Andaman ISLANDS

HEY GUYS N GURLS!
I have not been there myself (I couldnt be bothered to wait for the boat from Calcuta, and I sort of got scared of doing it on my own) but I heard so many storys about this Islands, some said it was like Paradise and better than the shores of thailand beautywise... Others talked more about "SnakeIsland" and the Stange natives etc... Been there? Whats your story? I might get there next time huh?

I think the Andamans remains a dream destination for many of us -- the islands really do sound special and probably it is only the hassle and expense of getting there has kept the islands relatively virginous. I'm an island (and beach) fancier myself, and the Andamans have been on my 'list' for years.

A new development for tourism there is a new air link with Thailand -- something that has always looked logical but has never existed. Fortunately, (or unfortunately depending on your outlook on tourism in sensitive areas) the flights beginning in January '05 and running until April, are round-trip charters and require a full tour package. The air ticket, with taxes, is $400 US and it will not be possible to continue on to India from Port Blair. More details can be found in this link:

http://www.anislands.com/andamancharterflight.htm

information on Shipping Corporation of India ships and regular flight information can be found here:

http://www.anislands.com/reachandaman.htm

unfortunately, there is no schedule or web-site listed that would give the departure dates. If any one knows of such, please add it to this thread.

....and still like to hear some first-hand experiences!

Common you Guyz! I was expecting some adventourus storrys here!!! Please Help out! I thought you had been outhere and further!

Maybe not too many people have been there?

M2 Thanx for the advice on the airplain homepage! Looks OK. A bit pricey still... It would be of good use to go there If you could travel on to India...

Andreas, I met a fiew who has been there... Its not all that uncommon I thought...

Maybe not uncommon to go there, but perhaps there aren't too many users on this discussionforum who have been there.

I read it's difficult to get there?

Yeah, there are boats going from calcuta twice a month and same thing goes from chennai/madras... And then the boat trip is anything from 3-5 days. Aparently you get what you want there, everything from five star places to gesthouses to remote deserted Islands with hard core travelers cooking whatever is beeing offered... The Beaches on this islands are suposed to be far better than anything India/mainland has to offer... And sort of better than Thailand too, course they are sort of untouched... Then there are Islands with Natives there, but you cant vissit thoes... They live there for themselves... All and all its one of thoes things that are known, and still untouched... Plans about a Internationall airport has been on for years now so chances are THIS is the last chance to see this paradice before it becomes the sort of place I (for one) cant afford... and spoiled with luxury tourism.

I saw a travel documentary on the islands. It said most of the reefs still haven't been dived. Tribal areas are restricted. One tribe is only down to 500 people from 5000 due to outside contact (with the British, and then the Indians). This tribe came originally from sub-saharan Africa.

But it didn't seem dangerous, just very laidback. I read that the best way to get there is to fly from say Calcutta to Port Blair return and I think there's another airport too, Chennai? (not sure). Apparently it's a bit of a hassle to juggle the permits with the ships, due to bureaucracy. But I was reading the Lonely Planet from 1980. Maybe that's changed. I don't think it's that expensive though to fly return once you get to India because I think you pay in rupees.

In Treks in a Wild World, the documentary I saw on the islands, they flew return from Calcutta.

Beach 7 on Havelock island is $5 a day for your own little basic very tiny hut.

In Lonely Planet it said there was a variety of accommodation on different islands but most of it is basic. You might have to organise your own food and drink etc. If you like camping, diving, snorkelling etc those are the only things to do it seems.

Port Blair is a busy town settled by Tamils who were apparently refugees originally from Sri Lanka. From there there are ferries and maybe private boats to take you to the other islands.

It didnt seem an expensive place though if you went for the basic type accomomdation.

look how close it is to Burma. I wonder if one could go to Burma from there?

It is now possible to get a permit on arrivall,whitch makes it a lot easier!!!Been looking at the boat from Chennia and it is reasonably affordable,3/5 days as stated. I do beleiv it will open up and quite quickly as well.Charters from Thialand,thin end of the wedge i think .
maybe,with a bit of luck, will be there this winter.We have been looking

I first heard about the islands from a surfer!!I don't think he would have gone there if there wern't any surf!!!!!

I went 2 yrs back and was totally spellbound. The Marine Santuary is a collection of 22 odd islands out of which tourists are permitted to just 2 or three depending on the season. Havelock is awesome...esp the Radhanagar Beach...I have never seen a more serene beach in my entire life. Best of all - u dont find too many tourists there...Gud for me.

I spent a month on Havelock Island earlier this in January/February 2004 - stayed at Jungle Resort on Radhangar Beach/Beach Number 7.

Accommodation was in basic wooden huts for 150 Rs per night (their website doesn't mention the huts but they are there!!) We ate at Jungle Resort most nights where the food is great.

The beach is one of the best I've seen anywhere (apart from the large metal pontoon left on the beach by the construction company that upgraded the road last year).

Flew to Port Blair from Chennai with Jet Airways - booked return flights one week before departure.Going by boat requires a long wait at Chennai to book the tickets and the journey is not comfortable unless you are a seasoned sailor. (An Israeli tourist was stabbed to death on the boat crossing while we were on Havelock.)

Recommend booking your return/onward mainland train journey in Port Blair before you leave - this will mean you don't have to hang around in Chennai booking then waiting for a train. Jungle can sort out the train bookings for you.

Forget the stuff about meeting exotic 'tribes' - they are mainly found on the protected Nicobar Islands and you need permission to visit. You will not get permission. Any attempt to visit without permission will be met with a fast response by an Indian Navy gunboat.