to Neil Island ferry?

Government ferry: about Rs 675 plus Rs 50 PSF, so roughly Rs 725. Via-Havelock private route: about Rs 2,400 to Rs 2,700 per person including PSF charged twice and any fuel surcharge. Private charter: Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 for the whole boat.

How long does the Port Blair to Neil Island ferry take?

The direct government ferry takes 90 to 120 minutes. Via Havelock, the ferry time is longer once you add both legs plus a one to three hour layover at Havelock, so budget four to six hours door to door.

How far is Neil Island from Port Blair?

About 37 km by sea across the Bay of Bengal. There is no road route, so the only way across is by ferry.

Can I book the government ferry to Neil Island online?

Yes, only through the DSS e-ticketing portal (dss.andaman.gov.in), still known as STARS. Register a day or two ahead, then book when the tourist quota opens at 9:00 AM IST exactly two days before sailing.

Should I go via Havelock or take the government ferry?

If your dates are more than two days out and you want certainty, go via Havelock. If you are on a tight budget, flexible, and can win the STARS booking window, the direct government ferry saves you around Rs 2,000 per person.

The post Port Blair to Neil Island Ferry: Distance, Cost and How to Reach (2026) appeared first on AndamanTourism.org.

The Port Blair to Havelock ferry is the first real leg of almost every Andaman trip, and it trips up more travellers than any other. People assume it works like a taxi you grab on arrival. It does not. There is no road, no bridge and no flight between the two islands, so the ferry is the whole journey, and the seats sell out days ahead in season. We run trips across these islands year-round, and this is the guide we wish every traveller read before booking.

How far is Havelock from Port Blair?

Havelock, officially Swaraj Dweep since 2018, lies roughly 57 km (about 31 nautical miles) northeast of Port Blair, which the government renamed Sri Vijaya Puram in September 2024. Both names are still used everywhere, on tickets, signboards and by locals, so do not let the new labels confuse you when you reach the jetty.

You cannot drive or fly this stretch. The islands are separated by open sea, and every traveller, resort owner and fisherman crosses the same way you will, by boat. A fast private catamaran does it in about 90 minutes. A slower government vessel takes closer to two and a half hours. That single fact shapes your whole itinerary, because your Havelock day effectively starts the moment your ferry pulls out of Haddo Jetty.

What are the ferry options from Port Blair to Havelock?

You have two types of ferry, and they are not the same experience at all.

Private ferries (fast, air-conditioned, bookable online)

These are the ones most visitors take. Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean, Sea Link and ITT Majestic run enclosed, air-conditioned catamarans with assigned seats, onboard washrooms and a small snack counter. They leave from Haddo Jetty (Gate No. 3) in Port Blair and dock at the Swaraj Dweep jetty on Havelock. Crossing time runs 90 minutes to about 2 hours 15, with the fastest catamarans at the low end and Green Ocean 2 nearer the top. You book these online in advance, which is exactly what you should do.

Government ferry (cheap, slower, harder to book)

The Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) runs a state ferry that costs a fraction of the private fare. The catch is real, though. It is slower at around two and a half hours, less comfortable, and you cannot book it online. Tickets open roughly two days before sailing and are sold in person at the DSS counter at Phoenix Bay Jetty or at STARS reservation counters, and they go fast. For a first Andaman trip with a tight ferry connection, we usually steer travellers to a private ferry and save the government boat for flexible, budget-first itineraries.

Port Blair to Havelock ferry timings and prices in 2026

Private ferries run several sailings a day, concentrated in the morning. In the low season you will typically find departures around 6:00 AM, 8:00 AM and around midday, and from October through the peak months operators add extra afternoon slots to meet demand. Exact schedules shift with the season and the operator, so treat the table below as a planning guide and confirm live timings when you book.

Fares as of August 2026, one way, and they move with class, season and fuel surcharges. Some private operators add a fixed fuel surcharge on top of the base fare, so the price you see at checkout can run a few hundred rupees above the headline figure. Always reconfirm before you pay.

Which Port Blair to Havelock ferry should you book?

