Andaman Tourism Opens: The Andaman & Nicobar administration has announced that all tourist spots in the South Andaman district will be opened for tourism activities with immediate effect 8 Feb 2022.
The tourists are allowed to visit Baratang/North & Middle Andaman on production of double dose covid certificate/ All other passengers viz. unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers (those who have taken only 1S1 dose of COVID vaccine) shall have to produce RT-PCR negative test report
General Guidelines defined for traveling to Andaman Islands during COVID :
What are the guidelines for testing for tourists coming to Andaman after August 03 2021?
On arrival at Port Blair :
1. The tourists need to carry COVID-19 negative test report from mainland based 1CMR approved lab using Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR). However, the sample for RTPCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to starting the journey from the origin station. (For e.g. if the tourist takes a flight from Delhi at 0600 hrs. on 1st September, 2021, the sample for RTPCR test should have been taken not before 0600 hrs. on 30th August, 2021).
2. The tourists/visitors on arrival at Port Blair airport have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 screening with RTPCR test free of cost. Thereafter the tourists/visitors are allowed to move to their respective hotels. However, they will have to be under quarantine at Port Blair in their hotel rooms until the result of RTPCR tests are received. In case of RTPCR positive test results, the tourists/visitors shall remain in
institutional quarantine in hotels notified by the Hoteliers Association in consent with the A&N Administration, on rates as specified or to the designated hospital/ Covid-19 care centre on case-to-case basis.
3. Tourists may also have to undergo random Rapid Antigen Test conducted from time to time on payment basis as prescribed by A8N Administration.
What if the tourists test positive after arriving at the Andaman Islands?
If the tourists tests positive during their stay in the Islands, he/she will need to undergo institutional isolation as per existing health protocols. The
cost of such isolation for govt. facility will be paid by the tourists as fixed by the administration from time to time.
If the patient wants to stay at hotels, he/she can stay in the hotels if all the conditions below are met:
a) Patients are not symptomatic and not more than 60 years old.
b) Request/ undertaking is made by patient in writing.
c)lf allowed by doctors.
Hotels will make necessary arrangements to designate a part of their rooms for institutional isolation for this purpose.
Don’t we all wish that one morning we’ll just wake up to a bright sunny day and look out of the window to see an incredibly vast and deep blue sea and white sandy beaches? Well, every morning in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is exactly like that. Not just the view, there’s an endless list of exciting things that you can do in the Andamans starting from scuba diving to exploring mangrove forests and even visiting remote islands.
Speaking of visiting a remote island, you’d be surprised to hear that there is a volcano at Barren Island in the Andamans, which is the only active volcano in South Asia. Read this article to know more about this amazing volcanic island and how to get a charter boat to Barren Island:
First, like, as we already know by now, Barren Island is the only active volcanic Island in South Asia. It sits along the Indo-Burmese tectonic plate and is the only active volcano in the series of volcanoes from Myanmar to Sumatra.
People from across the world visit Barren Island to observe this brilliant phenomenon. While you cannot explore the island on foot, you can do quite a few activities close to it. Barren Island attracts a lot of people for activities like scuba diving and fishing.
The only and best way to go to Barren Island is in a charter boat. Barren Island is located in a remote location a little further away from the other islands in the Andamans. As such, no regular passenger ferries go to the island. You can hire a private charter boat to take a day’s trip.
Most charter boats to Barren Island start early in the morning and can accommodate up to 8 people. People usually travel in groups to avoid the high cost, but you can also book a boat alone if you want to make the journey alone. Of course, the boat staff and instructors will accompany you. Before you make the trip to Barren Island, you’d also need a tourist permit from the government. The permit usually comes at INR 1000 for Indian nationals and around INR 3500 for foreign nationals.
There are a few travel agencies in the Andamans where you can book a place in a charter boat to Barren Island. The cost of the ticket is around INR 20,000 per person. In most cases, you’d have to book the whole boat which would make your total cost for the trip around INR 130,000. The charter boat package to Barren Island usually includes breakfast, lunch, and other snacks as well as beverages. You’d also be provided with fishing, snorkelling and scuba gear. You’d be interested to know that some charter boats can take you for a Barren Island trip even late at night.
There are two ways for you to go to Barren Island. One is from Port Blair and the other is from Havelock. If you are in Havelock, it would make sense for you to go to Barren Island directly from Havelock, as the distance to the island is less than that from Port Blair. Barren Island is around 100 km from Havelock Island and may take you 2-3 hours to take the journey. The island is 140 km away from Port Blair, which means that it will take you at least 4 hours to reach the island from the capital.
Visiting Barren Island is usually an 8 to 9-hour long trip, so you should keep one day aside just for visiting the Island.
While you are not allowed to set foot on Barren Island, you can enjoy the activities around the island. There are many things that you can do near Barren Island. Here is a list of a few fund activities:
1. How can you go to Barren Island?
Answer: Public ferries do not go to Barren Island. The only way to visit the island is by charter boat.
2. Where can you get charter boats to Barren Island?
Answer: To go to Barren Island, you can get charter boats from either Port Blair or Havelock Island.
3. How far is Barren Island?
Answer: Barren Island is 140 km away from Port Blair, so it would take you around 3-4 hours to reach the island from the capital. From Havelock, Barren Island is 100 km away and would take you 2-3 hours.
4. How much time does the Barren Island trip take?
Answer: It can take you anything between 8-9 hours to explore Barren Island. The journey to and from the island will take up half your time.
5. Will you get a guide to Barren Island?
Answer: Yes, guides are usually part of the Charter Boats packages to Barren Island. They’ll be able to provide you with any information you require as well as help with all kinds of activities.
6. What kind of water sports can you do at Barren Island?
Answer: You can scuba dive and snorkel at Barren Island. However, you’d have to be an advanced-level scuba diver to be able to dive at Barren Island.
7. Do you need a permit to go to Barren Island?
Answer: Yes, you need a tourist permit to visit Barren Island. You may have to pay between INR 1000-3500 depending on your nationality.
8. Can you stay at Barren Island?
Answer: Unfortunately, being a volcanic island, Barren Island is uninhabited. Tourists are also not allowed to stay on the island. you can also visit for a day trip. Also, you cannot explore the island either. Most people enjoy the water activities close to the island or just watch the active volcano from the charter boats.
9. What is the best time to visit Barren Island?
Answer: The best time to visit Barren Island is between November to February.
10. Can you go to Barren Island for game fishing?
Answer: Yes, Barren Island is famous for game fishing.
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