Andaman in 5 Days: The Perfect 4N/5D Itinerary

Five days is the sweet spot for a first trip to the islands, and this is the Andaman 5 day itinerary we actually run for families and couples every week. In short: Day 1 you land in Port Blair and do the Cellular Jail light-and-sound show; Day 2 you take the morning ferry to Havelock and watch the sunset at Radhanagar Beach; Day 3 is Elephant Beach for snorkelling and water sports; Day 4 is a day at Neil Island (or Ross & North Bay if you would rather stay near Port Blair); and Day 5 you ferry back and fly home. That is a comfortable 4 nights, 5 days that covers the best of the islands without rushing.

We plan and run trips from right here in the islands, so the version below is not a copy-paste itinerary — it is built around how the ferries and the light actually work. Below you will find the day-by-day plan, the ferry timing logic that keeps the whole thing from falling apart, realistic costs, and an honest note on what to skip.

Before we start: the ferry logic that shapes everything

Every good Andaman itinerary is really a ferry schedule with beaches attached. Here is the logic we plan around, and once you understand it the day-by-day makes sense:

• The crossing between Port Blair and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) takes about 2 to 2.5 hours on the private catamarans (Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean). Neil Island sits between them, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours from either.
• Take the morning ferry out to Havelock so you land with most of the day intact. Never book the day’s last ferry as your only option to get somewhere you need to be.
• Never plan a ferry on the morning of your flight home. If the sea plays up, a cancelled ferry can make you miss your flight. Always sleep in Port Blair the night before you fly out — that is the single rule we never break.
• Ferry seats sell out in peak season (December to January). We book them well ahead as part of the package so you are not gambling at the jetty.

Day 1 — Arrive Port Blair & the Cellular Jail light show

Most flights land in Port Blair around midday, so Day 1 is a gentle start. We meet you at the airport, get you to your hotel to freshen up, and give you the afternoon to settle. If your energy is up, Corbyn’s Cove — the closest beach to town — is a quick drive for a first dip.

The evening is the real event: the light-and-sound show at the Cellular Jail National Memorial. This is the colonial-era prison where India’s freedom fighters were held, and the show tells its story after dark, projected across the actual jail walls. It is moving, it is well done, and it is the right way to begin an Andaman trip — you understand the islands before you go chase their beaches. Get there a little early; the good seats fill up, and you want to be centred to hear the narration cleanly.

What to skip on Day 1: do not try to cram Ross Island, North Bay and the jail into one arrival afternoon. You will land tired, and rushing the first day sets a bad tone. There is time for the islands off Port Blair later in this plan.

Day 2 — Morning ferry to Havelock & sunset at Radhanagar

Early breakfast, then the morning ferry across to Havelock. Two hours later you are on the island that most people picture when they imagine the Andamans. We get you checked in, fed, and rested through the hot middle of the day — then time the afternoon for the one thing you must not miss here.

Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7) is regularly ranked among the best beaches in Asia, and it earns it — a long curve of soft white sand backed by forest, with a sunset that turns the whole sky. Go in the late afternoon, swim while the light is good, then stay for the sun to drop into the sea. It is the highlight of the whole trip for a lot of our travellers, and it is completely free. Carry water and reef-safe sunscreen; there is shade at the tree line but not much on the sand.

Day 3 — Elephant Beach: snorkelling & water sports

Day 3 is your water day, and Havelock’s Elephant Beach is where it happens. You reach it by a short speedboat ride from Havelock jetty (there is also a jungle-trek route, but the boat is easier and saves your legs for the water). The house reef starts close to shore, so this is one of the easiest places in the islands to see live coral and fish without being a strong swimmer.

This is the day to pick your activities. The usual line-up:

• Snorkelling — the budget-friendly star, usually around ₹600–₹1,000 per person with equipment and a life jacket. Good for all ages.
• Sea walking — walk on the seabed in a weighted helmet with air piped down; no swimming needed, which makes it a favourite for kids and non-swimmers.
• An introductory scuba dive — no certification required; an instructor takes you down one-on-one. If diving is a priority for your trip, read our full guide to scuba diving in Andaman before you go so you know what to expect and what a fair price looks like.

Honest note: in peak season Elephant Beach gets busy by late morning. Go early — the first boats out get the calmest water and the clearest visibility before the day-trippers churn up the sand. If you want a quieter alternative and you are strong in the water, we can point you to a calmer reef instead; just ask.

Day 4 — Neil Island (or Ross & North Bay)

You have a choice on Day 4, and it depends on the trip you want.

