Neil Island Tour Packages - Customised Island Tour Package from ₹ 12,990

Neil Island — officially Shaheed Dweep — is 13.7 square kilometres of flat farmland, quiet beaches and almost no traffic. It’s the island people wish they’d given more time to. Sightseeing here takes half a day. The rest of your stay is genuinely yours.

Most travellers add Neil to a wider trip after Havelock. Some come here specifically to do nothing for three days. Both work, and we’ll tell you honestly which suits your dates.

We’re a local tour operator based in Port Blair. We book your ferry, pick the right hotel, and plan around the tide chart — because the Natural Bridge only exists at low tide, and most itineraries ignore that.

You can also explore our Andaman tour packages, Andaman honeymoon packages and Andaman family tour packages if your plans are still open.

Send your travel dates on WhatsApp to +91-8900912121 and we’ll send a full itinerary with prices within a few hours.

What Your Neil Island Package Includes

✔ Hotel or beach resort stay on Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)

✔ Ferry tickets — Port Blair to Neil, or Havelock to Neil, and onward

✔ Airport pickup and drop at Veer Savarkar International Airport

✔ Jetty transfers at every island

✔ Private sightseeing — Bharatpur Beach, Laxmanpur Beach, Sitapur Beach and the Natural Bridge

✔ Daily breakfast

✔ All permits and entry tickets

✔ Local assistance on call for the entire trip

✔ Sightseeing timed to the tide chart, not a fixed brochure schedule

✔ Fully customized itinerary

Optional add-ons: glass bottom boat rides, snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, cycle hire, candlelight dinner, room decoration, Havelock extension and flight booking.

On This Page You’ll Find

• Neil Island tour package price and cost
• Package snapshot table
• What is included and what is not included
• Budget, deluxe, premium and luxury options
• 1N/2D, 2N/3D and combined Havelock + Neil comparisons
• Day-wise sample itinerary
• Bharatpur, Laxmanpur, Sitapur beaches and the Natural Bridge
• Ferry routes and timings to Neil Island
• Why the tide chart decides your itinerary
• Things to do — snorkelling, glass bottom boat, cycling, diving
• Why Neil Island is famous
• Who should visit — and who should avoid it
• Island map, distances and getting around
• What to pack for Neil Island
• Month-by-month weather guide
• Neil Island vs Havelock Island comparison
• Neil vs Havelock vs Port Blair — all three islands
• Best restaurants and where to eat
• Mobile network comparison
• Best time to visit
• Hotels and where to stay
• Booking process
• 25 frequently asked questions

Neil Island Package Snapshot

What is a Neil Island Tour Package?

A Neil Island tour package is a complete holiday plan covering your stay on Shaheed Dweep, ferry tickets to and from the island, jetty transfers, private sightseeing of the four main beaches and the Natural Bridge, and local assistance throughout.

Neil is small enough that sightseeing takes half a day. So what a package really buys you here is logistics and timing.

Two things make independent booking difficult on this island.

The ferry. Neil has fewer daily sailings than Havelock, and the good ones sell out. If you plan to come from Havelock and continue to Port Blair on the same trip, you need three separate ferry bookings coordinated to the hour. Get one wrong and you lose a day.

The tide. The Natural Bridge — the single most photographed thing on the island — is only reachable at low tide. Low tide shifts by roughly 50 minutes each day. Brochure itineraries that say “Day 4: visit the Natural Bridge” without checking the chart send people to a stretch of water.

We book the ferry, and we plan your sightseeing around the actual tide timings for your dates. That’s the difference.

A Neil Island package usually covers:

• Accommodation on the island
• Ferry tickets on private catamarans
• Airport pickup at Port Blair
• Jetty transfers at every island
• Private vehicle for the four-point sightseeing tour
• Breakfast
• A local coordinator reachable by phone

Most travellers add Neil to a longer Andaman trip. A smaller group comes here for two or three nights specifically because it’s quiet.

Local Expert Tip One night on Neil is enough to see everything. Two nights is when the island starts doing what people actually come here for, which is nothing at all.

Why Is Neil Island Famous?

Neil Island is famous for having some of the healthiest shallow coral reefs in India, the Natural Bridge rock formation at Laxmanpur, and a pace of life that has largely disappeared from the rest of the Andamans. It is also the agricultural centre of the islands — known as the vegetable bowl of the Andamans — which is why it looks and feels like farmland rather than a resort strip.

Four things built its reputation.

The coral reefs

Neil’s reefs sit unusually close to shore and in unusually shallow water. At Bharatpur you can walk in from the sand and be over live coral within a few minutes, without a boat and without needing to swim strongly. Very few places in India offer shore-entry snorkelling of this quality.

The reefs here also came through the 2004 tsunami and subsequent bleaching events better than many in the region, partly because the island sits in a sheltered position and partly because it has never had Havelock’s volume of boat traffic.

The Natural Bridge

The coral rock arch at the far end of Laxmanpur — locally called Howrah Bridge — is the island’s signature image and the reason many travellers come here at all. It is one of the few natural rock formations of its kind in the Andamans, and the fact that it can only be reached at low tide gives visiting it a sense of occasion.

The tide pools around it are the second attraction. Starfish, sea cucumbers, small octopus, anemones and crabs sit exposed in the rock hollows when the water pulls back.

The beaches

Three distinct beaches on an island of 13.7 square kilometres, each doing something different. Bharatpur for shallow calm water and snorkelling. Laxmanpur for sunset over flats so shallow you can walk far out. Sitapur for sunrise in a small cliff-backed cove. Plus Ram Nagar, which most visitors never reach.

The farming culture

This is the part almost no travel page mentions, and it is what makes Neil different from every other island in the accessible Andamans.

