Neil Island Guide: Beaches, Natural Rock and Things to Do

Neil Island, officially Shaheed Dweep, is smaller, quieter and more rural than Havelock. Its charm is its slow pace: paddy fields, banana groves and short roads to calm beaches.

Same-day trip or overnight?

Neil works both ways. A same-day visit lets you see the main beaches and take a ferry back to Port Blair. An overnight stay gives you a quiet evening and an unhurried morning. If you are short on days, go for the day trip. If you like to slow down, add a night.

What to see

• Bharatpur Beach: shallow, calm water close to the jetty, good for a swim and for glass-bottom boat rides.
• Laxmanpur Beach: known for sunsets and for walks along its sandy shore at low tide.
• Sitapur Beach: a quiet beach popular for sunrise.
• Natural Rock: a rock formation worth a short visit, best seen at low tide.

See our beaches guide for how Neil compares with other islands.

Getting around

Roads are short. Most visitors hire an auto-rickshaw or a cab for the day, and some rent bicycles. Your package cab usually meets you at the jetty.

Getting there

Take a ferry from Havelock to Neil or from Port Blair to Neil. See our ferry guide for booking advice. Plan the Havelock and Neil order using Havelock vs Neil.

Where to stay

Neil has a smaller choice of hotels than Havelock. A few small resorts are the main option, so book early in December and January.

Sample plans

Neil features in Havelock and Neil, Island Explorer and Grand Andaman. Create your own in the trip builder. If you want a quiet add-on to Havelock, read the Havelock guide too.