The Amritsar–Port Blair flight journey from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) to Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) will take most of the day, especially if your confirmed ticket includes a connection. Reach ATQ 2–3 hours before departure, keeping extra time for baggage drop, security, and any airline or weather-related delay. On arrival, allow 45–60 minutes for baggage collection and the transfer to your hotel in Aberdeen; a prepaid taxi or app-based cab is easiest, while airport taxis are also available. Before travelling, save every ticket, boarding pass, and payment receipt, and verify the exact LTC admissibility with your department—reimbursement is generally limited to the eligible fare rather than automatically covering the full flight cost.
After check-in, keep the evening gentle: spend about 1½ hours around Aberdeen Bazaar, the practical centre of Port Blair, where you can pick up essentials, browse small shops, and get your bearings without committing to a long sightseeing outing. Have dinner at Annapurna Cafeteria in the bazaar, a reliable choice for vegetarian South Indian food; budget roughly ₹150–350 per person, though closing time can vary, so avoid arriving very late. Finish with a relaxed 45-minute walk at Marina Park, along the Aberdeen waterfront. It is a pleasant first-night stop rather than a major attraction—use the sea breeze to unwind, but check the local evening access and lighting conditions before setting out.
Start early at Cellular Jail National Memorial in Atlanta Point, allowing about two hours for the museum galleries, courtyards, watchtowers, and the stories of the freedom fighters imprisoned here. Arriving near opening time is more comfortable in December and gives you a better chance of avoiding the larger daytime groups. Entry depends on the day’s operating hours and ticket availability, so verify both locally or through the official booking channel before setting out; carry photo identification and expect security checks. An auto-rickshaw or app cab from central Aberdeen generally takes 10–20 minutes, depending on traffic, with a short walk at the entrance.
After a relaxed lunch in Aberdeen, return to Cellular Jail for the Cellular Jail Light and Sound Show, scheduled for the late afternoon or evening. Reserve the show ticket in advance—seats can sell out, particularly during the December holiday period—and arrive 30–45 minutes before the printed entry time for queues and seating. The presentation lasts about 1½ hours and is atmospheric rather than a quick sightseeing stop, so avoid planning another distant attraction around it. Once the show finishes, walk or take a short auto-rickshaw ride to Gandhi Park for roughly an hour of easy waterfront time, gardens, and the small amusement area; keep expectations modest, as it is best enjoyed as a pleasant pause rather than a major attraction.
Finish at New Lighthouse Restaurant in Aberdeen, allowing about an hour for seafood or North Indian dishes. Budget approximately ₹400–800 per person, excluding drinks, and expect service to be slower during the holiday season. It is convenient to use an auto-rickshaw for the short evening transfer, but confirm the return fare before leaving the park. Wear comfortable footwear throughout the day—the jail complex involves considerable walking, and the show venue may involve waiting outdoors.
Leave Port Blair around 7:00–7:30 AM by a prearranged taxi for Chidiya Tapu, allowing roughly 45–60 minutes each way depending on traffic and road conditions. The drive south is part of the experience, passing through tropical forest, mangroves, and small settlements; a taxi is far more practical than trying to coordinate local buses for this half-day outing. Spend the morning walking gently through the forested area and along the coastline, keeping an eye out for birds and monitor lizards. Carry water, sun protection, insect repellent, and comfortable shoes—the paths can be uneven and damp after rain. Set aside approximately ₹1,500–2,500 for a round-trip taxi, depending on vehicle and negotiation.
Continue within the Chidiya Tapu area to Munda Pahad Beach for about an hour. Follow the short nature walk at an unhurried pace, then relax by the quieter shoreline before returning to town. Swimming may not always be advisable because of currents, rocks, or local conditions, so treat this primarily as a scenic beach stop. Have a packed breakfast or lunch from Port Blair, as dependable food options around the beach are limited. Start back by around 2:00 PM and allow an hour or more for the return journey.
After resting at your hotel, head to Sagarika Government Emporium at Middle Point in the late afternoon, usually allowing 45 minutes for browsing. It is a good place to compare officially sourced island handicrafts, shell-free souvenirs, woodwork, textiles, and decorative items; ask for bills and avoid buying coral, shells, or wildlife products, which may be restricted. Opening hours can change, so confirm locally before setting out. Finish at Icy Spicy, also in the Middle Point area, for vegetarian Indian and continental food. Budget approximately ₹400–700 per person, and allow about an hour for dinner; walking between the two stops may be possible, but an auto-rickshaw is convenient if you are tired.
