By boat
Port Blair has two main jetties: boats from the mainland moor at Haddo Jetty, nearly 2km northwest of Phoenix Jetty, arrival point for inter-island ferries.
Services to and from Chennai can be relied upon to leave in each direction once every week to ten days, while those to and from Kolkata sail roughly every two weeks.
Boats to and from Visakhapatnam are altogether more erratic, averaging once a month in each direction.
Although much cheaper than flying, sea crossings are long (3–5 days), uncomfortable and often delayed by bad conditions.
By bus
Buses connect Port Blair with most of the major settlements on Middle and North Andaman via the Andaman Trunk Road.
From the bus stand in the centre of town, there are government services to Rangat (3 daily), Mayabunder (2 daily) and Diglipur (2 daily).
How many days do you need?
The Andaman Islands are a paradise worth exploring for at least 7 days, but spending 10 days or more would allow you to fully experience its hidden gems.
Start your journey in Port Blair, where you can visit the Cellular Jail National Memorial, a haunting reminder of India's struggle for independence, and witness the Sound and Light Show which gives an insight into the history of the islands.
On days two and three, head to Havelock Island, where you can snorkel, dive, kayak, and stroll along the shores of Radhanagar Beach and Elephant Beach.
Venture to Neil for two day. This tranquil paradise has idyllic beaches and stunning coral formations. Round off your trip by visiting Baratang Island – otherwise known as Parrot Island – to explore the unique limestone caves, before seeing thousands of parrots return back home at sunset.
Talk to our India travel experts if you are looking for the best India trips.