Andaman Itinerary: 5–7 Day Travel Plan

Planning an Andaman trip is less about squeezing in every attraction and more about choosing the right islands, allowing enough time for transfers, and keeping your sightseeing pace realistic.

For most first-time travelers, 5–7 days is a comfortable duration. A 5-day trip can focus on Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram) and Swaraj Dweep. At the same time, an extra two days give you enough room to add Shaheed Dweep without making the itinerary unnecessarily rushed.

If you are still planning the overall trip, our Andaman Travel Guide covers the broader destination planning. For the budget side of the trip, see our Andaman Trip Cost From India guide.

Andaman Itinerary at a Glance

Quick answer: If you have 5 days, stick to two main stops. If you have 6–7 days, you can add Shaheed Dweep without turning the trip into a constant cycle of ferries and hotel check-ins.

Your exact itinerary should also account for flight arrival times, ferry schedules, sea conditions, and the location of your final hotel, particularly on the day of departure.

How Many Days Do You Need for an Andaman Trip?

For most first-time travelers, 5–7 days is the most practical duration for Andaman. A 5-day trip can comfortably focus on Port Blair and Swaraj Dweep, while 6–7 days gives you enough room to add Shaheed Dweep without making the trip feel like a sequence of ferry transfers.

Which Duration Should You Choose?

• 3–4 days: Best for a short getaway. Keep the itinerary simple and avoid adding multiple island transfers.
• 5 days: Ideal if you want the main highlights without spending too much time moving between islands.
• 6–7 days: Better if you want to include Shaheed Dweep and still have time for beaches and activities.
• 8+ days: Useful for a slower trip or for adding destinations and experiences beyond the standard route.

The key is not how many places you can fit into your itinerary, but how much time you actually get to enjoy each island.

5-Day Andaman Itinerary

A 5-day Andaman itinerary is best kept to two main stops: Port Blair and Swaraj Dweep. This gives you enough time for beaches, sightseeing and water activities without spending too much of the trip changing hotels and catching ferries.

Day 1: Arrive in Port Blair

• Arrive in Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram) and check into your hotel.
• Keep the afternoon relatively light after your flight.
• Visit Corbyn's Cove Beach if your arrival time allows.
• In the evening, visit Cellular Jail and attend the Light & Sound Show, subject to the day's schedule.

Stay: Port Blair

Planning note: Check the current opening schedule of Cellular Jail before assigning it to Day 1, particularly if you arrive on a Monday or a public holiday.

Day 2: Port Blair to Swaraj Dweep

• Take a morning ferry from Port Blair to Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island).
• Check into your hotel and settle in.
• Spend the afternoon at Radhanagar Beach.
• Keep the evening free for a relaxed beach experience or dinner.

Stay: Swaraj Dweep

Day 3: Scuba Diving and Island Time

• Spend the morning on a scuba diving or snorkeling experience.
• Keep the afternoon flexible for relaxing, exploring nearby beaches or simply enjoying your resort.
• Use the evening for free time.

Stay: Swaraj Dweep

Day 4: Elephant Beach

• Visit Elephant Beach for snorkeling and other water activities.
• Return to your hotel after the excursion.
• Keep the evening free rather than adding another major attraction.

Stay: Swaraj Dweep

Day 5: Swaraj Dweep to Port Blair and Departure

• Take an early ferry back to Port Blair.
• Keep a comfortable gap between your ferry arrival and onward flight.
• If your flight is later in the day, use the remaining time for a short local visit or meal.
• Depart for your onward journey.

Why This 5-Day Route Works

This route keeps the itinerary focused on Port Blair + Swaraj Dweep, giving you a good mix of history, beaches and water activities without overloading the trip with island transfers.

If you have two additional days, you can extend this itinerary to 7 days by adding Shaheed Dweep rather than creating an entirely new route.

Extending the 5-Day Itinerary to 7 Days

If you have 7 days in Andaman, keep the first five days of the itinerary above and use the additional two days to add Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island). This gives you another island experience without making the entire trip feel rushed.

