Andaman Islands Itinerary 10 Days: Island Ferry Schedule 2025
Most travel blogs hide behind vague "island-hop in Andaman" without naming a single ferry service or admitting monsoon closures exist. Generic AI planners dump the same itinerary for every month, ignoring that half the islands close June–September. Here's what actually works: real 2025 ferry timetables, cancellation windows, and month-by-month island accessibility that doesn't pretend the weather is negotiable.
1. Ferry Services Operating in Andaman in 2025
Three main operators run passenger ferries across Andaman, and each has different reliability, schedules, and island coverage. Knowing which service goes where is the difference between a smooth 10-day loop and a stuck day in Port Blair.
Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) operates the largest fleet. It runs the Makruzz (catamaran) and Jiya (conventional ferry) on major routes: Port Blair to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), Port Blair to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), and inter-island crossings. Ferries depart early morning (6:00–7:30 AM) and return late afternoon (3:30–5:00 PM). Booking opens 30 days in advance online or at the ticket counter (Directorate of Shipping, Port Blair). SCI is reliable but books out fast during peak season (November–March).
Andaman Seaplanes covers premium, short-hop routes: Port Blair to Havelock (40 min) and Port Blair to Neil (25 min). Daily flights start at 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Cost is ₹4,500–5,500 per seat vs. ₹650–750 by ferry, but saves 2–3 hours and works in rough sea conditions when ferries cancel. Book via their website or travel agent.
InterIsland Tourism runs slower conventional ferries on secondary routes (Port Blair to Long Island, Port Blair to Diglipur in North Andaman). Less crowded, more local feel, higher cancellation risk in windy months.
| Ferry Operator | Main Routes | Frequency (Oct–May) | Cost (₹) | Duration | Booking Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCI Makruzz (catamaran) | Port Blair ↔ Havelock | Daily (6:00 AM) | 750 | 1 hr 20 min | sci.gov.in or counter |
| SCI Jiya (conventional) | Port Blair ↔ Neil | Alternate days | 650 | 2 hrs | sci.gov.in or counter |
| Andaman Seaplanes | Port Blair ↔ Havelock | 2×/day | 5,000 | 40 min | seaplanes.com |
| InterIsland Tourism | Port Blair ↔ Long Island | 3×/week | 400 | 4 hrs | Local agents |
SCI ferries operate year-round, but sailings drop from 2–3 daily to 1 every alternate day during monsoon (June–September). Cancellations climb above 40% in July and August due to rough seas and low visibility.
Book ferries 3 weeks ahead if traveling October–March (peak season). For monsoon months, book 1 week out and expect last-minute cancellations; keep flexible onward bookings. International visitors must show passport at the ferry counter; Indian passport holders need a valid ID. No alcohol or sharp objects allowed in carry-on.
2. Month-by-Month Island Accessibility and Ferry Cancellation Risk
Not every island is reachable every month. Weather patterns dictate which islands have stable ferry service and which become unreliable or fully shut down. Planning your 10-day itinerary without checking this is how you end up stranded or unable to visit your primary destination.
October–November (Shoulder season, low risk). All major islands are accessible: Havelock, Neil, Long, Diglipur (North Andaman). Ferry cancellations are rare (<5%). Sea conditions are calm, visibility is excellent, and island resorts operate at full capacity. This is the sweet spot for a mixed itinerary. Cost per ferry ticket: ₹600–800. Accommodation is mid-range; premium resorts fill by mid-November.
December–March (Peak, low risk). Every island is accessible daily. Ferry cancellations drop below 2%. This is the busiest window: prices peak, resorts book 2–3 months ahead, and ferries run at capacity. A December–January 10-day trip will cost 30–40% more than May. Makruzz departures multiply to 2–3 daily on main routes. Book ferries 4 weeks ahead if you haven't already reserved your resort.
April–May (Pre-monsoon, moderate risk). All islands remain accessible, but sea conditions become choppy after 3:00 PM. Morning ferries (6:00–7:30 AM) are reliable; afternoon sailings see 10–15% cancellations on secondary routes (Long Island, Diglipur). Havelock and Neil stay stable because they're only 90 min and 2 hrs away. Temperature peaks at 35–38°C; many travelers skip April. Accommodation discounts apply (20–30% off peak rates).