Reach Aberdeen Jetty around 8:00–8:30 AM for the boat to Ross Island (officially Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island). Allow 3–4 hours door to door, including ticket checks, waiting, the short sea crossing, and return boat. Ferry timings and ticket availability can change with weather and demand, so confirm the first suitable sailing with the authorised counter or your hotel the previous evening; avoid relying on an unofficial tout. Carry photo ID, water, sunscreen, and footwear with a good grip—the island paths can be uneven. Once there, wander through the former administrative ruins, forested lanes, and the areas where deer and peacocks are commonly seen. Keep some cash for small purchases and remember that boat operations may be suspended in rough seas.
Return to Aberdeen Jetty and allow time for a quick meal nearby before the onward boat to North Bay Island. Plan approximately 2–3 hours for the island visit, including the boat transfer and activity briefing. Coral-viewing boats and water activities are usually arranged through authorised operators, with prices commonly starting around ₹500–₹1,500 per person depending on the activity; confirm inclusions, safety equipment, and return timing before paying. Visibility is best when the sea is calm, but all activities remain weather-dependent, so treat the glass-bottom or snorkelling experience as conditional rather than guaranteed. Keep your phone and valuables in a waterproof pouch, and do not touch coral or marine life.
After returning, spend about 45 minutes around the Aberdeen Jetty waterfront, watching ferries, fishing boats, and the harbour lights rather than rushing straight to dinner. Walk only in the active, well-lit stretches and use an auto-rickshaw or prearranged taxi for the short transfer to Amaya Lounge Bar near Hotel Sentinel. Dinner should take roughly 1½ hours, with an expected spend of ₹700–₹1,200 per person before any premium drinks. Service can be relaxed, so arrive by around 7:30–8:00 PM if you prefer an earlier night. Confirm the restaurant’s current dinner hours and seating policy locally, particularly if the island day has been delayed by ferry operations.
This is the most demanding day of the trip, so be ready well before dawn for the Baratang Island excursion. A shared tour vehicle or prearranged taxi normally collects passengers around 3:30–4:30 AM, with the exact time determined by the permitted convoy schedule. The road journey to Nilambur Jetty takes roughly 3–4 hours, followed by security checks, the vehicle convoy through the restricted forest corridor, and a short ferry crossing to Baratang. Allow 12–14 hours door to door, and carry your passport or government photo ID, booking confirmations, water, breakfast, motion-sickness medicine, and cash. Do not rely on spontaneous arrangements: confirm the permit, convoy entry, ferry, local boat, and guide one day beforehand, as road, weather, tide, and tribal-reserve regulations can alter the plan.
After reaching Baratang, continue by local boat and on foot to the Limestone Caves. The complete visit generally takes 1½–2 hours, including the creek crossing, a shaded but uneven forest walk, and time inside the cave area. Wear sturdy sandals or shoes with grip; the path can be muddy and slippery, and the cave interior is dark, humid, and uneven. Photography may be restricted in sections, so follow the local guide’s instructions. Keep the visit unhurried, but stay with the group because the return boat and convoy timetable leave little flexibility.
After a simple local lunch near the jetty, take the mangrove creek boat ride, usually about an hour. The narrow channels and tangled roots are the quietest part of the excursion, but the ride depends on tide and boat availability. Begin the return journey promptly in the afternoon; the convoy road, ferry, and final drive back to Port Blair can be tiring, and delays are common. Once back near Aberdeen, keep dinner easy rather than crossing town: a hotel restaurant around Aberdeen Bazaar is the sensible choice, with about ₹300–700 per person for a straightforward meal. Carry snacks for the return, as Baratang stops are basic and you may not reach Port Blair until approximately 7:00–9:00 PM.
Start at Samudrika Naval Marine Museum in Delanipur, ideally around opening time, and allow about 1½ hours. The galleries cover coral, shells, fish, island geography, and the cultural communities of the Andaman region, making this a good follow-on to the historical sites visited earlier in the trip. Museum timings and entry fees can change, but a modest entry charge is typical; carry some cash and expect roughly ₹20–₹100 per person. From central Port Blair, take an auto-rickshaw or taxi—usually 10–20 minutes depending on traffic—and ask the driver to wait or return at an agreed time.
Continue to the Anthropological Museum in Middle Point for the late morning, allowing another 1½ hours. This is a compact but worthwhile visit for understanding the Indigenous peoples and colonial-era ethnographic record of the islands; read the displays carefully rather than rushing through. The two museums are a short auto-rickshaw or taxi ride apart, generally around 10 minutes. Keep the visit respectful: photography may be restricted in some sections, and displays concerning Indigenous communities should not be treated as curiosities. Allow a short lunch break afterward around Aberdeen or Middle Point before heading south.
