Havelock Island Tourism
Havelock Island, part of the stunning Ritchie’s Archipelago, is the heart and soul of Andamans. Speckled with countless white sand beaches surrounded by the beauty of tropical forest, Havelock is a coastal paradise promising unprecedented luxury with a blissful dollop of adrenaline. Home to some of the most stunning beaches of Andaman, the underwater world is guaranteed to lure you in with the plethora of water adventures like snorkelling, scuba diving, sea walking, surfing and glass boat rides!On a lazy day, get in your favourite hammock by the white sandy beaches, and under the canopy of tall palm trees to reinvigorate your senses. Explore popular beaches like Vijayanagar, Radhanagar, and Bharatpur, and entertain the shopaholic in you by giving the iconic Market No. 3 a visit! If you’re a seeker of offbeat destinations, a fascinating trip to Barren Island, Inglis Beach, Merk Bay, and Kalapathar Beach are a delightful detour from the more popular, bustling Havelock beaches.
Places to Visit in Havelock Islands:
-Neil Island
Neil Island is one of the most popular
places to visit in Andaman, and sits about 40 km to the south of the Andaman
Islands. The face of the island is peppered with dense tropical forests, coral
reefs, and lovely white sand beaches. It is also one of the best places in
Havelock for experiencing the realm of underwater adventures like scuba diving,
snorkelling, and surfing. Beaches like Laxmanpur, Sitapur and Bharatpur are the
most frequented of all.
-Radhanagar Beach
Skirting the southern coast of Havelock Island,
Radhanagar Beach is something right out of paradise! Crowned Asia’s Best Beach,
and 7th best in the world by Time Magazine, Radhanagar beach enjoys immense
popularity. It is the beach that your island dreams are made of - pristine
white sand caressing azure waters and towered by lofty trees! It is the perfect
place to experience the combination of comforting luxury and rugged wilderness.
-Elephant Beach
Elephant Beach is best known for snorkelling, owing to the beautiful coral
reefs that grace the seascape, along with an abundance of exotic marine life
which will have you keep coming back for more. The boat or ferry ride to
Elephant Beach from Havelock Jetty takes about 40 minutes. As the beach is
applauded for its stunning coral reef structures, sea walking is an unmatched,
surreal experience. It is safe to say that your trip to Havelock is incomplete
without visiting Elephant Beach.
-Barren Island
True to its name, Barren Island is a
stretch of land that is completely devoid of human population. It also fosters
the only known active volcano of South Asia, making it a truly fascinating
destination for adventure seekers. Since the vegetation is scanty there, it is
home only to goats, bats, birds and rats. Although, you need to obtain special
permission from the forest department in order to visit the island. Besides,
there is a whole world of water sports to lure you along the way!
-Vijaynagar Beach
The exquisite beauty of Vijaynagar Beach
is ideal for those looking to bask in the comforting caresses of nature. Also
famous as Beach No. 5, it is a go-to destination for exploring the exciting
underwater world. The lingering tranquility and solace that the beach offers
make it a truly unmatched spot, veered off other bustling attractions in Andaman. You can also have a look at our guide on the best things to enjoy in andaman on your trip.
-Long Island
Decidedly the most offbeat places to
visit in the archipelago, the seascape of Long Island remains relatively
unspoiled. It is famous amongst adventurers and explorers of untraced paths,
while not many travellers are privy to the beautiful secrets that it harbours.
It is also the perfect place for you to unplug, and reconnect with yourself,
given the isolated location of the place. If you can visit only a handful of
places in Andaman, let Long Island be one of those places.
-Bharatpur Beach
A popular amongst travellers, Bharatpur
Beach in Neil Island is a wide blanket of undulating waves, bordered by
pristine white sand. What makes the beach stand out is the diversity in coral
reefs and exotic marine life that thrives there. One of the best ways to fully
admire the beauty of the beach and its wonderful residents is on a glass boat
ride, which gives you a closer view, along with the illusion that you’re
actually floating on water!
