The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal, roughly 1,200 km from mainland India. Because they are a remote archipelago, there are no road or train networks connecting them to the mainland.
To reach the islands, you have only two options: flying or taking a passenger ship.
✈️ Reaching Andaman By Air (Highly Recommended)
Flying is the fastest, most reliable, and most comfortable way to travel. All commercial mainland flights land at the Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) located in the capital city of Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair).
Direct Flight Hubs & Durations:
• Kolkata: ~2 hours 15 minutes
• Chennai: ~2 hours 15 minutes
• Bangalore: ~2 hours 30 minutes
• Hyderabad: ~2 hours 30 minutes
• Delhi & Mumbai: Direct flights take about 3.5 hours, but most options will have a brief layover.
Airlines Available: IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet operate daily flights.
🚢 Reaching Andaman By Sea (For the Adventurous)
The Directorate of Shipping Services operates passenger ships from the mainland to Sri Vijaya Puram. While sailing across the Bay of Bengal sounds romantic, it is a long, exhausting journey primarily used for cargo and local transit rather than tourism.
Routes & Duration: Ships operate from Kolkata, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam. The journey takes between 3 to 4 days (roughly 60 to 70 hours) depending on weather conditions.
Booking Reality: Tickets cannot be easily booked online. They must be purchased through the STARS network or local port administration offices, and schedules are highly dependent on the weather.
Note: Sea sickness is very common on this route during rough weather.
🛂 Entry Formalities & Permits
• For Indian Citizens: No passport, visa, or special permit is required to visit the Andaman Islands. A valid ID (Aadhar Card, Voter ID, or Driving License) is all you need.
• For Foreign Nationals: A valid Indian Visa and Passport are required. The Restricted Area Permit (RAP) has been removed for 30 inhabited islands, making entry much smoother upon arrival.
💡 Our Final Recommendation
Always choose to fly. The ship journey will consume almost a week of your vacation just in transit. Save your sea-legs for the luxury private ferries (like Makruzz or Nautika) that you will take to explore Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) and Shaheed Dweep (Neil) once you arrive!