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Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

Andaman's backpacker-diving hub with Radhanagar Beach

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Best time to visit Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to March
  • Shoulder: April to May and October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to September

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryMarchNovemberDecember

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Best all-round season: calm water at Radhanagar, good dive visibility, full hostel scene.

Summer March to May Prime time

Hot and sticky (32C+) by April-May, but seas stay calm and diving visibility can peak pre-monsoon.

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Ferries get cancelled without much notice, dive shops mostly shut, Radhanagar loses its calm.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Sea starts settling in October though still choppy early on; hostels reopen, notably quieter.

What Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) is actually like

Beach hostel dorms and dive crews. Easiest island here to meet solo travellers.

Things to do in Havelock Island

The local places worth your time in and around Havelock Island, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Radhanagar Beach

    Beach · 12 km out

    The wide white beach on the west coast, best at sunset; lifeguards call swimmers in at 5 pm and transport thins after.

  • Elephant Beach

    Beach · 9 km out

    Snorkelling reef reached by boat from the jetty or a muddy 40 minute forest walk; boats run mornings only and fill up early.

  • Kalapathar Beach

    Beach · 10 km out

    Black rock and turquoise water on the sunrise side where the road ends; scooter out before 6 am for empty sand.

  • Vijaynagar Beach (Beach No. 5)

    Beach · 7 km out

    Shallow mahua fringed beach along the resort strip, easy for a swim at high tide; the No. 5 cafes are a short walk back.

  • Govind Nagar Beach

    Beach · 3 km out

    The beach along the main village road at Govind Nagar, where most of the cheap stays and cafes sit; shallow, calm, sunrise side.

Getting to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

Fly to Port Blair, then 2-3h ferry to Havelock jetty.

Practical ways in: flight

Trip facts

How long to stay
4 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Made for solo travellers
Altitude
0 m
State
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Coordinates
12.0430, 92.9832

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)?

November to March is peak season in Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep). April to May and October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to September. Sea starts settling in October though still choppy early on; hostels reopen, notably quieter.

How many days do you need in Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)?

4 days is the usual stay. Beach hostel dorms and dive crews. Easiest island here to meet solo travellers.

How do you get to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)?

Fly to Port Blair, then 2-3h ferry to Havelock jetty. Practical ways in: flight.

Is Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Made for solo travellers.

What are the best things to do in Havelock Island?

Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach, Kalapathar Beach, Vijaynagar Beach (Beach No. 5) and Govind Nagar Beach. The wide white beach on the west coast, best at sunset; lifeguards call swimmers in at 5 pm and transport thins after.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

All 9 destinations in Andaman & Nicobar Islands