Five days is the sweet spot for a first Andaman trip. Long enough to see the three main islands, short enough that most people can swing it on a single block of leaves. I have run this route myself and tweaked it after seeing where travellers waste time. Below is a realistic day-by-day plan, the places genuinely worth your time, and the ones you can skip without regret.
Day 1: Port Blair
Arrive, drop bags near Aberdeen Bazaar, and ease into the islands with their history and a gentle beach.
Cellular Jail
The colonial-era prison is the emotional heart of Port Blair. Walk the cell blocks and the museum in the afternoon.
Corbyn’s Cove
A short drive from town, this palm-fringed beach is a relaxed first dip and a good sunset spot.
Light and Sound Show
Return to the Cellular Jail in the evening for the moving Light and Sound show that retells its history. Book ahead in peak season.
Day 2: Havelock Island
Take a morning ferry to Havelock, around 90 minutes, and dive straight into its famous beaches.
Radhanagar Beach
Regularly rated among Asia’s best beaches, with a wide white shore and a glorious sunset. Go late afternoon to dodge the midday crowds.
Elephant Beach
Reached by a short boat or a forest walk, this is Havelock’s snorkelling and water-sports hub, with shallow coral close to shore.
Day 3: Havelock Water Sports and Beaches
Scuba diving
Havelock is India’s scuba capital. Beginners can do a guided discovery dive with no certification, usually 3,500 to 5,000 rupees. The reefs and fish life are superb.
Kalapathar Beach
End the day at this quieter beach of black rocks and calm water, perfect for a slow sunrise or evening walk.
Day 4: Neil Island
Ferry across to Neil, a smaller, slower island that many travellers end up loving most.
Bharatpur Beach
Calm, shallow, and great for snorkelling and glass-bottom boat rides right off the jetty.
Natural Bridge
A striking natural rock arch best seen at low tide, surrounded by tidal pools full of marine life.
Laxmanpur Beach
A long, soft beach famous for its sunset. The ideal place to close out your island days.
Day 5: Return to Port Blair
Take a morning ferry back to Port Blair and use the remaining time for whatever you missed.
- Chidiya Tapu for a sunset and birdwatching if your flight is late.
- Shopping at Aberdeen Bazaar and Sagarika Emporium for shells, pearls, and spices.
- Museums like the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum if it rains.
- Keep this day as a buffer in case a ferry is delayed, so you never miss your flight.
Places You Can Skip if Short on Time
Not everything earns a spot in a tight 5-day plan. Baratang, with its limestone caves and mud volcano, is a long, tiring full-day road and boat trip and is best left for a longer holiday. Ross Island and North Bay are pleasant but optional half-days. And do not try to squeeze in distant Little Andaman or Diglipur on a first 5-day trip, as the travel time alone will swallow your schedule.
Suggested Route Flow
Your 5-day route at a glance
| Day | Base | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Blair | Cellular Jail, Corbyn’s Cove, Light and Sound show |
| 2 | Havelock | Ferry across, Radhanagar and Elephant Beach |
| 3 | Havelock | Scuba diving, Kalapathar Beach |
| 4 | Neil | Bharatpur, Natural Bridge, Laxmanpur sunset |
| 5 | Port Blair | Ferry back, shopping or Chidiya Tapu, depart |
The Ferry Timing Mistake That Wrecks Most 5-Day Andaman Trips
Here is the single planning detail that decides whether your 5 days feel relaxed or frantic, and it is missing from nearly every itinerary you will read. Your whole trip hinges on ferry timings, not on the beaches. There are only a handful of inter-island ferries each day, the good private ones sell out, and they leave on a fixed schedule that does not care about your plans. Travellers who book beaches first and ferries later end up sprinting to jetties and losing half-days in transit.
Plan it the other way round. Before you fix a single beach, lock your three key crossings: Port Blair to Havelock on day two, Havelock to Neil on day four, and Neil to Port Blair on day five. Book the morning sailings, because they are calmer and give you the whole day on arrival, and they leave room to rebook if one is cancelled. I always take the earliest ferry of the day and treat the afternoon boats as backups only. That one habit turns a stressful island hop into a smooth one.
The second half of this insight is the buffer day. Never schedule your flight home for the same day you leave Neil or Havelock. Sea conditions cancel ferries with little warning, and a missed crossing on departure day means a missed flight and a ruined budget. Build day five as a Port Blair buffer, sleeping in Port Blair the night before you fly. Do these two things, prioritise ferries and keep a buffer, and a 5-day Andaman trip gives you everything: history, the best beaches, scuba, and sunsets, without a single rushed morning.
Best Time to Visit Andaman
October to February offers calm seas, dry skies, and the easiest island hopping, which makes it ideal for a 5-day trip. March to May is hotter but quieter. The monsoon from June to September is cheaper and greener but brings rough seas and ferry cancellations that can derail a tight schedule. For a smooth first visit, aim for November to February.
How to Get There
Fly into Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, or Bengaluru. Indian citizens need no permit for the main islands. Inter-island private ferries such as Makruzz, Nautika, and Green Ocean connect Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil, with government ferries as a cheaper option. Book ferries a few days ahead in peak season.
Planning Your Andaman Trip With andamantourism.org
A 5-day trip leaves no room for logistics to go wrong, which is exactly where a local operator helps. andamantourism.org is based in the Andamans and knows the real ferry schedules, which crossings sell out first, and how to sequence islands so you never waste a morning. With direct ties to hotels and dive operators across Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil, they can build a tight itinerary with the right buffers. A mainland agency cannot read the daily ferry and weather picture the way an on-ground team does.
Final Planning Tips
Book ferries before beaches, take morning crossings, keep day five as a Port Blair buffer, and resist cramming in Baratang or far-flung islands. Stick to Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil, and your 5 days will feel full but never rushed.
If you need a professional expertise on how to plan an Andaman trip, contact: https://www.andamantourism.org/
Is 5 days enough for Andaman?
Yes. Five days comfortably covers Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil with their top beaches, history, and a scuba session, as long as you plan ferries well and keep a buffer day.
Which island in Andaman is best?
Havelock is the most popular for its beaches and scuba, while Neil is quieter and more relaxed. Most first-timers love Havelock’s Radhanagar Beach the most.
Can Neil Island be skipped?
It can if you are very short on time, giving the extra day to Havelock. But Neil’s Natural Bridge and Laxmanpur sunset are worth keeping in a 5-day plan.
What is the best ferry route for 5 days?
Port Blair to Havelock on day two, Havelock to Neil on day four, and Neil to Port Blair on day five, all on morning sailings, is the smoothest route.
What are the best beaches to visit in Andaman in 5 days?
Radhanagar and Kalapathar on Havelock, Laxmanpur and Bharatpur on Neil, and Corbyn’s Cove in Port Blair are the highlights of a 5-day trip.
Do I need advance bookings?
Yes, especially for private ferries, scuba sessions, and hotels in peak season from November to February. Book these a few days to weeks ahead.
Is this itinerary good for families?
Very. The mix of easy beaches, a glass-bottom boat at Bharatpur, and short ferry hops suits families well. Keep the buffer day and avoid the tiring Baratang trip.
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