Probably the most famous destinations in Andaman and the one that most Indians look forward to visiting, the Havelock islands are indeed a haven for pristine beaches, teal lagoons, Mahua trees, backwaters and more, they are the perfect blends of adventure and scenery packed together. For most travelers, the Havelock islands give the contentment of their entire Andaman vacation and end up spending most of their time chilling and getting more acclimatized to the contagious spirit of the island.

Nestled between Neil and Peel Island, the Havelock islands are part of most of the Andaman tourism guides, itineraries, recommendations and visits. It is also one of the very few places to avoid much of the devastating intensities of the 2004 tragedy – tsunami. There is a lighthouse in the island and a number of mesmerizing beaches like the Radhanagar beach on the island’s west coast. One of the specialties of this beach is that it is known locally as the NumberSeven beach and was announced as Asia’s Best Beach in the year 2004.

Apart from this beach, there are also other prominent beaches like the Elephant Beach, Vijay Nagar Beach, and Kalapathar Beach. If you’re wondering where to indulge in some water-based adventure sports, it’s on the Havelock islands that you’ll find tour operators and adventure experts taking you on some rides of a lifetime.

Location

Like all good things, it takes a while to catch a glimpse of this scenic beauty when you’re traveling from Port Blair. Being a completely different island, it’s located at a distance of approximately 70

kilometers from the capital and requires a ferry ride to reach the destination. If you’re a fan of Hollywood movies and coordinate fancy you, the Havelock Islands are located at 11.96oN 93.00oE.

You can choose from a number of cruise liners such as Makurzz Gold, Makurzz, Green Ocean, Coastal Cruise and Green Ocean 2.

Known for its pristine beaches and tons of adventure sports and unique experiences it offers

How to Reach

There are both government run ferries and cruise boats that take from and to the Havelock Islands. It takes about two hours and thirty minutes to reach the islands from Port Blair and a government ferry ride will cost you around Rs. 900 for adults and Rs. 100 for children per ride.

There are specific timings for these ferries with no facilities to book tickets online. From Port Blair, the ferries start at 6:30 AM and 2:00 PM and from the Havelock Islands, they depart from 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM. For more comfort, you can always go for the private cruise boards that ply from the capital to the islands. These cruise boats ride faster and take you within 90 minutes. However, the catch is that these boats are divided into luxury classes and have prices accordingly. For a deluxe class ticket, you will pay approximately Rs. 1,600 and Rs. 1,800 and Rs. 2,500 for premium and royal classes respectively. During peak seasons, the ticket prices have an addedaroundRs. 100 to their regular fares.

Cost: NA

Operating hours

Though the island is generally open, some of the beaches may close early to limit tourism and to foster safety of tourists in getting back to Port Blair. For instance, the Elephant Beach closes by 3:00 PM.

Any Precautions:

Since watersport activities are available, make sure you carry adequate clothing and cash. Also stay careful of lethal marine animals such as jellyfish, sea snakes and camouflaged stone fish. Carry light clothes, sunglasses, sunscreens, and hats to prevent tanning (if you want) and have plenty of water. Do not experiment anything underwater and follow your guide’s instructions. It’s the ocean and not swimming pool!

Type

Beach/Island