This is definitely one of our favourite Islands in all of Andaman and Nicobar! We spent over a fortnight in Havelock Island exploring the unique sights and beautiful beaches. There’s so much of greenery, lush forests and pristine blue water all around the island! From what we learnt and saw, we put together this photo blog to show you some interesting sights. In fact, you’ll find everything you need to know to plan a trip to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands of India in this blog post. This guide contains details on what to see in Havelock, and where to stay, where to eat, getting around in the island and so much more! We’ve also added some recommendations on how to book ferry or ships between Port Blair and Havelock.

What to see in Havelock Island, Andaman

There are so many wonderful and natural sights to see on Swaraj Dweep or Havelock Island! In fact, nearly every attraction is free and you might only have to pay for activities like scuba diving, but even snorkeling in a beautiful coral reef can be free, like we’ve shown you below! It is one of the most popular islands in the Andaman archipelago, but is still affordable to explore thanks to its sustainable and eco-friendly tourism initiatives. Its also surprisingly clean, for the most part! 🏝️

So check out this list of things to do and places to visit on Havelock Island in Andaman!

1. Play at the Vijaynagar Beach

Vijaynagar beach is located in Vijaynagar, in the north eastern part of Havelock Island. It is a white sand beach with lots of shady coconut trees all along the coastline. The water is also only knee deep in most parts of the beach. A local mentioned to us that during low tide, you can walk nearly a kilometre out into the sea! This is also a sunrise beach since it is on the eastern coast. Most hotels, resorts and budget accommodation like hostels, homestays and monthly rentals are located on this beach.

Tip: Want to do a Work-from-home here? You can find cheap fortnightly stays with access to excellent wifi/internet here. We stayed at Green Valley Resort for INR 3,000 for two weeks!

2. Enjoy the calm blue ocean at Kalapathar beach

Kalapathar beach is famous for its black rocks which appear at low tide and the beautiful turquoise blue water during high tide! Either way, you wont be disappointed. There are free recliners on the beach, under the tree canopy. Lifeguards are always present too. You’ll find many food shacks and shops selling souvenirs and snacks on the road. 

Kalapathar beach is 5 kms south of Vijaynagar beach. The road to the beach is mostly flat, and goes along the seashore – so its easy to go cycling or walking (like we did) on this route. You can also take the local bus for INR 20 – they run once every hour.

3. Visit the World’s seventh best beach on Havelock Island

Radhanagar beach is located in the south-western tip of the island. It is famous because it is not only beautiful all year round, but also perfectly safe due to the gentle incline of the beach and the calm waves. Radhanagar beach is also one of very few, exclusive Blue Flag beaches in India. There is a lifeguard, a restaurant, changing and showering facilities and toilets. In addition, there are many shacks at the entrance to the beach. These shacks sell meals (thali), fast food, Maggi noodles, fruit juices and other drinks.

Commuting to the beach is very easy too. While most people take local taxis or rent a scooter from Vijaynagar, you can also take the local bus service for INR 25. Autos charge over INR 500, while taxis charge over INR 800 for a drop and pick.

4. Go trekking to Elephanta Beach

Elephant Beach is very popular for its beach activities – like snorkeling, diving, parasailing, etc. A two kilometre hiking trail to Elephant beach begins somewhere along the road to Radhanagar beach (there is a board and a check post, so you wont miss it). Its a fun hike considering that you will reach a beautiful beach at the end of the trail! Interestingly, there was once a herd of elephants that played in the water on the beach. And that’s how the name of the beach came to be!

Although a guide is recommended, it is possible to trek the route on your own too. It takes less than 45 mins to cover the path before arriving at the mangrove forest on the beach. During the dry season, it is easily doable. However, during the rainy season, the path becomes mucky and slippery. There may even be leaches and other creatures en-route. As a result, the forest authorities close off the trekking path to the visitors on some days. Alternatively, it is possible to take the boat from the jetty to the beach for INR 1,000 per person.

If you enjoy forest hiking near beaches, this one will surely interest you!

