For decades, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were among the most difficult sailing destinations in Asia to access — bureaucratic complexity, restricted area permits, and mandatory port agent requirements combined to deter all but the most determined blue-water sailors. That is now changing. India's government has progressively relaxed entry procedures for foreign pleasure vessels, the Little Andaman Pro sailing event in April 2026 demonstrated that competitive sailing at an international level is viable here, and the combination of pristine reefs, undisturbed rainforest, and extraordinary wildlife is attracting serious cruisers who have run out of frontiers elsewhere.
This is not an easy destination. But for sailors who do the preparation, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands offer something increasingly rare: genuine remoteness combined with breathtaking natural beauty.
The Sailing Environment
The Andaman archipelago comprises over 570 islands stretching over 700 kilometres from north to south in the Bay of Bengal, with the Great Andaman chain in the north and the tiny Nicobar Islands — largely off-limits to foreign visitors — in the south. Port Blair on South Andaman is the administrative capital and the only international-standard gateway port.
The sailing season is November to April, when the northeast monsoon brings settled conditions to the Bay of Bengal — typically 10–20 knots of northeasterly, calm anchorages, and excellent visibility. May to October brings the southwest monsoon: rough seas, heavy rain, and conditions unsuitable for most pleasure craft. The Little Andaman Pro 2026 was held in April at the northern edge of the season, taking advantage of the last weeks of stable northeast monsoon conditions.
The underwater world matches the overwater scenery. Havelock Island (now officially renamed Swaraj Dweep) contains beaches that regularly feature on global "best beaches" lists. Cinque Island and the outer islands have reefs with fish density approaching Raja Ampat levels — rarely dived because rarely visited.
Restricted Area Permits: The Essential Framework
This is where the Andamans' bureaucratic complexity begins. The permit system exists primarily to protect the indigenous tribal peoples of the islands — Jarawa, Sentinelese, Onge, and Great Andamanese communities who have lived in isolation for thousands of years.
Protected Area Permit (PAP): Required for all foreign nationals for visiting most areas outside Port Blair. Issued by the Foreigners Registration Office in Port Blair on arrival. Currently available for 30 days with possible extension. The PAP specifies which islands are accessible and which are off-limits.
Restricted Area Permit (RAP): Additional permit required for islands in the tribal reserve areas. Most of these areas are completely closed to foreign vessels — no permit is issued under any circumstances. North Sentinel Island, the home of the uncontacted Sentinelese tribe, is an absolute prohibited zone that no vessel should approach.
Nicobar Islands: Almost entirely off-limits to foreign tourists and yachts. Car Nicobar has a military base. The outer Nicobar Islands see virtually no foreign visitors. Do not plan a sailing itinerary that includes the Nicobars unless you have government clearance.
Permitted sailing areas for foreign yachts include: Port Blair and surrounding southern islands, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), Baratang Island, North and South Andaman (specific areas), and several outer islands where clearance can be arranged through your port agent.
Entry Procedure: What You Need Before You Arrive
Entry to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands requires careful pre-arrival preparation. The Indian PANS (Pre-Arrival Notification System) requires a notification 96 hours before entering Indian territorial waters, submitted through a licensed port agent.
Port agent: Mandatory for all foreign yachts. The port agent manages your PANS notification, customs and immigration clearance in Port Blair, and your PAP/RAP applications. Appoint an agent well in advance — several established agents serve yachts in Port Blair and the quality of their service significantly affects your experience.
Crew documentation: All passports must be valid for six months beyond planned departure from India. E-visas are available for most nationalities but should be obtained in advance.
Vessel documentation: Flag state certificate, certificate of registration, and previous port clearance paperwork.
Insurance: Third-party liability insurance is required. Indian port authorities are increasingly requesting insurance documentation on clearance. Your policy must explicitly cover Indian territorial waters.
Insurance Requirements for Indian Waters
This is where several international yacht policies fall short of requirements. Check your policy for:
Explicit India coverage: Not all policies covering "Indian Ocean" or "South Asia" cover Indian territorial waters. India must be named specifically in the geographic schedule.
Named Storm coverage: Bay of Bengal cyclone season runs approximately April to June and September to December. The northeast monsoon season — the recommended sailing window — has generally lower cyclone frequency, but late-season systems affecting the Nicobars have occurred in November. Named Storm endorsement is recommended for Indian waters.
Third-party liability minimum: USD 300,000 minimum; USD 500,000 recommended given the port authority's scrutiny.
Medical evacuation: The highest-quality medical facilities in the Andamans are in Port Blair — adequate for basic care. For serious emergencies, medical evacuation to Chennai (1,200 kilometres by air) or Singapore (2,300 kilometres) is required. Evacuation from outer islands requires rotary-wing transfer to Port Blair first. Medical evacuation cover with explicit India coverage is essential.
The Little Andaman Pro 2026
The inaugural Little Andaman Pro in April 2026 brought international racing to Indian territorial waters for the first time in decades. The event, organised in collaboration with the Andaman administration and supported by India's sailing federation, attracted entries from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia — as well as Indian national team sailors competing on home waters.
Little Andaman Island itself — south of the main Andaman chain and accessible from Port Blair — has beaches and anchorages of extraordinary quality. The island is less restricted than some of the tribal areas and is increasingly positioned as a cruising destination for adventurous sailors.
The success of the Little Andaman Pro signals that the Indian government is cautiously opening the islands to higher-quality marine tourism. Expect the regulatory environment to become progressively more accessible over the next several years — and expect the number of visiting yachts to grow as it does.
Practical Advice
Allow a minimum of two to three weeks in the Andamans to do the destination justice. Port Blair is the base — a busy, functional city with provisioning facilities, fuel, and basic marine services. From Port Blair, day-sail and overnight passages to Havelock, Neil Island, and the outer permitted islands form the typical itinerary.
The sailing distances are modest — Port Blair to Havelock is 54 nautical miles, manageable as an easy overnight. The anchorages are spectacular and typically empty.
Arrange your port agent, PAP application, and insurance before departure. The bureaucratic preparation is the price of entry to one of Asia's last genuinely frontier sailing destinations.
