- 1800-123-5555
- Travel Agent? Join Us
- Blog
- Offers

Baratang Island Timings: Convoy, Limestone Cave & Ferry Hours
Here’s An Escape To The Hidden Gem Of Andaman Island
Rated 4.40/5 ( based on 8093 reviews )
Baratang Island is not open round-the-clock, you can only reach it inside a timed, escorted vehicle convoy that crosses the Andaman Trunk Road through the Jarawa reserve, then a short ferry and a boat ride to the Limestone Caves. To do it comfortably as a day trip from Port Blair, leave around 3:30-4:00 AM and catch the first 6:00 AM convoy from the Jirkatang check-post. The tables below give every convoy, cave, ferry and best-time window you need to plan the day.
Baratang Island Timings at a Glance
Use this summary table for the headline timings, then read the sections below for the detail. Every figure is for the current 2026 season and is confirmed before publishing.
| What | Timing / window |
|---|---|
| Jirkatang convoy departures (Port Blair side) | 6:00 AM · 9:00 AM · 12:30 PM · 3:30 PM |
| Recommended convoy for a same-day trip | 6:00 AM |
| Return convoy (Baratang to Port Blair) | ~12:00 PM · 3:00 PM · 4:00 PM |
| Check-post registration | Arrive ~1 hour before the convoy |
| Ferry crossing (Nilambur to Middle Strait) | ~15–20 min |
| Limestone Caves visiting hours | ~7:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Parrot Island (sunset boat) | ~4:00–4:45 PM departure, ~30 min |
| Mud Volcano visiting window | ~7:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Best season | Nov–Apr (calm, dry); avoid May–Sep monsoon |
Port Blair To Baratang Convoy Timings
Baratang sits north of Port Blair across the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, so private travel is not allowed, vehicles move only in police-escorted convoys that leave the Jirkatang check-post at fixed times. You register at the check-post before departure, so arrive about an hour early. Miss a convoy and you wait for the next slot, which can end a day trip before it starts, so the 6:00 AM convoy is the one to aim for.
| Direction | Departure slots |
|---|---|
| Port Blair side to Baratang (Jirkatang check-post) | 6:00 AM · 9:00 AM · 12:30 PM · 3:30 PM |
| Baratang to Port Blair (return) | ~12:00 PM · 3:00 PM · 4:00 PM |
| Registration window | Reach the check-post ~1 hr before your slot |
| Road leg Port Blair to Jirkatang to Baratang | ~3.5–4 hr each way |
| Full day-trip duration | ~10 hours door-to-door |
Permit note: Indian nationals do not need a permit for Baratang. Foreign nationals must obtain a permit at Port Blair before travelling.
Limestone Cave Timings & Entry Fee
The Baratang Limestone Caves are the main reason to make the trip. After the convoy and the Nilambur ferry, you take a fibre motorboat through mangrove creeks to the cave jetty, then walk a short trail to the caves. Plan the caves around the late-morning window so you can clear the return convoy the same afternoon.
| Limestone Cave detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Visiting hours | ~7:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Cave entry fee | No entry fee to the caves |
| Boat ticket (Nilambur jetty) | approx. Rs 900–1,000 / person |
| Boat ride | ~25 min mangrove-creek motorboat, 6–8 passengers |
| Trek to the caves | ~2 km each way on a marked trail |
| Time needed at the caves | ~2 hours including boat + trek |
Parrot Island & Mud Volcano Timings
Two add-ons share the Baratang convoy day. The Mud Volcano, India's only active mud volcanoes, is a short drive from the jetty and fits into the late-morning or early-afternoon window. Parrot Island is a separate evening boat ride best timed for sunset, when thousands of parakeets return to roost; it usually means staying overnight near Baratang or Nilambur rather than rushing the last convoy.
| Attraction | Timing window |
|---|---|
| Mud Volcano (Jal Tikri) | ~7:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Parrot Island sunset boat departure | ~4:00–4:45 PM |
| Parrot Island boat ride length | ~30 min each way |
| Parrot Island boat permit/fee | approx. Rs 375–625 / person |
Doing Parrot Island the same day usually means missing the last return convoy, plan an overnight near Baratang or do Parrot Island as a separate evening trip.
Best Time to Start - One Day Hour by Hour Timeline
The best months are November to April, when seas are calm and the road and ferry run reliably; the May–September monsoon can suspend the ferry and boat rides at short notice. On any given day the single biggest factor is an early start, the trip only works around the 6:00 AM convoy. Here is a realistic one-day timeline from Port Blair.
| Time | Step |
|---|---|
| ~3:30–4:00 AM | Leave Port Blair by road for the Jirkatang check-post |
| ~5:00 AM | Register at the check-post |
| 6:00 AM | First escorted convoy departs through the reserve |
| ~7:00 AM | Nilambur jetty, ferry across the Middle Strait (~15–20 min) |
| ~7:30 AM | Boat through the mangrove creek toward the Limestone Caves |
| ~8:00–10:00 AM | Trek + explore the Limestone Caves |
| ~11:00 AM | Mud Volcano visit |
| ~12:00–3:00 PM | Return convoy from Baratang to Port Blair |
| ~7:00–8:00 PM | Back in Port Blair |
Timings
Monday to Sunday
12:01 am - 11:59 pm
Popular Packages
Unlimited Choices. Trusted Agents. Best Prices. Happy Memories.
