Travelers can reach Andaman Islands by air. A government ship also sails from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam, but it takes 3 to 4 days. From Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram), ferries carry you on to Havelock, Neil and the northern Andaman.
Table of Contents
- How to reach Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Reaching Andaman by air
- Reaching Andaman by sea
- Reaching Port Blair: Airport to hotel or jetty
- Reaching Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
- Reaching Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)
- Reaching North Andaman: Baratang, Rangat, Mayabunder and Diglipur
- What time should your flight land to catch a same-day Havelock ferry?
- Do you need a permit to visit Andaman?
- Best time to travel to Andaman
- Travel Tips
- Frequently asked questions
How to reach Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
The Andaman Islands sit in the Bay of Bengal, roughly 1,200 km off the Indian mainland, so there is no road, no rail and no bridge. Every visitor arrives in Port Blair (officially Sri Vijaya Puram) by one of two routes, so how to reach Andaman is really a choice between air and sea.
- By Air: Nonstop flights from Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi, taking 2 hr 15 min to 3 hr 35 min. This is how almost every traveller reaches.
- By Sea: A government passenger ship from Chennai, Kolkata or Visakhapatnam, taking 56 to 94 hours depending on the port and the vessel.
Reaching Andaman by air
Taking a flight is the quickest and easiest way to reach Andaman. All flights land at Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ), Port Blair’s only airport. The “International” in the name is aspirational. There are no scheduled international flights, so overseas visitors connect through Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi or Bengaluru.
Direct flights from Port Blair are available from six Indian cities including Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi as of October 2026. Chennai and Kolkata are the shortest routes to Port Blair and typically the cheapest. Flights from Delhi and Mumbai are longer and pricier.
| From | Nonstop or connecting | Nonstop carriers | Approx time | Typical one-way fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | Nonstop | IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India Express | 2 hr 20 min | Rs 4,500 to 9,000 |
| Kolkata | Nonstop | IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India Express, SpiceJet | 2 hr 15 min | Rs 5,000 to 9,500 |
| Bengaluru | Nonstop | IndiGo, Air India Express | 2 hr 40 min | Rs 5,500 to 11,000 |
| Hyderabad | Nonstop | IndiGo | 2 hr 45 min | Rs 5,500 to 11,000 |
| Mumbai | Nonstop | IndiGo | 3 hr 25 min | Rs 8,000 to 16,000 |
| Delhi | Nonstop | Air India, Air India Express | 3 hr 35 min | Rs 9,000 to 16,000 |
| Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Jaipur, Lucknow and others | Connecting | Via Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru or Hyderabad | 5 to 12 hours total | Rs 8,000 to 18,000 |
The above fares are indicative economy one-way prices as of October 2026. The fare goes up from mid-December to mid-January and in April and May.
Reaching Andaman by sea
The Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) runs passenger vessels from three mainland ports: Chennai, Kolkata and Vishakhapatnam. MV Swaraj Dweep does most of the current sailings, with MV Campbell Bay, MV Sindhu and MV Nalanda rotating in. These vessels run 3-4 times a month from Chennai and Kolkata and roughly 1-2 times a month from Vishakhapatnam.
| Departure port | Sailing time (approx.) | Frequency | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | 60 to 70 hours | One or two sailings a month | STARS e-ticketing portal or DSS counters |
| Kolkata | 66 to 94 hours | About once a month, none in some months | Same |
| Visakhapatnam | 56 to 72 hours | About once a month, often none in the monsoon | Same |
The vessel and class you choose decides the fare. The table below gives the revised DSS fares for 2025-26, per person, one way, for non-islanders. Islanders pay roughly half. Taxes and port charges are extra.
| Vessel | Deluxe | 1st Class | 2nd Class | Bunk | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MV Swaraj Dweep | Rs 15,145 | Rs 12,565 | Rs 9,995 | Rs 3,915 | Not sold |
| MV Campbell Bay | Rs 15,145 | Rs 12,565 | Rs 9,995 | Rs 3,915 | Not sold |
| MV Sindhu | Rs 16,650 | Rs 13,825 | Rs 10,985 | Rs 4,300 | Rs 2,805 |
| MV Nalanda | Rs 16,650 | Rs 13,825 | Rs 10,985 | Rs 4,300 | Rs 2,805 |
DSS announces sailing schedules and booking dates a few weeks in advance. Tickets are available online through the STARS portal or at DSS counters in Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam and Port Blair.