-Kala Pathar Beach
Sitting about 12 km away from Havelock
jetty, the beauty of Kalapathar beach remains relatively unexplored. One of the
cleanest beaches in Andaman, Kalapathar is ideal for those looking for a
respite from the crowded, popular beaches of Havelock. Roofing adventure,
natural beauty and solitude, the beach is not yet well equipped with advanced
facilities that the other beaches have.
-Market #3
Market #3, also dubbed as the heart and
soul of Havelock Island, caters to all shopping whims and needs of travellers
and locals alike. Lined with several shops and vendors selling everything from
clothes to daily essentials and groceries, one needs to brush up on their
bargaining skills to shop here. The market operates from morning to 03:00 PM
only.
-Merk Bay Beach
Snuggled in the secluded beauty of North
Passage Island in Andaman, Merk Bay Beach is essentially a vast, unseen world
awaiting exploration. A beguiling combination of clear turquoise waters and
lovely white sand enchants the senses and redefines beauty. The one hour ride
from Long Island jetty to Merk Bay is a scenic one as the path winds through
unknown creeks and nooks. The island is apt for activities like dolphin
spotting, birdwatching, or even for a simple yet refreshing walk by the moonlit
shores.
-Laxmanpur Beach
Looking for picture perfect memories and
postcard worthy photos? Laxmanpur Beach is what you’re looking for! Bestowed
with untouched beauty, the beach strays somewhat off the commonly trodden
paths. Its vast and open white shell sands form a striking contrast to the blue
waters of other beaches in Andaman. You can also find a delightful amount of
sea shells and corals here. Activities like snorkelling and diving are best
enjoyed at Laxmanpur Beach, while the majesty of the setting sun leaves stellar
shades in the evening skies for you to revel in.
-Inglis Beach
Inglis Island is located about 60 km away
from Port Blair, and is acclaimed widely for its diverse coral reef structures
and wildlife. The endless expanse of turquoise green waters of Inglis are bound
to leave you speechless. Embraced by vast forests, the island is fairly
isolated, rendering it ideal for honeymooners and explorers. Lovely white sand
beaches surrounded by vast stretches of greenery, the offbeat destination is
something every adventurer dreams of. Don't miss on checking out our top selling Andaman honeymoon packages.
-Visit beaches
Andaman is a beautiful tropical world,
and home to thousands of sparkling beaches. And while there are many places to
explore in Havelock, essentially, it is nothing without its beaches. If you’re
a seeker of offbeat places, Kalapathar Beach is the perfect place to explore,
besides Vijaynagar Beach, Radhanagar Beach, and Kalapathar Beach. The most
phenomenal experience if watching the slowly setting sun fire up the evening
sky!
-Have a Glass Bottom Boat Tour
A menacing combination of adrenaline and
peace, the iconic glass bottom boat ride is a must-have experience when in
Havelock. Unveil the marvellous secrets of the marine world without dipping
your toes in! The ride is generally about an hour long, and can be experienced
best at Bharatpur Beach, given its secluded location ensuring you have only the
pristine tropical beauty for company.
-See Elephants training
Close to the Havelock jetty lies an
elephant training camp where they’re trained meticulously to carry heavy logs,
and for other tasks. You can also take a tour of the thick forests of Havelock
Island via elephant rides - a once in a lifetime experience. Another such place
to experience this is the training camp presided over by the Forest Department
at Kalapathar.
-Witness Elephants swimming
Elephant swimming is a widely spoken
about activity in Andaman. The most famous swimming elephant, a 66-year-old
wonder and the last of his kind was adopted by Havelock’s Barefoot Resort. It
was there that he met his end. Sadly, there are no more swimming elephants left
in Andamans anymore.
-Explore the sea - Scuba Diving
When in Andaman, scuba diving is a given!
