Spread over an area of 13.7 sq KM, Neil Island is famous for its unexplored span of dense tropical jungles and rich biodiversity complemented by white sandy beaches with unexplored coral reefs. It is one of the best places to visit in Andaman.
Table of Content:
- Is Neil Island Worth Visiting?
- Places to visit in Neil Island?
- Things to do in Neil Island?
- Best places to stay in Neil Island
- Best time to visit Neil Island
- How to reach Neil Island?
- Neil Island map
- Neil Island Faq’s
Due to its remote location, fewer vehicles, almost zero internet connectivity and low population density, Neil Island is perfect for those who would like to spend time away from city noise and into a beautiful world of natural beauty.
The climate condition of Neil Island makes it ideal for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, it is known as the Vegetable Bowl of Andaman. The trip to Neil Island itself is a journey to remember because the roads are thin here and surrounded by paddy fields, banana plantations and other agricultural greenery.
The flat landscape, small area and the peaceful surrounding of nature make it a great place to explore on bike or cycle with minimal effort.
However, the island is not visited by many tourists as it is overshadowed by neighboring island such as Havelock Island. But it is surely a hidden gem which misses out by many tourists who come to Andaman. So check the complete guide to visiting Neil Island with the best places to visit and stay:
Is Neil Island worth visiting?
Yes, definitely Neil Island is worth visiting with Luxumpur beach which is described as the second most beautiful beach on Andaman after Radhanagar beach. Apart from it, Neil island also has Bharatpur beach, Sitapur beach and Howrah Bridge.
It is an ideal place for those who looking to seek some peace in the lap of nature.
Places to Visit in Neil Island:
1. Bharatpur Beach:
Located Just 500 meters from the Jetty, Bharatpur beach is a perfect place to enjoy with family and friends. It is the best beach on Neil Island with calm and picturesque views.
The shallow water free from large rocks and corals makes it an ideal place for swimming. Sometimes the water is so shallow that even a non-swimmer can take a dip.
The deeper divers areas located near to the beach and have to reach by boat, where you can experience the stunning views of marine life. Apart from diving, this beach is famous for water sports such as snorkeling, kayaking, glass-bottom ride and scuba diving.
After the fun and eventful day, you can relax under the shades of tall trees which are located pretty close to the beach. As it is located near to the jetty, therefore here you can find lots of street food stalls and restaurants for delicious food.
It is the only beach on Neil Island where you can enjoy water sports.
Famous for: Colorful sunrise & sunset, snorkeling, scuba diving, glass-bottom ride, jet skiing and rich marine life.
How to reach: It is located at a walkable distance from the Neil Island jetty. Therefore, you can easily reach here by taking a walk to the right side of the jetty.
2. Laxmanpur Beach:
Located just 2.2 Km away from Bharatpur beach, Laxmanpur beach is surely the second best beach in Andaman after the Radhanagar beach at Havelock. It is the best beach to experience the picture-perfect sunset on the Andaman Islands.
The interesting thing about this beach is its shape which is like a triangle that means when if you stand on the tip then you can gaze at the aerial and wide view of the complete horizon.
The wide shoreline of the beach is filled up with white sand and turquoise blue water. But the water current and wave are moderately high. Therefore, swimming and water sports are unsafe here.
As you walk into the beach you can see the one side is surrounded by dense forest and the other is by a wide mesmerizing sea. On the forest side, you’ll see lots of benches and huts where you can relax and witness the beauty of nature.
As there is no water sport here, so the main attraction of this beach is sightseeing and relaxation. There are lots of small shops on the entrance of beach offers various kinds of delicious foods and snacks.
How to reach: Laxmanpur beach is located 4.5 KM away from the Neil Island Jetty. Therefore, you can easily reach here by bus, auto Rickshaw and rental bike or bicycle. Bus is the most and convenient and budgeted option to reach here. Bus leave from Neil Island jetty twice a day and take 30 minutes to reach Laxmanpur beach.
3. Sitapur Beach:
Located at the end of the Island, Sitapur beach is quite a famous place to experience the sunrise in Andaman. Therefore, it is also known as Sunrise Beach.
It is a pretty calm beach with a wide curved shoreline that expands all the way and surrounded by the dense tropical jungle. As the shore is filled with hard rock & corals therefore swimming is not advisable here.
You can find various beautiful hotels near the beach such as Summer sand beach resort, Aura resort and Emerald Gecko resort.
Famous for: Sitapur beach is famous for picture-perfect sunrise with fresh morning breeze of air. Overall it is a great place to visit in the morning.
How to reach: Located 5.5 KM away from the Neil Island Jetty, Sitapur beach can easily be reached by the bus cab and Auto Rickshaw. The bus leaves the jetty and reaches the beach in just 20 minutes. But the number of buses run from the jetty is pretty low so you can also opt for the auto-rickshaw and rented bike or bicycle. Usually, auto-rickshaw charge 100 INR for one way trip and takes only 10 minutes to the beach. But make sure you book them for the return trip as well because you won’t find many options to get back to the jetty.
