Latest Information on Travelling to Andaman Islands?
  • Andaman Tourism Opens

    Updated: 14 Aug 2021

    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.

  • What is the advisory to travel to North & Middle Andaman District?

    Updated: 14 Aug 2021

    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

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  • All asymptomatic fully vaccinated persons coming to these islands from mainland are exempted from the requirement of carrying RT-PCR negative test report,irrespective of the type of vaccine received and country of origin. Such fullyvaccinated individuals shall produce the final vaccination certificate at the origin airport, sea port in the mainland and at Port Blair Airport / sea port.
  • Alt asymptomatic children below 5 years of age are exempted from carrying RT-PCR negative test report and further RT-PCR testing at Port Blair Airport.
  • 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 to travel to Port Blair from the mainland, as is the practice now. Such an RT-PCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to commencement of journey from the origin airport connecting Port Blair. Such passengers will also have to undergo additional RT-PCR test on arrival at Port Blair. Such passengers shall remain in self-quarantine till the arrival of the test report.
  • If a passenger on arrival is tested positive then, the prescribed quarantine protocol is to be followed.
  • All Airlines shall ensure strict compliance of this order and observance of COVID Appropriate Behaviour. Any non-compliance shall invite action under Disaster Management Act and other applicable laws. 
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General Guidelines defined for traveling to Andaman Islands during COVID :

  1. The Tourism Activities are permitted only in South Andaman & North & Middle Andaman District except Nicobar District.
  2. Persons above 65 years of age, persons with home co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years advised not to travel for tourism purposes.
  3. Tourists/Visitors who are at higher risk due to some medical history are advised to take extra precautions.
  4. Tourists/visitors shall minimize contact with other staff and visitors as far as possible and zero contact policy should be followed at all tourist destinations.
  5. All tourists/visitors shall be briefed by the hotel concerned about do’s & don’ts to be mandatorily followed during their stay and movements.
  6. While travelling tourists/visitors should wear a face mask and carry their own sanitizer and wet wipes for personal use.
  7. At all tourist destinations, staff must wear face masks and wash/sanitize hands regularly while performing their duties.
  8. Arogya Setu App shall be mandatory for all incoming tourists/visitors.
  9. Respiratory etiquettes to be strictly followed. This involves strict practice of covering one’s mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing off used tissues properly after use.
  10. 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 rate as specified or to the designated hospital/ Covid 19 care centre on case to case basis.
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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.

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  • Regular flights to Port Blair (the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) are operational now.
  • There are direct flights from Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Delhi.
  • Public transports like cabs, taxis, and bus services are also functional.
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Travellers should carefully follow social distancing norms and wear masks as well. Also, before making any booking, they should refer to the latest travel news on the government website of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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Karmatang Beach at Mayabunder Island

Karmatang Beach at Mayabunder Island
Date : 29 Aug 2024

Considered as the most stunning beach of Mayabunder, Karmatang Beach is twenty kilometers away from the town. A shimmering stretch of white sand and crystal clear waters, it is a turtle nesting ground for Olive Ridley Turtles and Andaman Green Turtles. You must include Karmatang Beach in your Andaman Itinerary.

The shoreline of Mayabunder Island is fringed with mangroves and the beaches that are not as popular as the ones on other islands. But with its long stretch of grey volcanic sand and shallow waters, Karmatang Beach is extremely beautiful. If you have enough time to spend here, then you will be amazed to see its nearby secluded islands that offer fantastic opportunities for jungle experiences and snorkeling. If you are a nature enthusiast who seeks an extraordinary experience close to nature and away from the crowds, then Mayabunder will definitely appeal to you.

A town and a tehsil in the northern part of Middle Andaman Island, Andaman archipelago, Mayabunder was settled in the British colonial period by immigrants from Myanmar and ex-convicts from mainland India. Administratively, Mayabunder is the headquarters of the North and Middle Andaman district. It is linked with Port Blair by the Andaman Trunk Road (242 kilometers) and by ferry (136 kilometers). The best time to visit is from October to March. The temperature is comparatively cool during this time. 

