Andaman weather in May 2026 at a glance: hot and increasingly humid — daytime highs around 30-32°C, nights around 25-26°C, sea temperature ~29-30°C, humidity near 80%, and about 284mm of rain across ~18-20 days. Early May is mostly dry with calm seas; the monsoon arrives around the third week.
Is May a good time to visit Andaman? Yes—especially the first half of the month. Early-to-mid May still has clear water, working ferries and full water sports at shoulder-season prices, making it a great time for an Andaman family trip . After the third week, the southwest monsoon reaches the islands, bringing rougher seas, ferry cancellations and a pause in most water sports.
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8 Best Things to Do in Andaman in May
May still offers the full Andaman experience, especially in the first half of the month. Land-based sights such as the Cellular Jail light-and-sound show and the main beaches operate year-round and are unaffected by the monsoon, while boat- and water-based activities run normally early in May and pause on rough-sea days later. Here are the eight experiences worth planning around - with a note on which hold up through late May.
Andaman in May 2026 — Quick Verdict (Is It a Good Time to Visit?)
May is the bridge between Andaman’s long dry season and the southwest monsoon, which makes it the most misunderstood month to visit. The honest answer is that May is two different trips in one. Through roughly the 15th, the islands behave like the tail of peak season: hot but dry, calm clear seas, scuba and ferries running normally, and rooms easier to find than in the December-January rush. From about the third week, the monsoon sets in — the Andaman & Nicobar Islands receive India’s very first monsoon rain of the year — and the experience flips to warm, wet and rough-sea conditions where boat-based plans become unreliable.
For most travellers that means early May is a genuine sweet spot for value, and late May is a budget-and-solitude trip you take with open eyes. Use the two lists below to decide which half of the month fits your trip.
Choose May if…
- You want peak-season islands at shoulder-season prices
- You can travel in the first half of the month, when seas are calm and water sports run normally
- You prefer thinner crowds at Radhanagar, Cellular Jail and the ferries
- Warm, swimmable 29-30°C seas and long beach days are your priority
Skip (or rethink) May if…
- Your trip depends on guaranteed scuba diving or fixed inter-island ferry dates in the last week
- You are heat-sensitive — daytime highs sit around 30-32°C with ~80% humidity
- You can only travel after the third week, when the monsoon brings rough seas and ferry cancellations
- You want zero rain — May averages around 18-20 rainy days, most of them late in the month
Andaman Weather in May — Temperature, Humidity & Rain
May is the hottest, most humid stretch of the Andaman year and the turning point into the monsoon, so weather is the single biggest factor in a May trip. The table below summarises what to expect across the month. Figures are drawn from Port Blair climate records (WeatherSpark / climate-data.org), humidity normals (weather-and-climate.com) and the India Meteorological Department’s monsoon-onset data.
| Andaman in May | What to expect |
| Daytime high | ~30-32°C (peaks of 34-35°C on the hottest pre-monsoon days) |
| Night-time low | ~25-26°C |
| Humidity | ~80% (typically 79-82%), climbing as the monsoon nears |
| Sea / water temperature | ~29-30°C — warm enough to swim and dive comfortably |
| Rainfall | ~284mm across the month |
| Rainy days | ~18-20 days — lighter and scattered early, heavier and more frequent after the third week |
| Sea condition | Calm in early May, roughening from the third week as the monsoon approaches |
| Monsoon onset | Around the third week — the A&N Islands get India’s first monsoon rain (IMD normal ~22 May; in 2026 it arrived early, on 16 May) |
| Ferries & water sports | Mostly running early-to-mid May; expect reduced/cancelled ferries and paused water sports on rough-sea days late in the month |
Expect genuine heat and high humidity all month, warm calm seas in the first half, and a sharp shift to rain and rough water once the monsoon lands around the third week. The temperature barely changes day to day. What changes through May is the sea and the rain, and that is what should drive your dates.
Early May vs Late May — Which Half to Book
Because the monsoon splits the month, the most useful comparison is not May against other months but early May against late May. They are close on temperature and far apart on everything that affects a beach-and-water trip.
| Factor | Early May (1-15) | Late May (16-31) |
| Weather | Hot, mostly dry, pre-monsoon | Hot, humid, monsoon arriving |
| Sea condition | Calm and clear | Roughening, choppy |
| Scuba & water sports | Running normally, good visibility | Paused on rough-sea days |
| Inter-island ferries | On schedule | Reduced / weather-cancelled |
| Crowds | Tail of peak season, moderate | Quiet, low season |
| Prices | Shoulder, easing | Lowest of the season |
| Best for | Water sports + value combo | Budget, solitude, green islands |
If your trip is built around diving, island-hopping or fixed ferry connections, book the first half of May. If your priority is the lowest prices, near-empty beaches and lush post-rain greenery — and you can stay flexible about boat days — late May delivers that, provided you keep land-based backups ready.