Neil was settled by farming families from Bengal in the 1960s, and the island’s flat, fertile land still supplies vegetables to Port Blair and Havelock. Cycle five minutes inland from any beach and you are among paddy fields, banana plantations and vegetable plots, with village houses and cattle rather than resorts.

It is the reason the vegetables you eat here are fresher than anywhere else in the islands, and the reason Neil feels like a place where people live rather than a place built for visitors.

The quiet

Neil has no nightlife to speak of, few restaurants, one ATM, slow internet and early closing times. For a certain kind of traveller that is a list of drawbacks. For another kind it is the entire point, and it is why people who return to the Andamans almost always give Neil more nights the second time.

Who Is This Neil Island Package For?

✔ Couples and honeymooners who want quiet over crowds ✔ Families with young children — Bharatpur has the calmest shallow water in the islands ✔ Travellers with elderly parents — flat terrain, short distances ✔ Solo travellers and slow travellers ✔ Cyclists and walkers ✔ Snorkellers and beginner divers ✔ Anyone adding a second island to a Havelock trip

Couples and honeymooners get something Havelock can’t offer — genuine quiet. Sunset at Laxmanpur with almost nobody around beats a crowded Radhanagar for a lot of couples. Our Andaman honeymoon packages cover the romantic add-ons.

Families with young children find Bharatpur Beach ideal. It’s right beside the jetty, the water is shallow for a long way out, and the glass bottom boat runs from the same stretch. Our Andaman family tour packages explain the age limits for each activity.

Travellers with elderly parents benefit from Neil’s flat terrain. Everything is within fifteen minutes by car and there are no long walks — with the single exception of the Natural Bridge, which involves uneven rock.

Solo and slow travellers are the island’s natural audience. It’s safe, walkable, and cheap by Andaman standards. A cycle costs a few hundred rupees a day and covers the whole island.

Snorkellers get one of the best shore-entry reefs in the Andamans at Bharatpur. Beginner divers find Neil calmer and less busy than Havelock’s dive scene.

Who Should Avoid Neil Island?

We would rather tell you this before you book than have you find out on arrival.

Travellers looking for nightlife. There is essentially none. A handful of resort bars and restaurants, most closing by 9:30 pm. No beach clubs, no live music scene, no late-night cafés. Havelock has considerably more, and Port Blair more still.

Anyone on a very short itinerary. With four nights or fewer in the Andamans, adding Neil means two of those days are ferry days. Spend the time in Havelock instead and save Neil for a longer trip.

Travellers expecting luxury infrastructure. There is no five-star property on Neil. The best hotels are good 4-star beach resorts. Power cuts happen and not every property has a generator. Room service ends early. If a polished resort experience is what you are paying for, Havelock and Port Blair serve that better.

Anyone uncomfortable on ferries. Reaching Neil means at least one crossing of one to two hours, and leaving means another. There is no alternative route — no bridge, no airstrip, no helicopter service for tourists. If someone in your group is severely prone to seasickness, factor this in honestly.

Travellers who need reliable connectivity. If you have to take work calls, Neil will frustrate you. Data is slow across the island and there is no signal at all at the beaches. Havelock is marginally better; Port Blair is the only place you can rely on.

Anyone who needs medical facilities close by. Neil has a primary health centre for basic treatment only. Anything serious means a ferry back to Port Blair. If you are travelling with someone who has a significant medical condition, weight your nights towards Port Blair.

People who like a full schedule. Sightseeing on Neil takes half a day. If unstructured time makes you restless rather than relaxed, one night here is plenty.

Local Expert Tip None of this makes Neil a bad island — it makes it a specific one. The travellers who love Neil are the ones who knew what they were choosing. Tell us what you actually want from the trip and we will tell you straight whether Neil belongs in it.

Why Choose This Neil Island Package?

We book your ferry across all three legs. Port Blair to Havelock, Havelock to Neil, Neil to Port Blair. Booked early, coordinated to your flight times, and rebooked by us if anything changes. This is where independent trips fall apart.

We plan around the tide chart. We check the low tide timings for your specific dates and schedule the Natural Bridge accordingly — usually early morning. If the tide doesn’t cooperate on your only day here, we tell you upfront instead of letting you find out at the beach.

Hotel choice is honest. Neil has far fewer properties than Havelock, and the gap between the good ones and the poor ones is wide. We tell you which have reliable power backup, which have a real beach walk, and which are quiet at night.

Sightseeing is private. A vehicle for your group, not a shared van covering four points on someone else’s schedule.

One local team throughout. The same people meet you at Port Blair airport, at Havelock Jetty and at Neil Jetty. Not a call centre in another city.

Written pricing before you pay. Hotel names, ferry class, inclusions, exclusions and the final figure — in writing.

We’ll tell you if Neil doesn’t fit. If you have four nights total, adding Neil means two ferry days out of four. We’ll say so.

Places You’ll Visit on Neil Island

Bharatpur Beach

Bharatpur Beach is the busiest and most useful beach on the island, and it’s less than a kilometre from the jetty.

The water is shallow and calm for a long way out, which makes it the best family beach in the Andamans alongside Kalapathar. The coral reef starts close to shore, so snorkelling here needs no boat and no swimming ability beyond basic confidence.

This is also where the glass bottom boat runs. For twenty minutes you float over live coral and reef fish without getting wet — the best option for young children, non-swimmers and grandparents.

Water sports here include jet ski, banana boat and speed boat rides. It’s quieter than Elephant Beach, which most people prefer.

Laxmanpur Beach

Laxmanpur Beach is the sunset beach. A long, flat stretch of white sand and broken shell, with water so shallow you can walk out a considerable distance.

At low tide the sea pulls back to reveal rock pools full of small marine life — children can spend an hour here. At sunset the whole beach turns orange and there are rarely more than a few dozen people on it.

