Andaman 6 Nights 7 Days Package

Your holiday begins when the plane drops towards Port Blair and the window fills with colour: turquoise lagoons, the darker blue of deep water, white lines of surf breaking on hidden reefs, and forest-covered islands scattered across the sea like pieces of a green jigsaw. After the crowded cities of the mainland, it feels like flying into another world, and in many ways, it is.

You step out of Veer Savarkar International Airport into warm, salty air, and our representative is waiting outside with your name. A private air-conditioned car takes you to your hotel in Port Blair, now officially named Sri Vijaya Puram, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. With a whole week ahead, there's no rush: rest, freshen up, and let island time begin. Island time is a real thing here: shops open and close at their own pace, the ferries set the rhythm of the day, and the sun sets early, around half past five in winter, because the islands lie so far east while keeping Indian time.

The Andamans are one of the most remarkable corners of India. The islands are the peaks of an undersea mountain range that runs from Myanmar to Indonesia, and they sit right on the edge of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. More than 80 percent of the land is covered in forest, much of it protected, and the islands are home to creatures found nowhere else on earth, such as the Andaman wild pig, the Andaman day gecko and dozens of unique birds. The seas around them hold around 500 species of coral and many hundreds of species of fish, and in the quieter waters, dugongs, sea turtles and dolphins still swim. Over the next week, you'll see just how rich this world is.

In the afternoon, you drive along the coast to Corbyn's Cove. The coast road winds past fishing villages, mangroves and old Japanese bunkers, concrete pillboxes built during the Second World War, when Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. Then the beach appears: coconut palms leaning over a curve of golden sand, fishing boats bobbing offshore and the breeze coming straight off the sea. Walk beside the water, let the children paddle in the warm shallows, and take in your first real view of the Andaman Sea. If you're feeling adventurous, the beach has jet-ski and speedboat rides, but most travellers are happy simply to sit under the palms with a fresh coconut and watch the waves.

From there, you continue to the Cellular Jail, India's most famous colonial prison and now a National Memorial. Its long brick wings of tiny solitary cells once held the freedom fighters the British sent to the islands, among them Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who spent more than ten years here. The prisoners called it Kala Pani, "black waters", and being sent here was feared more than almost any other punishment. Walking its corridors is a moving introduction to their story. You can see the cells, each about the size of a small storeroom, the gallows where prisoners were hanged, and the oil mill where they were made to grind coconut and mustard oil by hand, yoked like bullocks, with daily quotas they could rarely meet.

Climb to the top for a view across the harbour as the lights come on, then stay for the evening Light and Sound Show, when the prisoners' stories are told in voice, music and light against the walls of the jail itself. As the sky darkens and the voices of the past echo around the courtyard, the history of these islands becomes real in a way no book can match. Then return to your hotel for dinner and a restful night, ready for a week of islands, beaches and coral.

A word about the week ahead: the Andamans run on ferry timetables and tides, so the order of some visits may shift slightly from day to day. Your local team will confirm each day's plan the evening before. All you need to do is pack your swimwear, sunscreen and a sense of adventure, and enjoy the islands as they unfold.

For dinner tonight, try the islands' seafood at your hotel or a local restaurant. Andaman cooking blends the flavours of Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, so you'll find fish curry with mustard, prawns in coconut gravy, crab masala and tandoori fish alongside vegetarian thalis, dosas and North Indian favourites. It's a delicious first taste of island life.

Included today: airport pick-up, private air-conditioned car, Corbyn's Cove, Cellular Jail entry and Light and Sound Show tickets.

Good to know: arrival-day breakfast is not included. Cars stop at the jail parking area, about 200 metres' walk from the entrance. Water sports at Corbyn's Cove are optional and paid locally.

Today you see Port Blair from the sea. After breakfast, you head to the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex near Aberdeen Jetty and set out by boat across the harbour. The boats are simple and open, and the fresh sea breeze is a joy after the heat of the town. As you leave the shore, the town's green hills spread out behind you, ships and ferries lie at anchor in the harbour, and ahead of you rises North Bay's white-and-red lighthouse, standing among the palms on a rocky headland.

