5 amazing islands to visit when island hopping in the Andaman archipelago

There are over 500 islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in India. So remote are the islands that only 38 are permanently inhabited. While those that are inhabited do see a huge influx of tourists lusting for the white beaches and emerald green waters, you can still find many niches where you can almost feel like you are on a private island. While Andaman promises to have “Sea Sun Anytime”, choose a slightly off-beat time to visit and you may just about find your slice of paradise on earth. Here are 5 amazing islands that you shouldn’t miss during your visit 1. Little Andaman Lying at the southern end of the Andaman archipelago, it is one of the largest islands in Andaman open to tourism. Yet, the remote location of the island makes it one of the least visited. This makes it perfect for you! The Butler Bay beach is one of the best among all of Andaman. The white sandy beach and the clear blue waters is something you can spend all day watching. And the best part is that you have other equally wonderful things to do. You can rent bikes to drive your way around the island or use local transportation. You can even leave the roads aside and instead take a boat ride through the creeks which is a perfect journey into unexplored wilderness. The beautiful White Surf waterfall is in the centre of Andaman’s amazing rainforest. The trek to this waterfall is about 4kms through the jungle and can be thoroughly enjoyed too. Quick note: Some parts of the island are restricted so do check with your local tour operator before you head out on your own. 2. Cinque Islands A day trip to Cinque Islands is a must during your Andaman trip. Staying overnight on this island requires special permits so be sure to connect with your local tour expert if you want the permits organized. Otherwise, a day trip is equally wonderful to take in the sights and have a good time. The Cinque Islands is made up of two islands – north and south Cinque Islands which is connected with a beautiful natural white sand bar. The view from one end of the sand bar to the other is like no other. The underwater visibility at the islands is simply amazing and you can see several feet inside if you are on a boat. This makes it perfect for reef diving. 3. Barren Island Home to the only active volcano in South Asia, the island saw the latest eruption in 2017. Although you can’t visit this island per se, the sea around the island is a very popular destination among expert scuba divers around the world. The sea can be accessed from either a live aboard ship or by connecting with scuba operators on Havelock Island. The topography of the past lava flows and the basalt formations along with the clear waters and manta rays offer a truly unique scuba experience. 4. Long Island The long island doesn’t have much in terms of stay options. This makes it all the more alluring if you are looking to get away from the bustle. The only set of eco-huts on the island though offer wonderful food and hospitality. They also arrange for catamarans for you to visit the nearby islands. You can explore both forests and beaches on the island by taking an idle trek. It is just like you read in in books – head out one day with no set path in mind and take the road less travelled. The popular beach on the island is Lalaji Bay which is a couple of hour’s walk from the jetty. Enjoy the sea food, banana pancakes and the view. 5. Havelock Island It wouldn’t be right to not mention the island that is home to Asia’s best beach and the 7th best beach in the world – Beach No. 7 or Radhanagar beach. Havelock is the most popular tourist destination in Andaman so you’ll always see some crowd here. But here’s what to look for beyond this beach. Havelock is actually a group of islands to the east of Great Andaman. The other popular beaches on the island are Elephant, Vijaynagar and Kalapathar beaches. There are ample water activities like sea walk, scuba and snorkelling available too. Rathnam Rathnasamy is the Founder of Andaman Holidays. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.