Wear something on your feet. The shell fragments are sharp.

Natural Bridge (Howrah Bridge)

The Natural Bridge is the island’s signature sight, at the far end of Laxmanpur. It’s a natural coral rock arch formed by erosion, reachable only when the tide is out.

Getting there means walking about 500 metres over uneven, sharp coral rock. Wear closed shoes — not flip flops. Around it are tide pools with starfish, sea cucumbers, small octopus and crabs, and a local guide will usually point them out for a small fee.

The timing is everything. Low tide shifts daily. We check the chart for your dates and schedule this first if the morning tide is right.

Sitapur Beach

Sitapur Beach is the sunrise beach, at the eastern end of the island — about fifteen minutes from Neil Kendra.

It’s set in a small cove with a limestone cliff on one side. Fewer visitors come here, partly because it means an early start. The waves are stronger than at Bharatpur, so it’s better for walking than for swimming with small children.

If you’re staying two nights, this is worth the 5:30 am alarm once.

Ram Nagar Beach

The quietest of them all — a long, undeveloped stretch on the north side with almost no facilities. Worth a stop if you’re cycling and want an empty beach to yourself.

Neil Kendra

The main village and market area, next to the jetty. A handful of shops, restaurants, an ATM, a small vegetable market and cycle rental.

Neil is called the vegetable bowl of the Andamans — the island’s flat, fertile land supplies produce to Port Blair and Havelock. Cycling through the paddy and banana fields inland is a completely different experience from the beaches, and almost nobody does it.

Local Expert Tip Rent a cycle for a day. The island is flat, distances are short, and the inland farm roads are the part of Neil that no package itinerary includes.

Neil Island Orientation

Neil is small enough that a map is mostly about orientation rather than navigation. Everything sits along one main road with short spurs off it.

The shape of the island: the jetty and Neil Kendra village are on the west side. Bharatpur is a few minutes north of the jetty. Laxmanpur and the Natural Bridge are southwest. Sitapur is at the eastern end, about fifteen minutes across. Ram Nagar is on the north side. Farmland fills the middle.

Distances from Neil Jetty

The 500 m approach to the Natural Bridge is over sharp, uneven coral rock. Closed shoes, not flip flops.

Getting Around

Auto-rickshaw — the main option. Short hops cost a few hundred rupees. Drivers wait near the jetty and Neil Kendra.

Cycle — the best way to see the island. Flat terrain, short distances, and rentals available at Neil Kendra for a few hundred rupees a day.

Scooter — available, though the island is small enough that most people find a cycle sufficient.

Private vehicle — included in your package for the four-point sightseeing tour.

Walking — fine within Neil Kendra and to Bharatpur. Too far for Sitapur.

Local Expert Tip Take a cycle on your second day if you have one. The road east towards Sitapur runs through the farmland, and that ten-minute stretch is the part of Neil that no sightseeing itinerary includes.

Neil Island Package Categories

Budget Neil Island Package — Starts ₹9,990

Best for backpackers, solo travellers and anyone spending on activities rather than rooms.

Clean 3-star hotels or guesthouses near Neil Kendra, economy ferry class, breakfast, and private or shared sightseeing depending on group size.

Neil is a genuinely good budget island. Rooms cost less than Havelock and the beaches are the same distance from everywhere.

Deluxe Neil Island Package — Starts ₹13,990

Best for couples and families who want comfort without resort pricing.

Good 3-star or entry 4-star properties, premium ferry class, private sightseeing vehicle, breakfast, and one included activity such as a glass bottom boat ride.

Premium Neil Island Package — Starts ₹19,990

Best for honeymooners and anyone who wants a beachfront stay.

4-star beach resorts with sea-facing or garden cottages, premium ferry class, private transfers, breakfast and dinner, and add-ons like a candlelight dinner.

Luxury Neil Island Package — Starts ₹29,990

Neil has fewer luxury options than Havelock, but the ones that exist are quiet in a way Havelock’s aren’t.

Beachfront villas or premium cottages, luxury ferry class, all meals, private transfers, and an unhurried plan. See our luxury Andaman tour packages for the full range.

Havelock + Neil Combined Package — Starts ₹22,990

The most-booked option. Two or three nights in Havelock followed by one or two on Neil, with all three ferry legs coordinated.

This is the natural shape of an Andaman trip and the reason most people arrive at Neil in the first place.

How Much Does a Neil Island Tour Package Cost?

A Neil Island tour package costs between ₹9,990 and ₹35,000 per person depending on nights, hotel category and season. Most travellers spend ₹14,000 to ₹23,000 per person for a comfortable trip that combines Neil with Havelock and Port Blair. Airfare is separate.

For a full mainland-to-island budget breakdown, read our Andaman trip cost guide. For everything beyond packages — history, geography and practical background — see our Neil Island travel guide.

Here’s what moves the number.

Hotel category. The biggest factor, and it matters more on Neil than elsewhere because the property range is narrower. A guesthouse near the market and a beachfront cottage can differ by ₹8,000 per person over two nights.

Number of nights. Each extra night adds roughly ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 per person.

How many islands. A Neil-only trip is cheaper than a Havelock + Neil trip, but almost nobody does Neil-only — the ferry logistics make it inefficient unless you’re staying three nights or more.

Ferry class and number of legs. Fares run roughly ₹1,200 to ₹3,000 per person per sailing depending on class. A Port Blair → Havelock → Neil → Port Blair routing means three legs, so multiply accordingly.

Season. December 20 to January 5 is the most expensive window. October to March is high season. April and May are the best value with the same calm seas.

