Nymishanandini · Blue water at Neil Island.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
Neil Island
The small, flat, quiet island — three beaches, a rock bridge and not much else, which is the point.
Neil Island
A flat green island about an hour from Havelock that can be cycled in a morning — and the reason people come back from the Andamans saying they should have stayed longer.
Explore Neil Island on the map
City locations, drawn from our published destination data. Attractions, hotels and restaurants are not mapped yet.
Beyond the temples
Three beaches on three sides of a small island, and a rock arch that only appears at low tide.
The beaches
- Bharatpur, beside the jetty, is the shallow one — calm, clear and where the glass-bottom boats and snorkelling trips go from.
- Laxmanpur, on the west, is long and white and is where the island watches the sunset. The water is very shallow a long way out.
- Sitapur, at the eastern end, faces the sunrise and has the roughest water of the three; it is the quietest and the least developed.
The natural bridge
- A coral and sandstone arch at the far end of Laxmanpur, locally called the Howrah Bridge, reachable on foot across the reef flat.
- It is only accessible around low tide, and the walk out is over sharp coral rock — shoes matter and the tide table decides the hour, not the itinerary.
In the water and on the road
- Snorkelling and glass-bottom boats operate off Bharatpur, and there is diving here too, quieter and less developed than Havelock’s.
- A bicycle covers the island comfortably; scooters and autos are the alternative. Distances between the beaches are a few kilometres at most.
- There is essentially nothing to do after dark, which is what most people who love Neil are describing when they recommend it.
How long to give it
Arrive and Laxmanpur
The ferry from Havelock is short. Settle, cycle to Laxmanpur for the afternoon, and stay for the sunset.
Bharatpur and the bridge
Snorkelling or a glass-bottom boat off Bharatpur in the morning, and the natural bridge if the tide is right. Sitapur at the eastern end if there is time.
Back to the gateway
The ferry to Port Blair for the last night, which is where every Andaman trip has to end.
Arriving & getting around
A short ferry in, and a bicycle once you are there.
Getting there
- By ferry — a short crossing from Havelock, or a longer one direct from Port Blair. Most itineraries take Havelock first and Neil second, which is the efficient order.
- Sailings, fares and booking windows vary by operator and season, and the crossings sell out in the dry months.
- The return to Port Blair should be the day before your flight, not the morning of it.
On the island
- A bicycle is enough for most visitors and the island is flat. Scooters and autos are available at the jetty.
- Everything is within a few kilometres of everything else, and there is one main road with the beaches off it.
When to visit
The same season as the rest of the islands, with the tide mattering as much as the month.
Calm, dry and clear, with reliable ferries. Even at its busiest Neil is quiet compared with Havelock.
Hot and humid and still calm. The beaches are emptier and the crossings still dependable.
Rough sea and cancelled ferries. A small island is a poor place to be stranded, so this is the least forgiving month range of any Andaman stop.
The natural bridge is only reachable around low tide, and Laxmanpur’s shallows change the swimming completely between tides. Check the day’s times on arrival.
How to be a good guest
A farming island that feeds the archipelago and lets tourism sit lightly on top.
How it works
- Neil was settled in the 1960s by Bengali families and remains largely agricultural — rice, banana, papaya and vegetables — supplying Port Blair and Havelock as well as itself.
- Tourism arrived later and smaller here than on Havelock, and the accommodation is mostly guesthouses and small resorts rather than anything large.
Practicalities of a small island
- Power and water can both be intermittent, and many places run generators for part of the day. It is normal rather than a fault.
- There is very little banking. Bring cash from Port Blair; assuming an ATM on Neil is a mistake travellers make once.
Insider tips
- Check the tide before planning the natural bridge. It is a low-tide walk over sharp coral and cannot be rescheduled to suit an itinerary.
- Wear shoes you can walk on reef rock in. Flip-flops are not adequate for the bridge walk.
- Bring cash. Banking on Neil is minimal and should not be relied on.
- A bicycle is genuinely enough. The island is flat and small and hiring a scooter is often unnecessary.
- Two nights if you can. One night here is an afternoon and a sunset, and most people wish they had another.
- Who should come: travellers who found Havelock busier than they wanted. Who should skip it: anyone on a four-night trip who would rather have the extra night on Havelock.
Nearby
Where Neil leads next.
Related to Neil Island
Journeys that include Neil Island — each one visits the city as part of its itinerary.
Common questions
Plan your journey
Our travel designers turn knowledge and inspiration into a journey crafted entirely around you.
Plan My Journey →