Baratang Island Trip: Limestone Caves and Mud Volcano

Baratang is the most popular day trip from Port Blair that is not a beach. It is about 100 kilometres north, along the Andaman Trunk Road, and it combines a forest drive, a boat ride through mangroves, a limestone cave and a small mud volcano.

How the day works

1. Early start. You leave Port Blair around dawn, because the road is open to vehicles in scheduled convoys.
2. The drive. The road passes through forest, including the area of the Jarawa reserve. Vehicles may not stop, and photography of the people is strictly forbidden.
3. The crossing. At Middle Strait your vehicle goes on a short ferry to Baratang.
4. The boat. A speedboat takes you through mangrove creeks to a jetty. From there, a walk of about a kilometre through the forest leads to the limestone caves.
5. The mud volcano. On the return, some tours stop at a small mud volcano, where cool mud bubbles up.

It is a long day, often 10 to 12 hours, so go in a comfortable vehicle with water and snacks. Our package includes a private AC cab and the boat and entry tickets.

Tips

• Carry ID, water, snacks and a hat.
• Wear comfortable shoes for the forest walk.
• Do not feed or photograph the Jarawa. It is illegal and disrespectful.
• Monsoon can cause delays or closures. See the best time to visit.
• Rules about convoy timings may change, so we confirm them before your trip.

Where it fits

Baratang fits well on a spare Port Blair day. Baratang and Beaches and Island Hopper include it. Read things to do in Port Blair for more ideas.

Beyond Baratang

The same road continues north to Rangat and Diglipur. We offer two-day trips there. Read the Rangat and Diglipur guide. See our travel rules for respectful behaviour in tribal areas.