Carry the same photo ID you booked with and report two hours before sailing, because the gates close 30 minutes out.
Please note that these are not holiday cruise ships. There are no pools, no entertainment deck or buffets. You get a berth and a canteen that offers meals at fixed timings. We do not recommend travelling by these ships if you are with elderly family members, young children or a couple looking for a comfortable holiday experience.
Reaching Port Blair: Airport to hotel or jetty
The ideal way to reach Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram) is by flight. After arrival, you get prepaid taxis from the airport to hotels located around Aberdeen Bazaar or Phoenix Bay. These taxis charge from Rs 300 to 500 (approx). Autos charge approximately Rs 200 to 350 for the same routes.
If you are heading straight to a ferry, know your jetty before you get in the car.
- Haddo Jetty (Gate No. 3) is where the private catamarans to Havelock and Neil leave from. It is about 6 km from the airport, 15 to 20 minutes in normal traffic.
- Phoenix Bay Jetty is where the government ferries to Havelock, Neil and the northern islands leave from, and where the DSS and STARS counters are. About 5 km from the airport.
- The mainland ships from Chennai, Kolkata and Vizag berth at Haddo Wharf, next door to Haddo Jetty.
We recommend reaching a jetty 45 to 60 minutes before if you’re boarding a private jetty and 60 to 75 minutes before for a government ferry. The boarding closes early and the ferry does not wait.
Reaching Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
The only way to reach Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) is by ferry. Havelock is about 57 km northeast of Port Blair by sea and is one of the most visited islands. Private catamarans from Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean, Sea Link and ITT Majestic take 90 minutes to 2 hours to reach Havelock Jetty from Haddo Jetty. The ferries are air-conditioned and offer reserved seatings.
Private Ferries: Private ferries fares start from about Rs 1,100 in economy to Rs 3,400 in the top cabin, including a fuel surcharge on some operators. Departures begin in the morning, typically between 6:30 and 9:30 AM, with afternoon sailings added from October through the peak months.
Government Ferries: The government ferry takes about 2 to 2.5 hours from Phoenix Bay. The fare range for non-islanders is between Rs 700 to Rs 1500 based on the ferry and class they choose. Government ferries are cheaper and slower and require a prior booking. The STARS portal opens the tourist quota two days before sailing at 9 AM.
The Havelock jetty is about 2 km from the main market. Autos and taxis wait for every arrival. Some resorts in Radhanagar and Vijaynagar will send a pickup, if you request in advance, though it’s rarely free.
Reaching Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)
Neil is closer to Port Blair than Havelock is, about 37 km by sea, and oddly harder to reach directly. Private operators put most of their morning departures into the Havelock corridor, and a direct private Port Blair to Neil service has come and gone more than once since 2025. If one shows up on your dates, book it. If not, you have two dependable routes.
The government ferry sails direct from Phoenix Bay to Bharatpur Jetty on Neil, usually once a day, in 90 to 120 minutes. The fare starts from Rs 725 including the Rs 50 port fee. Booking is through the STARS portal, which opens two days ahead.
The private route goes via Havelock: a morning catamaran from Haddo to Havelock, then a second boat from Havelock to Neil in 45 to 75 minutes. It costs Rs 2,400 to 2,700 per person for both legs and takes 4 to 6 hours with the layover. It costs more and takes longer, and it is the one you can lock in two months ahead.