June–September (Monsoon, high risk). The Andaman monsoon is non-negotiable: the SW monsoon dumps 100+ mm rain per day, seas swell to 2–3 m, and visibility drops to 100 m. Ferries to outer islands (Long, Diglipur, Rangat) cancel 60–80% of scheduled sailings. Havelock and Neil see 30–40% cancellations mid-monsoon (July–August). Many small resorts and water-sports operators close entirely. If you must travel June–September, stick to Port Blair, Ross Island, North Bay (glass-bottom boat only), and day trips to nearby islands on calm-weather mornings. Seaplanes operate year-round but are expensive (₹5,000+) and risky in low visibility. Ferry costs drop 10–15%; accommodation drops 40%.
| Month | Havelock | Neil | Long Island | Diglipur (North) | Risk Level | Avg Cost (₹/person/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct–Nov | ✓ Daily | ✓ Daily | ✓ Partial | ✓ 3×/week | Low | 3,500–4,500 |
| Dec–Mar | ✓ 2–3× Daily | ✓ Daily | ✓ 4×/week | ✓ Daily | Very Low | 5,500–7,500 |
| Apr–May | ✓ Daily | ✓ Daily | ✓ 2×/week | ✓ 2–3×/week | Moderate | 3,000–4,000 |
| Jun–Sep | ✓ 40% Cancel | ✓ 30% Cancel | ✗ 80% Cancel | ✗ Closed | High | 1,500–2,500 |
Choose your travel month before booking anything else. If you're locked into monsoon travel, budget ₹1,500–2,000 more per day to include a seaplane hop (backup plan) and hire a reliable local guide who knows calm-water routes.
3. A Practical 10-Day Itinerary Built Around Ferry Schedules
This itinerary assumes stable ferry service (October–March). Adjust island sequence and activity duration if traveling April–May or monsoon.
Days 1–2: Port Blair acclimatization and Cellular Jail. Arrive any day. No ferry needed. Visit Cellular Jail (history museum, evening light & sound show at 5:00 PM), Ross Island (day trip by boat, ₹250), and North Bay glass-bottom boat (₹400, 1.5 hrs, departs 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM). Stay Port Blair; resorts range ₹2,000–8,000/night. Use these days to book onward ferries in person if your advance bookings haven't confirmed.
Days 3–4: Havelock Island. SCI Makruzz ferry 6:00 AM from Port Blair, arrives 7:20 AM (₹750). Havelock has three beaches: Radhanagar (sunset, popular), Kalapathar (quiet, black sand), and Elephant Beach (water sports, snorkeling). Rent a scooter (₹300/day) to island-hop between them. Overnight resort: ₹2,500–6,000. Book return ferry to Neil for Day 5 morning (6:00 AM, ₹600).
Days 5–6: Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep). Morning ferry from Havelock (SCI Jiya, 6:00 AM, 1.5 hrs, ₹600). Neil is smaller and slower: Bharatpur Beach (coral snorkeling), Sitapur (sunrise, hammocks), Laxmanpur Beach (sunset). Sunset point is the main draw; locals recommend staying until dusk. Overnight: ₹1,800–4,500. Book return ferry to Port Blair for Day 7 (SCI Jiya, 3:30 PM, ₹650).
Days 7–8: Port Blair revisit + Long Island side trip (if schedule allows). Morning back in Port Blair by ferry. Afternoon is flexible: either rest and revisit Cellular Jail museum, or take a same-day ferry to Long Island (InterIsland Tourism, 7:30 AM, 4 hrs, ₹400, returns 2:00 PM next day). Long Island is undeveloped, quiet, and risky for ferry cancellations; skip if traveling April–May or monsoon. Overnight Port Blair if you skip Long Island.
Days 9–10: Port Blair final activities + fly out. Aquarium (₹100), Anthropological Museum (₹50), Samudrika Marine Museum (₹50), or rent a car and drive to Wandoor Beach (45 km south, calm snorkeling, ₹2,000 taxi return). Evening departure flights available to Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata (5–7 hrs, ₹4,000–8,000 one-way).
Total ferry cost for 10 days: ₹3,350–4,100 (Port Blair → Havelock → Neil → Port Blair → optional Long Island → Port Blair). Compare with Trip budget calculator to finalize daily spend.
