The beaches of the Andaman Islands stretch across an estimated 1,900 kilometres of coastline, yet most visitors on a standard package tour see only a handful of them. That is not a criticism of standard tours, it is simply the geometry of how most Andaman itineraries are built. They cluster around the ferry routes, the known jetties, and the beaches that appear first in a search. We cover 15 of the finest stretches of sand across the archipelago, split clearly between the ones any traveller can reach by ferry or taxi and the ones that require a private boat to access. That distinction matters more than almost any other factor when planning your trip. The accessible beaches of Andaman are stunning in their own right. But the shorelines that people most often describe as life-changing, places like Lalaji Bay and Ross & Smith Island, sit entirely off the standard circuit. For those, a private boat charter is the only realistic option, and operators such as Andaman Island Spirit Charters are well placed to handle the logistics. Here is the full ranked list, with access details, best season notes, and a practical guide to what each beach is actually good for.
How these 15 beaches were ranked
What the ranking is based on
Four criteria shaped every position on this list: natural beauty and water clarity, ease or difficulty of access, range of activities available, and how uncrowded the beach typically is. This is not a purely Instagram-based ranking. A beach that requires a two-hour private charter may rank higher than a well-known public beach because the experience it delivers is superior in terms of solitude, water quality, and visual impact. “Rank” here reflects overall experience quality, not just how well a beach photographs at golden hour.
Accessible vs. remote: the split that shapes this Andaman beach guide
Every beach on this list falls into one of two categories. Accessible beaches are reachable by government ferry, shared taxi, auto-rickshaw, or a short walk from a main jetty. Remote beaches have no public transport access; they require a private boat charter or a guided trek that itself begins after a boat ride. This single distinction is the most important factor when building your Andaman itinerary, assuming all beautiful beaches in the Andamans are equally reachable is the most common planning mistake travellers make.
Port Blair beaches: practical, underrated, and worth your time
1. Corbyn’s Cove
Corbyn’s Cove sits approximately 7 km from Port Blair city centre, reachable by auto-rickshaw in roughly 15 minutes, depending on traffic. It is a palm-fringed crescent beach with calm, swimmable water and basic facilities including changing rooms and food kiosks, with on-site operators offering jet skiing and banana boat rides. It is best used as a half-day outing on your arrival or departure day rather than as a destination in itself. Weekday mornings are significantly quieter than weekends.
2. Chidiya Tapu
About 25 km south of Port Blair, Chidiya Tapu, which translates as “Bird Island” in Hindi and is widely known as Bird Point, is less about swimming and more about atmosphere. The beach itself is small and rocky at the edges, but the surrounding mangrove trails and the unobstructed sunset view over the Andaman Sea make it one of the best stops in the South Andaman district for photographers and birders. The drive down through forested roads is worth the journey even before you reach the coast.
3. Wandoor Beach and North Bay
These two are most valuable as gateway beaches rather than destinations in their own right. Wandoor sits at the edge of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park and is the departure point for glass-bottomed boat rides to Jolly Buoy and Red Skin Islands, both excellent for snorkelling. North Bay, closer to the Port Blair harbour, is better known for its coral reef diversity and a broader range of water sports. Neither beach is suited for long lounging sessions, but both unlock rewarding experiences nearby.
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep): home to India’s finest known beaches
4. Radhanagar Beach
Radhanagar, historically referred to as Beach No. 7, remains the benchmark against which every other beach in the archipelago is measured. Time magazine named it Asia’s best beach in 2004, and the title still holds up: two kilometres of white sand, water shifting from pale turquoise to deep blue, a dense tree line that provides genuine shade, and one of the most consistent sunset skies in the islands. Facilities are basic by design, a small food area and changing rooms, which is part of why the beach retains its character. Visit early morning or in the late afternoon to avoid the day-trip crowds that peak around noon.
5. Elephant Beach
Elephant Beach is Havelock’s primary spot for shallow-water snorkelling and water sports, and it earns that position reliably. You can reach it either by a 45-minute forest trek from the Beach No. 5 area or by a 15-minute speedboat ride from the main jetty; the speedboat option is more consistent during wetter months. The coral close to shore is accessible without scuba gear, with snorkelling sessions available from local operators on-site for approximately ?500 to ?4,000 depending on duration and package type. Sea walking, glass-bottomed boat rides, and parasailing are also available. Based on observations from multiple local guides, the coral has recovered partially from past bleaching episodes, it is not pristine, but it remains among the most accessible reef snorkelling in the islands.