Option A — Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)

Take a short ferry from Havelock to Neil Island (about 45 minutes to an hour) for a slower, quieter, less-developed slice of the islands. Neil is small enough to see in a day: Bharatpur Beach for calm, shallow, snorkel-friendly water, Laxmanpur Beach for a superb sunset, and the natural rock bridge at low tide. This is the better choice for couples and for anyone who fell for the slow island pace on Havelock. From Neil you can ferry straight back to Port Blair for your last night.

Option B — Ross Island & North Bay from Port Blair

If you would rather ferry back to Port Blair on the morning of Day 4 and keep the day relaxed, do the classic half-day boat trip to Ross Island (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island) and North Bay Island. Ross has atmospheric colonial ruins with deer and peacocks wandering the old British settlement; North Bay is the coral-and-water-sports island where you can do sea walking, snorkelling and a glass-bottom boat ride. This is the easier, lower-travel option and it suits families with young kids or older parents who would rather not add another ferry to Neil.

Either way, you sleep in Port Blair on the night of Day 4 — which sets you up perfectly for a stress-free departure.

Day 5 — Last morning & departure

Because you are already in Port Blair, Day 5 is calm. Depending on your flight time you can fit in a bit of last-minute shopping at Aberdeen Bazaar for shell craft and souvenirs, or a quick stop you missed — the Anthropological Museum or Samudrika Naval Marine Museum are both easy fillers near town. Then we get you to the airport in good time and you fly home. No ferry, no drama, no missed flight. That is the whole point of ending in Port Blair.

What a 5-day Andaman trip actually costs

Let us be straight about money, because vague pricing is the thing we hate most about how the islands get sold. For this 4N/5D route, land-only (so everything except your flights to and from Port Blair), realistic per-person rates on twin-sharing look roughly like this in the calm season:

• Budget build (clean basic hotels, breakfast, shared or private transfers): around ₹12,000–₹16,000 per person.
• Mid-range build (comfortable 3-star stays, private AC cab, ferry tickets, sightseeing with entries): around ₹19,000–₹23,000 per person.
• Premium build (better resorts, especially on Havelock, and more inclusions): from around ₹30,000 per person upward.

Two honest caveats. First, the December-to-mid-January peak adds roughly 25–35% on top of these figures — same trip, higher season. Second, water sports like scuba and parasailing usually sit outside the base price (an intro scuba dive typically runs a few thousand rupees), so budget a little extra for your Elephant Beach day. If keeping the number down matters most, our budget and group Andaman packages are built for exactly this route; if this is a honeymoon and you want the beachfront resort and the candlelight dinner, our Andaman honeymoon packages layer those in.

Quick tips to make this itinerary work

• Travel in the calm season. This plan runs beautifully October to May and gets risky in the monsoon. See our guide to the best time to visit Andaman to pick your window.
• Carry enough cash. ATMs on Havelock and Neil can run dry; card acceptance is patchy on the smaller islands.
• Keep the last night in Port Blair. We say it twice because it is the mistake that ruins trips — never ferry on your flight day.
• Book ferries and hotels ahead in peak season. The good stuff sells out; we handle this for you inside the package.

FAQ

Is 5 days enough for Andaman?

Yes — 4 nights and 5 days is the most popular first-trip length and it comfortably covers Port Blair, Havelock and either Neil Island or the Ross & North Bay islands. You will see the headline beaches and get a full water-sports day without feeling rushed. If you want to add Baratang’s limestone caves or slow the pace right down, step up to a 6N/7D itinerary instead.

Should I choose Neil Island or Ross & North Bay for Day 4?

Pick Neil Island if you want quiet beaches and a slower pace and do not mind one more ferry — it is the better fit for couples. Pick Ross & North Bay if you would rather minimise travel and keep the day easy, which suits families with young children or older travellers. Both are lovely; it is really a question of pace.

How much does a 5-day Andaman trip cost?

Land-only and per person on twin-sharing, budget builds run roughly ₹12,000–₹16,000, mid-range around ₹19,000–₹23,000, and premium from about ₹30,000 upward in the calm season. Add 25–35% for the December–January peak, and budget separately for flights and optional water sports like scuba.

Do I need to book the ferries myself?

Not if you travel with us — we pre-book the inter-island ferries as part of the package, which matters most in peak season when seats sell out. If you are doing it independently, book the private catamarans (Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean) online in advance and always keep your last night in Port Blair so a delayed ferry never threatens your flight.

Let us build this trip around your dates

This is our tried-and-tested 5-day route, but the best version is the one tuned to your dates, your people and your budget. Tell us who is travelling and when, and we will shape this itinerary to fit — ferries, stays, transfers and sightseeing all handled. Take a look at our Andaman tour packages or message us on WhatsApp for a free, no-obligation quote. We are based right here in the islands, so you always have a real person on call from your first question to your flight home.