Ross & Smith Islands

1 dayBest: Oct–MarIslands#sandbar#island#offbeat

Twin islands joined by a sandbar

Why this weekend?

Sandbar walkTwin-island viewUncrowded beach

Some links below are affiliate links — booking through them may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · The sandbar crossing
- Morning boat to Smith
- Reef snorkel
- Low-tide sandbar walk to Ross
- Slow beach time
- Return before the tide turns

Geography & terrain

Ross & Smith are two flat, uninhabited islands off the north-east tip of North Andaman, about 45 minutes by boat from Kalipur beach — linked by a natural sandbar that uncovers at low tide, letting walkers cross from one island to the other through the shallow channel.

History & culture

Roughly named for British officers of the colonial years, the twins stayed uninhabited through the island's rubber and farm age; today they anchor the North Andaman tourism circuit as a day-trip pair — the sandbar crossing now as famous as any beach in the islands.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,500–4,000/night

Mid-range

₹4,000–9,000/night

Comfort

₹9,000+/night

Things to do

The sandbar crossing
Smith reef shelf
Ross long beach
Dolphin channel
Tide pools

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: ₹5,000–14,000 (1 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

The sandbar only fully opens about two hours around low tide — time the boat with the tide app
Bring your own lunch, water and shade — the islands have nothing
Coral shoes for the reef and the bar; the wading is on live coral shelves

Frequently asked questions

Is the sandbar always passable?

Around low tide on calm days only — the bar is fully exposed for about two hours; morning trips are timed for it.

Can I stay overnight?

No — no facilities or permissions; it's a strict day trip from Kalipur.

When is the season?

Roughly October to May; the monsoon months shut the boats for days at a time.