After lunch, travel by taxi or auto-rickshaw to Corbyn’s Cove Beach, allowing about 20–30 minutes from central Port Blair in normal traffic. Spend around two hours here, keeping the afternoon deliberately easy after the museum visits. Swimming is possible only when local conditions and any on-site safety advice permit; avoid entering the water during rough surf or outside designated areas. There are basic snack stalls and changing facilities, but services can be limited, so bring drinking water, sun protection, and a towel. A round-trip taxi is more convenient than relying on finding an auto-rickshaw for the return, particularly around sunset.
Return to Aberdeen and finish at The Love Garden, allowing about an hour for a relaxed meal and local snacks. Budget approximately ₹300–₹600 per person, depending on what you order. This is best treated as a casual evening stop rather than a formal dining reservation, though calling ahead is sensible during the holiday period. Keep some flexibility afterward for a short walk around the central market area, but avoid leaving the beach too late if you are depending on local transport; taxis and autos become less predictable as the evening progresses.
Leave Port Blair around 7:00–7:30 AM with a prearranged taxi for Mount Harriet National Park in the Ferrargunj area. Allow roughly 1½–2 hours each way, depending on traffic, the chosen approach, and any vehicle or ferry logistics required locally; this is best handled as a private car day rather than by trying to piece together public transport. Confirm the park’s current entry rules, vehicle access, and opening conditions before setting out, as forest access can change with weather or official restrictions. Carry water, sun protection, insect repellent, sturdy shoes, and packed snacks—facilities inside the park are limited. Spend the morning on the forest paths and viewpoints, keeping the pace relaxed rather than attempting every trail.
Continue within the Mount Harriet area to Madhuban viewpoint and forest trails, allowing about 1½ hours for the walk and scenery. The forest is quieter than Port Blair and rewarding for birdlife, giant trees, and broad views across the island; avoid wandering off marked routes and follow any local guide or ranger instructions. Have lunch as a packed meal or at a simple roadside stop on the return route, since dependable restaurant choices near the park are sparse. Aim to leave the area by around 2:30–3:00 PM so the drive back does not consume the evening.
After returning to town, take a short rest before heading to Jogger’s Park in the Dairy Farm area for about an hour. It is a pleasant, low-effort final stop after the long nature excursion, with elevated city views and a good chance of catching the changing light before sunset; arrive roughly 30–45 minutes before sunset rather than relying on a late arrival. From there, continue by auto-rickshaw or taxi to Anju Coco Resto in Aberdeen for dinner. Expect approximately ₹400–800 per person, with seafood and Indian dishes; dinner service and table availability can vary, so calling ahead is sensible during the holiday period. Plan for a total day of around ₹2,000–3,500 for a private vehicle, excluding park fees, meals, and any access charges.
Keep the morning deliberately simple: complete hotel checkout, settle any extras, and ask for a printed bill showing the guest’s name and stay dates. Arrange a taxi to Veer Savarkar International Airport with generous time rather than relying on a last-minute auto-rickshaw. From central Port Blair, allow roughly 20–40 minutes by road, depending on traffic and the hotel’s exact location; aim to reach the terminal at least 2–3 hours before the confirmed departure, as check-in, baggage drop, security, and seasonal queues can be slow.
Before leaving, check the airline’s baggage allowance and connection rules, particularly if the journey to Amritsar involves separate tickets. Keep passports or identity documents, booking confirmations, boarding passes, baggage tags, and payment receipts together. For the LTC claim, retain the complete air-ticket record and boarding passes; also confirm with the controlling office how the admissible Second AC train-equivalent amount will be calculated, since reimbursement depends on the applicable Central Government rules rather than simply the air fare paid.
The rest of the day will be occupied by the flight itinerary, any connection, baggage collection, and the onward transfer from the arrival airport to Amritsar. Do not plan sightseeing or a fixed meal stop after landing, as total door-to-door time can vary considerably with the confirmed routing and connection. Carry a packed snack and water for the airport journey, and keep essential medicines and one change of clothes in cabin baggage.
After arrival in Amritsar, use a prepaid taxi, app cab, or a pickup arranged in advance rather than negotiating at the terminal when tired. Allow additional time for baggage delivery and airport-exit traffic, and save the final transfer receipt if it is relevant to your travel records. If the return flight arrives late, go directly to your accommodation or home and complete any LTC paperwork only after checking that all boarding passes, invoices, and ticket details have been safely preserved.
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