The most popular water sport, scuba diving lures in herds and herds of
travellers, nature lovers and adrenaline junkies to Andaman every year. And for
good reason, for the spectacular beauty of the islands and the stunning diving
sites are virtually matchless. There are well-trained professionals and guides
to oversee your adventure, and the top-notch modern equipments provided are an
assurance of safety. If you’re looking for underwater adventures, Andaman will
delight you.
-Snorkelling
With no dearth of breathtaking white sand
beaches and glistening turquoise waters in Havelock, snorkelling is one of the
finest adventures you can have! One of the major highlights about snorkelling
in Havelock is that there is not stipulated timings the must be adhered to and
can be done anytime as per your convenience. Despite being an adrenaline-pumping activity, you’d be surprised at the feeling of tranquillity it brings
you.
-Seesighting in Havelock
Havelock Island is arguably the most
alluring destination in Andaman, with countless little treasures locked in its
verdant, tropical bounds. From an array of crystal clear beaches to explore, to
an astounding list of adventures to lose yourself in, Havelock has got it all.
The most commonly chosen sightseeing spots are Radhanagar Beach, Elephant
Beach, Barren Island, Neil Island, Bharatpur Beach, Vijaynagar Beach and
numerous others.
-Kayaking in Havelock
Another stimulating activity to indulge
in, kayaking was not as popular as scuba diving back in the day but is gaining
rapid popularity. The realms of Havelock is deemed ideal to experience
kayaking. Your adventure is guided by thorough professionals, ensuring safety
as well as an adrenaline-packed adventure.
-Seaplane ride from Havelock to Port Blair
Imagine witnessing the spellbinding
grandeur of Andaman unfurling before you in a vast, green sprawl, cradling an
endless stretch of the sea - a bird’s eye view. That’s what the seaplane ride
from Havelock to Port Blair promises, besides other things. The ride takes
about 25 blissful minutes to cover the distance between Havelock to Port Blair,
speckled with white sandy beaches.
-Trek to Elephant beach
If you thought watersports were the only
happening thing in Andaman, a refreshing jungle trek to Elephant Beach is just
the myth-buster you need! The narrow trails to Elephant Beach are lined with
stunning, tall trees that command some of the best views on the island. The
trek begins at about 08:00 AM, and lasts for 45 minutes, weaving through dense
mangrove forests and marshlands.
-Have a walk in the sea
A refreshing change from scuba diving,
yet strikingly similar to it is the delightful adventure of sea walking. The
best place to indulge in it is Elephant Beach in Havelock, where PADI certified
instructors look after your journey and ensure you well-rounded safety and
total fun. All you need is a well-trained instructor, sea helmet and you’re
set! In fact, you can even take this up as a pre scuba diving activity, to test
the waters, literally!
Things to keep in mind:
- Make sure to pack
all your medical essentials in a single, easily accessible bag that you can
carry everywhere. Carry medicines for fever, cough and cold, indigestion,
headache, motion sickness, nausea, diarrhoea, painkillers, band-aid, gauze,
cotton and antiseptic cream.) Though there are a decent number of pharmacy
shops in Havelock, it is always advisable to carry your stash with you in case
of emergencies.
- Carry your govt. ID proofs everywhere you go. You will be required to produce them at airports, staying in hotels and possibly other places.
- Locals are quite helpful, warm and welcoming. Don’t hesitate too much to ask for advice and recommendations. The island is relatively safe, with minimum crime rates, even for solo female travellers. That said, know when to avoid someone if you smell trouble. Do not get too friendly with someone you don’t know well. It doesn’t hurt to be cautious.
- If you wish to save money, consider travelling by local transportation instead of hiring a private car. Not only will you make more friends, but also enhance your travel experience by a long shot.
- Carry a majority of your money in form of cards, with only a bare minimum in cash to ensure protection. There are enough number of ATMs in Havelock.
- If you’re travelling during monsoons, keep an eye out for any weather reports that may be circulated.