Nicobar Islands

3–5 days (restricted)Best: Oct–MarIslands#offbeat#islands#restricted

Restricted islands of pristine forests

Why this weekend?

Great Nicobar biosphereCoral reefsTribal communities

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The day-by-day plan

Official media/research visits only · The permitted route
- Permit held
- Sailing south
- Authorised stops
- Nancowry or Car Nicobar landings
- Return sailing

Geography & terrain

The Nicobar Islands tail away south of the Duncan Passage for 300 km of island arcs toward Sumatra — Car Nicobar and the northern group, Nancowry's middle cluster, and Great Nicobar at the bottom where Indira Point once marked the nation's southern tip; a chain of rainforest, reefs and tribal homelands with no open tourism.

History & culture

The chain has been a living tribal world for millennia — Nicobarese and Shompen peoples on the northern and great islands, the Sentinelese holding North Sentinel in total isolation — plus colonial trading posts and the 2004 tsunami that reshaped fearsome headlands; India administers the chain from Port Blair with entry strictly by permit, mostly for official and research travel.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,500–4,000/night

Mid-range

₹4,000–9,000/night

Comfort

₹9,000+/night

Things to do

Megapode habitats
Robber-crab forests
Coral fringes
Tribal-village settings (respect boundaries)
Great Nicobar's park interiors

Eat & drink

Grilled reef fish
Coconut and seafood curries
Tropical fresh fruit platters

Getting there

Fly: Veer Savarkar Airport (IXZ), Port Blair
Train: No rail — island chain served by ferries
Road from Port Blair: road + ferry hub for all islands
Getting around: Autos and scooters on the islands; ferries between them

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹14,000–32,500 (3 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹1,500–9,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹1,200–1,600
Per day · Activities: ₹1,800–2,200

Month by month

Jan · Best: 23–30°C · None rain
Feb · Best: 23–30°C · None rain
Mar · Good: 24–31°C · None rain
Apr · Good: 25–32°C · Light rain
May · Hot: 25–32°C · Moderate rain
Jun · Monsoon: 25–30°C · Heavy rain
Jul · Monsoon: 25–29°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 25–29°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Monsoon: 25–30°C · Heavy rain
Oct · Good: 24–30°C · Moderate rain
Nov · Best: 23–30°C · Light rain
Dec · Best: 23–30°C · None rain

Practical info

Language: Hindi / Bengali / Tamil (multi-language islands) (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: Oct–Mar
Connectivity: Patchy off the main islands — download offline maps
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

Getting to the Nicobars needs a purpose — work, research or a sanctioned tour; a holiday hop alone won't get the permit
Stamp the etiquette: shotguns of respect, no photographs of people without clear welcome
Carry cash and supplies; the chain is sparser than the Andaman group

Frequently asked questions

Can tourists visit the Nicobars?

Only under permits for official, research or sanctioned-route reasons; no open tourism — the islands' tribal homelands keep the chain closed by law.

Which islands might one see?

The routine sailings reach Car Nicobar and the Nancowry group; Great Nicobar and the sentinel islands stay out of ordinary travel.

How do the permits work?

An application through the Andaman administration's entry-permit process, justified by purpose — a process months in the making, not an airport counter.