Our Package

Fun things to do

Observing Turtle Nesting (seasonal)- Home to a few beautiful and scenic beaches, Mayabunder is also known for seasonal turtle nesting. You have to visit Karmatang Beach if you want to witness this natural marvel. It is the most stunning beach of Mayabunder and is only twenty kilometers away from the town. Along with being a turtle nesting ground for Olive Ridley Turtles and Andaman Green Turtles, the beach is a shimmering stretch of white sand and crystal clear waters. Observing turtle nesting on Karmatang Beach is one of the most popular reasons tourists travel to Mayabunder. It is a highly coveted site to see. It is also known as ‘Turtle Island’ and the overall experience of witnessing everything is one-of-a-kind. It promises to leave you awestruck owing to its glorious entirety. It is a unique experience and you can definitely make everyone feel jealous back at home! Such is the grandeur of this whole experience.

Going For Boat Rides- At Karmatang Beach, you can take joy in the flawless beauty of looking at colorful fishes splashing around the water along with corals. With a steamboat ride, you can escape into the thick mangrove brooks just twelve kilometers from Mayabunder. In addition to that, a nearly twenty-minute boat ride from the Mayabunder jetty will take you through tall and lush coconut plantations spread across every direction in Avis Island.

Along with hammock-sitting at its serene beaches, Mayabunder has a lot to offer. If you want to paddle through the clear waters in total bliss, then you should go for steamboat rides and dunghi journeys. Except in the month of July owing to storms, you can have fun while riding on a boat at any time of the year. The island is not that crowded as it is still somewhat an offbeat destination in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The price range for the rides is also pocket-friendly. 

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Planning a visit 

A few hours are enough to visit Mayabunder. There are convoy restrictions between Rangat-Baratang and Baratang-Port Blair. You cross these paths on the way to reach or go back from Mayabunder. Thus, there are restrictions on visiting hours for sightseeing spots. For making this trip happen, careful time management and pre-planning are needed. There are a few ways by which you can pay a visit to Mayabunder. Two of the best options are explained below:

  1. While coming back to Port Blair from Diglipur- You can proceed towards Mayabunder and visit Dhaninallah Beach (falls in Rangat). After reaching Mayabunder, you can visit Karmatang Beach, Rampur Beach, and German Jetty. Stay overnight. The next morning, you can return to Port Blair.
  2. While going towards Diglipur- Have an overnight stay in Rangat. The next morning, leave for Mayabunder and visit Rampur Beach, Karmatang Beach, and German Jetty. Proceed to Diglipur later in the evening, and stay overnight.

These options are the two among many other alternative combinations that you can design on the basis of your interests, the total number of days you have, and your decided budget.

Nearby places to stay and eat

Still growing to gain popularity, Karmatang Beach has minimum tourist flow at present. The limited accommodations available here have limited amenities. So you should not expect services like television in rooms, room service, wifi connection, etc. while staying here. The hotel properties in Mayabunder are very basic, hygienic, and a few provide sea view. Some of the best places to stay here are as follows:

  • Blue Bird Resort
  • Hotel Aashna
  • RG Hotel
  • Hotel Landfall
  • Sea and Sand 
  • APWD Guest House 

Make sure you have pre-bookings in Mayabunder. Therefore, making reservations from a local reliable tour operating company is highly recommended. Save yourself from the hassle of booking every little thing at the last minute.

Mayabunder is not the culinary capital of the Andamans but it does have various eateries that serve yummy food. There are shops as well that sell some refreshments and snacks. You can also find a few Chinese dishes as well. 

The local folks of Mayabunder run small food stalls, dhabas, or canteens. The best restaurants are mentioned below:

  • Hotel Sea and Sand
  • Carlo Restaurant & Bar
  • Hotel Payal Garden & Bar
  • JM Baxi Resort & Restaurant

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How to reach 

Karmatang Beach is 240 kilometers from Port Blair via road. Mayabunder is the nearest city connected to this beach. At regular intervals, ships, ferries, and buses ply from the capital town for Mayabunder. You can reach the beach by hiring a private cab and it will take just twenty minutes. Directly from Port Blair, Karmatang Beach is also accessible via the Grand Andaman Trunk Road.

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