How to Reach Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep): Complete 2026 Guide
Reaching Havelock Island takes two steps: fly to Port Blair, then catch a ferry. There’s no airport on Havelock (officially Swaraj Dweep), so every traveler routes through Port Blair first, then crosses about 70 km of the Bay of Bengal — roughly 90 minutes on a fast catamaran. This guide walks both legs: the flight in, the four ferry operators, current 2026 fares, and the same-day timing traps that strand people.
The short version:
- Step 1: Fly into Port Blair — Veer Savarkar International Airport (code IXZ)
- Step 2: Ferry to Havelock — Rs 1,100–3,400 on private operators, ~90 min, up to 16 daily departures
- No shortcut exists: no flights, trains, or bridges reach Havelock. The ferry is the only way across.
Can you fly directly to Havelock Island?
No. Havelock has no airport, so you can’t fly straight there. Every route runs through Port Blair, the Andaman capital, and then a ferry covers the final 70 km. Plan it as two legs — air to Port Blair, water to Havelock — and the whole thing gets simple.
That second leg matters more than most people expect. Miss the timing between your flight and the last ferry, and you’re spending an unplanned night in Port Blair.
Step 1 — Getting to Port Blair by air
Port Blair’s Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) is the only practical gateway to the Andamans. Direct flights run from Chennai (~2 hrs, the shortest hop), Kolkata (~2 hrs), Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad, with seasonal connections from Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. Most cities route via Chennai or Kolkata.
Book the earliest flight you can. Andaman’s ferries are all daytime sailings, and flights occasionally get brought forward or delayed without much warning — a morning landing gives you room to catch a same-day ferry. An afternoon arrival usually means overnighting in Port Blair before you cross.
Step 2 — Port Blair to Havelock by ferry
This is the real journey. Private catamaran ferries run the Port Blair to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) route in about 90 minutes, with up to 16 daily departures across four operators, leaving from Haddo Jetty. Fares range from Rs 1,100 to Rs 3,400 depending on operator and class.
| Operator | Fare range (PB→Havelock) | Duration | Daily departures | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makruzz | Rs 1,250–3,150 | ~90 min | 5 | Most organized boarding; only Royal class includes food (sandwich + drink) |
| Nautika | Rs 1,250–3,400 | ~90 min | 4 | Best service; business class + barista coffee on Nautika Pro |
| Green Ocean | Rs 1,100–1,850 | 2h–2h 15m | 4 | Cheapest; GO1 is the only ferry with an open deck |
| ITT Majestic | Rs 1,564–1,850 | ~90 min | 1–2 | Floor-to-ceiling glass; dropped its fuel surcharge in May 2026 |
| Government | Rs 400–700 | 2–3 hrs | Limited | Cheapest by far, but residents-first (see below) |
All private fares add Rs 50 PSF per sector, and three operators still add a Rs 300–350 fuel surcharge (ITT Majestic dropped its in May 2026). For the full breakdown by class, see our Andaman ferry prices guide, and for every departure time, the ferry schedule.
Haddo Jetty is busiest in the morning — most operators stack departures between 6:00 and 9:00 AM, and the terminal fills fast with hundreds of passengers, porters, and taxi drivers at once. Get there early and you’ll find your counter without stress. About 80 minutes into the crossing, the deep blue of the open bay gives way to shallow turquoise as Havelock rises into view — easily the best stretch of the ride.
Compare live fares and timings across all four operators at BookYourFerry.com.
Private vs government ferry — and a booking catch for foreigners
Government ferries cost a fraction of private fares (Rs 400–700 versus Rs 1,100+), but they’re primarily for local residents. Tourist seats are a small quota that opens on the STARS portal two days before sailing and sells out within minutes in peak season. For most visitors, private operators are the realistic option — see how the two compare in our government vs private ferry guide.
One catch that trips up international travelers: several private operators don’t offer direct online booking to foreign nationals. You may need to book through a local agent or in person — or through a platform that handles foreign-passport bookings for you. Sort this before you land, not at the jetty.
How long does the whole trip take?
