Andaman and Nicobar Tour Packages in 2026

Updated 2026 with current package pricing, inclusions, cancellation terms and the paperwork questions travellers usually only discover mid trip.

A travel insurance claim taught me more about how Andaman packages actually work than three separate trips did. A scooter skid on Neil Island, a torn ligament, and a claim form that asked which activities were pre approved by the operator, a detail nobody had explained at the time of booking. The package covered the hospital transfer. It did not cover the scooter rental, because the fine print classified self driven two wheelers as an excluded activity, a line item that exists on almost every Andaman package and that almost nobody reads before signing.

That single claim is the reason this piece exists in its current form. Most package guides compare price and itinerary. Very few walk through the parts of a package that only matter once something has already gone slightly wrong, insurance exclusions, cancellation windows during a season known for weather disruption, and the paperwork gap between what a package promises and what it is contractually obligated to deliver.

What follows covers the standard ground, package durations, inclusions and cost, but it spends real time on the parts that a glossy package page has no incentive to explain clearly.

Package durations and what each one realistically covers

Operators sell largely the same four durations. The honest differences between them are rarely spelled out clearly on a booking page.

What a package includes, and the exclusions that catch people out

Insurance, activity waivers, and what actually gets covered

Most packages either bundle a basic travel insurance policy or strongly recommend one, but the fine print on what counts as a covered activity is where most disputes happen.

Water sports operators on Havelock and Neil generally require a signed waiver before scuba, sea walking or jet skiing, separate from any insurance the package itself carries. That waiver typically shifts liability for injury during the activity onto the traveller unless the operator can be shown to have been negligent, which is a meaningfully higher bar than most travellers assume when they sign it without reading closely.

If scuba diving is a real priority for the trip, a short term diver specific insurance add on, separate from general travel insurance, is worth the extra cost and is offered by several dive schools on Havelock directly at the time of booking a course.

Cost by package length, 2026

The figures below cover the package cost only, land arrangements without flights, for two travellers. Flights to Port Blair typically add Rs 9,000 to 25,000 per person depending on season and how far ahead you book.

Water sports add a separate cost most quotes underplay. Snorkelling and a shared kayak session run Rs 2,500 to 4,000 per person, a discover scuba session or single certified dive runs Rs 5,000 to 8,000, and multiple certified dives with a private guide can pass Rs 10,000, rarely appearing in the base package price.

Cancellation and refund terms across operators

Cancellation policies vary more between operators than almost any other part of an Andaman package, and this is the section travellers read least carefully before paying an advance.

During the monsoon months, some operators offer a free date change rather than a refund if a specific day's ferry is officially cancelled by the operator due to weather, which is generally a fairer outcome than a straight cancellation policy, but this needs to be confirmed in writing before booking rather than assumed.

Why the Nicobar Islands rarely appear in any package

The Nicobar group sits well south of the Andaman islands under far stricter access rules, largely to protect indigenous communities including the Shompen and Nicobarese peoples and to preserve ecologically sensitive areas.

Most of the Nicobar Islands are entirely closed to tourists. The few areas technically accessible require permits well beyond the standard Restricted Area Permit issued for the Andaman group. No commercial package sold today genuinely includes Nicobar sightseeing, regardless of what the name on the brochure suggests.

Customising a package for a specific kind of trip

Honeymoon and anniversary trips

Ask specifically for a private candlelight dinner setup and a room with a confirmed sea view rather than a sea facing category that can sometimes mean a partial view through trees. Several resorts on Havelock also arrange a private sunset boat ride quietly, without listing it on the standard package menu.

Group and multi generation family trips

Request a fixed departure package rather than a private one if the group is above eight people, since fixed departure groups often get a meaningfully better per person rate on ferries and shared transport. Confirm room configurations early, since triple occupancy rooms are limited on both Havelock and Neil.

Senior citizens and travellers with mobility concerns

Elephant Beach's forest trek option should be skipped in favour of the speedboat transfer, and Cellular Jail involves a fair amount of walking on uneven stone, worth pacing with rest breaks. Ask the operator directly whether wheelchair assistance is available at the jetties, since this varies significantly by ferry operator.

Corporate and incentive group trips

Ross Island and North Bay work well as a single structured half day for larger groups, since both are reachable from the same Port Blair harbour without an overnight island stay, which simplifies logistics considerably for a group that may not all want the same activity level.

Booking through a local agent versus an online marketplace

Both routes work, and the right choice depends less on price and more on how much hand holding a traveller wants during the trip itself.

Best time to book and travel

October through May is the accepted travel window. October to February brings the coolest, driest weather and calmest seas, and is also the most expensive and heavily booked stretch, particularly the last week of December through the second week of January, when package prices climb noticeably above the ranges quoted above.

March to May stays dry and warm with thinner crowds and lower rates. June through September is the monsoon, when ferries do get cancelled on rough weather days and water sports operators scale back, so a package built around diving and boat rides is a poor fit for this window unless slack days are built in deliberately.

Details rarely covered elsewhere

Common questions about Andaman and Nicobar tour packages

Does an Andaman and Nicobar package actually include Nicobar?

Almost never. The Nicobar group is under strict access restrictions to protect indigenous communities and sensitive ecosystems, and no standard commercial package includes genuine Nicobar sightseeing. Assume the package covers Andaman alone unless the operator names a specific Nicobar location and confirms the permit process in writing.

Does travel insurance cover scuba diving and water sports in Andaman?

Not always, and this is worth confirming before booking rather than after an incident. Standard travel insurance often excludes scuba beyond a shallow depth limit and self driven scooter or bike accidents. A separate diver specific insurance add on is available through several dive schools on Havelock if diving is a real priority for the trip.

What is the best package duration for a first visit?

4 nights 5 days for most first time travellers, matching the ferry network across Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island without rushing. 7 nights 8 days suits travellers who also want Ross Island, North Bay, Baratang and a weather buffer day.

How much does an Andaman tour package cost?

A 4 nights 5 days package runs roughly Rs 16,600 to 20,000 per person at the budget tier, Rs 25,000 to 35,000 mid range, and Rs 45,000 and above at the comfort tier, excluding flights, which typically add Rs 9,000 to 25,000 per person.

What happens if I need to cancel my Andaman package?

Cancellation terms vary by operator, hotel and ferry company separately, and each can carry a different refund window. Confirm all three in writing before paying an advance, since a package cancelled close to the travel date often forfeits the ferry ticket cost even when the tour operator's own portion is refundable.

Kalyan Panja writes long form travel guides for Explore Share Inspire and Travtasy, covering Indian and international destinations through culture, food and firsthand ground reporting.