Winter In Andaman: Weather, Best Month (Dec vs Jan vs Feb) & Things To Do

All three winter months are excellent — the differences are about crowds, price and a few seasonal events, not weather. Use this matrix to match the month to your trip. This is the single most useful comparison for planning, and it is the one most winter guides leave out.

Bottom line: choose January for the best diving and the Island Tourism Festival, late December only if you want the Christmas–New Year buzz (and will pay peak rates), and February for the best balance of warm seas, smaller crowds and lower prices. For a deeper month-only weather breakdown, see our companion guide to Andaman in December.

Andaman winter runs December through February. Daytime temperatures stay around 28–30°C and nights rarely drop below 22–23°C — this is a tropical winter, not a Himalayan one. Humidity is at its lowest for the year, skies are mostly clear, and the northeast monsoon has tailed off, so rain is brief and uncommon. Sea conditions are calm, which is exactly why ferries run reliably and water sports operate at full schedule.

Do not pack woolens. A common myth — repeated on many travel sites — tells visitors to carry mufflers, woolen shawls and warm jackets for an Andaman winter. That advice is wrong and will leave you carrying dead weight. The temperature never approaches sweater territory. Here is what genuinely earns space in your bag:

• Light cotton clothes, shorts and quick-dry tees for the day; one light cardigan or shrug for an early-morning ferry or a late beach walk.
• Swimwear, a rash guard for snorkelling, and reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 50). The winter sun is still strong.
• Flip-flops plus one pair of closed shoes for the Baratang/Saddle Peak trek and rocky coves like Kalapathar.
• A hat, polarised sunglasses, a dry bag for boat rides, and any prescription medicines (island pharmacies are limited outside Port Blair).

What about cyclones? The cyclone-prone window for the Bay of Bengal runs October to early December, the tail of the retreating monsoon, so the first week or two of December can occasionally catch a passing system. Mid-December through February, though, is statistically the calmest, driest stretch of the year. Check the IMD forecast a few days before you travel rather than writing off the season.

Winter unlocks the activities that monsoon and shoulder months restrict — clear water, calm crossings and reliable visibility. These are the experiences worth building your itinerary around.

*Costs are indicative per person and vary by operator and season; confirm at the counter. They are not bookable rates.

Dive and snorkel while the water is at its clearest

Winter is the only season most operators rate as “excellent” for visibility. Beginners can do a guided Discover Scuba dive at Havelock or North Bay with no certification, while certified divers head to sites like The Wall and Dixon’s Pinnacle off Havelock. If you would rather stay dry, the sea walk at North Bay lets you stand on the seabed in a helmet, and snorkelling at Elephant Beach — reached by a short boat ride from Havelock jetty — puts living coral within arm’s reach. Jolly Buoy (open in winter; part of Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park) is a plastic-free snorkelling island that closes seasonally, so check the open dates for your travel week.

Watch turtles nest — a winter-only event

December to February is the start of the turtle nesting season in North and Middle Andaman. Olive Ridley, Green and the giant Leatherback turtles come ashore at night to lay eggs at Kalipur beach near Diglipur and Cuthbert Bay near Mayabunder. Guided nesting walks with the forest department are a quiet, low-impact way to see this — and you will not find it on a summer itinerary.

Time your trip with the Island Tourism Festival

Andaman’s biggest cultural event, the Island Tourism Festival, is held in early January in Port Blair (the 2026 edition ran 5–15 January; exact 2027 dates are announced by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration). Expect ten days of cultural performances, the traditional Nicobari Hodi boat race, craft stalls and food. If culture and atmosphere matter to you, plan January around it; if you prefer quiet beaches, aim for February instead.

Winter’s calm seas make the full island circuit possible — including the longer ferry runs and tide-dependent sights that are awkward in other seasons. Here are the places that reward a winter visit, with how to reach each.

Two corrections worth making, because the wrong version is widely copied: the famous tour-bus Limestone Caves are at Baratang (a day trip through the Jarawa tribal reserve convoy), while Diglipur — far in North Andaman — has the separate Alfred Caves and Saddle Peak, the archipelago’s highest point at 732 m. And the popular snorkelling spot off Havelock is Elephant Beach, not an “Elephant Island”.

There are two ways in — a short flight or a multi-day ship. In winter, flights run on time and the sea route is calm, so both are reliable.

The airport is Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) in Port Blair, now officially Sri Vijaya Puram. Private cruise-style ships are infrequent and book out months ahead, so most winter travellers fly into Port Blair and use inter-island ferries from there.

Winter is peak season, so the single biggest factor in cost and choice is how early you book. Follow these steps in order.

1. Pick your month using the matrix above — January for diving and culture, late December for festive crowds, February for value and quiet beaches.
2. Book flights to Port Blair (IXZ) 4–6 weeks ahead; Christmas–New Year fares spike the earliest, so lock those first.
3. Reserve inter-island ferries (Makruzz / Nautika / Green Ocean) the moment dates are fixed — winter sailings sell out, especially Port Blair → Havelock.
4. Block 2 nights in Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), 1 in Neil (Shaheed Dweep) and 1–2 in Port Blair for a balanced 4–5 day trip.
5. Pre-book high-demand activities — Discover Scuba at Havelock, the North Bay sea walk, and Jolly Buoy permits (capped daily) — before you arrive.
6. Buy your Cellular Jail Light & Sound tickets for an evening slot; the show is closed on Mondays and national holidays, so plan around that.
7. Pack light tropical clothing and reef-safe sunscreen — no woolens — and carry some cash, as card and UPI coverage thins out beyond Port Blair.

• Day 1 — Port Blair: Arrive, visit Corbyn’s Cove, then the Cellular Jail Light & Sound show in the evening.
• Day 2 — Havelock (Swaraj Dweep): Morning ferry; afternoon at Radhanagar Beach for sunset.
• Day 3 — Havelock: Scuba or snorkelling at Elephant Beach; optional sea walk add-on.
• Day 4 — Neil (Shaheed Dweep): Ferry across; Laxmanpur sunset and the Natural Bridge at low tide.
• Day 5 — Return: Ferry to Port Blair, last-minute shopping, fly out.

Winter is peak season, so prices sit at the upper end of the year, with a sharp spike from 24 December to 2 January. The bands below are indicative per person for context — they are not bookable rates.

A customisable winter package takes the booking maze — flights, ferries, permits, stays — off your plate. You can compare verified Andaman tour packages and have one tailored to your winter dates, or browse the full Andaman travel guide for destination-wide planning.

Winter is the season Andaman is built for: warm-but-comfortable days, calm seas, the clearest water of the year and a full slate of activities — minus the woolens you do not need. Pick January for diving and culture, February for value and quiet, late December for festive energy, then book early because peak season fills up fast. When you are ready to turn this into a real plan, a tailored Andaman winter package can handle the flights, ferries, permits and stays so you can focus on the islands.