Overview
Private boat trips are the most rewarding way to explore the Andaman Islands. Instead of fixed ferry timings and crowded jetties, you travel with your own licensed boat, skipper and host, and the day is shaped around you. Our signature private trip, The Secret Islands Escape, follows the quieter coastlines of South Andaman and, where permits and the sea allow, visits the Cinque Islands, where a white sandbar links two uninhabited islands.
The Secret Islands Escape is our signature experience and the clearest expression of what Offbeat Andaman stands for. Instead of joining a crowded jetty queue, you step aboard a licensed private boat with your own skipper and host, and spend the day discovering the quieter side of the Andaman Islands: long empty coastlines, water that shifts from deep blue to glassy turquoise, forested headlands and viewpoints that most visitors only ever see in photographs.
Every route is planned for the day rather than fixed in advance. Depending on permissions and sea conditions, the journey can include the protected Cinque Islands, where a white sandbar links two uninhabited islands, or other approved island destinations off South Andaman. Your host reads the weather, the tide and the light, and chooses the anchorages that will be calm, beautiful and uncrowded on that particular day.
This is not a race between photo stops. There is time to swim from the boat, snorkel over a fringing reef where it is permitted, walk a quiet beach and simply sit on deck with a cold coconut while the islands slide past. It suits couples, families and small private groups who want the Andaman Sea to feel like their own for a day.
Highlights
- Private boat
- Scenic cruising
- Snorkelling where permitted
What to Expect
- An early, unhurried start at the jetty with a safety briefing and a route plan shaped by that morning's forecast.
- Scenic cruising along forested coastlines, with your host sharing the stories of the islands you pass.
- One or two calm anchorages for swimming, and snorkelling over reefs only where it is permitted.
- A relaxed packed lunch and tropical fruit on board or on a permitted beach.
- An easy cruise home in the afternoon light, timed to avoid rougher water later in the day.
Location
Departures are usually from the South Andaman coast near Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), Wandoor or Chidiyatapu. Destinations vary with permissions and sea state and may include the Cinque Islands or other approved islands and coastlines.
Duration
A full day, typically six to eight hours including boat time, depending on the chosen route and conditions.
What's Included
- Licensed private boat with skipper and host
- Life jackets and safety equipment
- Snorkel sets where snorkelling is permitted
- Packed lunch, fruit and drinking water
- Help with permits and entry formalities
Best For
Couples, families and private groups.
Ideal for travellers who want privacy, flexibility and space. Children are welcome with life jackets, and non-swimmers can enjoy the cruise, beaches and viewpoints without entering the water.
Best Time
November to April usually brings the calmest seas and clearest water. Trips do not run in rough monsoon conditions, and every departure is confirmed against the latest forecast.
Permissions & Availability
Private Boat Trips is subject to permissions, sea conditions and host availability. Some islands, including the Cinque Islands, need a Forest Department permit and are open for day visits only. We arrange the permissions we can, and we always offer a calm, sheltered alternative if a destination is closed.
We confirm every element a day or two before you travel and keep you informed if plans need to change. Safety, local rules and our hosts' wishes always come first.
Responsible Travel
Private Boat Trips follows our responsible travel promise. We keep groups small, use established routes and permitted locations, pay hosts fairly and leave every place as we found it. We never promise wildlife sightings, and we never market, visit or photograph the islands' indigenous communities, whose privacy and protected status we fully respect.
Please carry a refillable bottle, use reef-safe sunscreen, avoid touching coral or wildlife and ask before photographing people.
Gallery
Sample itinerary
- 07:00
Board your private boat
Meet your skipper and host at the jetty for a safety briefing.
- 08:30
Quiet coastline cruise
Follow sheltered coves and forested headlands along South Andaman.
- 10:00
Swim and snorkel stop
Anchor on sand at a permitted spot for a swim or snorkel.
- 12:30
Island lunch
A picnic lunch of island flavours in the shade.
- 14:30
Sandbar or beach time
Visit a permitted beach or sandbar, conditions allowing.
- 16:00
Return to the jetty
An easy ride back as the light softens.
Sample itinerary – final plan depends on permissions, sea conditions and host availability.
FAQs
Is The Secret Islands Escape completely private?
Yes. Your group has its own licensed boat, skipper and host for the day. We do not combine bookings.
Does the trip always include the Cinque Islands?
Not always. Cinque needs a Forest Department permit and calm sea conditions. If it is not possible on your date, we choose another approved island route.
Can non-swimmers join?
Yes. Life jackets are provided, and much of the day is about cruising, viewpoints and beaches. Snorkelling is always optional.
What happens if the weather turns?
Safety comes first. Your host may shorten the route, switch to sheltered waters or suggest another date if the sea is unsafe.
How much does The Secret Islands Escape cost?
Price on request. The cost depends on the boat, route, group size and permits, and we send a clear itemised quote.