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Scuba Diving
You can dive off Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), Neil (Shaheed Dweep) and Port Blair. The water sits at a warm ~29-30°C, so the first half of the month brings comfortable diving and good visibility — coral gardens, reef fish, eels and crabs. Certified operators take all levels, first-timers included. Book early-May dates if diving is the point of your trip, because operators pause dives on rough-sea days once the monsoon sets in around the third week.
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Sea Plane Ride / Scenic Flights
Scenic flights give you the islands from the air — the reef lines, sandbars and dense forest that you cannot appreciate from the ground. Aerial sightseeing operates out of Port Blair when conditions allow; like all weather-dependent activities it is most reliable in clear early-May skies and can be grounded during heavy late-May showers. Confirm current operators and schedules at the time of booking.
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Sightseeing & Island-Hopping
Where: Port Blair, Havelock, Neil, and the Ross & Smith twin islands. May sightseeing spans the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Chidiya Tapu’s sunset point, the mud volcanoes and limestone caves of Baratang, and the beaches of Radhanagar and Elephant Beach. Land-based sights run year-round; the inter-island ferries that connect them are reliable early in May and can be cancelled on rough-sea days late in the month, so keep your Havelock/Neil hops in the first half if you can.
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Parasailing
Parasailing runs off Havelock Island. Harnessed to a parachute and towed behind a speedboat, you are lifted over the water for an aerial view of the coastline. It is a calm-sea activity, so it runs well in early May and is among the first water sports suspended once the seas turn rough late in the month. Pair it with a Havelock beach day to make the most of a clear morning.
Helicopter Tour
Helicopters fly from the Havelock helipad and Port Blair. Inter-island helicopter services and joy flights deliver fast, panoramic island views and a quick hop between distant points. Availability depends on weather and seats, so book ahead and treat clear early-May days as your best window. Heavy monsoon showers later in the month can delay flights.
Dolphin Watching
Dolphin trips head out to North Passage and Lalaji Bay, reached by boat from Port Blair or Long Island. Out in the quieter channels you have a good chance of spotting dolphins in calm morning water. Being a boat-based outing, it is best in the first half of May and subject to the same rough-sea cancellations as ferries once the monsoon arrives.
History Tour — Cellular Jail & Samudrika Museum
Both Cellular Jail (Atlanta Point) and the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum (Haddo) sit in Port Blair. The Cellular Jail, the colonial-era “Kala Pani” prison, and its evening light-and-sound show, together with the Samudrika museum’s marine and island exhibits, are entirely indoor and land-based and run year-round. That makes it the ideal wet-weather plan, exactly what to do on a rainy late-May afternoon when the boats are not running.
Bird Watching
Chidiya Tapu lies about 25 km from Port Blair. Its forest-and-shore edge is the islands’ best-known birding spot, home to parakeets, sea eagles and emerald doves, plus a celebrated sunset viewpoint. You can reach it by road in any weather, which makes it one of the more monsoon-proof things to do in late May. Come early in the morning for the best sightings.
Looking for more options? Calm early-May mornings are also good for kayaking in Andaman’s mangrove creeks, and our full guide to places to visit in Andaman maps the sights by island so you can group them efficiently around the weather.
What’s Open and What’s Closed in Late May
Once the monsoon arrives around the third week, the islands do not shut down — but what you can do shifts from the water to the land. Knowing the split lets you plan a late-May trip that still works.
Runs all month (monsoon-proof)
- Cellular Jail and its evening light-and-sound show
- Radhanagar, Elephant and Bharatpur beaches for walks and swims (with normal sea caution)
- Samudrika Naval Marine Museum and other indoor/heritage sights in Port Blair
- Chidiya Tapu birding and sunset point, and other road-accessible viewpoints
Weather-dependent (can pause on rough-sea days late May)
- Scuba diving, snorkelling and other water sports
- Inter-island ferries to Havelock and Neil (reduced or weather-cancelled)
- Parasailing, sea-plane and helicopter joy flights
- Boat trips to North Bay, Ross Island and dolphin-watching channels
In late May, build your core itinerary around land-and-heritage plans and treat any water activity as a bonus you confirm 24-48 hours ahead, weather permitting.
Off-Season Value and What to Pack for May
May is one of Andaman’s best-value windows. As the peak season winds down and the monsoon nears, hotels and flights ease off their December-January highs and availability opens up, with the lowest rates of the stretch falling in late May. Travellers consistently report easier bookings and quieter beaches than in the high season. We have kept specific discount percentages out of this guide until they are confirmed against current operator data, but the direction is clear. May trades guaranteed water sports for better prices and fewer crowds.
