Neil Island
The slower island — Natural Bridge, bicycle roads and fewer people.
Neil — Shaheed Dweep — is smaller and quieter than Havelock, and most travellers treat it as the wind-down stop of the trip. It's compact enough to get around by bicycle or auto in a day, with four distinct beaches, a genuinely unusual natural rock formation, and a slower pace overall.
Why Visit Neil Island
- Natural Bridge — a striking coral rock formation, best seen at low tide
- Four beaches within a short ride of each other
- A noticeably slower, quieter pace than Havelock
- Good sunset views from Laxmanpur Beach
Places to See
Natural Bridge (Howrah Bridge)
A natural coral rock arch exposed at low tide — check tide timings before you go, since it's only fully visible for part of the day.
Bharatpur Beach
Neil's main beach for water sports and glass-bottom boat rides, with a shallow reef close to shore.
Laxmanpur Beach
The island's best sunset spot, with a long stretch of sand and calm water.
Sitapur Beach
A quieter beach on the eastern side, good for sunrise and largely free of crowds.
Things to Do
Beaches
How to Reach
Ferries connect Neil with both Port Blair and Havelock, so it fits naturally into a Port Blair → Havelock → Neil → Port Blair loop without backtracking.
Travel Tips
- Check the tide chart before heading to Natural Bridge — at high tide there isn't much to see.
- Renting a bicycle or scooter is the easiest way to see all four beaches in a day.
Gallery
Neil Island FAQs
Neil is smaller, quieter and easier to get around end-to-end in a single day. Havelock has better diving infrastructure and Radhanagar Beach; Neil is better for unwinding after a busier few days.
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Packages Featuring Neil Island
Honeymoon Escape
Port Blair, Havelock and Neil, paced around sunsets and sea-view stays.
Family Explorer
The full South Andaman circuit at a genuinely family-friendly pace.
Budget Island Hop
Fit all three main islands into four nights without overspending.
Luxury Retreat
Premium sea-view resorts, private transfers and a deliberately unhurried schedule.
Classic Leisure Tour
The complete Andaman introduction — every major South Andaman stop, plus Baratang, at a comfortable pace.
Exclusive Private Journey
A fully private, extended route built for groups and extended families who want the complete islands, at their own pace.
Nearby Destinations
Port Blair
Gateway to the Andamans — history, harbours and your first island evening.
Almost every Andaman trip begins and ends in Port Blair. It's the administrative capital, the only city with a commercial airport, and home to the Cellular Jail — the single most important historical site in the islands. Most travellers spend their first and last nights here, using it as a base for a city tour before heading out to Havelock or Neil.
Explore Port Blair →
Havelock Island
Radhanagar Beach, reef diving and the island most people picture when they think 'Andaman'.
Havelock — officially Swaraj Dweep — is the reason most people come to the Andamans. Radhanagar Beach is routinely ranked among Asia's best, the reefs off Elephant Beach are the easiest in the islands to snorkel, and the dive schools here are the most established in the archipelago. It's a 90-minute to 2.5-hour ferry from Port Blair, and most itineraries give it the longest stay of any single island.
Explore Havelock Island →
Ross Island
Colonial ruins reclaimed by the forest, a short boat ride from Port Blair.
Once the administrative headquarters of British India's penal colony, Ross Island is now a quiet ruin — old ballrooms and bungalows wrapped in the roots of banyan trees, with deer and peacocks wandering freely. It's typically combined with North Bay in a single half-day boat trip from Port Blair.
Explore Ross Island →