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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Ray Hills at Mayabunder Island

Ray Hills at Mayabunder Island
Date : 29 Aug 2024

Planning Your Visit to Ray Hills

Mayabunder is the headquarters of the North and Middle Andaman District. A small town located in the northern part of Middle Andaman, it can be a preferred place for those looking for an exciting adventure as well as exploration. One of the sought-after attraction here are Ray Hills and it would be a great decision to include this tourist hotspot in your travel itinerary.

One of the newly developed eco-tourism destinations in the Andaman Islands, Ray Hills house eco guesthouses. Here, you can indulge in various enthralling activities like elephant safaris, wilderness trails, rock climbing, and angling. Laying bare the beauty of nature and wilderness at its best, the hills let you explore the forest in detail. It is an eco-village that is a haven of virgin woods adorned with pristine waterways.

Our Package

Highlights

A trip to explore the natural marvels of Ray Hills means a trip to the outskirts of the Andaman Islands. It is near to the organic life and far from the busy and crowded life. The place is extremely soothing and pleasant. There is no connectivity to the internet, which is a blessing in disguise! Here, you will be completely detached from the contemporary world. You will be able to focus on making the most of your vacations. All you would do is relax, capture beautiful moments inside your eyes, and of course, thank yourself to explore this paradise before moving ahead. 

But if you want to do something different and rare that not many tourists do, then you should keep a couple of hours for Ray Hills in Mayabunder. Known for its natural wonders, this less-frequented destination is impressive and secluded, and is endowed with unique magnificence. You will feel as if you are in the lap of nature away from the hustle-bustle of the busy city life.

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Overview

A village of Mayabunder county, it is maintained by the Andaman Forest and Plantation Development Corporation. It is completely environmental-friendly and plastic-free. If you just want to have a lazy time and relax, then this point of interest is a must-visit. And for those who are adventure seekers, the place has a number of exciting activities to offer. You can also have a lovely picnic here with your family or friends. The experience would be peaceful and fun-filled with a stunning backdrop.

Things to Do

There are a number of interesting and exciting activities that you can do when at Ray Hills. Some of them are as follows:

  • Wilderness trail for hiking
  • Elephant safari
  • Rock climbing
  • Angling
  • Trekking

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Nearby Hotels

Being a very remote destination just like any other island in the North and Middle Andaman Island, you should not look for any luxurious stay. Still growing to gain popularity, Mayabunder has minimum tourist flow at present.

The limited number of accommodations available here has 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 views.

Some of the best places to stay when visiting Ray Hills are mentioned below:

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

Nearby Restaurants

The local folks of Mayabunder run small food stalls, dhabas, and canteens. The eateries are nearby the tourist spots and the main market area. The best restaurants are as follows:

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

How to Reach

Ray Hill is located at a distance of twenty minutes via boat ride from Mayabunder jetty. The origin to start your journey to Mayabunder via any mode of transport is the capital of Andaman Island- Port Blair. Reaching there is quite easy. You can opt for any mode as per your comfort and budget.

  • By bus- Direct government-operated buses and buses run by the private sector
  • By government ferry- Direct ferry from Port Blair and combination of ferry and bus
  • By private cab

You can reach Mayabunder via buses from Port Blair that head daily on Andaman Trunk Road via Rangat and Baratang. The buses leave from Port Blair at around 4 am and are available till 11 am. It is a tiring nine to ten hours’ bumpy ride through parts of dense jungle and with ferries linking the islands. On the ATR, you may also spot the Jarawa tribe. But you should not click their photographs, give them anything or communicate with them in any way. Such behavior is legally punishable. 

Mayabunder is an undercover destination that is located 242 kilometers by road and 136 kilometers by ferry from Port Blair. It falls between Diglipur and Rangat. Its villages are scarcely populated with people majorly speaking Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. Mayabunder is mostly visited by those tourists who are looking for something rare. Still not commercialised completely, the place is still growing as a tourist destination. Thus, it has limited infrastructures and less frequent connectivity with Port Blair. The town is less explored due to less information about the place and lesser-known ways of its accessibility. 

The best time to visit Ray Hills is from October to March. The temperature is comparatively cool during this time ad one can enjoy a lot during these months.

Make sure you have pre-bookings in Mayabunder. Otherwise, there may be on-spot issues in searching and getting a good place to stay in. Therefore, making reservations from a local tour operating company is highly recommended. Andaman Island Travels is the most reliable name on the whole island as it is committed to customise holiday packages as per its clients’ requirements. Save yourself from the hassle of booking every little thing and trust its experienced staff to design your vacation offering you more than what you can imagine!

When in Mayabunder, visiting Ray Hills is a must owing to its natural beauty and magnificence. Photographers especially love this place as they get innumerable opportunities to capture picturesque beauty in their cameras.

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