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.
A bewitching sandbar joins Diglipur Island and Ross and Smith Islands. Dilglipur Island displays the serene and natural beauty of village life. This can be your base for trips to Kalipur Beach and Ramnagar Beach. If you love hiking, then you can trek to the Saddle Peak, which is a popular nature trail through the lush evergreen rain forest. It is a national park covering an area of 33 square miles. You can spot here animals like Andaman Wild pig, Water Monitor and the Imperial Pigeon.
If you crave sunny skies, white silky sand beaches, azure waters and swaying trees, then Ross and Smith Islands is the best travel destination for you in India. This full-fledges guide will help you in enjoying your tropical vacation to the country’s best-kept secret in the best way.
Ross & Smith Islands are actually two islands- Ross and Smith. They are joined together by a sandbar to make a single group of islands. You can visit these gorgeous islands only after taking a forest permit from the Forest Office at Diglipur. For Indian tourists, the permission costs Rs. 50 and for foreign tourists, the cost is Rs. 500. It can be obtained on all days (except Sunday) between 6 am and 2 pm. You can hire a fisherman’s boat or a speed boat from the Ariel Bay Jetty in Diglipur Island to reach Ross & Smith Islands. The ride takes around half an hour.
The most unique feature about these islands is that they are joined naturally by a sandbar. This sets them apart from the rest of the islands and makes them extremely gorgeous. The water here is crystal clear and gem green in color. This is a great spot for sunbathing and chilling on the shore. During high tide, the sandbar disappears leaving a trail of water between the two islands and during low tide, the sandbar appears again making the islands look magnificent. If you want to spot beautiful coral reefs and colorful species from the underwater, then you can visit the Marine Sanctuary on the island as well. The beach is surrounded by tropical forests. It is a preferred place for trekking and trail hiking by many tourists. You can also go for water adventure activities like scuba diving and snorkeling. The clear blue waters add a touch of magic to the whole experience. The islands are home to the Olive Ridley turtles. Therefore, if you are at the right place at the right time, then you can even witness the turtle nesting in Ross & Smith Islands.
How to reach Diglipur?
It is off the tourist trail probably because of its remoteness from the rest of the Andaman Islands. But you can reach Diglipur Island via road (Andaman Trunk Road) from Port Blair or by a ten-hour voyage through ferries or seaplanes. Some of the other modes of transportations are mentioned below:
By air- Veer Savarkar Airport is an international airport that is located in the capital town of Port Blair. It is the gateway to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Port Blair, is connected with Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and New Delhi by air. Air India, Jet Airways, Go Air, and Spice Jet airlines operate regular flights to Port Blair.
By train- No train facilities are available for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
By road- Regular bus services, including government and private both, are available from Port Blair to Diglipur via ATR.
Ross & Smith Islands: A Natural Wonder!
Are you ready to embark on the most incredible journey of your life? Just hop on!
Connected by just a thin fifty-meter long sandbar, the town islands are the most famous sight to behold in North Andaman Islands. The silky white sandbar descends inside the sea at times of high tide and surfaces up again during low tide. The shallow swimming area on one side and some amazing snorkeling on the other are divided by this bar. With the warm, crystal clear waters and the untamed virgin beaches, Ross & Smith Islands offers the most splendid background and landscape one could ever imagine!
The best part is that most of the time, you can cherish the whole sight by yourself as the beach is seldom crowded. The beach is surrounded by tropical forests, and the inner islands are a preferred place for nature trail hiking. The islands have limited amenities. You can find spacious bamboo huts with plenty of shade, changing rooms, and toilets.
Imagine how perfect and exciting it would be if you could go walking from one beautiful island to another connected by a quaint white sandbar amidst crystal blue waters. Offering you this lovely vacation memory, Ross and Smith Islands in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the only place here where you can have such an exclusive experience.
The islands are popularly known as the twin islands. A natural white sandbar connects the two islands. The turquoise blue waters, tropical forests, nature trails, virgin beaches, and a picturesque village make this a perfect destination. These are considered as the most beautiful islands in the archipelago.
