Neil Island

Neil Island has three beaches, Bharatpur Beach, Sitapur Beach and Lakshmanpur Beach. Bharatpur Beach is the most famous as it also has the Neil Island Jetty. Tourists can explore the beachside and can go for a short Glass-Bottomed Boat Ride in the ocean to explore the marine life and the coral reefs. Swimming and fishing are also quite famous at Bharatpur Beach.

Sitapur Beach is a smaller stretch of beach; about four-kilometre long and is famously known as the Sunrise Beach for its breathtaking sunrise view. Tourists often spend early hours of the morning at this beach before they explore the rest of the island.

The third and the last beach, the Lakshmanpur beach is the smallest of them all (2 kilometres stretch). The shoreline has white sandy beaches and shallow waters making it a perfect location for sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling. It is also known for the natural coral rock formation and its sunsets views. These beaches are also famous for Scuba Diving, Sea Walking, Deep Sea Diving, Boat Rides, Fishing, Banana Rides etc.

After exploring the shoreline, tourists can head to the market at Neil Kendra and then explore the rest of the island. Its small area makes it possible for tourists to explore almost the entire island in 2 to 3 hours. Tourists can also rent bicycles and bikes to explore the quaint little island the way they want to.

1. Only two ATMs and limited money exchange facilities are available in Neil ISland, so it is advisable to carry enough cash for your transactions.
2. Boats often get delayed or stalled due to weather conditions in Neil, so make travel plans with buffer time in mind. 
3. Mosquitoes in Neil are common during the evenings. Carry mosquito repellents.
4. Petrol is hard to come by. Enquire about petrol availability before renting a scooter.

Neil Island has an ample number of hotels and resorts; some of them are the best ones in Andaman. Most of these resorts are located in the western part of the island. The southern area has a few ones, while there is just one located in the central area. Tourists can choose to stay at one of these resorts or hotels in Neil Island, Andaman depending on their budget.

The Silver Sand Beach Resort, Holiday Inn Beach Resort, Sea Shell Samsarra, TSG Aura, Tango Beach Resort, Coconhuts Beach Resort and the Summer Sands Beach Resort are the luxury hotels of Andaman located in Neil Island. A night’s stay at one of these resorts would cost anything between INR 6000/- to INR 12000/- per night for one person.

There are also some budget hotels at Neil Island, Andaman where a night’s stay for one person would cost between INR 200/- to INR 4500/-. Kalapani Beach Resort, Hotel Exotica Square, Purnima Residency, Blue Stone Lodge, Elephant and Four Wise Men Resort and Hotel Amullya are some of them. Most of these budget options get fully booked during the tourist season. So, booking well in advance is much recommended.

Neil Island in Andaman is best when visited during the winter season i.e. between the months of October and February. The tropical island experiences mild winters during the season. The temperature hovers between a maximum of 30°C and a minimum of 20°C. The days are mostly warm and the evenings are pleasantly cool. Also, it is the best time for a cruise in the waters of the Bay of Bengal. The ferries and cruise ships operate smoothly from Port Blair and Havelock Island during the season making it the best time to visit Neil Island.

A ferry can be taken from Havelock Island to Neil Island. You can also take a ferry from Port Blair to Neil ISland. Ferry timing from Port Blair to Neil (via Havelock) is 6:00 AM and 11:00 AM. The fare for the same is INR 195, INR 250 or INR 350 depending on the type of service you choose.