Cities:
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹8,299/-
₹10,374/-20% OffCities:
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹8,999/-
₹11,999/-25% OffCities:
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹9,999/-
₹13,332/-25% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹11,449/-
₹12,180/-6% OffCities:
- Port Blair
Starting from:
₹12,600/-
₹13,846/-9% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹13,341/-
₹14,501/-8% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹13,500/-
₹15,882/-15% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹13,988/-
₹15,371/-9% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹14,265/-
₹15,505/-8% OffCities:
- Port Blair
Starting from:
₹14,819/-
₹15,934/-7% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock Island
- Neil Island
Starting from:
₹15,000/-
₹17,442/-14% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹15,497/-
₹16,663/-7% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹15,599/-
₹18,811/-17% OffCities:
- Port Blair
Starting from:
₹15,600/-
₹17,143/-9% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹15,736/-
₹17,292/-9% Off5 Days 4 Nights Andaman Honeymoon Package with Green Ocean Cruise Starting From INR 16000
Cities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
- Neil Island
Starting from:
₹16,000/-
₹18,182/-12% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹16,575/-
₹18,214/-9% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
Starting from:
₹16,800/-
₹18,462/-9% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
- Neil Island
Starting from:
₹17,000/-
₹19,318/-12% OffCities:
- Port Blair
- Havelock
- Neil Island
Starting from:
₹17,037/-
₹18,319/-7% OffOur experts would love to create a package just for you!
Fill in your requirements here >
Fastest Growing Holiday Marketplace
650+
Verified Agents
22 Lac+
Happy Travellers
65+
Destinations
Easy, Secure & Reliable
Traveltriangle
Verified
Stringent
Quality Control
24/7
Support
What Travelers Say About Our Andaman Packages
Read real reviews,packages, stories, and experiences from happy customers who booked with TravelTriangle.
Jagan Reddy
Bangalore
Jagan's 7 days trip to Andaman
Thakurpalvi
Hoshiarpur
Thakurpalvi's 5 days trip to Andaman
Shashikanth H
Bengaluru
Shashikanth's 4 days trip to Andaman
Pradeep Rajput
Kolkata
Pradeep's 7 days trip to Andaman
Amrutha Devanga
Bengaluru
Amrutha's 6 days trip to Andaman
Basheerfaraz
Banglore
Basheerfaraz's 5 days trip to Andaman
Mr Parmeshwar
Hyderabad
Mr's 5 days trip to Andaman
Mr Jhashobhit
Kolkata
Mr's 5 days trip to Andaman
Kishorkumar
Chennai
Kishorkumar's 6 days trip to Andaman
Mithun V
Bangalore
Mithun's 5 days trip to Andaman
Want best packages handpicked just for you?
Fill the form and get a callback from our holiday experts
Frequently Asked Questions
Get your answers — before you plan your trip.
Andaman Travel FAQs
What are the timings of Baratang Island and the Limestone Caves?
Baratang is reachable only inside timed escorted convoys; there is no 24×7 access. Convoys leave the Jirkatang check-post at roughly 6:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM, and the Limestone Caves are open about 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. For a comfortable same-day round trip from Port Blair, take the 6:00 AM convoy.
What are the convoy departure times to Baratang from Jirkatang?
The Port Blair-side convoy departs the Jirkatang check-post at approximately 6:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM, and you must register about an hour before your slot. Return convoys from Baratang run around 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Confirm the exact slots locally the day before, as they can change seasonally.
Is there an entry fee or permit for Baratang Island?
There is no entry fee to the Limestone Caves, but you pay roughly ₹900–1,000 per person for the motorboat from Nilambur jetty to the caves, plus a small fee for the Parrot Island boat. Indian nationals do not need a permit; foreign nationals must get one at Port Blair before travelling.
What time should I leave Port Blair for Baratang?
Leave Port Blair by about 3:30–4:00 AM so you reach the Jirkatang check-post in time to register and catch the 6:00 AM convoy. The road leg is about 3.5–4 hours each way, and a full Baratang day trip runs roughly 10 hours door to door. Starting late means missing the early convoy and risking the return slot.
Can I visit Baratang in one day from Port Blair?
Yes, Baratang is the classic Andaman day trip. Take the 6:00 AM convoy, do the Limestone Caves and Mud Volcano in the morning, then catch an afternoon return convoy to be back in Port Blair by about 7:00-8:00 PM. Adding Parrot Island, which is a sunset ride, usually requires staying overnight near Baratang.
What are the return convoy timings from Baratang?
Return convoys from Baratang to Port Blair leave at approximately 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM. To be safe on a day trip, finish the caves and Mud Volcano before midday and aim for the early-afternoon return convoy; missing the last slot can leave you stranded overnight. Confirm the current last-convoy time locally.
How long does the Baratang day trip take and how is the ferry crossing?
Budget about 10 hours door to door from Port Blair. After the road leg and convoy you cross the Middle Strait by ferry from Nilambur jetty in roughly 15–20 minutes, then take a 25-minute mangrove motorboat to the cave jetty before a short trek. The ferry and boats run only in daylight and pause during rough monsoon seas.
What is the best time of year to visit Baratang?
November to April is the best window, with calm seas, dry weather and reliable ferry and boat operations. The May–September monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas that can suspend the ferry and cave boats at short notice. Whatever the month, start before dawn to catch the first convoy and avoid the midday crowds.
How It Works
Personalise This Package
Make changes as per your travel plan & submit the request.
Get Multiple Quotes
Connect with top 3 agents, compare quotes & customize further.
Book The Best Deal
Pay in easy installments & get ready to enjoy your holiday.














