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NEIL ISLAND DIARIES: A HIDDEN EMPYREAN PARADISE

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR, DESTINATIONS, INDIA

A staggeringly beautiful paradise – garlanded with coconut trees basking in the sun, the most scenic, deep burgundy sunsets, and unexplored coral reefs – Neil Island is such beauty! If you, like us, love exploring tiny islands, familiarizing yourself with the way locals live there, this island should find a place on your bucket list for sure!

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The picturesque imagery of Neil Island and a trip here would spoil you rotten. It is a small island, about 7 km from corner to corner, so can be covered in about 2 hours! You can base yourself in a nice hotel and uncover all the attractions in 2 days. A number of scooty rental companies have booths at the Jetty and offer convenient and economical means for exploring the cutesy island.
Having a nifty scooty makes it so much easier to witness the untamed beauty! We warn you – it is not any ordinary island destination where you can party and booze till late night. But it has a different pastoral charm where you can absorb the local culture, uncover some truly beautiful gems, and bask in the generosity of the locals.

Read: Things to Do in Havelock Andaman Island

Things to do in Andaman Neil Island

Neil Island – You beauty!

Things to do in Andaman Neil Island

Be ready for views like these

HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR VISIT TO NEIL ISLAND

• Meeting the most generous locals (who served us their local produce heartily ) They are always ready to strike a conversation
• Slow and laid-back pace of life that we both love
• White sandy beaches with green canopy of forests & unexplored coral reefs
• Magical landscapes and gorgeous burgundy sunsets
• Awesome snorkeling and diving spots
• Stunning scenery

Things to do in Andaman Neil Island

This was taken from Makruzz while we were cruising to Neil Island – Look at the blues!

things to do in Andaman Neil Island

The sights that await you in Neil Island

Things to do in Andaman Neil Island

Couldn’t resist being clicked amidst lush forests

HOW TO REACH NEIL ISLAND ANDAMAN?

The only entry and exit point of the island is a jetty at Neil Kendra. You can take a regular boat from Port Blair (Phoenix Bay Jetty) or Havelock (Havelock Jetty ) to reach Neil, or opt for a private cruise ship, Makruzz.

You can check schedules for Makruzz online and book in advance accordingly. As tickets for Makruzz usually get sold out fast, make sure you don’t miss out on that. We paid $15 for a one-way cruise to Neil Island from Havelock.

things to do in andaman neil island

Makruzz – Quite a beast

things to do in andaman neil island

Before boarding the cruise – At Havelock Pier

ACCOMMODATION IN NEIL ISLAND ANDAMAN

After 4 days of being completely out of touch with the outside world (due to dodgy mobile connectivity and no wifi), we finally had another reason to love Summer Sands Neil Island – Good wifi. For us, home is where good wifi is and so we loved being in this little piece of heaven! All those looking for hotels in Neil Island Andaman can consider a stay at Summer Sands.

Check pictures from our stay at Summer Sands, here.

THINGS TO DO ON YOUR VISIT TO NEIL ISLAND ANDAMAN:

1. A PARADISE FOR THE BEACH BUMS

Day trips from Neil Island Andaman are about beach bumming at Bharatpur, Laxmanpur, and Sitapur Beach. The cool fact is all the beaches have been named after the mythological characters of Ramayana – Laxman, Sita, and Bharat. Finding a secluded piece of sun-soaked heaven is quite easy on all the beaches because Neil Island is yet to go tourist crazy!

BHARATPUR BEACH

Picture yourself sitting quietly on a beach with a book in one hand and coconut in another. Well, do nothing and just soak up the beauty around. Or, you could go swimming or snorkeling for coral watching. The vegetation surrounding the beach is just soothing.

Things to do in Andaman Neil Island

I could sit here forever – Bharatapur Beach was really clean

things to do in andaman neil island

That’s Neil Island for you

LAXMANPUR BEACH

The gorgeous landscape offers a perfect backdrop for a tranquil day at the Laxmanpur beach.

Mostly, tourists come to this beach (popular for its spur of white shell sand) for watching the sunset. We went to the secluded side of the beach that lies 2km north of Neil Pier post-lunch and spent a few languorous moments there.

Perhaps we found the reading perfect spot so you could add this to the list of things to do in Andaman Neil Island.

Things to do in Andaman Neil Island

Lost in translation – It was a random click, I swear 😉

things to do in Andaman Neil Island

The perfect reading spot?

things to do in Andaman Neil Island

Lush beauty = fresh air

SITAPUR BEACH

Unlike Laxmanpur and Bharatpur beach, Sitapur beach is best suited for watching the sunrise in the striking backdrop of limestone formations. The beach is 5km south of Neil Island and the journey to the beach is extremely refreshing. Just sit back and indulge in unhurried conversations for you’ll never forget your time in the dreamy paradise that Neil Island is.