Activities. Glass bottom boat rides run ₹400 to ₹600 per person for around twenty minutes. Snorkelling is inexpensive. Scuba diving is the significant one at roughly ₹3,500 to ₹5,500 per dive.

Group size. Per-person cost drops with group size since vehicles and boats are shared.

Indicative Neil Island Package Price Table

Per person on twin sharing, excluding airfare. Final cost depends on hotel and travel dates.

Want the exact figure for your dates? Send your travel dates and traveller count on WhatsApp to +91-8900912121. We’ll send three options — budget, deluxe and premium — with named hotels and a final price.

Neil Island Package Comparison

Our honest recommendation: don’t add Neil to a four-night trip. With five nights, one night on Neil works well. With six or more, take two — that’s when the island earns its place rather than being a checkbox.

What’s Included

Accommodation on Neil Island. Confirmed before you land, with the actual property named in your itinerary. Neil has limited inventory and the good properties book out first, so this matters more here than on larger islands.

Ferry tickets on every leg. Port Blair to Havelock, Havelock to Neil, Neil to Port Blair — or whichever routing suits your flights. Booked in the class you choose, well before travel.

Airport pickup and drop. Our representative meets you at Veer Savarkar International Airport with a name board.

Jetty transfers. Someone meets your ferry at Neil Jetty and takes you to the hotel. Taxis on Neil are limited and mostly auto-rickshaws, so this saves real hassle with luggage.

Private sightseeing. A vehicle for the four-point tour — Bharatpur, Laxmanpur, Natural Bridge and Sitapur — timed around the tide.

Daily breakfast.

All permits and entry tickets.

Local assistance throughout. One number that reaches a person in Port Blair.

A customized itinerary built around your flights, your dates and the tide chart.

What’s Not Included

• Airfare to and from Port Blair
• Lunch and dinner, unless specified in your package
• Water sports and activities — glass bottom boat, snorkelling, scuba diving, jet ski, kayaking. We arrange and pre-book them, charged at actual cost.
• Cycle or scooter rental
• Personal expenses — shopping, laundry, mineral water, soft drinks, tips
• Local guide fees at the Natural Bridge tide pools
• Anything not listed in your confirmed written itinerary
• Costs from delays caused by weather, ferry cancellations or flight changes

Everything excluded appears in your itinerary before you pay.

Sample Itinerary — Havelock + Neil, 5 Nights / 6 Days

This is how most travellers actually experience Neil Island.

Day 1 — Arrival in Port Blair

Afternoon: Land at Veer Savarkar International Airport. Our representative meets you and transfers you to your hotel. Lunch and rest.

Late afternoon: Corbyn’s Cove Beach, fifteen minutes from the city.

Evening: Cellular Jail Light and Sound Show — about an hour, and the most affecting part of the trip for most people.

Night: Overnight in Port Blair.

Most travellers add a half day in the capital for Ross Island and North Bay Island before heading out to the islands.

Day 2 — Ferry to Havelock, Radhanagar Beach

Morning: Breakfast, transfer to Haddo Jetty, ferry to Havelock — 90 minutes on a fast catamaran.

Late morning: Arrive, meet our representative, check in.

Afternoon and evening: Radhanagar Beach for sunset. Changing rooms and lockers available.

Night: Overnight in Havelock.

Day 3 — Elephant Beach and Kalapathar

Morning: Boat to Elephant Beach for snorkelling, glass bottom boat or a sea walk.

Afternoon: Rest at the hotel.

Late afternoon: Kalapathar Beach — quieter, calmer, good for families.

Night: Overnight in Havelock.

Day 4 — Ferry to Neil Island, Bharatpur and Laxmanpur

Morning: Breakfast, check out, ferry from Havelock to Neil — about an hour.

Late morning: Arrive at Neil Jetty. Our representative meets you and transfers you to the hotel. Check in and have lunch.

Afternoon: Bharatpur Beach, five minutes away. Shallow, calm water and the island’s best snorkelling reef straight off the shore. Glass bottom boat rides run from here.

Evening: Laxmanpur Beach for sunset — long, flat, shallow, and rarely crowded.

Night: Overnight on Neil Island.

Day 5 — Natural Bridge, Sitapur, Return to Port Blair

Early morning: Natural Bridge at low tide, if the chart allows. We confirm the exact timing the night before. Closed shoes needed — the coral rock is sharp.

If the tide is wrong that morning, we swap in Sitapur Beach for sunrise and move the Natural Bridge to the previous evening.

Late morning: Ferry from Neil to Port Blair — 1.5 to 2 hours.

Afternoon: Check in at your Port Blair hotel. Free time for shopping at Aberdeen Bazaar or Sagarika Emporium.

Night: Overnight in Port Blair.

Day 6 — Departure

Breakfast, check out, transfer to Veer Savarkar International Airport.

If your flight is late, we add the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum or Chidiya Tapu.

If you only have a long weekend, Neil is usually the island to drop. Look at our 3 nights 4 days Andaman package instead and save Neil for a longer trip.

Shorter Option — Neil Island 2 Nights / 3 Days

Day 1: Ferry from Port Blair or Havelock to Neil, check in, Bharatpur Beach, Laxmanpur sunset Day 2: Natural Bridge at low tide, Sitapur, cycling inland, free afternoon Day 3: Morning ferry onward

This is the version for people who came to Neil on purpose rather than in passing.

Local Expert Tip Never plan the Natural Bridge for an afternoon without checking the tide. It’s the single most common reason travellers leave Neil disappointed, and it’s entirely avoidable.

Want this rebuilt around your dates and the tide chart? Send us your flight timings and we’ll redo the plan free of cost before you book.

How to Reach Neil Island

Neil Island is reached only by ferry. It’s around 37 km south of Port Blair — 1.5 to 2 hours by private catamaran — or about an hour from Havelock. There is no airport on the island.

