Kadmat Island
Eight km coral sliver with a vast western lagoon
Best time to visit Kadmat Island
- Jan, peak season
- Feb, peak season
- Mar, peak season
- Apr, shoulder season
- May, off-season
- Jun, best avoided
- Jul, best avoided
- Aug, best avoided
- Sep, best avoided
- Oct, shoulder season
- Nov, shoulder season
- Dec, peak season
peak shoulder off-season avoid
- Go: December to March
- Shoulder: April and October to November, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
- Skip: June to September
Kadmat Island season by season
Winter December to February Prime time
Dec-Mar is the season: a glassy west lagoon, kayaks and dive boats out daily and long white sandbars with nobody on them.
Summer March to May Prime time
Early April still gives warm calm water; by May the swell rises and the Kochi ship schedule starts to wobble, so go early.
Monsoon June to September Do not go
Jun-Sep sailings are curtailed and the lagoon churns; the island all but closes to visitors, plan around it entirely.
Autumn October to November Shoulder
October reopens in fits between rough patches; November settles into clear water and the first dive groups of the season.
What Kadmat Island is actually like
Government-run beach cottages under the palms; package guests, dive folk and long stretches of absolutely nobody
Getting to Kadmat Island
Entry permit mandatory: overnight ship from Kochi (14-18 h) on packages, or Agatti flight plus permitted boat
Practical ways in: flight
Trip facts
- How long to stay
- 4 days
- Budget
- Splurge
- How busy
- Quiet at its peak
- Solo travel
- Doable solo with some planning
- Altitude
- 11 m
- State
- Lakshadweep
- Coordinates
- 11.2193, 72.7751
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Kadmat Island?
December to March is peak season in Kadmat Island. April and October to November is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to September. Dec-Mar is the season: a glassy west lagoon, kayaks and dive boats out daily and long white sandbars with nobody on them.
How many days do you need in Kadmat Island?
4 days is the usual stay. Government-run beach cottages under the palms; package guests, dive folk and long stretches of absolutely nobody.
How do you get to Kadmat Island?
Entry permit mandatory: overnight ship from Kochi (14-18 h) on packages, or Agatti flight plus permitted boat. Practical ways in: flight.
Is Kadmat Island expensive, and does it get crowded?
Splurge by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.
Nearby, and where to go next
-
Bangaram Island
Lakshadweep
Uninhabited coral islet with a glowing night lagoon
80 km from Kadmat Island, roughly about 2 h by road
-
Kavaratti
Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep's capital atoll: a glass lagoon and a strict permit
100 km from Kadmat Island, roughly about 2 h by road
-
Agatti Island (Lakshadweep)
Lakshadweep
Coral lagoon island - Lakshadweep's permit-only gateway
100 km from Kadmat Island, roughly about 2 h by road
-
Valiyaparamba (Nileshwar backwaters)
Kerala
Sandbar island between four rivers and the Arabian Sea
370 km from Kadmat Island, roughly about 7 h by road
-
Bekal
Kerala
A fort above a quiet, uncrowded north Kerala coastline
370 km from Kadmat Island, roughly about 7 h by road
-
Kannur
Kerala
Theyyam heartland, Asia's longest drive-in beach
390 km from Kadmat Island, roughly about 8 h by road
-
Thalassery (Tellicherry)
Kerala
Biryani, a British fort and Kerala's only drive-in beach
400 km from Kadmat Island, roughly about 8 h by road
-
Udupi-Malpe & St Marys Island
Karnataka
Temple town beside a basalt-column island
420 km from Kadmat Island, roughly about 8 h by road
More places to visit in Lakshadweep
- Agatti Island (Lakshadweep) Lakshadweep
- Bangaram Island Lakshadweep
- Kavaratti Lakshadweep
- Minicoy (Maliku) Lakshadweep