Ferries depart 6:00–7:30 AM consistently; don't miss a sailing or you lose the day. Pack seasickness medicine (Avomine, ₹100), wear sunscreen, and carry snacks (ferries have no food). If a ferry cancels, contact your resort immediately; they often have updated sailing info faster than the SCI website.
4. Monsoon Realities: Cancellation Patterns and Risk Mitigation
Monsoon (June–September) is not a suggestion to skip Andaman—it's a hard operational boundary. Ferry operators publish pre-monsoon suspension notices on May 31. Some resorts close entirely; others offer steep discounts (40–50% off peak rates) and operate skeleton crews.
The monsoon timeline is predictable:
- June early: Sporadic afternoon cancellations start after 2:00 PM sailings. Morning ferries mostly run.
- June-mid to July-end: Daily ferries cancel; only calm mornings (4–5 sailings per week) operate. Seas exceed 2 m most days.
- August: Worst month. Expect 2–3 sailings per week, all morning only. Visibility <200 m on bad days.
- September early: Improving; by mid-September, 1–2 sailings daily resume.
If you book a monsoon trip, accept these losses:
- Budget 40% more for redundancy. Include a seaplane hop (₹5,000) as a backup for one leg if a ferry cancels. Use Forex & bargain check to lock in currency before monsoon prices spike.
- Stick to 3 islands maximum. Port Blair → Havelock → Neil → Port Blair. Skip Long Island and Diglipur entirely.
- Build 2-day buffers into your itinerary. If a ferry cancels, you have a free day in your current island instead of missing an onward connection.
- Hire a local guide. Guides know which mornings the sea is calm enough and can rebook ferries faster than you can contact SCI. Budget ₹800–1,200/day.
- Insure your flights. Book refundable domestic flights to Andaman in case you need to reschedule due to ferry delays.
Seaplanes do NOT close in monsoon, but visibility restrictions mean 30–40% of flights cancel or delay same-day. A ₹5,000 flight is no guarantee on a cloudy July morning. Combine both options: book ferry + seaplane and use whichever operates.
5. Booking Ferries: Timing, Cancellation Policies, and Backup Plans
SCI ferries allow free cancellations up to 24 hours before departure; cancellations within 24 hours forfeit 50% of fare. If SCI cancels the ferry (weather-related), you get a full refund or automatic rebooking on the next sailing. Seaplanes (Andaman Air, Andaman Seaplanes) allow cancellations up to 12 hours before; same-day cancellations are non-refundable.
Online booking: Visit sci.gov.in, register with email + Indian mobile number, select route + date, pay via NEFT/debit card. You'll receive a booking reference (e-ticket). Print or screenshot it; you still need to collect a physical ticket 2 hours before departure at the Port Blair ferry terminal.
Counter booking: Arrive at the Directorate of Shipping office (Phoenix Bay, Port Blair) at 9:00 AM on booking day. Bring passport/Aadhar. Peak-season ferries (Dec–Jan) sell out within an hour. Go early or go the day before.
Phone booking: SCI's Port Blair office (03192-232102) allows booking via phone if online is down (rare). Confirm via email within 4 hours.
Real-world scenario: You've booked a ferry for December 20 from Port Blair to Havelock at 6:00 AM. December 14, you land in Port Blair. Visit the SCI office same-day to confirm the booking and collect your physical ticket (this prevents last-minute hiccups). If sea conditions worsen on December 19, SCI posts cancellations by 8:00 PM the night before; check sci.gov.in or call (+91) 03192-232102. If cancelled, rebook same online or request the next available sailing (likely Dec 21).
If a ferry cancels on your last day in an island (e.g., you're supposed to leave Havelock on Day 5 but the ferry cancels), contact your resort. They will often arrange alternate transport: a private speedboat (₹4,000–6,000 for 4–6 passengers split) or a seaplane (₹5,000 single seat). Budget ₹1,000–2,000 extra per person for contingencies.
Use Trip reality check before departure to flag likely cancellation risks in your chosen week. Andaman ferries are predictable; a weather check + local intel eliminates most surprises.