At North Bay Island, the water is clear enough to see coral from the surface. The reef here starts just a few metres from the beach, and it's one of the most popular places in the Andamans for first-time snorkellers and divers. Relax on the shore and enjoy the views, or book a closer look. Snorkelling lets you float above the reef and watch the fish below; a scuba try-dive takes you down among the coral with an instructor; sea walking lets you stroll along the sea floor wearing a helmet that supplies fresh air, so even non-swimmers can walk among the fish; and a glass-bottom boat or semi-submarine ride shows you the reef through windows beneath your feet. Whatever you choose, you'll see bright fish weaving through the coral: shoals of yellow-and-black sergeant majors, blue damselfish, striped butterflyfish, and parrotfish crunching on the coral with their beak-like mouths.

The boat then takes you on to Ross Island, officially renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island. For more than 80 years, this tiny island, only about 0.3 square kilometres, was the British headquarters of the Andamans. It was named after Sir Daniel Ross, a marine surveyor, and the British chose it because it was easy to defend and catch the sea breeze, while the convicts were kept on the larger islands nearby. In its heyday, it had a church, a bakery, a club, a ballroom, a hospital, a water treatment plant, a printing press and grand bungalows with tennis courts and gardens, and the British officers and their families lived in luxury, dressing for dinner and holding dances, a strange contrast to the suffering in the Cellular Jail across the water.

In 1941, a powerful earthquake damaged the island, and in 1942, the Japanese army occupied the Andamans and turned Ross Island into a military base. After the war, the British never returned to live here, and the jungle took over. Today it feels like a lost city: paths lead through tropical greenery to brick ruins wrapped in giant tree roots, their walls split by the trunks of huge trees, while spotted deer and peacocks wander between them. The deer are so tame that they'll walk right up to you, and peacocks often display their glorious tails on the paths. Explore the ruins of the church, the Chief Commissioner's house and the bakery, peek into the Japanese bunkers on the hillside, and stop at the small Smritika museum, which shows photographs of the island in its British glory.

Explore at your own pace, perhaps walking the circular path around the island, with views of the sea on every side, before returning by boat to Port Blair, with the evening free. If you're staying in Port Blair, you could return later for the Light and Sound Show on Ross Island, which tells the island's story on certain evenings.

Back in Port Blair, the evening is yours. If you'd like one more view, Chidiya Tapu, about 25 kilometres south of the town, is the classic sunset point, where the forest meets the sea and the sky turns gold over a scattering of small islands; your driver can arrange it at a small extra cost. Or simply relax at your hotel after a day in the sun.

For dinner, Port Blair's restaurants are a good place to try the islands' seafood. Fish here is usually cooked in a mix of Bengali and South Indian styles, with coconut, mustard, tamarind and curry leaves, and the prawns and crabs are excellent. Vegetarians will find plenty of choice too, from dosas and idlis to North Indian thalis.

If you're curious about the reefs you saw today, it's worth knowing that the Andaman reefs are among the healthiest in India, and much of the coast is protected in marine parks. Visitors can help by never touching or standing on coral, using reef-safe sunscreen and taking all rubbish back with them.

Tonight, rinse your swimwear and get some rest: tomorrow you sail to Havelock.

Included today: boat trips to North Bay and Ross Island with entry fees, breakfast.

Good to know: snorkelling, diving, sea walking and glass-bottom boat rides are optional, paid extra and depend on weather and availability. Ross Island is closed on Wednesdays, so we plan around it. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water and sunscreen.

After breakfast (packed, if your ferry leaves before 8 AM), you board the inter-island ferry to Havelock Island, now officially named Swaraj Dweep. Step out on deck and watch the shoreline change as you cross the open sea, past forested islands and deep blue water. The journey takes two to three hours, depending on the boat, and it's a good chance to relax and enjoy the sea. Watch for flying fish skimming the waves, seabirds diving for fish and, if you're lucky, a pod of dolphins. Our representative meets you on arrival and takes you to your hotel, your home for the next two nights.

Havelock is the most famous of the Andaman Islands and, for many travellers, the most beautiful. It's a large, green island of about 113 square kilometres, covered in forest, with a few small villages, paddy fields and coconut plantations, and it has no traffic lights and few cars. Havelock's villages were numbered by the early settlers, and the beaches are often known by the same numbers: Radhanagar is Beach No. 7, and Kalapathar lies near the island's eastern villages. Two full nights here means you can enjoy the island at a relaxed pace, without the feeling of rushing between ferries.

In the afternoon, you visit Kala Pathar Beach, where dark rocks meet turquoise water along a peaceful, uncrowded stretch of coast. It's a long, narrow beach, fringed with tall trees and shaded by sea almond and casuarina, and the black rocks scattered along the water's edge give it its name, which means "black stone". The water here is calm and clear, and it's a wonderful place to watch the sunrise if you're ever up early.

