"Ross and Smith Island"

Twin Islands, Andaman Overview

Located at a distance of 20 km from Diglipur and 35 km from Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands, Twin Islands are a gorgeous pair of islands that belong to the South Andaman administrative district. The twin islands of Ross and Smith are joined together by a narrow sand bar, making them a single entity. Boasting of crystal clear emerald green waters, and an ethereal virgin beach, the islands are nothing but sheer gorgeousness. With immense natural beauty, the island is bordered by tropical forests which are considered ideal for hiking and other trekking trail activities.

In addition to that, there is a Marine Sanctuary that is considered ideal for watching the vibrant and surreal coral reefs. You can also spot amazing underwater creatures while scuba diving or snorkelling. Besides, there are thousands of Olive Ridley turtles that can be spotted on the beaches and tourists like going for turtle nesting. All in all, the Twin Islands are absolutely beautiful and reek of calm and serenity. During high tide, the natural sand bar joining the island disappears inside the water, making the islands look even more ethereal.

Permit to enter Twin Islands

To visit the Twin Islands, the tourists are required to get forest permit from the Forest Office at Diglipur. This permit costs INR 50 for Indian tourists, INR 25 for Indian child and INR 500 for foreign tourists. It can be obtained from Monday to Saturday between 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Charges of Fiber Boats to Twin Islands

For a trip for 6 People: INR 2000
Beyond 6 People: INR 200 per person
Waiting charges (after anchoring at destination) beyond 2 hours: INR 300

Tips

Overnight stay at the Ross and Smith Islands is not allowed.

How to Reach

You can reach the Twin Islands from the Ariel Bay Jetty in Diglipur in 25 min. You can hire a speed boat or a fisherman’s boat (called ‘dighi’) for the same.