Don’t we all wish that one morning we’ll just wake up to a bright sunny day and look out of the window to see an incredibly vast and deep blue sea and white sandy beaches? Well, every morning in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is exactly like that. Not just the view, there’s an endless list of exciting things that you can do in the Andamans, starting from scuba diving to exploring mangrove forests and even visiting remote islands.
Speaking of visiting a remote island, you’d be surprised to hear that there is a volcano at Barren Island in the Andamans, which is the only active volcano in South Asia. Read this article to know more about this amazing volcanic island and how to get a charter boat to Barren Island:
First, like, as we already know by now, Barren Island is the only active volcanic Island in South Asia. It sits along the Indo-Burmese tectonic plate and is the only active volcano in the series of volcanoes from Myanmar to Sumatra.
People from across the world visit Barren Island to observe this brilliant phenomenon. While you cannot explore the island on foot, you can do quite a few activities close to it. Barren Island attracts a lot of people for activities like scuba diving and fishing.
|
Departure Location |
Base Price (Up to 6 Guests) |
Extra Guest Charge |
Maximum Comfort Recommendation |
|
Port Blair |
1,50,000 |
6,000 per person |
Ideal for up to 6 guests |
|
Havelock Island |
1,40,000 |
6,000 per person |
Ideal for up to 6 guests |
The only and best way to go to Barren Island is in a charter boat. Barren Island is located in a remote location, a little further away from the other islands in the Andamans. As such, no regular passenger ferries go to the island. You can hire a private charter boat to take a day’s trip.
Most charter boats to Barren Island start early in the morning and can accommodate up to 8 people. People usually travel in groups to avoid the high cost, but you can also book a boat alone if you want to make the journey alone. Of course, the boat staff and instructors will accompany you. Before you make the trip to Barren Island, you’d also need a tourist permit from the government. The permit usually costs INR 1000 for Indian nationals and around INR 3500 for foreign nationals.
There are a few travel agencies in the Andamans where you can book a place in a charter boat to Barren Island. The cost of the ticket is around INR 20,000 per person. In most cases, you’d have to book the whole boat, which would make your total cost for the trip around INR 130,000. The charter boat package to Barren Island usually includes breakfast, lunch, and other snacks as well as beverages. You’d also be provided with fishing, snorkelling, and scuba gear. You’d be interested to know that some charter boats can take you for a Barren Island trip even late at night.
There are two ways for you to go to Barren Island. One is from Port Blair and the other is from Havelock. If you are in Havelock, it would make sense for you to go to Barren Island directly from Havelock, as the distance to the island is less than that from Port Blair. Barren Island is around 100 km from Havelock Island and may take you 2-3 hours to take the journey. The island is 140 km away from Port Blair, which means that it will take you at least 4 hours to reach the island from the capital.
Visiting Barren Island is usually an 8 to 9-hour-long trip, so you should keep one day aside just for visiting the Island.
While you are not allowed to set foot on Barren Island, you can enjoy the activities around the island. There are many things that you can do near Barren Island. Here is a list of a few fund activities:
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Unfortunately, being a volcanic island, Barren Island is uninhabited. Tourists are also not allowed to stay on the island. You can also visit for a day trip. Also, you cannot explore the island either. Most people enjoy the water activities close to the island or just watch the active volcano from the charter boats.