Then you continue to Radhanagar Beach, once named Asia's best beach by TIME magazine and now one of India's Blue Flag beaches, an international award given to beaches with the highest standards of cleanliness, safety and environmental care. Its broad, powder-white sand curves for around 2 kilometres between tall forest and clear, shallow water, giving you space for a long walk, a swim or simply a lazy hour under the trees. The forest behind the beach is part of a protected area, with giant gurjan and padauk trees whose trunks are so wide that several people together can't reach around them. Lifeguards watch over the swimming area, and there are changing rooms, showers and small stalls selling coconuts, snacks and cold drinks near the entrance.

With another full day on Havelock ahead, there's no reason to watch the clock: stay for the sunset, when the whole bay turns gold and then rose and the beach falls quiet to watch the sun meet the sea. It's one of the great sunsets of India, and the moment you'll remember long after you get home. As darkness falls, return to your resort for dinner, and listen to the sounds of the tropical night: the chirping of crickets and frogs, the call of a nightjar, and the waves breaking on the shore.

If you walk down to the beach near your resort after dark, look closely at the waves on moonless nights. On some evenings, the shallows along Havelock's beaches sparkle with bioluminescence, tiny plankton that give off flashes of blue-green light when the water moves. Run your hand through the water and the sparks follow your fingers. It doesn't happen every night, but when it does, it's unforgettable.

Havelock's resorts range from simple cottages among the palms to luxurious villas, but almost all of them share the same peaceful atmosphere. Breakfast is often served in an open-sided restaurant overlooking the garden or the sea, and in the evenings, many resorts light lanterns along the paths and serve dinner under the stars. With two nights here, you have time to settle in and enjoy it.

The island also has a lively little market area in its main village, where you'll find small shops selling beachwear, sarongs, hats and souvenirs, fruit stalls piled with bananas, papayas and pineapples, and bakeries selling fresh bread, cakes and cinnamon rolls. It's a pleasant place to wander, and a good place to buy anything you've forgotten to pack.

Most of all, enjoy the feeling of having time. With two nights on Havelock, there's no need to set an alarm tomorrow morning or rush to catch a ferry. Sleep late if you like, take an early swim before breakfast, or sit on the veranda with a cup of coffee and watch the light change over the trees. That sense of slowing down is exactly what a week in the Andamans is for.

Included today: ferry Port Blair–Havelock, transfers, Kala Pathar and Radhanagar beaches, breakfast.

Good to know: bring a change of clothes if you plan to swim at Radhanagar. Swim only in the area marked by the lifeguards. Plastic bags and bottles are discouraged on the beaches, so carry a reusable bottle.

This is the day your second Havelock night was made for. After breakfast, you set out by boat along Havelock's green coast, past small coves, rocky headlands and mangroves; the ride itself is part of the fun, with the boat bouncing gently over the waves and the spray cooling your face. Look back for wonderful views of the forested coastline, and watch the colour of the water change from deep blue to vivid turquoise as you approach the beach.

You arrive at Elephant Beach, a small, sheltered bay with clear water and coral close to the shore, one of the best places in the Andamans to see marine life without going far from the sand. The beach got its name because elephants, once used by the forest department to carry timber, would come through the forest to this bay and even swim in the sea. On one side of the beach, you'll notice the bleached white trunks of dead trees standing in the sand and in the shallow water, a haunting and beautiful sight. They are the trees killed when the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami flooded the forest with salt water, and they've become one of the most photographed sights on Havelock.

Spend the day exactly as you like. Lie on the beach and swim, or try the water activities running that day. Snorkelling over the reef is the easiest way to explore: the coral starts a few metres from the shore, and you can see colourful fish, coral heads and sometimes sea turtles. Sea walking takes you down onto the sea floor with a helmet that supplies air, and families love it because no swimming is needed: you simply walk along the bottom with a guide, surrounded by fish that swim right up to your face mask. For thrill-seekers, there are jet skis, banana boat rides, which usually end with everyone tumbling into the sea, and glass-bottom kayaks. Many travellers say the moment fish swim around their feet here is when the Andamans truly won them over.

Between activities, relax in the shade, enjoy a fresh coconut or a simple lunch from the beach shacks, and simply take in the scene: the clear water, the white sand, the dead trees standing like sculptures, and the forest rising behind it all. In the afternoon, the boat brings you back to Havelock for an easy evening at your resort.