What to pack for Andaman in May
- Light, breathable cotton or linen — daytime is hot and humid (~30-32°C, ~80% humidity)
- A quality sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for strong pre-monsoon sun
- A compact rain jacket or travel umbrella, especially for travel after mid-May
- Quick-dry clothing and a dry bag for boat days and sudden showers
- Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen and water shoes for the beaches and snorkelling
- Mosquito repellent and any personal medication — pharmacies are limited on smaller islands
How to Plan an Andaman Trip in May (Step by Step)
A May trip rewards a little sequencing. These seven steps build an itinerary that protects your water-based plans and keeps a wet-weather backup ready.
- Pick your half of the month first. Want guaranteed scuba and ferries? Target 1-15 May. Want the lowest prices and quietest islands, with flexibility on boat days? Late May works.
- Fly into Port Blair (Veer Savarkar International Airport), the single gateway to the islands, and plan one buffer day in case of weather delays.
- Front-load your water activities. Schedule scuba, island-hopping ferries and boat trips in the first days of your trip, when seas are most likely calm.
- Book Havelock and Neil ferries in advance for early in your stay; keep later inter-island hops flexible so a rough-sea cancellation does not strand your plans.
- Build a wet-weather day around land-based sights — Cellular Jail, the Samudrika museum, Chidiya Tapu — so a rainy afternoon never means a wasted one.
- Pack for heat and rain both (see the packing list above) and carry a dry bag for any boat day.
- Lock accommodation early for the best May rates, and choose a customisable package so dates and activities can flex with the weather.
Most travellers find 5-6 days enough to cover Port Blair, Havelock and Neil at a comfortable May pace. You can have a customisable Andaman tour package built around your exact May dates so the itinerary already accounts for the monsoon timing
Andaman in May : Frequently Asked Questions
May is a strong value window. As peak season ends and the monsoon nears, hotel and flight prices ease from their December-January highs and availability improves, with the lowest rates of the stretch usually in late May. You trade guaranteed water sports for better prices and quieter beaches. Exact discounts vary by operator and date, so confirm current rates when you book rather than relying on a fixed percentage.
Pack for heat, humidity and possible rain. Bring light cotton or linen clothing, strong sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for the intense pre-monsoon sun, plus a compact rain jacket or umbrella — especially for travel after mid-May. Add quick-dry clothes and a dry bag for boat days, swimwear and reef-safe sunscreen for the beaches, and mosquito repellent. Carry any personal medication, as pharmacies are limited on the smaller islands.
Five to six days is the comfortable sweet spot for May, covering Port Blair, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep) without rushing. That length lets you front-load water activities into the calmer early days and keep a land-based buffer day for weather. With a week you can add Baratang’s limestone caves or a Ross & Smith day trip; with only 3-4 days, focus on Port Blair and a single island.
Early May (1-15) is better for most travellers: calm clear seas, full scuba and ferry operations, and only scattered rain, at easing shoulder-season prices. Late May (16-31) brings the lowest prices and the quietest, greenest islands, but the monsoon means rough seas, cancelled ferries and paused water sports. Choose early May for an activity-led trip and late May for a budget, slow-paced one with land-based plans.
For weather and water activities, yes. Early May still has dry, calm conditions and full water sports, whereas by June the monsoon is well established across the islands with consistent rain and rough seas. June’s advantage is even lower prices and the lush, green look of the islands. If you want the best balance of decent weather and value, early May beats June; if rock-bottom prices matter most and you accept the rain, compare them side by side. See our full guide to Andaman in June for the monsoon-month picture.
Yes — and the water is ideal, at a warm ~29-30°C. Diving runs normally in the first half of May with good visibility off Havelock, Neil and North Bay, and operators cater to certified divers and first-timers alike. The caveat is timing: once the monsoon sets in around the third week, dives are paused on rough-sea days. Book early-May dates and a flexible operator if diving is central to your trip.
No. Indian citizens do not need a permit or passport to travel to the Andaman Islands at any time of year, including May — a government-issued photo ID is enough for domestic flights and check-ins. Some areas near tribal reserves and certain islands still require separate permits regardless of season, and foreign nationals have their own entry rules, so confirm requirements for any specific island you plan to visit.
May is a month of two halves: a dry, calm, value-rich first fortnight that still delivers the full Andaman experience, and a wetter, rougher final week as the islands take India’s first monsoon rain. Pick your dates around that split — early May for water sports and balance, late May for budget and solitude — and the islands reward you either way. When you are ready, build your trip around your exact May dates with a customisable Andaman tour package, or browse the Andaman travel guide to plan the islands in depth.
