What's on in Port Blair (Andamans), India through the year

Peak crowds — Island Tourism Festival, Sailing and dive season

• Rule

  Entry rules for foreign visitors

  1 Jan – 31 DecBook early

  Most of the tourist islands no longer need the old restricted-area permit and foreign nationals simply register on arrival, but the Nicobars and the tribal reserves stay closed to everyone and a few nationalities still need clearance in advance. Source ↗

• Festival

  Island Tourism Festival

  1–20 Jan · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  Ten days of stages, craft stalls and food on the festival ground in town, with satellite events out on the other islands. Dates are set by the administration each season and announced late. Source ↗

• Rule

  Andaman Trunk Road convoys

  1 Jan – 31 DecClosures

  The road north to Baratang runs through the Jarawa reserve in timed convoys with a police escort, and stopping, photographing or interacting with anyone in the reserve is an offence. Convoys leave before dawn. Source ↗

Still on: Sailing and dive season (15 Oct – 10 May), Christmas and New Year peak (20 Dec – 5 Jan)

Busy — Sailing and dive season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Entry rules for foreign visitors (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Andaman Trunk Road convoys (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sailing and dive season (15 Oct – 10 May)

Busy — Sailing and dive season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Entry rules for foreign visitors (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Andaman Trunk Road convoys (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sailing and dive season (15 Oct – 10 May)

Peak crowds — Sailing and dive season, Summer vacation (Kerala / far south) in India

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Entry rules for foreign visitors (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Andaman Trunk Road convoys (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sailing and dive season (15 Oct – 10 May)

Peak crowds — Sailing and dive season, Summer vacation (north & east) in India

• Season

  Monsoon and rough crossings

  15 May – 30 Sep · usuallyRiskClosures

  The islands take the southwest monsoon early and hard. Inter-island ferries are merged or cancelled at short notice, dive boats stop, and a trip built on tight connections falls apart.

Still on: Entry rules for foreign visitors (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Andaman Trunk Road convoys (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sailing and dive season (15 Oct – 10 May)

Busy — Summer vacation (north & east) in India, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Entry rules for foreign visitors (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Andaman Trunk Road convoys (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Monsoon and rough crossings (15 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Entry rules for foreign visitors (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Andaman Trunk Road convoys (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Monsoon and rough crossings (15 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Entry rules for foreign visitors (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Andaman Trunk Road convoys (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Monsoon and rough crossings (15 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Entry rules for foreign visitors (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Andaman Trunk Road convoys (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Monsoon and rough crossings (15 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Sailing and dive season, Autumn break (Dussehra / Diwali) in India

• Season

  Sailing and dive season

  15 Oct – 10 MayCrowdedBook early

  The sea settles, the catamarans to Havelock and Neil run to timetable, and every dive centre in the territory is open. Ferry seats over the winter holidays sell out weeks ahead.

Still on: Entry rules for foreign visitors (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Andaman Trunk Road convoys (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Sailing and dive season

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Entry rules for foreign visitors (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Andaman Trunk Road convoys (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sailing and dive season (15 Oct – 10 May)

Peak crowds — Sailing and dive season, Christmas and New Year peak

• Season

  Christmas and New Year peak

  20 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  Mainland India books the Andamans for this fortnight and nothing is spare: flights, ferries, hotels. Go in November or February and it is a different, emptier set of islands.

Still on: Entry rules for foreign visitors (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Andaman Trunk Road convoys (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Sailing and dive season (15 Oct – 10 May)