- last ferry was leaving at 2.00pm, so its best to arrive and get to the docks by 2.00pm.
- when the sea is rough, get out of the lower deck and stay outside breathing fresh air and gazing at the horizon
- the ticket you get for the ferry ride has a seat number, but almost no one respected the seating and grabbed any available seat.
- Motorcycle rental cost between 250 and 500 per day on Havelock. The only other place I could get it was in Port Blair for 700 per day. There are no rental shops outside Havelock and Port Blair, as far as I know. So if you plan a bike trip you better rent from Havelock for a week and hop on a ferry to the main island and enjoy the ride.
DIGLIPUR - KALIPUR, TIPS
In general, it was a very relaxing and secluded area, with only 1 resort - Pristine Beach, ran by a friendly and helpful Alex. I enjoyed my time there just to calm down and relax. Prices are around 600 rs for single hut. 1000Rs for bigger bamboo hut and the prices go upwards for the luxury villas.
Food was great and relatively cheap. European breakfast - bread, jam, butter, coffee, eggs, pancake, etc… The only downside was that there was not much freedom to do what you thought you could do there. There were a few main attractions - jungle hike up the highest point on the island which was nice, but not spectacular.
The islands trip which was beautiful but also with paperwork bureaucracy.
The highlight was a nice little island behind the pristine beach resort with good snorkelling spots and a kind of Robinson Crusoe feel to it, also the night walks on the beach. The best part was the option to fly out of there in a helicopter to Port Blair, which took 50 minutes and cost only 4200 Rs per person.
Getting North
There are several ways: Bus from Port Blair, overnight ferry from Blair, etc. But I took a day time boat up to Mayabunder. From there I teamed up with 2 other travellers and we got a jeep for 900 RS per person /2700Rs / which took us to Pristine Beach resort.
The road was long and we arrive at around 8.00pm at night.
PORT BLAIR TIPS
for me it was back to stress and chaos for the first day. There are only 3 places to rent a motorbike, or that I was told. I got 1 honda scooter for 700rs per day. Accommodation was cheap 300 Rs per night near the bike rental place.
It was nice to ride along the coast, with Caribean Bob Marley feel to the place, if you have reggae in your earphones.
Corbyn's Cove
a bit overcrowded, but a fun to get into the water, probably the only place in the town. It was a wonderful ride from the Aberdeen Bazaar along the coast. I enjoyed this part the most out of the whole town experience. On the way, stop on the hill, there are palm trees, and parking lot, so you can enjoy the evening beautiful scenery with punning waves and sunset.
WANDOOR TIPS
- take a bus from Port Blair Bus station for 20 Rs /one way/
- there is almost no place to stay, 1 cheap resort was closed, 2 expensive ones asked 3000 rs per night and upwards
- the boat for the snorkelling island trip leaves at 8.00am
- best is to take a bus or rent a bike and ride down to Wandoor /1 hour ride/
- I took bus first day and returned the same day back, so I knew how to get there
- I rented a bike next day and rode there in 1 hour and went for a snorkelling trip
- Snorkeling trip - worth it, it was best, clearest water in Andaman islands, only small fish, but beautiful, Crusoe like feel to the island and the beaches, I wish I had my camping gear /joking, as this would not be possible/.
- boats return at 12.00pm back.
- you can explore the secluded beaches in Wandoor and enjoy the wild jungle scenery
