Kayaking in Andaman
Kayaking in Andaman is a gorgeous experience where you get to not only get a unique view of the islands but also paddle around in the calm waters of the various beaches, bays and the gorgeous mangroves. You get to explore the gorgeous flora and fauna around the islands and the blue sea while being away from the crowds. If you’re heading to the Andaman Islands, you might also like our blog on the Best Adventures in Andamans.
Night Kayaking in Andaman
Apart from this, there are also various night kayaking sessions which lets you explore the islands in an off-beat way, away from the crowds, under the starry skies. During night kayaking in Andaman, you also get to see the bioluminescence in the water that is caused by phytoplankton. You also take the less kayaked path through the mangroves in the dark while kayaking in the night.
The Andaman Islands form an archipelago between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The islands are famous for their pristine white beaches, considered some of the best in the world, along with the emerald waters of the sea around them. The islands are also home to dense mangrove forests, and a rich ecosystem of vivid fish species and coral reefs along the shore.
One of the best ways of exploring the gorgeous shorelines of the Andaman Islands is kayaking. Havelock Island is the most popular spot for kayaking in Andamans, but Port Blair is also gaining popularity in recent years. It is indeed one of the best watersports to experience in Andamans.
There are various kayaking packages that you can choose from, consisting of both day as well as night kayaking trips. These packages range from INR 3000 to INR 4500, depending on the time and location. These kayaking in Andaman packages include the cost of kayaks, paddles, life jackets along with an experienced instructor.
Itinerary
For kayaking in Andaman, you first report at the jetty/beach at the given time, and meet your team and instructor. From there, you collect your gear and prepare for kayaking. But before you head out in the sea, the instructor gives you a short briefing session along with safety guidelines that you need to follow. You then head out for a 2-2.5 hours kayaking ride in the gorgeous Andaman sea. After your kayaking session, you return to the jetty/beach and return your gear before heading out for your next adventure.
Best time to go
The best time to go kayaking in Andaman is during the months of summer and winter. During the summer season, the days are warm and the waters are calm, providing perfect conditions for kayaking. Similarly, in winter, the days are moderately warm and the cool, calm waters make kayaking a great experience. However, kayaking in monsoon is usually inaccessible due to heavy rains and high tides that the island faces.
Safety
Kayaking is a very safe activity and it can be done by people of all age groups as long as they possess basic fitness levels. Additionally, you're also given a life jacket for your kayaking session to help you float if your kayak capsizes or tips over. However, capsizing or tipping over of kayaks rarely happen and only when it is hit by a big wave or when the kayaker is not being careful.
Apart from this, the tour operators hold safety as their first priority and do not compromise on it. Hence, they will only begin the kayaking session when the weather conditions are right for it. If they think the sea is rough or has high tide, or if it looks like it's going to rain heavily, they will either wait for the tide to recede or cancel the trip. This is the same reason why kayaking does not happen in the monsoon season.
Did you know that even beginners and non-swimmers can experience scuba diving in the Andaman Islands? Check out our blog on Scuba Diving in the Andamans for Beginners.
Getting there
Andaman is an isolated cluster of islands that can only be reached by flights or cruises. Of the two, flying is more convenient, as there are regular flights from major cities of India like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, etc. to the Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, Andaman.
If you have a few days to spare, then you can even take a cruise from Kolkata, Vizag or Chennai to Port Blair; these cruise trips take around 60-70 hours to reach Port Blair.
Getting around in Andaman:
In Port Blair and Havelock, you can either hire taxis or autos to reach other parts of the island. You can even rent a car with a driver for roughly INR 550 per 35 km, or a motorcycle for around INR 300-400 per day. These prices are subjective. Apart from these, there are bus services connecting Port Blair to Wandoor in the south and Baratang, Rangat, Mayabunder and Diglipur in the north.
To go from one island to the other, you can either board government run ferries or catamaran ferries. Of the two, catamaran are the faster ones. Pawan Hans also runs 8-seater Cessna seaplanes between Port Blair and Havelock, but these flights are sporadic and depend greatly on the tides.
What else to do in Andamans
When you're not kayaking in Andaman, there are plenty of things to do in Andaman. You can go explore the white sandy beaches of the islands, or go for short treks through the forests of Andaman, or you can go snorkelling at various dive sites or explore the exotic marine life of the Andaman Sea.
If you want to further explore the emerald waters of Andaman and the marine life that thrives under the surface, then you can sign up for the many scuba diving trips and courses around Andaman. There are one day discover scuba diving/try diving trips in Andamans for those who want to experience scuba diving, and then there are PADI/SSI certified scuba diving courses too in Andamans. Check out more options on scuba diving in Andamans.
Kayaking in Andaman Summary
- State: Andaman and Nicobar
- Nearest city: Port Blair
- Total days: 1 days
- Grade: Easy
- Season: Summer and winter
- Avg temperature: 20 to 37 degrees Celsius
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