Private luxury sailing and diving in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Where are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands located?

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are archipelagos of over 500 islands in the Bay of Bengal, close to Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia but in fact most of the islands are an Indian Union Territory.

You could combine your sailing holiday with a visit to Myanmar or Indonesia or have it as a relaxing end to an exploration of India. That is the beauty of our bespoke private holidays to Asia – we can tailor whatever you wish for your vacation!

Havelock Island is one of the largest islands and is well connected with mainland India. There are direct flights to the Andaman Islands from Kolkata, Bangaluru and Chennai and the flights are around 2.5 hours, so they are quite accessible.

What sort of private charter boats are available?

Private holidays are our specialty as we believe this is the best way to get exactly the experience that you want. It also allows you the quality time with your loved ones that is often missing in our busy lives. There is a vast choice of private vessels to select from so whether you are travelling as a couple or with a large multigenerational family, we can select the perfect yacht, catamaran or sailing vessel for you to charter.

Your vessels come with everything you need, including full crew with a skilled skipper and a chef to cook your meals. If you have particular interests, we could include an expert guide too, such as a marine biologist, private photographic guide, or SCUBA diving expert instructors.

What experiences can I have on a private sailing holiday to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

Sail around jungle-topped islands and laze the days away on palm-fringed deserted beaches. The waters here are glistening, turquoise and so clear you can see the bottom.

Snorkel and dive to pristine, vibrant coral reefs, swim amongst sharks and manta rays and explore mangrove forests by tender and canoe. Sea kayaking is also an option, or stand-up paddle boarding.

Wildlife enthusiasts can enjoy seeing many species in these diverse waters. Dolphins, whales, dugong, sea turtles, sailfish, tuna, and other marine life can be seen in abundance, and the corals are renowned as having exceptional marine life. Commercial fishing has been banned in their waters, so wildlife abounds.

The Islands have a long history of Arab, Persian, Indian and European merchant ships stopping on their trade routes, and over the centuries they have been colonised by various Asian Empires as well as the British and the Japanese in more recent times. One can come across signs of these various cultural influences as you travel around the islands.

Come ashore to visit bustling market villages and immerse yourself in the culture or sit on a deserted bleached-white beach. You could cycle or take a moped through the countryside to get further inland, too.

Here is a selection of the islands that you may like to visit on your private sailing holiday in the Andaman Islands, depending on your preferences. These are just for inspiration though and we can tailor exactly what you want to do:

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) is a thickly forested paradise island with dreamy blonde beaches and sparkling waters. It is the largest in Ritchie’s Archipelago and much remains untouched by tourism, and you can still see old banana plantations inland. This is one of the best spots for diving in South-East Asia, where you can move amongst manta rays and many species of fish. Radhanagar Beach is glorious, too.

Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) has rustic charm with green rice paddies, fruit plantations and coconut palms. Spend a day cycling through the countryside here between small settlements to truly immerse yourself.

Kalipur and North Island house some of the most exciting natural attractions of the islands. Diglipur is home to an extraordinary turtle nesting site. You may be lucky enough to be able to see turtles nesting or hatching, depending on the time you visit. There are pristine corals that one can snorkel here too.

Little Andaman is in the far reaches of the Andamans and has jungle and mangroves ringed with glittering white sand beaches and is a great location for surfers.

Ross and Smith Islands are twin tropical islands connected by a slender sandbar. Swimming and snorkelling off these islands are both extraordinary.

Long Island has no motorised vehicles except for a few motorcycles, and life goes slow here, with very few visitors and a friendly island community.

Ross Island (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island) with its colonial history is a fascinating place to explore, come ashore and immerse yourself in forgotten Victorian architecture, which is ruined but still beautiful.

When is the best time to take a private charter around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

Typically, October to May are the most pleasant months for a sailing or yachting holiday in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. January to May is considered the best time when the weather is dry. The temperatures are very pleasant during January and February and start to warm up from March onwards, but they rarely exceed 32-34 degrees Celsius on land.

October to December is also a very good time to visit with good weather on the whole but there could be the odd tropical shower. June to September is the main monsoon season when the sea is rough and heavy rains are almost a daily occurrence, so it is best to avoid this period.