Our advice: Don’t make Neil Island a separate round trip. Include Neil Island in between Port Blair and Havelock, or stop there after Havelock on your way back, since getting from Neil back to Port Blair is easy. All four private operators run that route every day. Our Port Blair to Neil Island ferry guide explains the order in detail.
Reaching North Andaman: Baratang, Rangat, Mayabunder and Diglipur
North of Port Blair, the islands feel different. You see fewer tourists, mangrove creeks, a mud volcano, turtle-nesting beaches at Diglipur, and distances that surprise tourists who have only looked at the map. Everything up here goes along the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR), which passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve between Jirkatang and Middle Strait. Vehicles cross that area in police-escorted convoys with only a few slots each day. The first convoy leaves Jirkatang around 6:30 AM. The tourist vehicles cannot stop and you are not allowed to take photos or roll the windows down.
Baratang is a popular destination for a day trip. It is about 100 km and 3 to 3.5 hours from Port Blair by road including the convoy and the vehicle ferry across Middle Strait, which takes 15 to 20 minutes. Shared taxis and day tours leave Port Blair around 3:30 to 4 AM to catch the first convoy. One can watch the limestone caves and the mud volcano and are back in town by evening.
Rangat, Mayabunder and Diglipur are ideal for an overnight trip. Diglipur is 290 to 325 km from Port Blair by road and takes 9 to 12 hours, with Rangat roughly at the two-thirds mark and Mayabunder is an hour before Diglipur. There are three ways to reach:
- Bus: Government ATR buses from the STS terminal at Mohanpura leave between 4 and 5 AM and cost Rs 300 to 400. Private AC coaches from the same area cost Rs 600 to 800.
- Private cab: Rs 18,000 to 40,000 per car depending on size and whether it is one way or return, 9 to 11 hours. Confirm in writing that the quote covers fuel, the Middle Strait ferry and the driver’s night halt.
- Government Ferry: From Phoenix Bay to Aerial Bay jetty in Diglipur via Rangat, three or four sailings a week, departing around 7 AM and arriving near 4 PM. Fare for non-islanders starts from Rs 1,495 for a seat to Rs 2,085 for a bunk. Booking opens two days before sailing. There is no private fast ferry on this route.
The Pawan Hans helicopter does run from Port Blair to Diglipur in about an hour for around Rs 5,250, but seats go first to residents, officials, and medical cases. Count on it only as a lucky break, never as your main plan.
What time should your flight land to catch a same-day Havelock ferry?
Land by 11:30 AM if you want an afternoon ferry the same day. Land later than that, and the better plan is a night in Port Blair and the 6:30 AM boat. That one decision shapes your first two days more than the fare does, so here is how we work it out for every booking.
Private ferries to Havelock leave Haddo Jetty in a morning cluster, roughly 6:30 to 9:30 AM, with one or two afternoon sailings between 1 and 3 PM in season. Boarding closes 15 minutes before departure. Airport to jetty is 15 to 20 minutes by taxi, plus about 45 minutes for jetty security and check-in. So you need to be on the ground at least 90 minutes before the sailing, and you want a cushion on top of that for a late inbound aircraft or a slow bag belt.
| Your flight lands | Earliest safe ferry | What we recommend |
|---|---|---|
| Before 11:30 AM | 2 PM afternoon sailing | Cross the same day if the sea is calm. Keep a Port Blair room on hold in monsoon. |
| 11:30 AM to 1 PM | 3 PM sailing, if one runs that day | Risky. Book it only with a confirmed afternoon departure and a flexible Havelock night. |
| After 1 PM | Next morning | Stay in Port Blair. See Cellular Jail and the light and sound show, take the 6:30 or 8 AM boat. |
| Any time, June to September | Next morning | Afternoon sailings are the ones that get cancelled. Do not plan around them. |
Do you need a permit to visit Andaman?