6. Kalapathar Beach
Kalapathar is the moody, photogenic counterpart to Radhanagar. The black volcanic rocks framing the shoreline make it visually distinct from every other Andaman beach, and the contrast between dark stone and bright water is striking at any time of day. There are no facilities, no vendors, and almost no crowds, which is exactly the point. It is not a swimming beach due to the rocks, but as a sunrise destination and photography location, it is exceptional. The early-morning light on the rocks, with mist still on the water, is one of Havelock’s quietest pleasures.
Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep): the unhurried side of the Andamans
7. Bharatpur Beach
Bharatpur is Neil Island’s most sheltered beach, sitting near the main jetty and offering the calmest, shallowest water of any beach on this list. It is the clearest choice for families with young children: you can stand waist-deep in clear water and see coral formations without putting your face in the water. Glass-bottomed boat rides operate from the beach, and there are basic food stalls, toilets, and simple sun shelters. The scenery is less dramatic than Havelock, but the water is consistently gentle and safe.
8. Laxmanpur Beach
Laxmanpur is Neil Island’s answer to the sunset question, and it answers it well. The beach is wider and flatter than Bharatpur, with a long, open-sky horizon that makes it ideal for watching the sun drop. At the far end sits the Natural Bridge, a naturally eroded rock formation that is one of the most photographed features on Neil Island. The walk out to it at low tide is worth timing your visit around. A short cycle or auto-rickshaw ride from the Neil bazaar brings you here, and the beach fills up noticeably in the hour before sunset.
9. Sitapur Beach
Sitapur sits at the eastern tip of Neil Island and is the most reliable sunrise spot across the three main islands. It is largely undeveloped, with no facilities, and sees very few visitors before 7 a.m. The short auto-rickshaw ride from the bazaar is straightforward. What makes Sitapur worth the early alarm is the combination of open eastern horizon, quiet water, and a beach that feels completely unhurried, the kind of place that makes Neil Island feel different from the busier Havelock circuit.
The beaches most visitors never find, and why a private charter changes everything
10. Lalaji Bay, Long Island
Lalaji Bay is, by most accounts, the single most beautiful beach in the Andaman and Nicobar island chain, and almost no one on a standard package tour has seen it. It sits on Long Island, roughly two hours by private speedboat from Havelock, followed by a short forest trek from the landing point. The bay is an enclosed crescent of white sand with water in three distinct shades of blue, and on most days there are no other visitors. There are no facilities, no vendors, and no signage. The only realistic way to get there is by private boat charter. Andaman Island Spirit Charters includes Lalaji Bay as a dedicated half-day or full-day stop on their custom itineraries, with a local crew experienced in the tidal windows, the mooring points, and the forest path. Indian nationals do not require any special permit for Long Island; a valid government photo ID is sufficient.
11. Turtle Beach and 12. Merk Bay
Turtle Beach occupies the northern coast of Havelock and is reachable only by boat around the island’s headland. It is an Olive Ridley nesting ground, nesting typically runs from October through to approximately April, with peak activity between December and February, and it holds some of Havelock’s clearest water. Visitors during nesting season should keep noise and artificial light to a minimum and never approach or touch turtles or nests. Merk Bay, near Mayabunder in North Andaman, is a comparatively less visited stretch that sees far lighter tourist traffic than the main island beaches. Both locations require a private charter or a specifically arranged guided boat. Andaman Island Spirit Charters can include either in a multi-day itinerary built from Port Blair, Havelock, or Neil Island.
13. Jahaji Beach and 14-15. Ross & Smith Island
Ross & Smith Island near Diglipur, in North Andaman, consists of two islands connected by a natural sandbar that appears and disappears with the tide. Standing on that sandbar with open sea on both sides is one of the most unusual visual experiences in the entire archipelago. Jahaji Beach nearby adds a quieter, tree-lined stretch for those who want to extend the day. Getting to this northern area requires either a government ferry from Port Blair to Diglipur followed by local boat transfers, or a direct overnight private charter. Andaman Island Spirit Charters’ longer itineraries cover this northern run for guests who want to experience the full breadth of the Andaman Islands beaches.
Matching the right beach to your trip type
For couples and honeymooners
The clearest combination is Radhanagar at sunset, Kalapathar at sunrise, and Lalaji Bay for a private half-day on a deserted beach. The charter experience itself, a private boat, your own crew, no other tourists within sight, is consistently among the most popular choices for couples booking through Andaman Island Spirit Charters. It is the part of an Andaman trip that standard packages cannot offer.
For families with children
Bharatpur Beach on Neil Island for calm, shallow water; Corbyn’s Cove for accessible water sports close to Port Blair; and Elephant Beach for reef snorkelling without requiring scuba gear. One note on Radhanagar: the beach has a moderate current that is fine for confident adult swimmers but requires supervision for young children, particularly in the afternoon when the current strengthens slightly.