Everything starts at Port Blair, and flights land there from most metros. If you would rather have the flights bundled with the trip, explore our Andaman tour packages from Chennai, Andaman tour packages from Bangalore, Andaman tour packages from Mumbai, Andaman tour packages from Delhi, Andaman tour packages from Kolkata, Andaman tour packages from Hyderabad and Andaman tour packages from Visakhapatnam.

Route 1 — Port Blair to Neil Island

Private ferries leave from Haddo Jetty, about 6 km from the airport. Government ferries leave from Phoenix Bay Jetty.

Journey time is 1.5 to 2 hours on a private catamaran, longer on the government ferry. There are fewer daily sailings than on the Havelock route, so booking early matters more.

Route 2 — Havelock to Neil Island

The most common approach. Journey time is roughly one hour on a private ferry, 1.5 to 2.5 hours on slower services.

Most sailings depart mid-morning, which fits well with a Havelock check-out.

Ferry Fares

Indicative, excluding port fees and GST. Timings and fares change seasonally.

Operators on these routes include Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean and ITT Majestic, plus the government ferry service. Full timings are in our Port Blair to Havelock ferry guide, which covers the Neil connections too.

Arriving at Neil

Ferries dock at Neil Jetty, next to Neil Kendra village. Our representative meets you at the exit.

Transport on the island is mostly auto-rickshaws, a few taxis, and rental cycles and scooters. Distances are short — nothing is more than fifteen minutes away.

Local Expert Tip Carry a valid photo ID — Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence. PAN card is not accepted. Reach the jetty an hour before departure, 75 minutes in December and January. Alcohol cannot be carried on board.

Things to Do on Neil Island

Snorkelling at Bharatpur

The best shore-entry snorkelling in the Andamans. The reef starts close in, the water is shallow and calm, and you don’t need a boat. Guides and equipment are available at the beach.

If water sports are the point of your trip, compare this with snorkelling at Elephant Beach and explore our Andaman adventure and holiday packages.

Glass Bottom Boat Ride

Twenty minutes over live coral without getting wet, for roughly ₹400 to ₹600 per person. The best option for young children, non-swimmers and elderly travellers.

Scuba Diving

Neil’s dive sites are quieter than Havelock’s and the reefs are in good condition. Beginner and certified dives are both available, at roughly ₹3,500 to ₹5,500 per dive. Fewer boats and fewer people than the Havelock scene.

Leave 18 to 24 hours between your last dive and your flight home.

Cycling the Island

Neil is flat and 13.7 square kilometres. A cycle costs a few hundred rupees a day and you can cover every beach plus the farm roads inland. This is the single best thing to do here and almost no package includes it.

Tide Pooling at the Natural Bridge

At low tide the rocks around the Natural Bridge fill with starfish, sea cucumbers, small octopus, crabs and anemones. Local guides point them out for a small fee. Genuinely good for children — it’s a rock pool safari.

Sunrise and Sunset

Sitapur for sunrise, Laxmanpur for sunset. Both on the same small island, twenty minutes apart.

Kayaking and Water Sports

Jet ski, banana boat and speed boat rides operate at Bharatpur. Quieter and less commercial than Elephant Beach.

Doing Nothing

The island’s actual attraction. There’s no nightlife beyond a handful of resort restaurants, the network is slow, and most places close early. That’s the point.

Local Expert Tip Book snorkelling and diving in the morning. Afternoon visibility at Bharatpur drops as boat traffic and swimmers stir up the shallow water.

Neil Island vs Havelock Island — Which Should You Choose?

Both islands are worth visiting, and most travellers do both. But if you have to pick one, or you are deciding how to split your nights, here is the honest comparison.

Neil vs Havelock vs Port Blair — All Three Islands

If you are deciding how to divide your nights across the whole trip rather than between two islands:

The standard split for a 6-night trip: 2 nights Port Blair, 3 nights Havelock, 1 night Neil. Move a night from Port Blair to Neil if you have already seen the Cellular Jail, or from Havelock to Neil if you have visited before.

If you can only visit one island, choose Havelock. It has the more famous beaches, the better dive scene and more to do if the weather turns.

If you have six nights or more, visit both. Two or three nights in Havelock followed by one or two on Neil is the shape of a good Andaman trip.

If you have visited Havelock before, spend the extra time on Neil this trip. Travellers who return to the Andamans almost always give Neil more nights the second time.

If you want quiet above everything, go straight to Neil and stay three nights. It is the only island in the accessible Andamans where you can genuinely do nothing.

Local Expert Tip The two islands are an hour apart by ferry, so you are not choosing between them so much as choosing how to split your nights. The mistake is splitting them evenly on a short trip — that produces two ferry days out of five.

Where to Stay on Neil Island

Neil has far fewer properties than Havelock — a few dozen in total, ranging from simple guesthouses to a handful of good beach resorts. There’s no five-star property here.

Beachfront resorts near Laxmanpur and Bharatpur — walk out onto sand. Best for honeymooners. Limited inventory, so book early.

Mid-range resorts and cottages set back from the beach with gardens. Best value for families.

Budget hotels and guesthouses around Neil Kendra, close to the market, jetty and restaurants. Best for solo travellers and cyclists.

What we check before recommending anything: real distance to the beach, power backup (cuts are common and generators are not universal), water supply, restaurant quality and hours, and night-time noise.

Tell us your budget and we’ll name specific properties with an honest note on each.

Best Time to Visit Neil Island

The best time to visit Neil Island is October to May. Seas are calm, ferries run reliably and all water activities operate. December and January are the most pleasant and the most expensive.

October to February — Peak Season

Comfortable weather, calm seas and clear water. Snorkelling visibility at Bharatpur is at its best from December to April.

