Best Time to Visit Andaman Islands: Month-by-Month Guide (2026)

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are India's tropical paradise — 572 islands floating in the Bay of Bengal, closer to Southeast Asia than mainland India, with crystal-clear turquoise water, pristine coral reefs, untouched rainforests, and beaches that rival the Maldives at a fraction of the cost. But the islands have distinct seasons that dramatically affect what you can do: scuba diving, snorkelling, and island hopping are only possible in certain months, while others bring heavy rain and rough seas. This guide tells you exactly when to go and what to expect.

Quick Overview: Andaman Seasons

Month-by-Month Breakdown

November – Season Opens Perfectly

November marks the start of Andaman's best season. The southwest monsoon has retreated, skies clear up, and the sea calms down to reveal that iconic turquoise-and-emerald palette. Temperatures are comfortable: 24°C to 30°C with low humidity. Water visibility at diving sites improves dramatically — reaching 15–25 metres at spots like Havelock Island's (Swaraj Dweep) reefs.

All water activities resume: scuba diving (₹3,500–₹6,000 for a beginners' dive), snorkelling at Elephant Beach and North Bay (₹500–₹1,500), sea walking at North Bay Island (₹3,500), glass-bottom boat rides, and kayaking through mangrove creeks. The ferries to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) operate on full schedule.

Radhanagar Beach (Havelock) — rated among Asia's best beaches — is at its pristine best in November: powdery white sand, gentle waves, and jungle-fringed coves. The sunset here, with the sky turning from gold to pink to purple over the Andaman Sea, is one of India's finest.

• Weather: 24°C–30°C, clear skies, low humidity
• Sea: Calm, visibility 15–25m
• Best For: Scuba diving, snorkelling, Radhanagar Beach, island hopping
• Crowds: Moderate — season just opening
• Budget: Mid-range — prices rising from monsoon lows

December – Peak Season, Christmas in Paradise

December is the Andaman's most popular and expensive month. The weather is perfect — 23°C to 29°C, dry, with the clearest skies and calmest seas of the year. Diving conditions are at their absolute best, with water visibility reaching 25–30 metres at premier dive sites like Barracuda City, Dixon's Pinnacle, and The Wall near Havelock.

Christmas and New Year in the Andamans have become increasingly popular with Indian tourists. Beach resorts on Havelock and Neil islands host bonfire parties, live music, and seafood barbecues on the sand. The Island Tourism Festival (usually late December to mid-January) in Port Blair features cultural performances from the islands' diverse communities, exhibitions, and water sports competitions.

December is also when Barren Island, India's only active volcano (accessible by special permission and charter boat from Port Blair), is best visited — calm seas make the 3-hour boat journey feasible.

• Weather: 23°C–29°C, driest month, maximum sunshine
• Sea: Calmest of the year, 25–30m visibility
• Best For: Scuba diving, snorkelling, beach holidays, Christmas/NYE celebrations
• Crowds: Highest — book flights and hotels 2–3 months ahead
• Budget: Peak — Havelock resorts ₹5,000–₹15,000/night, flights from ₹6,000–₹12,000 roundtrip

January & February – Peak Continues

January and February maintain December's excellence. The weather remains dry and comfortable (23°C to 30°C), the seas are calm, and all activities are fully operational. These months are particularly good for birdwatching — the Andamans are home to 270+ bird species, including 106 endemics. The Andaman woodpecker, white-headed starling, and Andaman serpent-eagle are best spotted during the dry season in the forests of Mt. Harriet National Park and Chidiya Tapu.

For divers, January–February brings the chance to see manta rays at sites around Havelock and Cinque Island. The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Wandoor, 30 km from Port Blair) is ideal for snorkelling among coral reefs and tropical fish in crystal-clear shallow waters.

Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island), the former British administrative headquarters with atmospheric ruins being reclaimed by jungle, is best explored in these dry months. Deer, peacocks, and monitor lizards roam freely among the crumbling colonial buildings.

• Weather: 23°C–30°C, dry, calm
• Best For: Diving (manta ray season), birdwatching, Ross Island, snorkelling, complete Andaman circuit
• Crowds: High in Jan, tapering in Feb
• Budget: Peak in Jan, starting to ease in Feb
• Republic Day: January 26 celebrations in Port Blair include a parade at the Cellular Jail — a poignant setting

March & April – Shoulder Season, Warming Up

March and April are excellent shoulder-season months. The dry weather continues but temperatures rise to 25°C to 33°C. The sea remains calm and diveable, though water visibility starts to drop slightly (15–20m). The big advantage: crowds thin significantly, and prices drop 20–30% from peak season.

This is the best time for budget scuba diving courses. PADI Open Water certification (3–4 days) costs ₹22,000–₹30,000 at Havelock dive shops — significantly cheaper than Southeast Asian dive destinations. The warm, calm waters with good visibility make Andaman one of the best places in Asia to learn to dive.

April is when the pre-monsoon heat builds, and the first few isolated showers may appear. The humidity increases but isn't unbearable. Underwater, April brings whale shark sightings (rare but possible) in the deeper waters around Ritchie's Archipelago.