4. Ramnagar Beach (Beach No.3):
The Ramnagar beach is one of the least visited beaches on Neil Island. Therefore, it is a perfect place for those who looking for some privacy. The beach is blessed with the white sand shore, dense tropical trees and amazing coral reefs.
The Ramnagar beach offers good snorkeling spots with lots of colorful fishes and nice coral reefs. But for that, you need to swim further into the sea to get the perfect spot with good visibility.
Most of the beaches in Neil Island affected by the nature of low tide and sharp corals and rocks. Therefore, it is not a good spot for swimming.
Things to do in Neil Island:
Trek to Natural Bridge at Laxmanpur beach 2: After exploring the Laxmanpur beach now trek to the Natural Bridge which is located at Laxmanpur beach 2. It is a perfect place to witness the mystery of nature and clicking amazing photographs.
It is also known as Howrah Bridge locally and can only be accessible during low tide as the path is covered by the high waves during high tide.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling: Neil Island is home to the most beautiful underwater biodiversity which includes a variety of fishes, sea-dwellers and rich coral reefs. The clear crystal blue water and calm waves make Neil Island a perfect spot for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Most of the resorts in Neil Island also rent out gear for snorkeling. However, you can easily find tour operator for scuba diving and snorkeling at Bharatpur beach.
Other Water sports: Apart from Scuba Diving and Snorkeling you can also try out Jet Skiing, Glass Bottom Boat Ride and Game Fishing on Neil Island.
Note: All the water activities are available between 9 A.M to 4 P.M at Bharatpur Beach.
Places to Stay in Neil Island:
From last few years, Neil Island has been developed as a tourism hub with all kinds of resorts, hotels and other necessary facilities for traveler. From budget & basic hotels that offers comfortable stay to luxurious stay which offers stunning views of beaches and lush greenery, this island has it all.
Cost of Budget stay: 500 INR to 800 INR at Sitapur and Bharatpur beach
Cost of Mid-way stay: 1500 to 3000 INR with AC Rooms and Internet
Cost of Luxury stay: 4000 to 8000 with all kind of luxury like private pool & parking, romantic dinner for honeymoon couples and picturesque views.
Check out Best Hotels In Neil Island
Note: Cost is subject to change according to season.
Best Time to Visit Neil Island:
Likewise other Andaman Island, Neil mainly has three-season – Summer, Monsoon and Winter. Summer and Winter are considered the best season to visit because of pleasant weather and stable sea waves while monsoon is not considered a good time to visit because of unexpected weather, heavy rain and delay in ferry and water sports timing.
March to May (Summer): During the summer season, Neil island sees moderate weather conditions, less humidity and stable waves. Therefore, it is considered the second-best time to visit. The temperature varies around 23 to 28 deg C and if you’re lucky enough, you’ll get light showers of rain as well.
May to August (Monsoon): Usually, the monsoon starts at the end of May and lasts till August throughout Andaman. And this island gets low rainfall at the start of the monsoon and heavy at last. So if you’re planning to visit Neil Island during this season then plan your trip at the start of the season for better weather.
However, it is not advisable to visit Andaman during monsoon but this is the time when you get the lowest rate on stay and transport.
December to Feb (Winter): Winter at Neil island is not harsh as temperatures vary around 23 to 27 C and mostly day is sunny with less humidity. Therefore, it is considered the best time to visit Neil Island. The weather is just perfect and you won’t sweat while exploring the attractions.
How to Reach Neil Island:
To reach Neil Island, first you have to reach Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair which is the nearest airport to Neil Island. The Port Blair airport is well connected to other major cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Banglore.
The best and only way to reach Neil Island is to take a ferry and boats from Port Blair which is just 36 KM away from Neil Island. There are both government and private ferries run between Port Blair to Neil Island. But the tickets of government ferry are mostly reserved for islanders and there is no way of online booking. Therefore, private ferries are the best way to reach Neil Island. To avoid long queues and last minute rush make sure you book tickets well in advance.
How to Roam Around on Neil Island?
If you want to explore Neil Island on its own then rental bike or bicycle is the most budget option to explore Neil Island. You can hire a bicycle or bike for a day in just 150 to 200 INR.
If you don’t know road and here only for 1 night then auto is the best way to roam around. The Auto drives don’t take heavy charges (100 INR) and will take you to several tourist spot on the Island.
Note: Price may vary
Important Information:
Currency and Atm’s: Like the rest of Andaman, Indian Rupees is the currency used in Neil Island. And there is one atm located at the Neil Kendra.
Language: Hindi is mostly used language here along with Bengali. English is understood but with difficulty.
Safety: Police Station: 03192-282602
Neil Island Map:
Or you can also check : Neil Island Map
Neil Island Faq’s
Q1: How many days do you need at Neil Island?
1 Night and 2 days are enough to explore most of Neil Island. You can plan 1 day for the beach & sightseeing attraction and 1 one day for water sports.
Q2: What are the top attractions to visit on Neil Island?
Bharatpur beach, Sitapur beach, Ramnagar beach and Natural Bridge are some of the most beautiful tourist attraction of Neil Island.