Baratang itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Baratang

1. 01

   Day 1: Convoy north, creeks, caves and mud volcano

   Leave Port Blair very early, before the first convoy slot, and join the escorted convoy at Jirkatang. Do not stop or take photographs inside the reserve. Cross Middle Strait on the vehicle ferry and reach Nilambur jetty. Take a boat through the mangrove creeks to the cave-side jetty, then walk the forest path to the limestone caves with a local guide, allowing time to go slowly on the wet floor. Return by boat, eat something simple near the jetty, then go to the mud volcano if it is open to visitors. Aim to join an afternoon convoy back so you reach Port Blair after dark but without rushing.

Plan 02

2 days in Baratang

1. 01

   Day 1: Caves and mud volcano

   Follow the early convoy from Port Blair, cross Middle Strait and spend the morning on the creek boat and cave walk. After a rest at the jetty, visit the mud volcano if access is open, then settle into whatever accommodation you have booked well in advance.

2. 02

   Day 2: Parrot Island and a quiet beach

   Spend the day slowly. Visit Baludera Beach in the morning if you want a quiet stretch of sand, but expect sand flies and almost no facilities. Take an evening boat to Parrot Island to watch parrots return to roost, then rest. Travel back to Port Blair on the next day's convoy if you prefer, or continue north.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Parrot Island	About 2 to 2.5 hours for the boat trip	Easy	Dusk, from late afternoon; dry months are the most comfortable
   Baludera Beach	1 to 2 hours plus road transfer	Easy	November to February, daylight hours; avoid the monsoon

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 03

3 days in Baratang

1. 01

   Day 1: Arrive and creek boat

   Take the first convoy and ferry, check in, then do the mangrove creek boat ride and the cave walk with a guide while energy is high.

2. 02

   Day 2: Mud volcano and Baludera Beach

   Visit the mud volcano if open, then spend the afternoon at Baludera Beach, carrying food and water because facilities are minimal.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Baludera Beach	1 to 2 hours plus road transfer	Easy	November to February, daylight hours; avoid the monsoon

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

3. 03

   Day 3: Parrot Island and onward

   Take the evening boat to Parrot Island the day before leaving, or leave early for Port Blair, or continue north towards Rangat and Mayabunder if your itinerary runs that way. Always check the convoy schedule the previous evening.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Parrot Island	About 2 to 2.5 hours for the boat trip	Easy	Dusk, from late afternoon; dry months are the most comfortable

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Baratang trip for parents and children

• Treat this as a hard day. Leave early, carry water and snacks, and agree a firm turn-back point if anyone tires. The road is long and the cave walk is the real effort.
• Take the first convoy slot where possible. It gives the most daylight and a buffer against delays at the ferry or creek.
• The cave path is uneven and the floor inside is damp and slippery. Wear shoes with grip and move slowly. Skip the cave if knees or balance are a concern; the creek boat ride and the mud volcano are gentler.
• Sit near the middle of the boat, keep your hands inside it and follow the boatman's instructions. The creeks have saltwater crocodiles.
• There are almost no medical facilities beyond a small hospital at Baratang. Carry regular medicines and a basic first-aid kit.
• Do not stop or photograph inside the Jarawa reserve, whatever other vehicles do. It is illegal and can lead to prosecution.

Baratang with elderly parents: the full guide →