• Weather: 25°C–33°C, mostly dry, increasing humidity
• Sea: Calm, 15–20m visibility, warm water (28–30°C)
• Best For: Budget diving courses, water sports, quiet beaches, value stays
• Crowds: Moderate to low — great balance of activity and space
• Budget: 20–30% cheaper than Dec–Jan. Best value month is March

May – Pre-Monsoon Transition

May is the last month before the monsoon and the hottest: 27°C to 34°C with high humidity. The sea is still mostly calm, and water activities continue, but you'll notice more overcast days and occasional thundershowers, especially in the afternoons. Some dive operators start reducing schedules.

May is the cheapest month for a full Andaman experience before the monsoon shut-down. Flight prices drop, resorts offer discounts, and you'll often have beaches nearly to yourself. It's a gamble — you might get perfect weather or a premature monsoon shower — but the risk-to-reward ratio is excellent for budget travellers.

• Weather: 27°C–34°C, humid, occasional showers
• Sea: Generally calm but unpredictable towards month-end
• Best For: Budget beach holiday, pre-monsoon diving, crowd-free islands
• Crowds: Very low
• Budget: Lowest for a full-activity trip. Flights from ₹4,000 roundtrip, resorts 40–50% off

June – September – Monsoon, Limited Activities

The southwest monsoon hits the Andamans from late May/early June and continues through September. Rainfall is heavy: 350–450mm per month, with sustained downpours, overcast skies, and rough seas. Most water activities — scuba diving, snorkelling, glass-bottom boats, and island-hopping ferries — are suspended or severely limited. The seas are too rough for safe boat travel, and underwater visibility drops to 3–5 metres.

However, if you're a nature lover who doesn't mind the rain, monsoon Andaman has its own appeal. The rainforests of the Andamans are at their most alive — waterfalls flow at full force, the canopy is thick and green, and the forests echo with birdcalls and the sound of rain on leaves. Chidiya Tapu (Bird Island), the biological park in Port Blair, and the Baratang Island limestone caves (accessible year-round) are worthwhile monsoon activities.

Ferries to Havelock and Neil run on a reduced and unreliable schedule — cancellations are common. If you do visit, stay in Port Blair and explore the Cellular Jail (the light and sound show runs year-round), Anthropological Museum, Samudrika Naval Marine Museum, and Chatham Saw Mill (Asia's oldest operating saw mill).

• Weather: 24°C–30°C, heavy rain, high humidity, rough seas
• Sea: Rough, poor visibility (3–5m), ferries unreliable
• Best For: Rainforest trekking, Cellular Jail, budget stays, solitude
• Avoid: Scuba diving, snorkelling, island hopping, beach holidays
• Budget: Cheapest — flights from ₹3,000, hotels 50–60% off. But limited activities

October – Post-Monsoon Recovery

October is a transition month. The monsoon weakens but hasn't fully retreated — expect intermittent showers and partially rough seas. Water visibility improves gradually. Some dive operators resume by mid-October, and ferry schedules normalise. It's a gamble: some October visitors get brilliant weather, others get monsoon tail-ends.

• Weather: 24°C–30°C, reducing rain, improving conditions
• Sea: Improving — calm by late Oct, visibility 10–15m
• Best For: Early-bird visitors wanting pre-season deals, rain-tolerant travellers
• Crowds: Very low — season hasn't started
• Budget: Low — good deals before November price hike

Best Time by Activity

How to Reach the Andamans

Essential Andaman Travel Tips

• Permits: Indian nationals don't need permits for main islands (Port Blair, Havelock, Neil). Restricted Area Permits (RAP) needed for some tribal areas. Foreigners need RAP — available free at Port Blair airport on arrival
• Cash: Carry enough cash from Port Blair — ATMs on Havelock and Neil are unreliable and often out of cash. Most beach shacks and smaller hotels are cash-only
• Ferries: Book Makruzz or Nautika (private, AC, fast catamarans) online in advance. Government ferries are cheaper (₹400–₹600) but slower and less comfortable
• Network: BSNL works best across the islands. Jio and Airtel have limited coverage outside Port Blair. No signal on most beaches and smaller islands
• Sunscreen: The equatorial sun is fierce — SPF 50+ is essential. Reef-safe sunscreen if you're diving/snorkelling (chemical sunscreens damage corals)
• Seafood: The Andamans serve some of India's freshest seafood. Try grilled lobster, crab masala, fish curry with coconut rice, and parrot fish at local joints in Havelock
• Eco-Awareness: Don't touch, stand on, or collect coral. Don't feed fish. Don't litter on beaches. The Andaman ecosystem is fragile and irreplaceable

Final Verdict

The Andaman Islands offer India's closest equivalent to the Maldives — at perhaps one-fifth the cost. For the complete experience with all activities, visit between November and February. For the best value with good conditions, target March or early April. Avoid June to September unless you specifically want rainforest immersion and don't care about water activities. And remember: the Andamans are not just a beach destination — they are home to one of the world's oldest indigenous populations, a dark colonial prison history, and some of Asia's richest coral reefs. Come for the beaches, but stay for everything else.