In this final part of our three part series on Andaman beach reviews, we share info on 10 beaches of Andaman that sway between the yay and the nay.
Andaman Beach Reviews
Most Andaman beaches are picture postcard beautiful with white sand, emerald waters and magical sunsets. It is a near impossible task to decide which one to see and which one to miss. As a tourist, many of the beaches may end up looking similar too.
The idea here is to understand that some beaches have a certain speciality that makes it an absolute favourite with the crowd. There are other beaches which are equally beautiful but aren’t frequented by ‘regular’ tourists. And some beaches are strictly for the offbeat track.
In our 3-part series on Andaman beach reviews, we’ve tried to highlight the inherent quality these beaches embody and if they are really worth a visit.
Lalaji Bay
A popular beach on the Long Island, it is 6km from the main jetty and can be accessed using small boats or Dhingis. It has everything you want in an Andaman beach – white sand, turquoise waters and a line of green coconut trees near the shore. The water is good for snorkelling. But we suggest you visit this beach to sit back and relax and soak in the best of Andaman. Tip: Carry water and food if you intend to stay longer than a couple of hours.
Sitapur Beach
A tranquil beach that generally stays out of the tourist glare, Sitapur is also called the ‘dawn’ beach because it offers you a spectacular sunrise. There are many beaches in Andaman and lots of good sunrises but the experience on the Sitapur beach is best experienced than told. The beach is a photographer’s delight and the natural limestone formations make for a great view too.
Radhanagar Beach
Beach No. 7 or Radhanagar Beach is beyond doubt the best beach in Andaman. In fact it is also the best beach in Asia according to Trip Advisor’s Traveller’s choice this year but also the 8th best beach in the world. There is no way you can miss Havelock if you visit Andaman!
Ross and Smith Island beaches – The white sandbar beach
The islands of Ross and Smith are connected by a natural white sandbar. It is quite an incredible sight to have the sea on both ends and a natural sand bridge to help you go island hopping. It is one of the best photography locations in Andaman so you should definitely add it to your itinerary.
Jolly Buoy Beach
Jolly Buoy is among the well known places for viewing live corals and is packed with underwater activities. To get to Jolly Buoy, you’ll first have to go to Wandoor, which is 30kms from Port Blair and then spend another hour to get to Jolly Buoy. Your tour operator is likely to advise an early start to the day so that you get to spend enough time on the beach to do your activities. It is quite a favourite with tourists and most people take up the glass bottom boat ride here.. It is also a no-plastic zone so be careful not to carry anything you don’t need. Though the beach is popular for swimming,
Neil’s Cove
Lagoons offer an enchanting experience and are a must visit in your Andaman tour. Neil’s cove is one such lagoon North West of Radhanagar beach. Since the beach is west-facing, you will get an amazing sunset view. It’s prohibited to swim here at dawn and dusk.
Kalapathar beach
Though this is a white sand beach, it gets its name from the black rocks (kala pathar) that are present on the shoreline. The nearby village is also called the kalapathar village. The beach is not frequented by locals or tourists as the rocks can be sharp and don’t make wading into the water or walk on the shoreline easy.
Vijaynagar beach
This is another beach in Havelock that follows the picture postcard look. If you have already visited quite of few like these by now, you can give this a skip. Typically, it offers a serene non-crowded environment to relax and enjoy
Merk Bay beach
Known as one of the most beautiful beaches in Andaman, Merk Bay is about an hour long dinghy ride away from Long Island Jetty. The beach is on the North Passage island which is uninhabited. 95% of the island is under the forest reserve and hence you’ll not find any activity around the beach. During low tides, the beach makes for a great place to have a quite way and enjoy the sun sea and sand
Raman Bageecha
Raman Bageecha is a nice beach located near the Rangat Jetty. It is off beat and isn’t frequented by people as it doesn’t have optimum conditions for swimming. The water tends to get muddy and hence you don’t get to do any underwater activities either. The beach is good if you want to spend an afternoon sipping coconut water on the shaded shore.
Beaches of Andaman and Nicobar – What to see and what to skip – Part 1