Latest Information on Travelling to Andaman Islands?
  • Andaman Tourism Opens

    Updated: 14 Aug 2021

    Andaman Tourism Opens: The Andaman & Nicobar administration has announced that all tourist spots in the South Andaman district will be opened for tourism activities with immediate effect 8 Feb 2022.

  • What is the advisory to travel to North & Middle Andaman District?

    Updated: 14 Aug 2021

    The tourists are allowed to visit Baratang/North & Middle Andaman on production of double dose covid certificate/ All other passengers viz. unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers (those who have taken only 1S1 dose of COVID vaccine) shall have to produce RT-PCR negative test report

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  • All asymptomatic fully vaccinated persons coming to these islands from mainland are exempted from the requirement of carrying RT-PCR negative test report,irrespective of the type of vaccine received and country of origin. Such fullyvaccinated individuals shall produce the final vaccination certificate at the origin airport, sea port in the mainland and at Port Blair Airport / sea port.
  • Alt asymptomatic children below 5 years of age are exempted from carrying RT-PCR negative test report and further RT-PCR testing at Port Blair Airport.
  • All other passengers viz. unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers (those who have taken only 1S1 dose of COVID vaccine) shall have to produce RT-PCR negative test report to travel to Port Blair from the mainland, as is the practice now. Such an RT-PCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to commencement of journey from the origin airport connecting Port Blair. Such passengers will also have to undergo additional RT-PCR test on arrival at Port Blair. Such passengers shall remain in self-quarantine till the arrival of the test report.
  • If a passenger on arrival is tested positive then, the prescribed quarantine protocol is to be followed.
  • All Airlines shall ensure strict compliance of this order and observance of COVID Appropriate Behaviour. Any non-compliance shall invite action under Disaster Management Act and other applicable laws. 
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General Guidelines defined for traveling to Andaman Islands during COVID :

  1. The Tourism Activities are permitted only in South Andaman & North & Middle Andaman District except Nicobar District.
  2. Persons above 65 years of age, persons with home co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years advised not to travel for tourism purposes.
  3. Tourists/Visitors who are at higher risk due to some medical history are advised to take extra precautions.
  4. Tourists/visitors shall minimize contact with other staff and visitors as far as possible and zero contact policy should be followed at all tourist destinations.
  5. All tourists/visitors shall be briefed by the hotel concerned about do’s & don’ts to be mandatorily followed during their stay and movements.
  6. While travelling tourists/visitors should wear a face mask and carry their own sanitizer and wet wipes for personal use.
  7. At all tourist destinations, staff must wear face masks and wash/sanitize hands regularly while performing their duties.
  8. Arogya Setu App shall be mandatory for all incoming tourists/visitors.
  9. Respiratory etiquettes to be strictly followed. This involves strict practice of covering one’s mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing off used tissues properly after use.
  10. The tourists/visitors on arrival at Port Blair airport have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 screening with RTPCR test free of cost. Thereafter the tourists/ visitors are allowed to move to their respective hotels. However, they will have to be under quarantine at Port Blair in their hotel rooms until the result of RTPCR tests are received. In case of RTPCR positive test results, the tourists/visitors shall remain in institutional quarantine in hotels notified by the Hoteliers Association in consent with the A&%N Administration, on rate as specified or to the designated hospital/ Covid 19 care centre on case to case basis.
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What are the guidelines for testing for tourists coming to Andaman after August 03 2021?

On arrival at Port Blair :

1. The tourists need to carry COVID-19 negative test report from mainland based 1CMR approved lab using Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR). However, the sample for RTPCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to starting the journey from the origin station. (For e.g. if the tourist takes a flight from Delhi at 0600 hrs. on 1st September, 2021, the sample for RTPCR test should have been taken not before 0600 hrs. on 30th August, 2021).

2. The tourists/visitors on arrival at Port Blair airport have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 screening with RTPCR test free of cost. Thereafter the tourists/visitors are allowed to move to their respective hotels. However, they will have to be under quarantine at Port Blair in their hotel rooms until the result of RTPCR tests are received. In case of RTPCR positive test results, the tourists/visitors shall remain in
institutional quarantine in hotels notified by the Hoteliers Association in consent with the A&N Administration, on rates as specified or to the designated hospital/ Covid-19 care centre on case-to-case basis.

3. Tourists may also have to undergo random Rapid Antigen Test conducted from time to time on payment basis as prescribed by A8N Administration.

What if the tourists test positive after arriving at the Andaman Islands?


If the tourists tests positive during their stay in the Islands, he/she will need to undergo institutional isolation as per existing health protocols. The
cost of such isolation for govt. facility will be paid by the tourists as fixed by the administration from time to time.

If the patient wants to stay at hotels, he/she can stay in the hotels if all the conditions below are met:

a) Patients are not symptomatic and not more than 60 years old.
b) Request/ undertaking is made by patient in writing.
c)lf allowed by doctors.

Hotels will make necessary arrangements to designate a part of their rooms for institutional isolation for this purpose.