For snorkelling and underwater photography
Elephant Beach ranks first for ease and on-site operator availability. Lalaji Bay ranks second for water clarity and the complete absence of boat traffic, which means visibility is consistently better. North Bay near Port Blair offers reef diversity that suits those who want variety within a single half-day session. The remote charter beaches hold a consistent advantage: fewer boats in the water means clearer visibility and undisturbed coral.
For sunrise, sunset and landscape photography
Kalapathar and Sitapur are the sunrise choices; arrive before 6:30 a.m. for the best light. Radhanagar and Laxmanpur are the sunset choices, with Radhanagar offering the more dramatic sky and Laxmanpur offering the Natural Bridge as a foreground element. Lalaji Bay and Ross & Smith both reward midday wide-angle work. The charter-only beaches offer complete creative freedom because there are no other visitors in frame.
Best season to visit the Andaman Islands beaches, month by month
Peak season (October to February): clearest water, biggest crowds
All 15 beaches on this Andaman islands beaches list are accessible during peak season, water visibility is at its best, and ferry schedules are reliable. December to January is the peak of the peak: accommodation and charter prices are at their highest, but conditions are most dependable. Radhanagar and Elephant Beach are at their busiest during this window. Book private charters at least four to six weeks in advance if your trip falls between December and January.
Shoulder season (March to May): still excellent, noticeably quieter
The weather is warmer and slightly more humid than peak season, but sea conditions remain largely stable through April. May is the cusp: conditions can shift unpredictably as the pre-monsoon sets in. The upside is significant, the popular beaches are noticeably less crowded, accommodation rates drop, and charter availability improves. Remote beaches like Lalaji Bay are at their most serene in March and April, when visitor numbers are low and visibility remains excellent.
Monsoon months (June to September): what actually closes and what does not
The monsoon season shifts the picture completely. Government ferries become irregular, public beaches are frequently closed to swimming due to strong currents, and underwater visibility drops sharply. Most remote beaches are inaccessible by private boat during this period due to sea conditions. Port Blair and parts of Neil Island remain partially accessible, and the landscape turns dramatically green.
A 5-day plan to cover the best beaches without wasting a day
Days 1 and 2: Port Blair and Neil Island
Arrive in Port Blair and use Day 1 to visit Corbyn’s Cove and Chidiya Tapu. These two beaches are reachable by auto-rickshaw within 30 minutes of the city and give you a comfortable, low-pressure first day. Take the morning ferry to Neil Island on Day 2. Neil is compact enough to cover Bharatpur, Laxmanpur, and Sitapur in a single relaxed day using a hired cycle or auto-rickshaw. Staying overnight on Neil sets you up for a clean morning ferry to Havelock.
Days 3 and 4: Havelock Island
Take the government ferry or a private speedboat service from Neil to Havelock; note that government ferries typically take around an hour to an hour and a quarter, while private fast ferries commonly run 45 to 75 minutes. Use Day 3 for Radhanagar, go in the morning before day-trip crowds arrive, then return to Radhanagar in the late afternoon for sunset. On Day 4, visit Elephant Beach by speedboat in the morning for snorkelling and water sports. In the afternoon, arrange a half-day charter with Andaman Island Spirit Charters to Turtle Beach on Havelock’s northern coast. This single charter run covers the side of Havelock that no standard itinerary includes.
Day 5: Lalaji Bay by private charter
Dedicate Day 5 entirely to Lalaji Bay on Long Island, chartered from Havelock. Andaman Island Spirit Charters runs this as a full-day excursion: the boat departs in the morning, the crew handles the mooring and the forest-path orientation, and you have the full day on one of the most beautiful deserted beaches in India. The return trip to Havelock arrives in the late afternoon, leaving enough time for an evening ferry back towards Port Blair or an overnight stay before flying home. For most guests, this single day is the clearest memory they carry home from the Andaman Islands.
Start with the map, then build the list
The best beaches in the Andamans cover an enormous range: from city-side stretches in Port Blair reachable in a 15-minute auto ride, to deserted bays that require a capable crew, a private vessel, and knowledge of the tidal windows. The accessible beaches on this list, Radhanagar, Elephant Beach, Bharatpur, Laxmanpur, earn their reputations completely. But the shorelines that stay with you are the ones outside the standard circuit.
Lalaji Bay, Turtle Beach, and Ross & Smith Island are not difficult to visit once you have the right operator. The logistics that feel complicated from a laptop become straightforward when a crew with deep local knowledge handles them. If you are building a serious itinerary and want to move beyond the beaches of Andaman that appear on every package tour brochure, get in touch with Andaman Island Spirit Charters and walk them through what you want. The Andaman Islands have more extraordinary coastline than most visitors ever see. This is how you actually see it.