Neil’s limited hotel inventory means peak-season rooms go faster here than on Havelock. Book 45 to 60 days ahead for December and January.

March to May — Best Value

Hot and humid, especially in May, but the sea stays calm and visibility is excellent. Rates drop noticeably after mid-March.

This is the best value window of the year — peak-season conditions at off-season prices.

June to September — Monsoon

Heavy rain, rough seas and frequent ferry cancellations. Neil has fewer daily sailings than Havelock, so a cancellation here strands you longer.

Possible with flexible dates. Not advisable if your return flight is fixed.

Neil Island Month-by-Month Weather Guide

Neil gets rain in two patterns — the southwest monsoon from June to September, and lighter northeast monsoon showers in November and early December. November showers usually pass within an hour and rarely cancel ferries.

One point specific to Neil: because the island has fewer daily sailings than Havelock, a monsoon cancellation strands you longer here. If you are travelling between June and September, keep a buffer day in Port Blair before your return flight.

Our best time to visit Andaman guide covers all the islands month by month.

Travelling in peak season? Message +91-8900912121 to check Neil hotel and ferry availability before it goes.

Practical Information

Mobile network

Limited. BSNL and Airtel work around Neil Kendra and most hotels. Jio is patchy. Data is slow across the island and drops out at the beaches. Download maps and tickets in Port Blair.

Mobile Network Comparison

Hotel Wi-Fi exists at most properties but runs on the same slow backhaul, so video calls rarely work. There is usually no signal at all at Laxmanpur, Sitapur or the Natural Bridge.

International visitors should buy an Indian SIM in Port Blair, not on Neil, and activate it before boarding the ferry.

ATMs and cash

There is an ATM at Neil Kendra, but it runs out regularly in peak season. Most restaurants, auto-rickshaws, cycle rentals and activity counters are cash only.

Withdraw ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 per person in Port Blair before you board the ferry.

Medical facilities

Neil has a primary health centre for basic treatment only. Anything serious means returning to Port Blair. Carry all regular medication in sufficient quantity, plus a basic kit — paracetamol, ORS, antiseptic, motion sickness tablets and mosquito repellent.

Food

Fresh seafood, South Indian, Bengali and North Indian food are all available. Neil grows much of the Andamans’ produce, so the vegetables here are noticeably fresher than on other islands.

Kitchens close early — plan dinner before 9:00 pm. Budget ₹600 to ₹1,000 per person per day for lunch and dinner.

What to carry

Closed shoes for the Natural Bridge, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, mosquito repellent, a light cotton shirt for snorkelling, motion sickness tablets, a power bank and cash. For the full list see our Andaman packing list.

Best Restaurants on Neil Island

Neil’s dining scene is small, which is part of the appeal. Most places sit around Neil Kendra, along the road to Bharatpur, or inside the resorts. A few things to know before you plan your evenings.

Kitchens close early. Order dinner before 9:00 pm. Some places stop at 8:30 pm in off-season.

Opening hours are unreliable. Small owner-run places open and close around fishing, supply ferries and the season. If a place is shut, walk 200 metres.

Neil grows the Andamans’ vegetables. The island’s flat, fertile land supplies produce to Port Blair and Havelock, so the vegetables here are noticeably fresher than anywhere else in the islands.

Seafood is caught locally and daily. Ask what came in that morning rather than ordering from the printed menu.

Where People Eat

Blue Sea Restaurant — near Neil Kendra market. Simple, well-priced Indian and Chinese, plus fresh fish cooked how you ask for it. A long-standing favourite with budget travellers.

Garden View Restaurant — inside Summer Sands Beach Resort. Indian, Continental and Chinese in a quiet garden setting. Known for grilled fish and fresh juices. Good for an unhurried dinner.

Dugong Restaurant at SeaShell Neil — the resort restaurant, set among palms. The most reliable sit-down option on the island, popular for breakfast and brunch. Multi-cuisine with a decent Indian and continental spread.

Moonshine — a traveller-focused garden café on the road towards Laxmanpur, roughly 1.8 km from the jetty. Pastas, fish thalis and café food. Opening times are famously erratic, which is part of its character.

Lala Babu Resto Café — near Summer Sands. Seafood-focused, with lobster, prawns, crab and king fish. Reasonably priced for what you get, and they will deliver to your hotel.

The Grains — pure vegetarian, near Bharatpur Beach. North Indian, South Indian and Chinese, sea-facing, and genuinely cost-effective. The best option if anyone in your group is strictly vegetarian.

Vibes and Dives — over on the Sitapur side, near the sunrise beach. Beachfront, with seafood alongside Thai and Indian dishes.

Small local places around Neil Kendra bazaar — bread omelettes, parathas and coffee in the morning. Cheap, quick and where the island actually eats.

What to Budget

Roughly ₹600 to ₹1,000 per person per day for lunch and dinner at mid-range places. Resort restaurants run higher. Local eateries around the bazaar cost considerably less.

Most restaurants and all the small places are cash only, and the island’s single ATM is unreliable in peak season.

Local Expert Tip If you are arriving on a late ferry, tell your hotel you will want dinner before you check in. On Neil, turning up at a restaurant at 9:15 pm often means going to bed hungry.

What to Pack for Neil Island

Most of this applies across the Andamans, but three items matter more on Neil specifically.

Closed shoes — non-negotiable. The 500 m approach to the Natural Bridge is over sharp, uneven coral rock, and Laxmanpur’s shell fragments will cut bare feet. Flip flops are not enough.

Cash — one ATM on the island, unreliable in peak season, and most places are cash only.

Power bank — power cuts are common and not every property runs a generator.