If you have energy left, Havelock's main village, a short drive from most resorts, has a lively little market with shops, small cafés and bakeries, and some excellent restaurants serving everything from wood-fired pizza to fresh fish curry. Many travellers enjoy a dinner out on their second night on Havelock, in one of the beachside cafés near Beach No. 5 or Govind Nagar, followed by a walk on the sand under the stars.

If the sea is calm and you're feeling energetic, there's another way to reach Elephant Beach: a trek of about 2 kilometres through the forest from the main road, along a path shaded by giant trees and alive with birdsong. It takes about 45 minutes each way, and it can be muddy after rain, but it's a wonderful way to experience Havelock's jungle. Ask your representative if you'd like to walk one way and take the boat the other.

The reefs around Elephant Beach are also a good place to learn a little about how coral reefs work. Corals are colonies of tiny animals called polyps, which build hard skeletons of limestone and live in partnership with microscopic algae that give them their colours. Reefs grow very slowly, and they're easily damaged, so local guides will remind you not to stand on or touch the coral. In return, the reef shelters an astonishing variety of life: fish, crabs, shrimps, sea urchins, starfish, octopuses and turtles all depend on it.

As the boat carries you back to the main jetty in the afternoon, look back at the beach, with its white sand, turquoise water and silver tree trunks, and you'll understand why so many travellers call this day the highlight of their trip.

In the evening, enjoy a relaxed dinner and a last walk on the beach near your resort. Tomorrow you'll move on to Neil, but tonight, Havelock is still yours, with its warm sand, gentle waves and a sky full of stars. Many travellers say this second evening on the island, with nothing to rush for, is when they finally feel completely on holiday.

Included today: boat trip to Elephant Beach with entry fees, breakfast.

Good to know: water sports are optional, paid extra and depend on the sea. Carry drinking water, light snacks, sun protection and a change of clothes. Any snorkelling offered by the boat operator is subject to its arrangements. Boats may not run in rough weather.

After breakfast, the inter-island ferry takes you on the short crossing to Neil Island, now officially named Shaheed Dweep. The journey takes less than an hour, and as you sail, Havelock's long green outline slips away behind you while Neil's low, flat shape appears ahead. Quieter still than Havelock, Neil is a small island of village lanes, banana and coconut groves, paddy fields and very little traffic. Our representative meets you and takes you to your resort.

Neil is a place where you can feel how life on the islands used to be. Its few thousand residents are mostly farmers and fishermen, many of them descended from families who came from Bengal in the 1960s and 1970s, and they grow vegetables, rice, bananas and coconuts in the island's fertile soil. You'll see children walking to school along the lanes, cows grazing beside the road and small wooden houses with gardens full of flowers. The pace is so relaxed that many visitors wish they'd planned an extra night here.

Begin at Bharatpur Beach near the jetty, where the shallows are calm and clear enough to see the sand ripples beneath you. A glass-bottom boat ride shows you the coral and fish without getting wet: the reef here is shallow and full of life, with brain coral, mushroom coral and branching coral, and fish of every colour darting among them. Bharatpur is also a good place for snorkelling and other water sports, if you'd like one more adventure.

At the Natural Coral Bridge, an arch the sea has carved out of ancient coral, take care on the rocky shore and peer into the tide pools for small fish, crabs and starfish. The bridge is a reminder that much of the land here was once a living coral reef, lifted out of the sea by movements of the earth over thousands of years. At low tide, the rocky shelf around it is dotted with pools that are like natural aquariums, with sea anemones, sea cucumbers, hermit crabs and, sometimes, a small octopus hiding in a crack in the rock. Your guide will point them out and show you where it's safe to walk.

As evening approaches, settle on the sand at Laxmanpur Beach and watch the light change over the water, from gold to orange to soft pink, with only the sound of small waves around you. Laxmanpur is a wide, open beach, its sand scattered with shells and fragments of coral, and it faces west, so the sun sets right in front of you over the sea. For many travellers, it's the most peaceful evening of the whole week.

After dinner, step outside and look up at the sky. Neil has very little artificial light, and on clear nights, the stars are spectacular.

Neil is also a perfect island for exploring by bicycle. Many resorts rent bikes, and with flat roads and very little traffic, it's easy and safe for the whole family. A slow ride along the lanes takes you past paddy fields with grazing cows and white egrets, small ponds covered in water lilies, colourful village houses and little temples hung with marigold garlands. Stop at a roadside stall for a fresh coconut or a cup of sweet tea, and you'll quickly find yourself chatting with friendly locals.