For most travellers, a morning private ferry is the right answer, and here is the honest reasoning. A morning departure gives you the calmest sea, a full day on Havelock and a buffer if anything runs late. The class you pick matters less than the timing. Economy on a fast catamaran gets you there in the same 90 minutes as business class, in the same air-conditioned cabin. The upgrade mostly buys you a wider seat and a slightly quieter deck, which is worth it on a rough afternoon and skippable on a calm morning.

Book the government ferry only if you are on a strict budget, your dates are flexible, and you can spare someone to queue at the DSS counter two days ahead. It is genuinely cheap. It is not convenient.

How do you book a Port Blair to Havelock ferry?

Private ferry tickets are sold online through the operators and through licensed Andaman travel agents. You choose your date, sailing time and class, enter each passenger’s name exactly as it appears on a government photo ID, and pay. Carry that same ID and your ticket to the jetty. In peak season, from mid-December through January and again during long weekends, popular morning sailings sell out a week or more in advance, so book as soon as your flights are confirmed.

For the government ferry there is no online portal. Someone has to reach the DSS counter at Phoenix Bay Jetty, or a STARS counter, when tickets are released about two days before departure, and join the queue early. This is the single biggest reason travellers miss the cheap ferry and end up paying private fares at the last minute.

If you would rather not juggle counters and cut-off times, our team at andamantourism.org books ferries alongside the rest of the trip. See our Havelock things to do for planning your days on the island.

Which jetty do the ferries leave from, and how do you reach it?

Private ferries leave from Haddo Jetty in Port Blair, with private boats using Gate No. 3. The government DSS ferry sails from a different berth, Phoenix Bay Jetty, about 1.5 km away, so do not turn up at the wrong one. Haddo sits about 4 km from the town centre and roughly 6 km from Veer Savarkar International Airport, which is a 15 to 20 minute taxi or auto ride in normal traffic. Reach the jetty at least 45 to 60 minutes before departure. Security and boarding lines are real, and private ferries close boarding sharply, often 15 minutes before sailing. A ferry will not wait for you.

On the Havelock side you arrive at the Swaraj Dweep jetty, about 2 km from Havelock’s main market. Autos and taxis wait at the jetty, though many resorts in Havelock may send a pickup if you ask ahead. Fix the fare before you climb in, because jetty-day rates climb when a full ferry unloads at once.

Do you need a permit for the Port Blair to Havelock ferry?

Indian citizens do not need any permit for Havelock or the ferry. Foreign nationals no longer require the old Restricted Area Permit for Havelock and Neil for tourism, but they should carry their passport, keep photocopies, and expect to register at check-posts. One exception still applies: nationals of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan, and people of that origin, still need prior clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, as do Myanmar nationals heading to North or Middle Andaman. Permit rules for the wider Andaman and Nicobar chain change from time to time, especially around tribal reserves and the northern islands, so foreign travellers should reconfirm the current position before the trip.

The Port Blair to Havelock mistake almost every first-timer makes

Here is the pattern we watch play out at Haddo Jetty week after week, and it costs people money, sleep and sometimes a whole day of their holiday. Travellers land at Port Blair airport in the late morning and book the Havelock ferry for that same afternoon, assuming the two connect neatly. On paper it looks efficient. In practice it is the tightest, most stressful move in an Andaman itinerary, and it works against you on three fronts at once.

Why the same-day afternoon ferry works against you

●     The sea. The water is calmest from roughly 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM. Wind and swell build through the day, and by early afternoon, especially from March to May and in the monsoon, the same crossing turns into a rolling, queasy two hours. Most of the seasickness we hear about is really just a late departure time.

●       Cancellation risk. Afternoon monsoon sailings are far more likely to be scrapped when conditions turn, and a cancelled afternoon ferry can strand you in Port Blair overnight with a paid-for Havelock room sitting empty.

●    The connection. Mainland flights often land late, and baggage crawls off a small airport belt. If your only ferry leaves at 2:00 PM and your flight lands at 12:30 PM, one delay collapses the plan. Private ferries close boarding 15 minutes before departure and do not wait, so you end up buying a fresh last-minute ticket, if any seat is left.

