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.
When was the last time you dreamt of a beach vacation? Maybe just 5 minutes back? Let this article be the sign that you should stop dreaming and plan a beach vacation right away. And where would you go? The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, of course. Enjoy swinging under lush palm trees while your feet gently brush against the soft and white sand and your eyes are drenched in a year’s worth of vitamin sea.
Now, if you want to add a pinch of adventure to your vacation, hop on a charter boat and take a luxurious trip to the majestic Barren Island, an active volcano hiding a few miles away from Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Barren Island is a volcanic island located in the Andaman Islands. It is famous for being the only active volcano along the chain of islands from Myanmar to Sumatra. The volcanic island was first recorded to have erupted in the 1700s, but, after almost 100 years, it erupted again in the 2000s. Being the only active volcanic island in South Asia, it attracts a lot of visitors from across the world.
You cannot, however, stay at Barren Island, as it is an uninhabited island, meaning there are no human settlements on the island. The only living creatures found on the island are feral goats, rodents, bats, and a few bird species. This is because the volcano makes the living conditions on the island very harsh. Also, living near an active volcano puts a lot of risk on human life.
The beach here is black and covered in ash, unlike the rest of the white beaches of the Andamans. Given these reasons, there aren’t any resorts or hotels on the island either. Even though you can go on a trip close to Barren Island, you cannot step onto the island for your safety.
However, the island and the volcano caldera look truly majestic even from a distance. Also, the water close to the island is incredibly clear and full of rich marine life.
Imagine sailing in the high seas, deep blue water splashing on all sides and a gorgeous lava island in the front. That’s Barren Island for you. The majestic volcanic island stands tall amid the Andaman Sea. If you crave adventure, there’s nothing better than going on a trip to Barren Island. It is South Asia’s only active volcano, so expect the trip to be a rare lifetime experience for you and your friends. Also, you can snorkel near Barren Island. Wouldn’t it be great to explore the beautiful marine life near a volcano?
Barren Island is accessible from two places in the Andamans. One is Port Blair, and the other is Havelock Island. You cannot take a regular ferry to the volcanic island, as only private charter boats go there. You will have to make a journey of 2-4 hours to reach the uninhabited and remote island. You can book a Barren Island tour package that covers an entire day’s trip and includes meals, beverages, guides, and any kind of gear you would be needing for a water activity.
Since Barren Island is a remote island, you cannot get a regular passenger ferry to the island. Booking a private charter boat is the only way to visit the island. A boat can accommodate up to 8 people and will cost you around INR 130,000-150,000. It is advisable to go in a group if you want to visit Charter Island. The per-head cost can go to around INR 20,000 in that case. Of course, the cost is for the entire package, which includes food and other activities.
Also, before going to Barren Island, you’d need a permit from the government, as the general public is not allowed to visit and engage in water activities around the island without permission. If you are an Indian national, you’d have to pay around INR 1000 for the permit. Foreign nationals are required to pay around INR 3500.
The best time to visit Barren Island is from November to February. The weather is great and pleasant around that time. Since the island is in a tropical region, it doesn’t get cold either. However, that means that it gets very hot and humid during summer. There are also greater chances of heavy rain and storms in the Andamans during the same time. As such, it is not a great idea to visit the island from May onwards until August-September.
There are so many activities you can do at Barren Island. If you love fishing and would like to try some game fishing, Barren Island is the best place to test your fishing skills. The water near Barren Island is alive with a variety of tunas and marlins. There are also many varieties of small fish that you can catch. The boat guides who’ll help you with the fishing usually know the best spots for fishing, so you wouldn’t have to wait all day just to catch a fish.
Another activity that a lot of people do around Barren Island is snorkelling. In snorkelling, you will be able to have a panoramic view of the underwater life on Barren Island, including the unique ash-colored sandbanks. Since the water near the volcanic island is very clear, you will be able to see different kinds of wonderful sea life gliding through the water. Your charter boat package would come with snorkelling gear and a guide, but you’d have to arrange for it at the time of booking the boat.
Scuba diving is by far the best water activity available in the Andamans. While there are many diving spots near Havelock Island, the ones on Barren Island are considered to be among the best. Purple Haze, Barren Garden, and Manta Point are some of the amazing diving sites that have many remarkable structures and vibrant corals. However, you’d need an advanced-level scuba certification to be able to dive at Barren Island.
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