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  • Regular flights to Port Blair (the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) are operational now.
  • There are direct flights from Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Delhi.
  • Public transports like cabs, taxis, and bus services are also functional.
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Travellers should carefully follow social distancing norms and wear masks as well. Also, before making any booking, they should refer to the latest travel news on the government website of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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How To Reach Port Blair

How To Reach Port Blair
Date : 29 Aug 2024

Port Blair, the capital of the Indian Union territory- the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is a town on the South Andaman Island. Known for its vibrant nightlife, lively culture, museums, and numerous sightseeing spots, tourists travel to this interesting destination owing to its lush green forests and the rugged coastline that add charm to the beauty of this wonderland. There is a lot to see and do in Port Blair- from handicrafts to local food and shopping spots. When you are here, your itinerary must include Cellular Jail, Corbyn’s Cove Beach, Anthropological Museum, Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex, and Samudrika Naval Marine Museum.

The Andaman Islands are a paradise on earth that is snuggled in the Indian Ocean. The region is known for its amazingly pristine beaches as well as a colonial past. The Andamans flaunt as many as 572 islands, out of which only a few are inhabited. And in Port Blair, apart from knowing about the historical events, you will also see a fair share of nature and beauty.

How to reach Port Blair?

There are two ways by which you can reach the capital town of the Andamans- via air and water. Let’s explore each option below:

Reaching Port Blair by air

Veer Savarkar International Airport, the only commercial airport of the Andaman Islands, is located in Port Blair. Direct flights to/from a few cities such as Chennai, Kolkata, and Bangalore are available easily. Flights are faster and more comfortable. Thus, it is a preferred option. However, you should know that there are no direct flights to Andaman Island from everywhere. For instance, if you are flying from Delhi or Mumbai, then you will have a layover in Hyderabad or somewhere else. From there, you will be flying to Port Blair, the capital of the island.

As of now, no international ship or flight services exist in the Andaman Islands. However, Veer Savarkar Airport has been turned as an official immigration check post by the Indian government so that non-natives can enter and exit directly from there.

Pro travel tip- Taking an early morning flight will help you in utilising the rest of the day.

Reaching Port Blair by water

You can also reach Port Blair by sailing from the ports of Kolkata, Chennai, and Vishakhapatnam. Operated by the Indian government, the voyage via these ships takes nearly three to four days (50-60 hours). Haddo Wharf is the main seaport in the town. Three to four sailings take place from Chennai and Kolkata, and only one sailing from Visakhapatnam every month. You should know in advance that these passenger ships are not cruise liners and thus, do not have entertainment and food options. Moreover, booking can only be done from the shipping corporation offices in Chennai, Vizag, and Kolkata. The booking process is quite time-consuming. Online booking is not available. Ships are cheaper but general passenger ships are more troublesome. If you are travelling between May and October, then seasickness is also common. However, if you want to experience a voyage amidst the blue sea, then we recommend a ship journey. It is an unusual adventure in itself.  

Can we travel to Andaman by train or bus?

There is no way one can reach the Andaman Islands by train from anywhere in the world. Also, no buses are available to the islands. You can cross the Bay of Bengal either via flit or ship only.

Is a passport required for travelling to Port Blair?

As the Andaman and Nicobar Islands come under the Indian subcontinent, Indian tourists have no travel restrictions. It is like travelling to any other place in our country. They do not need a passport, visa, or any other permission. They can stay in permitted areas as long as they wish for. For foreign travellers, a passport is required along with an Indian visa.

Getting around in Port Blair

Commuting by local transport in Port Blair is very convenient. Roads are well-built and you will not get lost as every spot is just by the road. Moreover, the locals are also very helpful. You can carry a map or an offline map here as the internet doesn’t work properly here.

Top places to see in Port Blair

Port Blair- the capital city of the most beautiful union territory on India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, boasts of a number of tourist-friendly places that are spellbinding. It is a gorgeous and awe-inspiring city, and taking a pit stop here never disappoints anyone. It promises you clear blue waters, lush greens, rich cultural history, and a lot more. Along with visiting various places in the city, if you have plenty of time for sightseeing, then you can travel to the unexplored attractions and tiny islands nearby Port Blair as well.

Historical places to see in Port Blair

Cellular Jail
Japanese Bunkers
Chatham Saw Mill
Murugan Temple
Recreational places to see in Port Blair
Manglutan Village
Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex
Madhuban Ranges
Marina Park and Aquarium
Veer Savarkar Park
Beaches and islands to see in Port Blair
Corbyn’s Cove Beach
Ross and Smith Islands

If you have got more time in hand, then you can also explore the following beaches and islands:

Little Andaman Island
Butler Bay Beach
Karmatang Beach
Katchal Island
Rutland Island
Parrot Island
Chidiya Tapu
Ferar Beach
Diglipur Island
Cinque Island
Lamiya Bay Beach
Amkunj Beach

If you are in the planning stage of your vacation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, then contact Andaman Island Travels to make all your bookings. A well-known and trusted tour agency, it is located in Port Blair and is committed to help you in planning the holiday of your dreams as per your budget and requirements. Whether it is your accommodation, any adventure activity that you want to do or hire a car, it will take care of all your needs in the best way possible.

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