The food on Neil is simple and wonderfully fresh. Many of the vegetables, bananas and coconuts you eat are grown on the island itself, and the fish comes straight off the boats at the jetty. Try a coconut fish curry with rice, crisp fried fish with lime, or prawns cooked with mustard in the Bengali style, followed by sweet local bananas or papaya. Vegetarian thalis are available almost everywhere.

Many travellers say that Neil is where they finally slowed down completely. There's no rush, no noise and nothing that needs to be done, and after a week of travel, that's exactly the point.

If you're up early tomorrow, Sitapur Beach, at the eastern tip of the island, is Neil's sunrise point. As the sun climbs out of the sea, it lights up the pale limestone cliffs at the end of the beach and turns the sky pink and gold. It's a beautiful, peaceful way to say goodbye to the island, and a lovely final photograph before you head back to Port Blair. Ask your representative about timings the evening before.

Tonight is your only night on Neil, so make the most of it: a long dinner, an unhurried walk on the sand, and a few quiet minutes outside under the stars before bed.

Included today: ferry Havelock–Neil, transfers, Bharatpur Beach, Natural Coral Bridge, Laxmanpur Beach, breakfast.

Good to know: the glass-bottom boat ride is optional and paid extra. Coral Bridge access depends on the tide; wear sturdy sandals, as the rocks are sharp and slippery. Please don't touch or step on live coral.

After breakfast, take the inter-island ferry back to Port Blair, watching Neil and Havelock fade into green lines on the horizon. If you're up early, Sitapur Beach at the tip of Neil is the island's sunrise point, and a last walk on its sand as the sun rises over the sea is a lovely goodbye. On the ferry, sit back, enjoy the sea breeze and look back over your week. A private car meets you at the jetty and takes you to your hotel, and the rest of the day is open.

After a week of islands, you may want a quiet evening with your photographs, or you may want to see a little more of Port Blair. Either is perfect. If you'd like to explore, here are a few ideas.

Browse the local markets at Aberdeen Bazaar for shell craft, spices and souvenirs. You'll find jewellery and decorations made from shells, wooden carvings made from padauk, the islands' beautiful red hardwood, cane and bamboo baskets, and local spices such as cinnamon, cloves and black pepper. Buy shell and coral items only from licensed shops, such as the government-run Sagarika emporium, and keep the receipt.

If you're interested in history and the islands' natural heritage, visit the Chatham Saw Mill, on a small island connected to Port Blair by a bridge. Set up by the British in 1883, it's one of the oldest and largest sawmills in Asia, and it still processes the islands' timber today. A small forest museum displays the beautiful woods of the Andamans. Or visit the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum, with its displays on coral, shells and marine life, or the Anthropological Museum, which tells the story of the islands' indigenous peoples.

In the evening, take an easy walk along the sea front as the harbour lights come on. Marina Park, near Aberdeen Jetty, is a pleasant place to stroll, with gardens and benches overlooking the water, and local families come here in the evenings to enjoy the cool breeze. This pause at the end of your 6 nights 7 days Andaman itinerary lets you enjoy Port Blair at your own pace before heading home.

For your last dinner, try some of the islands' fresh seafood: grilled fish, lobster, crab, or a fragrant prawn curry cooked with coconut milk. Vegetarians will find excellent North and South Indian dishes too.

If you'd like a final sunset before you leave the islands, Chidiya Tapu, about 25 kilometres south of Port Blair, is one of the most beautiful spots in the South Andaman. The name means "bird island", and the forest along the road is home to many species of birds, some of them found nowhere else on earth. At the end of the road, a small beach and a viewpoint look out over the sea and a scattering of tiny islands, and as the sun sinks, the sky turns orange, pink and red. Nearby, a short trail leads up to Munda Pahar, a hilltop viewpoint with sweeping views over the coast. It can be arranged with your driver at a small extra cost.

This evening is also a good time to pack for tomorrow's flight. Keep valuables, medicines and documents in your hand luggage, and pack any liquids, such as coconut oil or honey, in your checked bag. Remember that shells, sand and coral collected from the beaches can't be taken off the islands, and that you'll need receipts for any shell or coral items bought from licensed shops.

A week in the islands goes by quickly. Many families tell us that this last evening, sharing stories over dinner and laughing about the week's adventures, is one of their favourite memories of the trip.

