To reach Port Blair, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands:
1. Reaching Port Blair (Main Gateway)
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By Air (Recommended): Fly into Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ). Direct flights from Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and seasonal/direct or connecting from Delhi, Hyderabad, etc. Flight time: ~2–2.5 hours from Chennai/Kolkata. Airlines include IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air.
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By Ship: From Chennai, Kolkata, or Visakhapatnam (3–4 days, infrequent, budget option).
Airport to town/jetty: 15–30 minutes by taxi/auto/hotel transfer.
2. Port Blair to Havelock Island
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Ferry only (no road/bridge). Distance ~54–70 km, duration 1.5–2.5 hours.
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Private ferries (preferred: Makruzz, Green Ocean, Nautika, etc.): Faster, AC, comfortable. Multiple daily departures (early morning to afternoon). .
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Government ferries: Cheaper option , slower, more basic. Departures often from Phoenix Bay or Haddo Jetty.
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Book in advance, especially peak season (Oct–Mar).
3. Reaching Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)
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No direct airport. Ferry from Port Blair or (more commonly) via Havelock.
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From Port Blair: Some direct government or private ferries (1.5–2 hours), but many routes go via Havelock. Private operators often combine routes.18
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From Havelock: Shortest & popular leg — ~45–90 minutes (19 km). Multiple daily private ferries (Makruzz, Green Ocean, Nautika). Morning/afternoon departures common.
Popular island-hopping route: Port Blair → Havelock (2–3 nights) → Neil Island (1–2 nights) → back to Port Blair. This works well due to ferry connections.