Nearby Diglipur Island, tourists can travel to the Aerial Bay by road and secure permits. Then, a boat can be arranged for a trip to the islands. The blue-green clearwater beach comes to view with the North Andaman Islands peaks in the background after around twenty minutes. Stopping at Smith Island, the nature trails and tropical forests can be explored here first before hopping on to the neighboring Ross Island. The islands are known for their untouched coral reefs and turquoise waters. These are among the loveliest islands in the Andamans.
Taking a trip to Ross and Smith Islands will be a great addition to your travel journeys. They are home to white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. Your worries will be left behind when you indulge in a romantic stay with your partner or a fun trip with your best buddies.
The clear waters of Ross and Smith Islands reveal hues of blues and greens once the sun starts shining bright. Such a rare beauty! The color changes with the tide and the sun and you will be absolutely mesmerised by that sight. The island beaches are kissed by sea waves and offer an opportunity like snorkeling and sun-basking. Among the tropical forests, Smith Island offers a lovely nature trail. While taking a nice long walk amidst the natural beauty, you can enjoy the silence while having a conversation with the universe. You can be sure to spot some interesting sights of underwater creatures as the island and surrounding areas form a Marine Park.
You can spend your time at the white sandbar that connects to Ross Island, once you are getting back. This is a little piece of tropical paradise that comes straight out of a dream picture postcard. Photographs taken on this paradise will be among your most treasured memories. The unforgettable walk between the two islands definitely deserves a place in your travel bucket list!
After reaching Ross Island, you can spend quality time on the beach. If you are there during a non-peak season, there is a chance you can get the feeling of having the entire beach exclusively to yourself.
So what are you waiting for? Convince your family and pack your bags for the most memorable vacation. A trip to the Andaman Islands is going to offer you all beyond your imagination. If you are already excited to step on this unexplored territory, then trust Andaman Island Travels for all your hotel bookings along with airport and ferry transfers. It will also make bookings for adventure activities if you are interested in any. The expert tour planners will design the holiday of your dreams for you!
What else you should know
A must-see place in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the twin islands separated by a sandbar are Ross and Smith Islands, arranging a pleasing view of it to the visitors. The palm-fringed beach, long shores, turquoise water, bewitching sunset views, etc. are sure to leave you spellbound. The islands are one of the most sought after destinations for the travellers visiting Diglipur. The reason they include Diglipur in their itinerary is only that they want to discover the mystery of this unique place and experience how someone can walk from one island to the other where there is the open sea in between. It looks so scenic and has gained so much popularity among globetrotters.
The two islands Ross and Smith connected by a sandbar surrounded by crystal clear open sea waters is the aerial view of the islands. When you land at the place during the low tides, you get to see a sandbar connecting the two islands on which you can walk to reach from one island to the other. When the tide rises, the sandbar is covered by the sea and you see two completely different islands during the high tides, making this amazing place look miraculous.
There are beautiful eco huts lined up by the beachside having greenery spread out all over making it very soothing. Just a sight of it will make you feel refreshed and erase away all your stress. You can spend around a few hours at this place without getting bored if you are exploring it the right way.
What is the best time to visit Ross and Smith Islands?
The best time to visit is from October to March. The temperature is comparatively cool during this time.
A trip to explore the natural marvels of Ross and Smith Islands means a trip 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 beach time. All you would do is relax, capture the moments inside your eyes and of course, thank yourself to explore this paradise before moving ahead.
Places to stay in Diglipur
There are four-five guesthouses in Diglipur nearby the main market and stadium. They have all the basic necessities only. Thus, you should not expect luxurious amenities here. If you are looking for high-end resorts, then you can stay in Kalipur, which is twenty kilometers away from Diglipur. Cheap bamboo huts are also offered by them. The properties get crowded during peak season. So you should make sure to get your stay pre-booked from a local tour operator. Andaman Island Travels is a reliable name when it comes to making all the bookings anywhere in Andamans.
Some of the best places to stay in Diglipur are as follows:
We hope that through this article, we have helped you in exploring every corner possible of this unexplored destination. Now you know what you should expect from this unexplored jewel of the Andaman Islands.
So, what do you think? Do you want to include this untouched gem in your Andaman Island travel itinerary? If yes, then we would suggest you to make all your reservations through Andaman Island Travels as its experts will sketch the perfect vacation based on your interests.
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