5. Go Diving and even get certified!

Havelock has many diving spots located all around the island. Some of these spots are coral reefs which are just a few metres underwater, making them perfect for snorkeling. In addition, some other spots are far more deeper, making it perfect for deep diving. There are many Dive schools in Havelock which have courses for PADI certification for divers. If you are traveling on a budget and want to do free activities, you can visit the Nemo point reef in Govindnagar. This is a shore reef, about 100m from the beach (walk 70m in shallow water, and swim the next 30m). With basic snorkeling gear, we were able to see some very beautiful underwater creatures! Guided snorkeling costs INR 1,000 to INR 2,500 depending on if you can swim well. On the other hand, if you want to dive, prices start from INR 3,500.

Tip: If you are diving in Havelock over a two week course, stay at a weekly rental house (ask any dive school or resort) – this will save you a LOT of money, since diving courses are already expensive. We stayed at Green Valley resort, for INR 200/night for a non-ac room.

6. Explore the local market on Havelock Island

If you are looking for something, it is most likely available at Govindnagar market! 😛

The vegetable market has fresh produce coming in daily from farms on the island and even from Port Blair and the mainland. At 5 am, fishermen bring in the catch of the day and locals pick it up for the restaurants and cafes. This is also home to the only Supermarket and medical store on Havelock Island, where you can buy things at the retail price (MRP). Every other shop will charge you a 5 to 50% premium over that!

7. Rent a bicycle on the Island

No trip to an island is complete, without a day out on the bike! Rent a bicycle for less than INR 200 per day from nearly any rental store on the island. You can even get them at your hotel or resort. If you’re staying longer than a week, you can get the cycles for as little as INR 100/day. 

Since most of the island is flat, you can go biking anywhere between the Jetty on the north, and Kalapathar Beach on the south-east. The 10 km road to Radhanagar Beach (from the Market) is windy and hilly, and not for easy-going cycling.

All you need to know to travel to Havelock Island / Swaraj Dweep in Andaman

This section has details on accommodation, eating out, local transport, bike rentals and the best time to visit Havelock Island. Prices are 50% higher than mainland India. This is on account of the remote location of the island and since most consumables (including food) is imported from mainland India, or at least, from Port Blair. For a three day visit, expect to spend around INR 10,000 (USD 130) for a mid-range experience, while around INR 5,000 (USD 75) for a truly budget experience.

Food/eating out in Havelock Island, Andaman

There are many vegetarian-only restaurants on the island. Howver, the specialty on Havelock is the seafood experience! There are many incredible restaurants, shacks and cafes in Vijayanagar beach. We recommend Fat Martin, Annapurna Cafe, Salt and Pepper Cafe (cheap), Famous Seafood, Full Moon Cafe and Kathmandu. Thalis cost around INR 250 to INR 300 and are sufficient for one only. If you want something continental, check out Placid Garden Cafe.

Must eat: Veg Thali at Kathmandu and Famous Seafood restaurant, Deserts at Fat Martin! 😋

Getting around/transport in Havelock Island, Andaman

There is only one main road in Havelock which runs 20 kms long. This begins at Kalapathar beach and ends at Radhanagar beach. Mid-way, at the Govindnagar market, the road deviates towards the Jetty. Public buses (with AC) ply on this road and tickets are very affordable! Autos from the jetty to Vijayanagar beach charge INR 100. Autos charge INR 300 to Kalapathar beach and INR 500 to Radhanagar beach. Taxis cost INR 800 for similar journeys. You can also rent a scooter for INR 400 per day. Alternatively, bicycles cost INR 200 per day. Bargain for better prices.

How to get to Havelock Island / Swaraj Dweep in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Havelock Island or Swaraj Dweep is connect to Port Blair, the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands by sea-route only. There are multiple government and private ferries operating daily trips between Port Blair and Havelock starting at INR 600 per person for tourists (locals pay a lot lesser). Private ferries like Makruzz, Green Ocean, Nautica) can be booked well in advance for INR 1,500 and upwards per person. Government ferry tickets can be purchased only in person at the Phoenix Bay Jetty (upto two days in advance). Alternatively, on the morning of the journey, it may be possible to buy tickets at Haddoo Jetty. All ferries/ships take around 2.5 hours to cover the route from Port Blair. From Havelock, you can sail back to Port Blair or to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep).

Want to see more of Andaman & Nicobar Islands? We’ve got some more blog posts for you, from some really picturesque places! And if you enjoyed reading this post, or found the travel guide to be helpful, please share it with your friends!

Useful links

Here are some useful resources to plan and book your next trip. These are the same websites and apps that we use for our own bookings! We may earn a small commission if you make your booking using the below link, at no extra cost to you. 🤓