Andaman Islands
The Andaman Islands, part of the union territories of India, are made up of over 550 islands, islets and rocks, situated in the Bay of Bengal (Indian Ocean), approximately 400 nautical miles northwest of Phuket, Thailand.
Notable for beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, and India's only active volcano, these Islands are the paragon of pristine beauty, with deserted white sand beaches and virgin forests, teaming with wildlife, exotic flowers and birds.
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Some 36 islands in the archipelago are totally uninhabited, others are rich in aboriginal culture, such as the out-of-bounds North Sentinel where indigenous inhabitants are among the last people on earth to remain virtually untouched by modern civilization.
In Port Blair, the capital, you can explore the remnants of the British Raj Headquarters, and visit the Cellular Jail, where Indian freedom fighters were held in the 18th Century during British colonial times - now preserved as a reminder to future generations of the Indian struggle for freedom.
The Andamans are also a scuba diver's paradise characterised by fan corals very good underwater visibility, deep vertical wall dives, pinnacles, and coral gardens with huge barrel sponges and. This is also a good place to see whale sharks, manta rays, and dugong.
In April/May southern ocean swells begin to pulse through the Indian Ocean bringing surf to the west-facing Andaman coastline.
First featured in Jack Johnson's surf documentary "Thicker Than Water" the Andaman Islands is now a recognised world-class surfing destination with perfect, mostly empty waves.
SAMPLE ITINERARY: ANDAMAN ADVENTURE
Embarkation: Port Blair
Disembarkation: Port Blair
Duration: 7 days
Optional Activities: Scuba Diving, Fishing, Kayaking
Recommended Yachts: Silolona, Raja Laut
Day 1: Embarkation in Port Blair, set sail and head south for the Cinque Islands. Here there is a great area for anchorage and exploring, with underwater coral gardens and unspoiled beaches, trekking through the islands where rare birds, spotted deer and wild boar can be seen. In South Cinque there are dolphins, turtles, and manta rays and the islands are ideal for your first diving experiences in Andaman.
Day 2: Two great dive sites. Fish rock, near Passage Island offers an extremely colourful dive, with millions of fish. The topography consists of rocky slopes, boulders and drop-offs, featuring huge fan corals and may basket sponges. At Invisible Bank the concentration of fish is incredible, and the topography is fairly dramatic, with scattered rocks over a sandy bottom. Grey and Whitetip reef sharks are almost always in the vicinity, as are nurse sharks.
Day 3: Passage to north to the Havelock and Lawrence Islands. There is a village on the North coast of Havelock where you can swim with an elephant* in the ocean. There is good fishing around these islands, as well as sea kayaking through pristine mangroves. Dugongs live in the waters surrounding these islands and have been seen on several occasions.
Day 4: Early morning passage to Barren Island, the only active volcano in India, with sheer sided walls that drop to great depths. The surrounding waters are gin-clear and offer some great drift dives for experienced scuba divers. The fishing is incredible; this is the place to catch big fish.
Day 5: Sail through the Lawrence Passage to the Button Islands. Explore the mangrove habitats in the passage where massive crabs and sea eagles abound. The Button Islands have lovely deserted beaches and underwater life. The horseshoe shaped bay on the Southern side of North Button Island is a truly stunning spot. Off the beach is excellent snorkeling and swimming and wild animal tracks are often founding the sand.
Day 6: Long island offers beautiful long sandy beaches and evergreen forests. The seas around this island are frequented by dolphin convoys, diving is recommended at Campbell shoals with its magnificent underwater ledge. From there we can also travel north to visit the village of Rangat.
Day 7: Passage back to Port Blair. Disembark and if you have time before flying home it is worth spending an extra day in Port Blair where you will have the chance to explore the remnants of the British Raj Headquarters on Ross Island, while in Port Blair itself you can visit the infamous Cellular Jail where Indian freedom fighters were held during British colonial times.
BEST TIME TO GO: Fine weather between mid-December and April.
PORTS OF EMBARKATION/DISEMBARKATION: Port Blair or Phuket.
HOW TO GET THERE: Fly to Port Blair by direct flight from Chennai or Kolkata (India) or travel by yacht sailing from Phuket or Langkawi.
Please Note: Cruising in the Andaman requires permits which must be arranged well in advance. The rules in this territory mean that guests can -
A) Arrive by flight for embarkation aboard your yacht in Port Blair, then depart by flight OR B) Embarkation aboard your yacht in Phuket, 48 hours sail to Andaman, clearing in at Port Blair, and depart by sail back to Phuket for disembarkation
However, due to regulations guests are not permitted to sail into Andaman, and fly out from the Andmans (or fly into Andaman and sail out). Therefore if you wish to avoid the 2-day passage, we recommend to fly into Port Blair, Andaman, to meet your yacht. Daily flights to Port Blair, Andaman, are available from: Chennai or Kolkata (formerly Calcutta).
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