Port Blair's evening streets are also worth a stroll. Around Aberdeen Bazaar, the sweet shops sell rasgullas, sandesh and other Bengali sweets, roadside stalls serve hot momos, chaat and fresh fruit juices, and the town's clock tower is lit up against the night sky. It's a friendly, safe town, and walking among the islanders as they go about their evening is a nice way to end the week.

If you'd like something special to take home, look for Andaman padauk wood items, such as small boxes, bowls and carvings, with their rich red-brown colour and beautiful grain. They make lovely gifts and are easy to pack.

Whatever you choose, enjoy this last evening. After a week of ferries, boats and beaches, there's something lovely about a quiet night in Port Blair, with dinner, a stroll, and the lights of the harbour twinkling on the water as you look back on everything you've seen.

Included today: ferry Neil–Port Blair, transfer to your hotel, breakfast.

Good to know: museums and the saw mill close one day a week and on some holidays, so check with your local team. Shopping, entries and dinner are at your own cost.

On your last morning, have breakfast and look back on a week that showed you the Andamans at their best. You learned the story of the freedom fighters at the Cellular Jail and walked among the ruins of Ross Island, where deer and peacocks now roam. You saw the coral at North Bay, swam at Radhanagar and watched the sunset paint the sky gold and rose. You spent a whole day on the water at Elephant Beach, among the fish and the coral, and on Neil, you explored the Natural Coral Bridge and enjoyed the quietest sunset of all at Laxmanpur.

A week in the Andamans is long enough to slow down and really feel the islands, not just see them. Many travellers tell us that by the end of the week, they've stopped checking their phones, started waking with the sun and begun to understand why people who visit the islands so often come back. It's a holiday that leaves you rested, not tired.

If your flight is later in the day, enjoy a final walk near your hotel, a last cup of tea on the balcony, or a fresh coconut from a roadside stall. Before you pack, check that you have the receipts for any shell or coral souvenirs, and remember that shells, sand and coral collected from the beaches can't be taken home.

Then we take you to Veer Savarkar International Airport for your onward flight. As the plane lifts off, look down for a last view of Port Blair's harbour, the ruins of Ross Island, the lighthouse at North Bay and the islands stretching away into the blue sea. You'll leave with a suntan, a camera full of photographs and a week of island memories.

Thank you for travelling with Dreamland Vacations. Next time, you might add Baratang's mangroves and limestone caves, or a few nights on the quiet beaches of Long Island or Little Andaman. The islands will be waiting.

If you're thinking of returning, the best time to visit the Andamans is from October to May, when the sea is calm and the skies are clear. December to March is the most popular season, with pleasant weather and excellent visibility underwater, while April and May are hotter but quieter. From June to September, the monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas, and some boat trips and water sports may not run, but the islands are at their greenest, and hotels are quieter and better value.

On your next visit, you could explore some of the places this trip didn't include. The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor, south-west of Port Blair, protects some of the finest coral reefs in India, around the islands of Jolly Buoy and Red Skin, with glass-bottom boats and snorkelling over pristine coral. Baratang, to the north, offers a journey through protected forest and mangrove creeks to ancient limestone caves. And Little Andaman, far to the south, has waterfalls, empty beaches and some of the best surfing in India.

As you leave, remember the people who made your week special: the drivers, boatmen, guides and hotel staff who looked after you with such warmth. The people of the Andamans come from every corner of India, and their friendliness is part of what makes the islands feel so welcoming. Many travellers leave feeling that they've made friends as well as memories.

We'd love to hear about your trip. Share your favourite photographs and stories with us when you're home; they help us improve our tours, and they inspire other travellers to discover the islands for themselves.

A few practical tips for the journey home: Port Blair has direct flights to Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru and several other cities, and the airport is small and can get busy in the mornings, so allow plenty of time. Keep your valuables, medicines and documents in your hand luggage, and pack any liquids, such as coconut oil or honey, in your checked bag. Carry the receipts for any shell or coral souvenirs, as they may be checked at the airport. And if your flight is in the afternoon, ask us about adding a short visit, such as the Anthropological Museum or the Chatham Saw Mill, so the morning isn't wasted.

Once you're home, take a day to rest before going back to work or school. You'll be surprised how quickly you miss the sound of the sea.

Safe travels home. We hope the islands stay with you: the turquoise water, the white sand, the coral and the sunsets, and the slow, gentle rhythm of island life that's so hard to find anywhere else.

Included today: breakfast, airport drop.

Good to know: ferry schedules, tides, weather and local operating conditions may change the order or timing of visits. Hotels check out at about 8 AM. Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.