Best time
October to May is the season, with the calmest, clearest sea from December to April; mid-December to early January is the peak. June to September is the monsoon, when the sea is rough and ferries can be cancelled.
- October to February, 23 to 30°C: The best window: calm sea, clear water for snorkelling and diving, and every ferry running. Mid-December to early January is the peak and costs the most.
- March to May, 25 to 33°C: Hot and humid but the sea stays calm and visibility under water is at its best; quieter than the winter weeks.
- June to September, 24 to 30°C: The monsoon: heavy rain, a rough sea, ferries that can be cancelled at short notice and water sports often suspended. The cheapest months, with that risk.
What to pack
Light cotton, swimwear, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen; sandals that can get wet for the ferries and beaches; something covering shoulders and knees for the Cellular Jail memorial; a light rain jacket from May to November; a photo ID for every traveller, which the ferries and the airport ask for.
Getting there
From Hyderabad, fly to Port Blair: there are non-stop flights of about two and a half hours on some days, and one-stop flights through Chennai or Bengaluru otherwise.
From Bengaluru, Port Blair is a non-stop flight of about two and a half hours.
From Chennai, Port Blair is a non-stop flight of a little over two hours, the shortest from the mainland along with Kolkata.
Permits and fees
Indian citizens need no permit for Port Blair, Havelock, Neil or Baratang, only a government photo ID. The road to Baratang crosses the Jarawa tribal reserve: vehicles travel in convoy, and stopping or taking photographs inside the reserve is an offence.