Are you planning a vacation with your family or friends to Andaman Islands?? and still wondering when it is the best time to visit ?? Well we at Trip Platform have prepared a season wise breakup for you to understand and decide for yourself when it is the best for you to visit the Andaman Island and enjoy your holiday and indulge in water sports along with your family and friends.
The emerald islands of Andaman and Nicobar is situated at a distance of 900 km from India in the Bay of Bengal and is a popular tourist destination of India. The island offers visiting tourist with breathtaking natural beauty, wonderful landscapes and lush vegetation. Furthermore, the islands provides a clean environment for tourist to enjoy thrilling adventure sports and above all the warm hospitality of the people of Andaman which attracts thousands of nature lovers and holiday makers from across the globe all year round.
Climate
The Andaman Islands is blessed with a nice weather throughout the year. The Island experiences a tropical climate with an average temperature ranging from 22 degree Celsius to 35 degree Celsius and relative humidity ranging from 70 % to 90 %.
About 86% of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is covered with tropical rain-forest and is not known for any severe climatic conditions with an exception of tropical storms and heavy rains in the monsoons and late summer.
The islands receive an annual rainfall of 3000 mm and there is no fixed climate in the islands as out of nowhere it may start raining and all of a sudden there is bright sunshine after a drizzle or heavy downpour. Usually the tourist season is from October to April and OFF season is from mid May to September.
The best time to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands if from November to April.
Seasons
Monsoon (June to September) and Post Monsoon (October to mid December)
The islands experience monsoon season almost twice a year, the reason is the first monsoon takes place under the influence of southwest monsoon winds which starts from mid May and lasts till September. However the post monsoon continues under the influence of the northeast monsoons winds from October to December.
Andaman Islands receive heavy rainfall which is accompanied with strong winds from mid May to September while from October to December the rainfall is fairly moderate and during this time the weather is hot and humid.
Many tourists avoid visiting the islands during the peak monsoon season (June to September), as during this time the islands are more prone to heavy rains and thunderstorms which makes it very difficult for them to enjoy sightseeing and indulge in other outdoor activities.
Though the monsoon season may not be a good time to visit the Islands, but it is a wonderful time for nature lovers to come a explore nature and admire the lush greenery and pristine beauty of the islands and at the same time take pleasure of the rain. Moreover during this time hotels give attractive discounts which make a visit even more memorable.
Winter (December to February)
Technically speaking there are only two seasons in Andaman Islands i.e. summers and monsoons.Andaman does not have chilly winters like north India, but during the months of December to February the weather is mild and pleasant as the temperature hovers around 20 degree to 30 degree Celsius during this time.
This is the best time to visit Andaman’s and enjoy water sport activities and explore the islands without any worry.
Summer (March to May)
Summers in Andaman begins by March and ends by mid May these months are warm with pleasant sea breeze blowing throughout the day and humidity is about 80 % during this time.
During this time tourist can indulge in all kinds of activities which are in full swing without any interruption.
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Activities
If visiting during Monsoon season(June to September)
Pros:
- During the monsoon months (June to September) Little Andaman islands is famous for its pumping and high rise waves this is the ideal time for experienced surfers to enjoy some serious surfing.
- Furthermore during monsoons visiting tourist can enjoy the scenic beauty and enjoy solitude as there are minimum tourists during this time and can avail of attractive discounts.
- The month of October is time for festivals like Durga Pooja and Mari Amman which are celebrated in a grand scale.
Cons:
- Activities like Sea walks, scuba diving, snorkeling is not operational from June – August due to poor underwater visibility.
- During monsoons ferry schedules are erratic and get cancelled whenever there are heavy rains and storms hence island hoping becomes impossible.
- Private cruises like Makruzz and Coastal Cruise are not operational from June to August and tourist will have to make use of Government services which is operational all round the year.
If visiting during Winter & Summer season (November to May)
The tourism season sets in and the island is full of tourist from all over India and abroad. Tourist can enjoy thrilling activities like water sports, trekking, visiting active volcanoes, wildlife safaris, beach volley ball, game fishing, sea walking, turtle nesting and many other adventure activities uninterrupted. Tourist can also take part and enjoy in the 10 day Andaman and Nicobar Island festival which is held in December.
A Word of Caution
The Andaman Islands has witnessed 3 major storms in the last 10 years
- Cyclone Sidr in 2007 on November 15, 2007.
- Cyclone Phailin in 2013 on October 6, 2013.
- Cyclone Hud Hud 2014 on October 12, 2014.
These three storms started in the ocean of Bay of Bengal and reached mainland India after crossing Andaman Islands. So travelers visiting Andaman should keep a constant tab on the weather and also plan their travel smartly.
It is a good idea to reach Port Blair 2 day before your departure especially if you are flying out of Port Blair, the reason is that in case of a sudden bad weather everything on the island stops, and there will be no ferry service to transport you from one island to another.
Ideally opt for a packaged tour if you are planning 10 days in Andaman Islands and once you reach customize your travel accordingly, the reason is always have a point of contact with someone local who can help you in case you land in odd situations, as in the past there have been situations where travelers have got stranded at remote islands for a day or two before help came their way.
So, that’s it! Hope this information helps all readers to plan their visit to the enchanting Garden of Eden – The Andaman’s!!