●  The daylight. Reach Havelock after 4:00 PM and you have lost the beach afternoon you flew all this way for. Radhanagar at sunset is the best free experience on the island, and a late, queasy arrival means you spend it recovering in your room.

What we tell our travellers to do instead

●   Spend your arrival night in Port Blair. See Cellular Jail and the light-and-sound show that evening, then take the first morning ferry to Havelock the next day.

●       Adding that night does not cost you Havelock time, it protects it. A Port Blair room typically runs Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000, and near the airport you can find cheaper. Weigh that against a scrapped afternoon ferry: a last-minute private seat, if one is even left, often costs Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,400, on top of a Havelock room you have already paid for and cannot use that night. You cross on flat water, land with the whole day ahead, and keep a full buffer against flight delays.

●   On a tight four or five day trip, book the earliest morning ferry and keep any afternoon slot as a backup only.

●     Never schedule a Havelock activity, a scuba slot or a Neil Island onward ferry for your arrival day. We have watched a single 40 minute baggage delay at Port Blair turn a 2:00 PM ferry into a missed sailing and an unplanned night ashore, so we build every itinerary with that margin baked in.

What to avoid or skip

●   Do not leave ferry booking to the airport day. In peak season the good morning sailings are gone a week ahead.

●    Skip the afternoon government ferry as a plan A. Between the queue-only booking and the slower, rougher ride, it rarely rewards a time-pressed traveller.

●    Do not chase business class on a calm morning. The crossing is short. Put that money toward a better Havelock room or a dive instead.

●    Boarding closes early and traffic from the airport to Haddo is unpredictable.

Planning your Andaman trip with andamantourism.org

We are a local, Andaman-based team working on the ground from Port Blair, not a mainland call centre reselling islands we have never seen. We book these ferries every week, we know which morning sailings actually run on time, we watch how the sea behaves by season, and we have direct relationships with resorts on Havelock and Neil, dive operators and jetty transfer drivers. That local knowledge is the difference between an itinerary that looks fine in a spreadsheet and one that holds up when a flight lands late or the afternoon sea kicks up. If you want your Port Blair to Havelock ferry, island hops and stays sequenced so they actually connect, browse our Andaman tour packages or tell us your dates and we will build the crossing around a calm morning.

Port Blair to Havelock ferry: Frequently asked questions

How long is the ferry from Port Blair to Havelock?

A private ferry takes 90 minutes to 2 hours across roughly 57 km. The government ferry takes about two and a half hours.

How much does the Port Blair to Havelock ferry cost?

Private one-way fares run from about Rs 1,100 to Rs 3,400 depending on operator and class, as of August 2026, plus any fuel surcharge. The government ferry costs about Rs 400 to Rs 900 depending on class but must be booked in person.

Can I book the Port Blair to Havelock ferry online?

Yes, for private ferries like Makruzz, Nautika and Green Ocean. The government DSS ferry cannot be booked online and is sold at Phoenix Bay Jetty and STARS counters about two days before sailing.

Which jetty does the Havelock ferry leave from?

Private ferries leave from Haddo Jetty (Gate No. 3) in Port Blair, about 6 km from the airport, and arrive at the Swaraj Dweep jetty on Havelock, about 2 km from the market.

Is the ferry to Havelock rough? Will I get seasick?

Morning sailings from 6:00 to 8:00 AM are usually calm. Afternoon crossings get rougher as wind and swell build, especially from March to May and during the monsoon, so book a morning ferry if you are prone to seasickness.

Do foreign nationals need a permit for the Havelock ferry?

Foreign nationals no longer need the old Restricted Area Permit for Havelock tourism but should carry their passport and register at check-posts. Reconfirm current rules before travel, as they change.

What is the first ferry from Port Blair to Havelock?

The earliest private sailings typically leave around 6:00 AM. This is the calmest crossing and the safest choice if you have a tight schedule or a late-arriving flight the day before.

The post Port Blair to Havelock Ferry: Timings, Prices and How to Cross Smart (2026) appeared first on AndamanTourism.org.