| From | To | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
18-Oct |
21-Oct |
Closed |
|
22-Oct |
31-Oct |
Operational |
|
01-Nov |
04-Nov |
Closed |
|
05-Nov |
14-Nov |
Operational |
|
15-Nov |
18-Nov |
Closed |
|
19-Nov |
28-Nov |
Operational |
|
29-Nov |
02-Dec |
Closed |
|
03-Dec |
12-Dec |
Operational |
|
13-Dec |
16-Dec |
Closed |
|
17-Dec |
26-Dec |
Operational |
|
27-Dec |
30-Dec |
Closed |
|
31-Dec |
09-Jan |
Operational |
|
10-Jan |
13-Jan |
Closed |
|
14-Jan |
23-Jan |
Operational |
|
24-Jan |
27-Jan |
Closed |
|
28-Jan |
06-Feb |
Operational |
|
07-Feb |
10-Feb |
Closed |
|
11-Feb |
20-Feb |
Operational |
Andaman Tourism Opens: The Andaman & Nicobar administration has announced that all tourist spots in the South Andaman district will be opened for tourism activities with immediate effect 8 Feb 2022.
The tourists are allowed to visit Baratang/North & Middle Andaman on production of double dose covid certificate/ All other passengers viz. unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers (those who have taken only 1S1 dose of COVID vaccine) shall have to produce RT-PCR negative test report
General Guidelines defined for traveling to Andaman Islands during COVID :
What are the guidelines for testing for tourists coming to Andaman after August 03 2021?
On arrival at Port Blair :
1. The tourists need to carry COVID-19 negative test report from mainland based 1CMR approved lab using Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR). However, the sample for RTPCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to starting the journey from the origin station. (For e.g. if the tourist takes a flight from Delhi at 0600 hrs. on 1st September, 2021, the sample for RTPCR test should have been taken not before 0600 hrs. on 30th August, 2021).
2. The tourists/visitors on arrival at Port Blair airport have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 screening with RTPCR test free of cost. Thereafter the tourists/visitors are allowed to move to their respective hotels. However, they will have to be under quarantine at Port Blair in their hotel rooms until the result of RTPCR tests are received. In case of RTPCR positive test results, the tourists/visitors shall remain in
institutional quarantine in hotels notified by the Hoteliers Association in consent with the A&N Administration, on rates as specified or to the designated hospital/ Covid-19 care centre on case-to-case basis.
3. Tourists may also have to undergo random Rapid Antigen Test conducted from time to time on payment basis as prescribed by A8N Administration.
What if the tourists test positive after arriving at the Andaman Islands?
If the tourists tests positive during their stay in the Islands, he/she will need to undergo institutional isolation as per existing health protocols. The
cost of such isolation for govt. facility will be paid by the tourists as fixed by the administration from time to time.
If the patient wants to stay at hotels, he/she can stay in the hotels if all the conditions below are met:
a) Patients are not symptomatic and not more than 60 years old.
b) Request/ undertaking is made by patient in writing.
c)lf allowed by doctors.
Hotels will make necessary arrangements to designate a part of their rooms for institutional isolation for this purpose.
A trip to Andamans should be part of everyone’s bucket list. The land of beaches is truly a paradise waiting to be explored. It is the perfect place if you want to relax and enjoy the beauty of the world’s brilliant nature. If you have an adventurous bone in your body, you may also want to try water sports like scuba diving and snorkelling.
If you want to try something fun, you should know that the Andamans is a great place for game fishing. Barren Island is one of the places in the Andamans that is very popular for game fishing. Apart from that, you can try a variety of fun water sports at Barren Island. Here’s why you must make a Barren Island Tour when you are at the Andamans.
What makes a Barren Island tour so special?
Barren Island is at the top of the list of special places to visit in the Andamans. But what makes the island so special? Well, Barren Island is a volcanic island. Not just that, it is the only active volcano in the entirety of South Asia. The island lies along a series of volcanoes from Myanmar and Sumatra and is the only one that is currently active.
The volcano was previously reported to have erupted in the 1700s. But, after more than 100 years, it erupted again in the early 2000s. There are many volcanoes in the world but not all of them are active. That’s why many people, especially volcano enthusiasts and geo tourists, visit the island.
Make a fun sailing trip to Barren Island
You can take an exciting charter boat trip to Barren Island. Feel the velvety breeze of the sea and a view so stunning, you will want to be there forever. Charter boats come with many benefits like food and beverages. Most boats even have kitchens, and of course, guides to help you navigate the exciting activities throughout your trip.
Charter boats are the only way to go for a Barren Island tour. Since it is a volcanic island, the living condition on the island is very harsh. This is why the island is uninhabited and apart from a few feral goats, birds, and rodents, nobody lives on the island. Hence, regular passenger ferries do not go to the island.
How to reach Barren Island
As mentioned above, charter boats are the only way to go to Barren Island if you want to enjoy various activities near the island. There are also a few cruise services available that you can take if you want to see the island but do not want to partake in any of the water activities.
Both cruises and charter boats to Barren Island are available from Port Blair and Havelock Island. It will take you 4-5 hours to reach Barren Island from Port Blair, while from Havelock you’ll complete the journey in 2-3 hours. However, note that even Havelock is accessible from Port Blair via a passenger ferry that can take you another 2-3 hours.
It would make sense for you to go to Barren Island from Havelock only if you want to spend in Havelock. This wouldn’t be a bad idea. After all, Havelock is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the Andamans boasting many beautiful beaches and amazing diving spots.
Also, the best time to visit the island is between November to February. This is because the weather in the tropical island is pleasant and sunny around this time.
Barren Island Tour: how much do you have to spend
A trip to Barren Island by charter boat will easily set you off by INR 130,000-150,000. Charter boats are private boats that accommodate up to eight people. You can cut down the cost of the trip if you travel with friends or family.
The cost also includes all meals and beverages. You’ll also be able to add any gear you need for your activities within the total cost.
Apart from the cost of booking a charter boat, you’d also have to pay for an official permit to visit Barren Island from the government at the Andamans. This permit will cost you around INR 1000 if you are an Indian national. If you are a foreign national, you’d have to pay around INR 3500.
Fun things to do in your Barren Island Tour
There are many fun things that you can do near Barren Island. One thing to note is that you will not be allowed to step on the island itself. This is because the island is off-limits to civilians in general. But the marine ecosystem around the island is so rich, that you wouldn’t miss not being able to go for a hike on the island. Here are some things that you can do on your Barren Island tour:
Snorkelling: Snorkelling is a great water sport that you can enjoy even if you do not know how to swim. You can just float in the waterand enjoy a view of the underwater world with the help of your snorkelling gear.
Fishing: Barren Island is famous for game fishing. This is because the marine ecosystem water boasts a variety of game fish like giant marlins and tunas. Your charter boat will come with the fishing gear you’ll need. You’ll also get guides who’ll be able to guide you to the right spots for fishing. You can try game fishing at Barren Island even if you have never fished before.
Scuba diving: One of the main attractions of the Andamans isscuba diving and Barren Island is no exception.The island boasts some of the best scuba diving spots in the Andamans. Both soft and hard corals fill the extraordinary and ash-coloured landscape underwater that many believe is the result of the continuous impact of the volcano.
The catch here is that you’d have to be an experienced scuba diver with advanced-level certification if you want to scuba dive near Barren Island as the terrain is a bit complex for beginners in scuba diving. If you have an advanced-level certification, you should try Purple Haze, Barren Garden, and Manta Point to get the best experience.
