Overview
The Andaman Islands have four distinct snorkelling environments within range of a five-day circuit — the North Bay reef inside Port Blair harbour, the Cinque Island reef inside the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park protected from boat traffic and the turbidity that affects the harbour-adjacent sites, the Elephant Beach reef at Havelock where the coral formations run from 2 metres to the deeper sections and the fish diversity is among the highest accessible without a certification in Indian waters, and the Neil Island reef edge at Laxmanpur where the natural rock bridge sits above coral formations visible at snorkelling depth at low tide. Each of these four sites is different enough from the others that the andaman snorkelling package is not repetitive across its five days — the water clarity at Cinque is different from the water at North Bay, the fish assemblage at Elephant Beach is different from the reef edge at Neil Island and the experience of floating over the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park reef is different from the experience of snorkelling in a bay with water sports operators on the shore. This package covers all four.
Bon Voyagers manages the complete ground programme from Port Blair Airport arrival. Day 1 covers Port Blair, the Cellular Jail and the North Bay first snorkel. Day 2 is the Cinque Island marine park excursion from Chiriya Tapu. Day 3 takes the ferry to Havelock for the afternoon Elephant Beach snorkel. Day 4 is the full Elephant Beach morning session and Radhanagar Beach afternoon. Day 5 crosses to Neil Island for the reef edge snorkel before the return ferry to Port Blair and the departure. Private ferry tickets, all boat tickets and permits, vehicle transfers and MAP meals throughout are included. Snorkelling equipment hire at each site is paid locally to registered operators.
Day-wise Itinerary
5-day travel plan — tap any day to view full details.
The andaman snorkelling package begins at Port Blair Airport where the Bon Voyagers representative meets the group on arrival. The afternoon is the Cellular Jail — built between 1896 and 1906 across seven radiating wings where political prisoners from across India were held. The evening light and sound show runs approximately 45 minutes after dark.
North Bay Island in the late afternoon is the first snorkelling site of this andaman snorkelling package — a 15-minute boat from Aberdeen Jetty to the reef closest to Port Blair. The North Bay reef carries parrotfish, angelfish and clownfish in the anemone sections at snorkelling depth in calm conditions. It is the most accessible reef snorkelling in the Andaman Islands and it serves on this andaman snorkelling package as the calibration dive — the first time the mask goes on and the face goes in the water, before the more demanding and more rewarding sites of the following days. Snorkelling equipment hire paid locally. Overnight in Port Blair.
The drive to Chiriya Tapu covers approximately 30 kilometres south of Port Blair. The boat to Cinque Island departs from the Chiriya Tapu jetty — approximately 30 to 45 minutes to North Cinque Island inside the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. The Cinque Island reef on Day 2 of this andaman snorkelling package is the best-protected reef on the circuit — inside a national park with regulated visitor numbers and lower boat traffic than the harbour-adjacent sites. The water here runs clearer than North Bay in most conditions and the coral formations are less disturbed.
Snorkelling equipment is hired from registered operators at the site. The Cinque Island day visit permit is included in this andaman snorkelling package — the permit limits visitor numbers on any given day and the Bon team secures it before departure. The contrast between the North Bay snorkel on Day 1 and the Cinque Island reef on Day 2 tells the story of what protection does to a reef in the Andaman Islands. Overnight in Port Blair.
The private ferry from Port Blair to Havelock departs Phoenix Bay Jetty and covers approximately 57 kilometres in around 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Havelock is where this andaman snorkelling package meets the Andaman reef at its most accessible and its most visited — Elephant Beach on the island’s northern edge is the most snorkelled site in the Andaman Islands. The afternoon session at Elephant Beach after the ferry arrival gives the group their first Havelock reef experience — the coral formations visible at 2 to 5 metres in the near-shore area, the fish density noticeably higher than North Bay given the reef’s distance from the harbour.
Snorkelling equipment hire from registered operators paid locally. The Day 3 session at Elephant Beach is deliberately kept shorter than Day 4’s morning session — the group arrives from a ferry crossing and the reef benefit of a fresh morning is greater than the benefit of a tired afternoon hour. Overnight at Havelock.
The morning session at Elephant Beach on Day 4 of this andaman snorkelling package is the longest and most productive snorkelling session of the five days — a full morning in the water before the afternoon wind builds and the boat traffic on the site increases with the mid-morning day-tripper groups from the main Havelock hotels. Being at Elephant Beach before 8 AM means calmer water, fewer people in the reef area and the full reef activity of the morning feeding period when fish that have been stationary through the night are actively moving through the formations. Butterflyfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish, wrasse and the occasional hawksbill turtle at the deeper sections of the reef edge are all within the range of a surface snorkeller at this hour. Snorkelling equipment hire paid locally.