Things to do in Andaman Neil Island

The cutest cart with the vibrant sky – Take me back here

things to do in neil island andaman

The beach wasn’t accessible during high tides

2. HOWRAH NATURAL BRIDGE, NEIL ISLAND

Our visit to the Howrah Natural Bridge wasn’t as easy as it might have been for other visitors. We reached quite late in the evening as we wanted to get away from the crowds and spend a memorable time while waiting for the sun to set.
As the beach is exposed to open sea, eventually lower tides turned into higher, and we were scared for our lives.

See the magical transformation of the sun setting at the bridge that we witnessed, here.

3. TALK TO THE LOCALS

People in Andaman, particularly Neil Island are so warm and friendly. We were welcomed with a big endearing hello and cheery smiles wherever we went. While coming back from Sitapur Beach we stopped our scooty near the gorgeous mango plantation.
We saw a lady who was also the owner of the area. An introductory talk on general life in Neil Island later, she offered us freshly picked mangoes, which we loved gorging on. So, never hesitate to speak to the locals there as they would rather appreciate being in your company.

things to do in neil island andaman

Befriended the cutest kids – love those smiles

things to do in neil island andaman

She invited us home and offered the yummiest mangoes ever

WANDERER HUB’S TIPS:

• Rent a scooty to explore Neil Island. It would set you back by 400 INR|6USD for a day.
• Apply sunscreen generously before heading to the beaches and carry an umbrella with you.
• You can find a few shacks and kiosks selling knick-knacks at almost all the beaches. So you really don’t have to worry about food.
• Neil Island is not for the people who wish to party late into the night, in fact, it’s perfect for people who enjoy slow travel.
• Carry lots of flowy dresses and kimonos to be fashion-forward on your Neil Island holiday.

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Did you enjoy reading about Neil Island?
 If yes then you will also enjoy other stories from India. Read them here.

29 responses to “NEIL ISLAND DIARIES: A HIDDEN EMPYREAN PARADISE”

  1. Danielle says:

    Wow, what lovely photos! I have never heard of this place but I now have it on my bucket list. Thank you!

  2. Ivanna says:

    These photos are great and the water looks beautiful. That looks like a great place to visit and paradise for sure!

  3. Elizabeth says:

    Neil Island looks beautiful! Love the lush gardens. Would love to visit there one day!

  4. Mary Leigh says:

    So beautiful! it looks like a great place to visit and your photos are absolutely incredible!

  5. stephanie says:

    Thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs with us. What a gorgeous island. Right up my alley. Cheers!

  6. Latika says:

    Some serious holiday goals here, amazing pictures and blog too.. seems like its time to plan a trip now.. thanks for sharing such great insights.. 🙂

  7. Siddharth and Shruti says:

    Andaman and Nicobar has been on our bucket list far too long! Your post makes us want to pack our bags and go right now! Neil Island really looks like paradise. What a wonderful reading spot! Do you need an international driving license for renting the scooty?

    • admin says:

      Hey guys,
      Andamans is very much in India. Your normal driving license works.
      I am sure international driving license works well for scooty rental in Andamans.

  8. Nicolas says:

    I liked reading your article, Neil Island seems like a paradise kept from all pollution as it is far from everything. A place to go!

  9. Ami says:

    Andamans, on the whole, is just so beautiful. I missed out Neil island on my last visit. Chose to spend a day extra at Havelock . I hope to head back there again and this time, go straight to Neil island. Loved your pictures.

  10. Matt says:

    What a beautiful and relaxing place. This is a great introduction to it and definitely ignites my wunderlust. It’s nice that you make the point of how friendly the locals are as, especially on a small island, it is such an important part of any travel experience. Keep up the great work, happy travels.

  11. jithin says:

    I have visited Andamans last year and Neil island was one of the best place in my trip. I really liked the place and the cruise was a different experience. You have given all the details for an easy visit to the islands. Great post…

  12. Nisha says:

    Love the different shades of blues, whether it’s the water or the sky. Neil Island really looks beautiful ! Never visited Andamans so, I’m excited about it.

  13. How long would you recommend staying there? 🙂

  14. Monica says:

    Gorgeous. I love to visit island and hadn’t known this one. Added in my list. Striking vibration with locals can add a great zeal to the whole experience. Your guide is very informative. Thanks for sharing

  15. Punita says:

    That flaming sunset on the Howrah beach is spectacular. Andamans is still on our travel list, and sunsets like these are what will inspire me most while there.

  16. Yaswanth says:

    We have visited most states of India, barring a few such as the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Your pics have just inspired us to plan that trip, which season do you recommend for a trip?

  17. ada says:

    wow Neil Island looks like paradise! It must be an amazing place for relaxing gateway! Your photos are fabulous! Looks like you had wonderful time !

  18. Katty says:

    I especially liked the freedom trail as it is a great way to see a lot of different things. The island has such a unique atmosphere

  19. Tanu Nainwal says:

    Wonderful location. Must be seen at least once.

  20. Asif Khan says:

    It is the great blog, I have ever seen!

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