Full checklist

Documents – Original photo ID for every traveller — Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence (PAN card is not accepted at the jetty) – Printed or downloaded ferry tickets and hotel confirmations – Dive certification card, if you have one

Footwear and clothing – Closed shoes or reef shoes for the Natural Bridge – Flip flops for the beaches – Light cotton clothing — humid all year – Two swimsuits – A rash guard or light cotton shirt for snorkelling — protects your back from sunburn – Quick-dry towel – Light rain jacket if travelling May to November

Sun and health – Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 50 – Hat and sunglasses – Mosquito repellent – Motion sickness tablets — take one 30 minutes before the ferry – Basic medical kit: paracetamol, ORS, antiseptic, band-aids – All regular prescription medication in sufficient quantity — the island pharmacy stocks basics only

Practical – Cash: ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 per person, withdrawn in Port Blair – Power bank – Dry bag or zip pouch for your phone on boat rides – Torch — street lighting is limited outside Neil Kendra – Offline maps and tickets downloaded in Port Blair

Leave behind – Single-use plastic — restricted across the Andamans; you will be asked to hand it over – Alcohol — cannot be carried on board the ferry – Drones — not permitted without prior written clearance from the administration

For the island-wide version of this list, see our Andaman packing list.

Common Mistakes Travellers Make on Neil Island

Ignoring the tide chart. The Natural Bridge is unreachable at high tide. This is the number one regret we hear.

Wearing flip flops to the Natural Bridge. The coral rock is sharp and uneven. Closed shoes.

Adding Neil to a trip that’s too short. With four nights total, Neil means two ferry days. Not worth it.

Booking Neil hotels late. Inventory is small. The good properties are gone first in peak season.

Treating Neil as a half-day stop. People routinely arrive at noon and leave the next morning, then wish they’d stayed longer.

Not carrying cash. One ATM, unreliable in season.

Expecting Havelock-level infrastructure. Fewer restaurants, fewer taxis, earlier closing times. That’s the trade for the quiet.

Why Book With AndamanTravelCare

We’re based in Port Blair. Not a call centre 2,000 km away.

Operating since 2014. Thousands of island itineraries planned.

Government licensed and AATO member.

400+ Google reviews, 200+ TripAdvisor reviews, and TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice recognition in 2025 and 2026.

We coordinate all three ferry legs — the hardest part of any Havelock + Neil trip.

We plan around the tide, which most operators don’t bother to do.

Written, transparent pricing before you pay anything.

Our Track Record

Ferry partners: Makruzz, Nautika and Nautika Pro, Green Ocean, ITT Majestic, and the government ferry service.

Accommodation partners:  30+ verified properties across Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island, inspected by our own team.

How to Book Your Neil Island Package

Step 1 — Share your travel dates Dates, number of travellers, rough budget. On WhatsApp or email.

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Step 2 — Receive your itinerary Within a few hours: a written day-wise plan with named hotels, ferry details, tide-adjusted sightseeing and the full price. Usually two or three options.

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Step 3 — Customize it Add a night on Neil, add Havelock, add diving, upgrade the ferry class, change hotels. Revisions are free.

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Step 4 — Confirm with an advance Lock your hotels and ferry seats. Written confirmation with all booking references.

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Step 5 — Travel We meet you at the airport and stay reachable throughout.

Contact: +91-8900912121 (WhatsApp) · info@andamantravelcare.com

What Our Travellers Say

“We nearly skipped Neil and I’m glad we didn’t. Two nights there was the best part of the trip. Laxmanpur at sunset with maybe ten other people on the whole beach.” — Couple, Bengaluru

“They scheduled the Natural Bridge for 6:30 am because that’s when the tide was out. Every other quote we got just said ‘Day 4: Natural Bridge’. That one detail told us who knew the island.” — Family of four, Chennai

“Booked Havelock and Neil together. Three ferry legs, all coordinated, someone waiting at every jetty. Nothing went wrong.” — Group of six, Hyderabad

About the Author

Syed Rabiullah Founder & Travel Consultant, AndamanTravelCare

Based in Port Blair, Syed has spent more than 10 years helping travellers plan customized holidays across the Andaman Islands. He specializes in multi-island itineraries, ferry coordination, honeymoon and family packages, and matching travellers to the right island for their pace. His work includes tide-adjusted sightseeing planning, hotel selection across Port Blair, Havelock and Neil, and advising travellers on how many days each island genuinely warrants.

This page has been reviewed to ensure package details, ferry information, pricing ranges and travel advice are accurate at the time of publication.

About This Page

Frequently Asked Questions

Pricing

1. How much does a Neil Island tour package cost? A Neil Island tour package costs between ₹9,990 and ₹35,000 per person. Most travellers spend ₹14,000 to ₹23,000 per person for a trip combining Neil with Havelock and Port Blair. Airfare is separate.
2. What is the cheapest Neil Island package? Our budget package starts at ₹9,990 per person for one night, including hotel, ferry, transfers and sightseeing.
3. Is Neil Island cheaper than Havelock? Generally yes. Hotel rates on Neil run lower than comparable Havelock properties, and activities cost less. The islands are otherwise similarly priced for ferries and transfers.
4. Is airfare included? No. Package prices exclude flights to Port Blair.
5. Do prices change by season? Yes. December 20 to January 5 is the most expensive window. April and May offer the best value.

Planning

6. How many days should I spend on Neil Island? One night to see everything, two nights to enjoy it. Sightseeing takes half a day, so a second night is about the island rather than the sights.
7. Is Neil Island worth visiting? Yes, if you want quiet. If you want restaurants, nightlife and variety, spend that time in Havelock instead. We’ll tell you honestly which fits your trip.
8. Should I visit Havelock or Neil? Havelock if you have to choose one. Neil if you have six nights or more and want a change of pace. Most travellers do both.
9. Can I do a Neil-only trip? Yes, but it’s only efficient at three nights or more. Below that, the ferry time outweighs the island time.
10. How does Neil compare to Havelock? Neil is smaller, flatter, quieter and cheaper, with fewer restaurants and less infrastructure. Havelock has the more famous beaches and better dive scene. Neil has better shore snorkelling and far fewer people.

