Smith Island

Shiver me Timbers

So, what's the latest on visiting Smith Island?

It has a beach to equal # 7 at Havelock, but when I was there in 2006, it was technically forbidden to spend the night on the island, and we had to settle for a few hours on a day-trip from Pristine beach resort near Digliapur.

However, some travellers just hired a fisherman to take them straight there from Digliapur, and managed to spend a few nights on the beach before being caught and returned (with a small fine I believe).

Has the situation changed? Does anyone have updated info? I would like nothing better than to return next year and spend a few nights in a hammock on one of the most amazing beaches I've ever seen.

martinez

Hi Conor,how you doing? Because of the Mumbai events last November all tourists are required to stay in a "resort" and a whole new bunch of regulations are in place on the islands now.
These are all prominently displayed on large placards at places of disembarkation and cops are quite vigilent as a consequence.No camping outside of resorts is just one rule.

Shiver me Timbers

Hey there Martinez, I'm doing good, just in the last few weeks now before the next trip.

That's too bad, although I can understand the reasons behind such rules. I suppose hammocking overnight at the Blue Lagoon at #7 is now impossible? Sounds like Smith is a definate no-go.

martinez

I bet you are chomping at the bit with anticipation of your trip????? OK in a hammock if you are at a resort,unfortunately, can´t (legally) stay ANYWHERE outsite a designated tourist location. All the best,have a good un.

goingback

Sorry if this is a daft question and excuse me butting in. I just saw the photo on here "ross nad smith island" which looks spectacular. Is this the same place you guys are talking about?

Ok, I know there is far more to the islands than fantastic beaches but, more fantastic beaches really appeal to me. When it comes to beaches looks are everything - sorry if this sounds shallow. A beautiful beach gives me goose bumps. Are the beaches on Neil comparable to those on Havelock, say No. 7???
Be honest.

Shiver me Timbers

Hi goingback. Yes that's the place I'm talking about. Unfortunately, it's severely restricted, as there's an Indian naval base 20km away.

It has a beach every bit as beautiful as Havelock - basically, as beautiful a beach as you'll probably ever see. Well worth even a day trip if you can swing it.

The problem is that Smith and Ross (they're connected by a sandbar) lie in the far north of the Andamans - it's a 12 hour bus journey from Port Blair to Digliapur, or you can take an overnight ferry. So very few tourist actually make it up this far.

I'm afraid I haven't been to Neil, so I cant compare it with Havelock.

martinez

Hi Goingback,No7 beach is in a class of it`s own with some easy access to the water,i havn´t been to Smith but Shivers accounts well.Flying over the length of the Andamans makes the mouth water, beach wise,but what has to be remembered is that nearly all of the beaches are fringed with coral reef.This is not as bad or as dangerous as it sounds because most of the beachside coral has died off as a result of the islands tilting at the time of the earthquake that caused the Tsunami in 2004,therefore ,the live corals are in slightly deeper water and one floats over them. Near to the jetty on Neil is a beach with really easy walk in access,and at high tide most other places are easy with a mask and snorkell. As for other Havelock beaches,like elephant beach ,maybe someone else can report cause i ain´t been there. On the side of Havelock,where the bulk of accomadation is, the beaches are fringed,like most of Neil and like most other places that i´ve visited in the Andamans.

goingback

Thanks Shiver me Timbers, would love to visit but this time we have 2 kids in tow and so the journey there would be EXTREMELY long. Wow what a place though.

Martinez, thanks again for your info. We are gonna go to Neil. I know the girls will want to in the sea every day (so will we) I hope the access is easy, as our 5 year old may struggle otherwise.

Deli Behli

Beach Number 4 on Neil (near the jetty) is glorious for swimming (see pic)
[img=http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/5809/p1020362q.th.jpg]
Full size pic is 1.5MB.
It is easy to access. It has a flat sandy bottom, so isn't very interesting for snorkelling.

Other beaches (up the Western end) of the Island are also nice and sandy, but have more washed-up coral fragments and driftwood than you'd find on Havelock #7. Still nice, tho'. Good for snorkelling (when the tide is high - otherwise access can be difficult due to sharp coral).

There are several other beaches around the island, many stunnning and tempestuous to look at, but not great for swimming.

It's cheap and easy to rent a bike and cycle around the island (its a few miles end to end), also there are a few tuk-tuks hang around the main junction. It'd be about 50Rs from the centre of the Island one way to one of the interesting edges.

Neil is a pretty quiet island, if you're going for more than about a week, younger kids might get a little bored..?

goingback

Thanks DelhiBelly, looks beautiful. We will be there just over a week and we hope the kids will not be bored. Our youngest 5 is actually very easily occupied. Our oldest is a real bookworm; 2/3books a day is normal so we will have to get her plenty of books from Kolkata. We hope they may see some other kids, if not, they will be fine.

We do hope to swim in the sea every day though and so we would probably spend time at a beach with easy access to the sea if possible. The girls would be happy to play at the water's edge, they do that in the UK but don't know whether this would work on Neil.

When you say the beaches are not great for swimming is this because of difficult access due to sharp coral?

Deli Behli

Yes, that or heavy swells/breakers and rocks on the bottom. You won't have any trouble on Beach 4, tho' it's very sheltered. Almost swimming-pool like. Should be perfect for you.

All the beaches are worth a visit, mind. I won't spoil the lovely surprises with photos, tho'. (btw, I uploaded a map here).

It's a great laid-back place, you're sure to enjoy it.

.

goingback

I love that map and so do our girls. What photos? come on, show. I love photos. It won't spoil anything surely.

Amalfi

Neil Island has lots of small nooks and crannies which kids might enjoy. There is a rocky beach where during low tides you can see live corals in the rock pools by merely walking over the rocks. Even see small colorful fishes , giant clams/oysters , sea anemones etc trapped in the rock pools.

Also, there is a deserted beach where there are limestone caves and bridge formations.(Called Howrah bridge no less). Go there during low tides as the access is cut off during high tides. The sand is reddish , the sea is turquoise( but rough) and the cliffs are white. Spectacular !!

The main swimming beach ( near the jetty ) has the lowest gradient possible and you can walk about 150 meters into the sea , with the water reaching barely reaching upto your waist.

There is also a sunset point which is a sloping beach / sand outcrop which you have to reach after a small walk thru a forest.300 degrees view of spectacular sunsets.

Amalfi

Some photos of Neil/Havelock :

Attached Thumbnails

         

   

Deli Behli

Alright then But we do seem to have diverted this thread on Smith island a bit!. I'll post them over in a Neil Island thread, here Neil Island