South Andaman Island: Places To Visit & Complete Travel Guide (2026)

South Andaman Island covers roughly 1,262 square kilometres of hilly, forested terrain ringed by coral reefs and mangroves. One common myth is worth correcting up front. South Andaman is not India’s southernmost island. That distinction belongs to Great Nicobar, whose Indira Point is the southernmost tip of Indian territory. South Andaman is simply the southernmost of the three big islands – North, Middle and South – that make up the Great Andaman group. The quick-facts table below sums up what most travellers want to know before planning a trip.

Reaching South Andaman means reaching Port Blair first – there is no rail or road link to the mainland, so every traveller arrives by air or by sea. Here is the route, step by step.

1. Fly to Port Blair. Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) has direct and one-stop flights from Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi and other metros. Chennai and Kolkata are the most frequent gateways, and most flights land before noon.
2. Or take a passenger ship. Government ships sail to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam, taking about 3 to 4 days each way — slow, weather-dependent, and best for travellers who want the sea journey itself.
3. Base yourself in Port Blair. Spend your first night or two here to cover the Cellular Jail, Corbyn’s Cove and the museums. See our full list of places to visit in Port Blair to plan the city leg.
4. Ferry to Havelock or Neil. Private and government ferries run from Port Blair’s jetty to Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) and Shaheed Dweep (Neil) in roughly 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Book the popular fast ferries in advance during peak season.
5. Plan day trips. North Bay, Ross Island, Wandoor and Baratang are all reachable as day trips from Port Blair by boat or road-and-ferry convoy.
   Carry ID; check permits. Indian nationals do not need a permit for the main South Andaman islands, but some forest, tribal-reserve and marine-park areas require entry permits arranged locally. Foreign nationals should register on arrival.

Searching for the highest peak of South Andaman usually leads to Mount Harriet, now officially Mount Manipur, which rises to about 383 metres and is one of the district’s highest and most prominent peaks. The island’s actual highest point is the undeveloped Koiob hill (around 459 m), but Mount Harriet is the accessible, view-rich summit – its panorama once featured on the pre-2019 Indian ₹20 note. The surrounding Mount Harriet (Mount Manipur) National Park has nature trails and birdlife.

For context, the highest point in the whole Andaman & Nicobar archipelago is not in South Andaman at all. That record belongs to Saddle Peak (732 m) in North Andaman. So if a quiz asks for the highest peak of South Andaman, Mount Harriet / Mount Manipur is the answer most travellers mean; Saddle Peak is the archipelago-wide record-holder.

The best time to visit South Andaman is October to May, when the weather is dry, the seas are calm and ferries run reliably. December to February is the peak window – pleasant temperatures, clear water and the best diving visibility, but also the highest prices and busiest beaches. March to May stays good but turns hot and humid. The southwest monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain, rough seas and frequent ferry cancellations, so inter-island plans can get disrupted; it is the cheapest and greenest time, best for budget travellers who keep their itinerary flexible.

Four to six nights is the sweet spot for most travellers. A typical split is one to two nights in Port Blair for the Cellular Jail, Corbyn’s Cove and Ross/North Bay, two nights in Havelock for Radhanagar and diving, and one night in Neil. Add a day for Baratang or extra beach time if you have a week. These are suggestions – every itinerary can be customised around your flights and pace.

South Andaman is where most Andaman journeys both start and unfold — the capital, the airport, the freedom-struggle history and the ferry links to the islands everyone comes to see. Build it around two or three bases, time it for the October-to-May window, and let the children’s guides above fill in each beach and trail. When you are ready to put it together, browse our Andaman tour packages, or read the wider Andaman travel guide for the full archipelago.