Port Blair

The Andaman Islands are India's answer to the tropical-island dream: powder-white sand, water so clear you can see your feet in three metres of it, and coral reefs a short boat ride from the shore. Port Blair, officially renamed Sri Vijaya Puram in 2024, is the gateway, with direct and one-stop flights from Hyderabad and ferries fanning out to the outer islands.

Our six-day Andaman trip balances history with beach time. In Port Blair you visit the Cellular Jail, where freedom fighters were imprisoned under British rule, and stay for its moving light and sound show in the evening, along with Corbyn's Cove beach and the museums. Then a fast catamaran takes you to Havelock, now Swaraj Dweep, for two nights: sunset at Radhanagar Beach, often ranked among Asia's best, and a boat trip to Elephant Beach for snorkelling over coral. Scuba diving for beginners is possible here, with no prior experience needed. The trip ends with a quiet night on Neil Island, now Shaheed Dweep, with its natural rock bridge and the calm shores of Bharatpur and Laxmanpur beaches.

The Andamans suit honeymooners, families with children and anyone who wants time by the sea without leaving India. No permit is needed for Indian citizens, and the season runs from November to April, when seas are calm and visibility underwater is at its best. Inter-island ferries are the backbone of any trip, so we book them in advance and plan buffer time for weather. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, keep plastic to a minimum and treat the coral gently; these are fragile and protected waters.