Getting There

11. How do I reach Neil Island? Only by ferry — 1.5 to 2 hours from Port Blair, or about an hour from Havelock. There’s no airport.
12. Are ferry tickets included? Yes, all legs are included and booked in advance in the class you choose.
13. How far in advance should I book the ferry? Two to three weeks in peak season, four to six weeks for late December and early January. Neil has fewer daily sailings than Havelock, so seats go faster relative to demand.
14. What if my ferry is cancelled? We rebook you on the next sailing and adjust your hotel. Cancellations happen mainly in monsoon.
15. Is Neil Island the same as Shaheed Dweep? Yes. Neil Island was officially renamed Shaheed Dweep in December 2018. Both names are still used.

Sights and Activities

16. When can I visit the Natural Bridge? Only at low tide. Low tide shifts by roughly 50 minutes each day, so the right time depends on your dates. We check the chart and schedule it accordingly.
17. What should I wear to the Natural Bridge? Closed shoes. The walk is about 500 metres over sharp, uneven coral rock. Flip flops are a bad idea.
18. Which is the best beach on Neil Island? Bharatpur for snorkelling and families, Laxmanpur for sunset, Sitapur for sunrise. Bharatpur is the most useful if you only have time for one.
19. Can I snorkel on Neil Island? Yes, and it’s excellent. Bharatpur has one of the best shore-entry reefs in the Andamans — no boat needed.
20. Is scuba diving available on Neil Island? Yes, for beginners and certified divers, at roughly ₹3,500 to ₹5,500 per dive. Quieter than Havelock. Leave 18 to 24 hours before flying.
21. Can I cycle around Neil Island? Yes — the island is flat and only 13.7 sq km. Cycles rent for a few hundred rupees a day and cover every beach plus the inland farm roads.

Practical

22. Is Neil Island good for families with young children? Very. Bharatpur has the calmest, shallowest water in the islands, plus a glass bottom boat. The Natural Bridge suits older children better because of the rock walk.
23. Are there ATMs on Neil Island? There’s one at Neil Kendra, but it runs out in peak season. Withdraw cash in Port Blair before boarding.
24. Does mobile network work on Neil Island? Partially. BSNL and Airtel work around Neil Kendra and most hotels. Jio is patchy. Data is slow and drops at the beaches.
25. What is the best time to visit Neil Island? October to May. October to February is the most pleasant, March to May offers the same sea conditions at lower prices, and June to September is monsoon with frequent ferry cancellations.

Safety and Rules

26. Is Neil Island safe? Yes. Neil is one of the safest places in the Andamans — a small farming community, very low crime, and locals who are used to travellers. It is safe to walk or cycle alone, including for solo female travellers. The genuine risks are water-related rather than people-related: strong currents at Sitapur, sharp coral rock at the Natural Bridge, and shell fragments underfoot at Laxmanpur. Wear closed shoes on the rocks and swim at Bharatpur rather than Sitapur.
27. Can I carry alcohol to Neil Island? No. Alcohol cannot be carried on board the ferries — private or government — and bags are checked at the jetty. Alcohol is available on the island at licensed resort bars and restaurants, though the selection is limited and prices are higher than on the mainland. There are fewer options on Neil than on Havelock.
28. Are drones allowed on Neil Island? Not without written permission. Drone use across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands requires prior clearance from the local administration, and flying without it can mean confiscation and a fine. Several beaches and all areas near the jetty are restricted regardless. If you need aerial footage, apply well in advance — tell us at the time of booking and we will point you to the correct authority.
29. Which island is better for children — Neil or Havelock? Neil, for younger children. Bharatpur Beach has the calmest and shallowest water of any beach in the accessible Andamans, it is five minutes from the jetty, the glass bottom boat runs from the same stretch, and the whole island is flat with short distances. Havelock is better for older children and teenagers who want scuba diving, sea walks and the bigger water sports scene at Elephant Beach. Most families do both, weighting nights towards Havelock and using Neil as the calm finish.
30. Which beach is best for swimming on Neil Island? Bharatpur. It is the island’s best swimming beach — shallow, calm and protected, with the reef starting close to shore. The one drawback is its proximity to the jetty, which means motorised boats, jet skis and day-trip crowds at times. Laxmanpur is swimmable but extremely shallow, so you walk a long way before it gets deep, and the shell fragments underfoot need footwear. Sitapur has stronger waves and currents and is better for walking and sunrise than for swimming, particularly with children.

Ready to Plan Your Neil Island Trip?

Send us your travel dates and the number of travellers.

We’ll send a complete day-wise itinerary with named hotels, ferry class and timings, sightseeing scheduled around the actual tide chart for your dates, and one final price with nothing hidden. Usually two or three options at different budgets.

No cost, no obligation. If the plan doesn’t suit you, tell us and we’ll rebuild it.

Bharatpur in the morning with the reef right there off the sand, the Natural Bridge at low tide, Laxmanpur at sunset with almost nobody around — that’s what people remember about Neil. We’ll handle everything else.

Planning more than Neil? Explore our Andaman tour packages, Havelock Island tour packages, Andaman honeymoon packages and Andaman family tour packages.

📞 WhatsApp: +91-8900912121 ✉️ Email: info@andamantravelcare.com 🏢 AndamanTravelCare, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Government Licensed · AATO Member · TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice 2025 & 2026

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