From a mainland city, budget most of a day: a 2-hour-plus flight to Port Blair, airport formalities, the transfer to Haddo Jetty, then the ~90-minute crossing. A morning flight landing by 10:00–11:00 AM can comfortably catch an afternoon ferry and reach Havelock the same day.
Cut it any finer and it gets risky. Ferry boarding closes 30–45 minutes before departure, and the last useful sailings leave early afternoon. If your flight lands after about 1:00 PM, plan a night in Port Blair and take a fresh morning ferry — you’ll also get the calmer seas.
Reaching Havelock by ship from the mainland
You can reach the Andamans by sea — government passenger ships sail from Chennai, Kolkata, and Visakhapatnam to Port Blair — but it’s a 3–4 day open-sea voyage, bookable only through the Shipping Corporation of India, often weeks out. Even then, you still transfer to a Havelock ferry on arrival. For nearly everyone, flying to Port Blair is faster, cheaper once you factor in time, and far less hassle.
Which ferry should you pick?
It depends on what you’re optimizing for:
- Cheapest: Green Ocean Economy at Rs 1,100. It’s slower (2 hours-plus) and GO1 shows its age, but the slower cruise is actually smoother for seasickness — and GO1’s open deck is genuinely fun, DJ music and all.
- Best service: Nautika. Across multiple trips the staff are consistently the most professional, and the Pro’s barista coffee is the real thing, not marketing.
- Most reliable schedule: Makruzz, with five daily departures and the most organized boarding at Haddo.
- Best value mid-range: ITT Majestic — panoramic glass windows, and no fuel surcharge since May 2026.
A note on comfort myths: AC on every ferry runs cool but manageable — bring a light layer, you won’t freeze. And only Green Ocean 1 has open-deck access; the others are fully enclosed, despite what some sites claim.
How to book your Havelock ferry
Booking is straightforward once you know the route:
- Pick your date and direction — Port Blair to Havelock, ideally a morning sailing
- Compare operators by fare, timing, and class rather than defaulting to one
- Book ahead — 2–4 weeks for peak season (October–May); the best morning slots and the cheapest classes sell out first
- Carry a printed ticket and matching photo ID — names must match exactly, and foreign nationals need passport details
- Reach Haddo Jetty 45+ minutes early, especially for morning departures
You can compare and book all four operators in one search — including foreign-passport bookings — on BookYourFerry, and cross-check every fare against our open Andaman ferry dataset.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct flight to Havelock Island?
No. Havelock has no airport. You fly to Port Blair (Veer Savarkar International, IXZ), then take a ~90-minute ferry to Havelock. No flights, trains, or road bridges connect Havelock to Port Blair — the ferry is the only crossing.
How much does it cost to reach Havelock from Port Blair?
Private ferries cost Rs 1,100–3,400 depending on operator and class, plus a Rs 50 service fee per sector. Government ferries run Rs 400–700 but have very limited tourist seats. Green Ocean Economy at Rs 1,100 is the cheapest private option.
How long is the ferry from Port Blair to Havelock?
About 90 minutes on a fast catamaran (Makruzz, Nautika, ITT Majestic). Green Ocean takes a bit longer at 2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes because it cruises slower — which also makes for a smoother ride if you’re prone to seasickness.
Can I reach Havelock the same day I land in Port Blair?
Yes, if your flight lands by about 11:00 AM. That leaves time for airport formalities, the transfer to Haddo Jetty, and an afternoon ferry. Land after roughly 1:00 PM and you’ll likely need to overnight in Port Blair and cross the next morning.
Do foreigners need anything special to book Andaman ferries?
Foreign nationals need to provide passport details when booking, and several private operators don’t allow direct online booking for foreign passports — you may need to book via an agent or a platform that handles it. Sort this before arriving rather than at the jetty.
Which is the best ferry to Havelock?
It depends. Green Ocean is cheapest and best for seasickness; Nautika has the best service; Makruzz is the most reliable with the most departures; ITT Majestic offers panoramic windows with no fuel surcharge. Compare all four on BookYourFerry.
When should I book my Havelock ferry?
Book 2–4 weeks ahead for peak season (October–May), when morning departures and cheaper classes sell out fastest. Off-season you can often book a few days out, though monsoon weather (June–September) can cancel sailings, so keep a buffer day before any onward flight.