The afternoon is Radhanagar Beach — the western side of Havelock where the water is too wave-active for productive snorkelling but where the quality of simply being in the Andaman Sea at a long, forest-backed beach is exactly what the andaman snorkelling package needs as its rest day afternoon. Overnight at Havelock.
The ferry from Havelock to Neil Island takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes. Neil Island is the fourth and final snorkelling site of this andaman snorkelling package. The reef at Laxmanpur Beach on Neil’s western side is accessible at snorkelling depth at low tide — the coral formations beneath the natural bridge area and along the reef edge carry species that the Elephant Beach site does not replicate. The Laxmanpur reef is quieter, less visited and the coral character is different from the Havelock reef — smaller formations, more cryptic species in the crevices, the natural bridge itself an overhead feature that snorkellers pass beneath at high water.
Snorkelling equipment hire paid locally. The Neil to Port Blair ferry takes approximately 1 to 2 hours. The Bon Voyagers vehicle meets the group at Phoenix Bay Jetty on arrival and drops at Port Blair Airport. The andaman snorkelling package ends with four reef environments on a single memory card and a body that has spent more time in Andaman water than above it.
Map
Inclusions & Exclusions
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Pickup and drop at Port Blair Airport on Day 1 and Day 5 respectively.
- All road and island transfers by private AC Ertiga or Xylo class six seater vehicle at Port Blair and Havelock Island as per the itinerary.
- North Bay Island boat tickets from Aberdeen Jetty on Day 1 afternoon.
- Cinque Island boat hire from Chiriya Tapu jetty and return on Day 2.
- Cinque Island day visit permit under Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park regulations on Day 2.
- Private ferry tickets in economy class from Port Blair to Havelock Island on Day 3.
- Boat ride to Elephant Beach from Havelock jetty on Day 3 afternoon and Day 4 morning.
- Ferry tickets from Havelock Island to Neil Island on Day 5.
- Ferry tickets from Neil Island to Port Blair on Day 5.
- Four nights accommodation in deluxe hotel or resort on double sharing basis — Nights 1 and 2 in Port Blair, Nights 3 and 4 at Havelock Island.
- Daily breakfast and dinner at all hotels on MAP basis throughout all five days.
- Cellular Jail entry tickets and light and sound show tickets on Day 1 evening.
- All entry tickets and permit charges as per the itinerary.
- Meet and greet service at Port Blair Airport on arrival.
- Travel assistance by field executive throughout.
- All fuel, toll and parking charges for the private vehicle throughout the trip.
- Driver and vehicle allowances for the full trip duration — nothing extra owed on the road.
NOT INCLUDED
- Flight tickets to and from Port Blair are not included and are booked separately by the traveller.
- Snorkelling equipment hire including mask, snorkel and fins at all four sites — charged locally to registered operators at North Bay, Cinque Island, Elephant Beach and Neil Island.
- Lunch on any day throughout the trip.
- Personal expenses including laundry, tips, room service, telephone calls, shopping and beverages.
- Professional camera tickets at Cellular Jail and other monuments — paid separately on site.
- Any additional water sports activities beyond snorkelling — sea walking, scuba introduction dive and kayaking charged locally if undertaken.
- Any additional sightseeing or extra vehicle use beyond what is listed in the itinerary.
- Costs arising from natural events including rough seas, ferry cancellations, site closures due to sea conditions or any changes to the programme beyond the operator’s control — to be borne by the traveller and paid directly on the spot.
- Any item not clearly listed under the inclusions above.
Best Time to Visit
The andaman snorkelling package is best booked between October and May when water visibility at all four snorkelling sites is at its seasonal best. The Cinque Island marine park opens only in this window — the park closes during the June to September monsoon when rough seas make the Chiriya Tapu boat crossing unsafe. Elephant Beach at Havelock is most productive in the early morning hours of the October to May season when the water is calmest and the fish are most active. North Bay visibility improves significantly in the October to May window when monsoon runoff reduces. Neil Island’s Laxmanpur reef is accessible year-round but the snorkelling quality follows the same seasonal pattern. December through February is the peak demand window when all four sites are simultaneously at their best.
Important Price & Package Conditions
- Prices are subject to availability and may vary based on travel dates, hotel selection, and seasonal demand.
- The actual price is reconfirmed at the time of booking. Discounts or deals may apply depending on ongoing promotions.
- Prices displayed do not include optional add-ons such as cab upgrades, special activities, or extra room categories unless mentioned.
- For group bookings, custom itineraries, or peak season travel, final pricing may differ. Please connect with our travel expert.
- 50% advance payment confirms your booking.
- Remaining balance is due 45 days before travel.
- Natural disasters or political unrest will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
- Valid for Indian nationals only. International guests may require special permits.
- Carry original government ID for all hotels.
- Secure payments and flexible policies.
- 24x7 emergency support during travel.
Subha Travels reserves the right to update package pricing and availability. For clarity or a custom quote, please connect with our support team.