6. Beyond Ferries: Intra-Island Transport and Activities
Once you've nailed your ferry schedule, moving around each island is straightforward. Havelock and Neil don't have public buses; you'll rent a two-wheeler (scooter ₹300/day, motorbike ₹400/day) or hire a taxi (full-day ₹1,500–2,000). Both islands are small enough to circle in 2 hours by scooter.
Snorkeling is the default activity. Coral reefs ring Radhanagar Beach (Havelock), Laxmanpur Beach (Neil), and Elephant Beach (Havelock). Hire a local boatman (₹1,500–2,500 for 3–4 people, 2 hrs) or book through your resort (₹2,000–3,000 per person). Bring your own snorkel mask if you have one; rented masks are often uncomfortable or leaky.
Water sports (jet ski, banana boat, parasailing) operate year-round on Havelock and Elephant Beach, and are completely shut November–May on Neil. Costs: jet ski ₹2,000 for 15 min, banana boat ₹800 per person, parasailing ₹2,500. Dive certifications (PADI, 3–4 days, ₹15,000–20,000) are offered by resorts; plan this in advance so you're not doing open-water dives during your last island day.
Beaches close to resorts are safe and swimmable; deep-water beaches (Radhanagar) have lifeguards. Avoid swimming at dusk (crocodiles, though rare, hunt at low light). Dress conservatively when walking around villages; shorts and bikinis attract unwanted attention. A Survival phrasebook in Tamil or Telugu is useless in Andaman (Hindi and English dominate), but learning basic Hindi pleasantries (namaste, dhanyavaad) costs nothing and buys goodwill.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book ferries if traveling in December?
Book ferries 4 weeks ahead if your dates are December 20–31 or December 26–January 2 (holiday peaks). Earlier December dates (1–19) are less crowded; 2 weeks ahead is sufficient. SCI opens bookings 30 days in advance; set a phone alarm for the exact date/time. Havelock and Neil ferries sell out within 24 hours in peak season.
What happens if my ferry is cancelled due to bad weather?
SCI refunds the full ticket price or automatically rebebooks you on the next available sailing (often the next day or 2 days later, depending on sea conditions). You're responsible for your resort cost if you're stranded. If the cancellation ruins your onward domestic flight, travel insurance covers it only if your policy explicitly includes "ferry delays." Most don't. Book refundable flights if relying on ferries.
Can I travel to Andaman in July or August, and will I be able to visit multiple islands?
Yes, but expect 60–70% of ferries to cancel on secondary islands (Long, Diglipur, Rangat). Stick to Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil. Book a seaplane (₹5,000 per flight) as your backup for one leg. Overnight in each island for 2–3 days to absorb ferry cancellations without losing your trip. Accommodation costs drop 40–50%, so budget ₹1,500–2,000/day instead of ₹4,000–6,000.
Is seasickness common on Andaman ferries, and what should I bring?
Yes, about 30–40% of passengers report mild nausea on the 1.5–2 hour crossings, especially in monsoon. Buy Avomine (meclizine, ₹100 for 6 tablets) at any chemist in Port Blair before your first ferry. Take one 30 minutes before departure. Eat a light breakfast (bananas, toast, not fried food). Sit on the upper deck where ventilation is better. If you feel queasy, keep your eyes on the horizon, not your phone.
Do I need a special permit to travel to Andaman, and are there any restricted islands?
Indian passport holders need no special permit. International visitors must book accommodation first, then register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Port Blair (₹500, same-day) or get pre-approval at your embassy. Certain islands (North Sentinel, Great Nicobar) are closed to tourists and have naval restrictions; ferries don't go there. Havelock, Neil, Long, Diglipur, and Port Blair are fully open to tourists year-round.
Ready to Plan Your Andaman Escape?
Ferry schedules are non-negotiable: check the month, lock in your sailing dates, and build your island sequence around cancellation risk. A 10-day trip in December is smooth and fully booked; the same dates in July demand flexibility and extra cash for seaplane backups. October and November give you the best balance: low cancellations, reasonable prices, and uncrowded beaches.
Start with your ferry schedule, then layer in your resorts and activities. Use Trip budget calculator to map costs by month, and confirm visa requirements for international travelers with Visa wizard for Indians. Generate your free AI itinerary →](/itinerary)