Day 6: Swaraj Dweep to Shaheed Dweep

• Take a morning ferry from Swaraj Dweep to Shaheed Dweep.
• Check into your hotel and settle in.
• Explore the island at a relaxed pace.
• Visit Natural Bridge if the tide and local access conditions are suitable.
• Keep the evening free for the beach or a relaxed dinner.

Stay: Shaheed Dweep

Planning note: Natural Bridge is best visited around low tide, so check the day's tide conditions before planning this visit.

Day 7: Shaheed Dweep to Port Blair and Departure

• Take an early ferry from Shaheed Dweep to Port Blair.
• Keep a comfortable buffer between your ferry arrival and onward flight.
• If your flight is later in the day, use the remaining time for a short local visit or meal.
• Depart for your onward journey.

Why Extend to 7 Days?

The extra two days give you the option to experience Shaheed Dweep without sacrificing the main experiences on Swaraj Dweep. If you prefer a slower beach holiday, another option is to spend both additional nights on Swaraj Dweep instead of changing islands.

For a 7-day trip, choose Shaheed Dweep for more island variety, or stay longer on Swaraj Dweep if you prefer a slower beach-focused holiday. 

Which Islands Should You Include in Your Andaman Itinerary?

You do not need to visit every island to have a complete Andaman trip. The right combination depends mainly on how many days you have and how much time you want to spend on island transfers.

For a 4–5 day trip, Port Blair and Swaraj Dweep are usually enough. With 6–7 days, you can add Shaheed Dweep without making the itinerary overly rushed. Baratang and North Andaman are better treated as optional extensions rather than being squeezed into a standard first-time itinerary.

The goal is not to collect islands. Choose the combination that gives you enough time to actually enjoy each one.

How to Plan Your Arrival and Departure Days

Arrival and departure days should be treated differently from regular sightseeing days. Island transfers take time, so avoid building your itinerary around tight ferry connections or major activities on the same day.

Arrival Day

If you arrive in Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram) by flight:

• Check into your hotel and settle in.
• Keep the first few hours flexible in case of flight delays.
• Visit nearby attractions such as Corbyn's Cove Beach if your arrival time allows.
• Schedule Cellular Jail and its Light & Sound Show only after checking the day's operating schedule.

If your itinerary starts with an immediate transfer to Swaraj Dweep, choose a ferry that gives you enough time after landing rather than trying to fit sightseeing before the ferry.

Departure Day

Your final day should be planned around your flight from Port Blair, not around another sightseeing activity.

• Return to Port Blair from your final island with sufficient time before your flight.
• Avoid relying on a last-minute ferry connection.
• If your flight is later in the day, keep any sightseeing nearby and optional.
• Leave additional flexibility during periods when sea conditions may affect ferry operations.

Golden Logistics Rule

Never plan an Andaman itinerary where a delayed ferry could cause you to miss your flight.

Treat your final island-to-Port Blair transfer as an important travel connection, not just another sightseeing activity.

Common Andaman Itinerary Mistakes to Avoid

• Trying to visit too many islands: A 4–5 day trip is better kept to fewer islands so you have enough sightseeing time.
• Planning a tight ferry-to-flight connection: Leave a comfortable buffer before your onward flight from Port Blair.
• Changing hotels too frequently: Frequent check-ins and transfers can eat into your sightseeing time.
• Overloading each day with activities: Leave enough time for beaches, meals and unexpected schedule changes.

The best Andaman itinerary is not the one that covers the most places. It is the one that gives you enough time to actually enjoy them.

Plan Your Andaman Trip

Your Andaman itinerary should leave enough room to enjoy the beaches, explore the islands and experience the activities you actually came for, without spending most of the trip moving between destinations.

Whether you have 5 days for the highlights or 7 days for a more relaxed island experience, the right itinerary depends on your travel dates, preferred pace and the experiences you want to include.

Ready to turn your itinerary into a trip? Explore our Andaman tour packages for curated stays, transfers, sightseeing and island experiences, or request a customized itinerary based on your dates and preferences.