Dos and Don’ts when travelling in the Andaman Islands

It’s a blessing to experience a relaxing escape amidst a chaotic lifestyle and the best destination to rejuvenate is the Andaman Islands. With ideal climatic conditions all through the year and a rich cultural history, this island offers a unique holiday experience. But, it can get a little tedious to go around the place if not guided well. With this blog, we offer you a quick list of dos and don’ts to make travelling in the Andaman Islands more fun.

Do’s & Don’ts : Andaman Islands

Food

The Andaman Islands are a melting pot of a variety of Indian cultures. Although the island is still inhabited by various tribes, South Indian and North Indian cuisines reign supreme. Seafood is a staple, and all through your visit, you will get to sample a wide variety of it.

Dos:

• The islands offer an array of small eat-outs that serve delicious food. Do visit them. You must mention the names of a few foods.
• The vegetarian dishes have a strong influence from Kerala and Chettinad, and you’ll experience a scrumptious amalgamation of coconut and spices. These dishes are a must-try. Names?

Don’ts:

• If your body is not accustomed to raw food, you might want to go slow on the raw fishes and veggies.

Clothing

The climatic conditions are humid and warm year-round. Hence comfortable cotton clothing is preferable while you plan your Andaman Holiday Packages. Also, carry loads of swimwear as the islands offer an extensive water body and numerous swimming pools.

Dos:

• Keep your accessories like sunscreen lotion, hats, sunglasses and a hand fan along with you everywhere you go.
• Carry waterproof footwear and a sturdy pair of shoes to explore Andaman’s mountainous side.

Don’ts:

• Don’t carry thermal or woollen clothes as the temperature drops only till 20 degree Celsius.

Travel in Andaman

Travelling in Andaman can get expensive and exhausting. However, there are auto-rickshaws available in Port Blair and on Havelock Island. These are as economical as commuting can get. Then, there are taxis available in Port Blair, and the drivers offer to be your guide as well. Taxis are available with Air Conditioning and without too.

If you want a little adventure, you can opt for the scooters available for rent in Port Blair.

Dos:

• Pre-book your scooters to ensure you have one for the travel. Most hotels offer to help you book one.
• Taxi drivers may charge for being your guide, hence, discuss finances before you set out on a tour.

Don’ts:

• There is a high demand for personal taxis and motorcycles, thus it is advisable to book your taxis and motorcycles well in advance to avoid additional costs.

Planning in Advance

The island has a variety of holiday packages to choose from and one can get a little confused in choosing the ideal package for them. We advise you to check the flight tickets and book them as early as possible. List down the things and activities you wish to do and book a hotel closest to these events. This will not only help cut your commutation cost but, also allow you to relax in-between the visits.

Work carefully on your finances and keep some extra at hand. Most exchanges in Andaman take place in the Indian Rupees.

Dos:

• Take a small backpack with a water bottle, sunscreen lotion, tissues, etc. with you.

Don’ts:

• Avoid keeping your backpack in the taxi as you set out to visit your destinations.

Culture

The island is rich in culture and traditions. The natives have gracefully preserved the diverse culture with a unique style and dignity. One can see strong influences of Indian cultures too while travelling in the Andaman Islands.

Dos:

You can visit the Beach festival and various folk dance festivals that take place year-round.

The weekend flea market is nothing short of a festival. A beautiful display of clothing, food, fabulous accessories and local veggies and spices will leave you in awe.

Weather

The island has a tropical climate – always warm, with pleasant sea-breeze. It has a monsoon that lasts for 180 days a year and has no winter season.

There is no extreme climate except rains and tropical storms in late summer. The weather is calm only from January to April and sometimes extends in October. It is quite hot in the months of March to May in the Andaman Islands.

Dos:

• If you are visiting in the months of May to September, you may want to carry umbrella and raincoats.

Limestone caves, Kala Pathar beach and Radhanagar beaches are few of the best places to visit in Andaman. Snorkelling, scuba diving, canoeing and kayaking are among various activities that are famed on the Andaman Islands.

Keep the above dos and don’ts in mind and you will definitely have an amazing time travelling in the Andaman Islands.