Indian citizens do not require any permit for Port Blair, Havelock, Neil, Baratang or the northern islands. However, they must keep an original government photo ID, since the name on your ferry ticket must match it and you will show it at every jetty.
Foreign nationals require a valid passport and Indian visa. The Restricted Area Permit that once applied to the main tourist islands was relaxed in 2018 for most nationalities, and in practice you register at the airport on arrival and carry passport copies. Nationals of a few countries, including Pakistan, China and Afghanistan, still need prior approval. Permit rules change, so check the current position with the Indian mission or the FRRO before you book.
The Nicobar group and the tribal reserves are closed to tourists entirely, Indian or foreign. The ATR convoy through the Jarawa reserve is the only contact you will have with that boundary, and the rules there are not optional.
Best time to travel to Andaman
Dry season (October to mid-May): Calm seas, every ferry running, and the clearest water of the year.
- Late October to early December and February to March: The sweet spots. Good weather, full schedules, and fares that haven’t peaked yet.
- Mid-December to mid-January: Busiest and most expensive period. The government ferry quota sells out the fastest.
- April and May: Hot and humid weather, but excellent for diving. Difficult for those who dislike heat.
Monsoon season (June to September): Southwest monsoon. Cheap flights, green and quiet islands, but rough seas.
- Afternoon ferries get cancelled at short notice, and the Diglipur ferry can be pulled for days.
- If you must travel then include a buffer night in Port Blair before any onward flight, and book morning sailings only.
Travel Tips
- Do not book a Havelock ferry that leaves less than 90 minutes after your scheduled landing. Treat 2 hours as the floor.
- Do not plan a holiday around the mainland ship if your dates are fixed. The programme moves.
- Do not put a ferry and a flight on the same day in either direction, in any season.
- Do not assume you can book a government ferry on arrival. The tourist quota opens two days out on the STARS portal and sells fast.
- Do not pay for a business-class ferry seat on a calm morning. Spend the money on the Havelock room instead.
- Do not attempt Diglipur as a day trip. It is a two-night commitment at minimum.
Frequently asked questions
About 2 hours 20 minutes nonstop on IndiGo, Akasa Air or Air India Express. It is the shortest and usually cheapest route to the islands.
Yes. Air India and Air India Express fly Delhi to Port Blair nonstop in about 3 hours 35 minutes. Fares are higher than from the southern and eastern cities, from around Rs 9,000 one way.
Yes. Government ships sail from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam, taking 56 to 94 hours. Bunk class costs Rs 4,115 one way for 2026-27, before taxes. Sailings are one or two a month per port and the programme is published a few weeks at a time.
No. Indian citizens need only a government photo ID for Port Blair, Havelock, Neil and the northern islands. The Nicobar group and tribal reserves are closed to all tourists.
By private catamaran from Haddo Jetty in 90 minutes to 2 hours for Rs 1,100 to 3,400 one way, or by government ferry from Phoenix Bay in about 2.5 hours for Rs 700 to 1,500. Morning sailings are calmer and more reliable.
Ship bunk class is cheaper than most flights, at Rs 4,115 against Rs 4,500 to 9,000 from Chennai, but it costs three days each way. Second class and above on the ship cost more than flying.
No. The islands are about 1,200 km from mainland India with no rail or road link. Your only options are a flight to Port Blair or a ship from Chennai, Kolkata or Visakhapatnam.
By road up the Andaman Trunk Road in 9 to 12 hours (bus Rs 300 to 800, cab Rs 18,000 to 40,000), or by government ferry via Rangat three or four times a week in about 9 hours for Rs 1,495 to 2,085. Plan at least two nights.
No seaplane service runs as of 2026. Pawan Hans helicopters fly a few inter-island routes, including Port Blair to Diglipur, but seats are prioritised for residents and officials. The ferry is the practical way to Havelock.
In the Bay of Bengal, about 1,200 km east of Chennai and closer to Myanmar and Thailand than to mainland India. Port Blair is the capital and the only entry point.
