Nullam dignissim, ante scelerisque the is euismod fermentum odio sem semper the is erat, a feugiat leo urna eget eros. Duis Aenean a imperdiet risus.
Nullam dignissim, ante scelerisque the is euismod fermentum odio sem semper the is erat, a feugiat leo urna eget eros. Duis Aenean a imperdiet risus.
Plan your Andaman holiday with local experts based in Port Blair
There are a handful of beaches in India where sea turtles nest. There is only one where all four species, Olive Ridley, Leatherback, Hawksbill and Green, come ashore every year. That beach is Kalipur. Located on the northern coast of Diglipur island in North Andaman, Kalipur Beach is the most important turtle nesting site in the entire Andaman chain and one of the most extraordinary wildlife destinations in the country. It is also Diglipur's main accommodation hub, home to Pristine Beach Resort and Turtle Resort, both just a few metres from the shoreline, making it the only beach in North Andaman where you can step out of your room after dark, walk to the waterline and, during the December to March nesting season, watch Olive Ridley turtles emerge from the sea and begin laying eggs in the sand a few metres from where you are standing. The grey volcanic sand, the forested backdrop, the Forest Department hatchery, the Craggy Island snorkelling just offshore and the access to Ross and Smith Island from nearby Aerial Bay Jetty make Kalipur Beach the natural base and beating heart of any serious Diglipur itinerary.
Kalipur Beach is located on the northern coast of Diglipur island in the North and Middle Andaman district, a short distance from Diglipur town and the Aerial Bay Jetty that serves as the departure point for speedboats to Ross and Smith Island. Unlike Ramnagar Beach, the other major turtle nesting site in the Diglipur region, Kalipur is easily accessible from the main town area and is within walking distance of the region's best accommodation options. This proximity makes it uniquely valuable: visitors can stay at a resort directly adjacent to the beach, and turtle watching at night requires no transport, simply walk out to the shore after dark under the supervision of a Forest Department guide.
The beach itself has a distinctive character that sets it apart from Andaman's more typical white sand destinations. Kalipur's sand is grey to black in colour, volcanic in origin, which creates a striking visual contrast with the turquoise blue of the water and the dense green forest that rises behind the shoreline. The beach is managed and protected around the clock by the Wildlife Division of the Forest Department, with security personnel present day and night during the nesting season to ensure the safety of the nesting turtles and their eggs. The Forest Department has also established a dedicated hatchery at Kalipur specifically for this purpose, one of the very few government-built turtle hatcheries in the Andaman Islands.
What makes Kalipur Beach unique in the entire country is the confirmed presence of all four sea turtle species. While Olive Ridley turtles are the most commonly encountered, Green turtles, Hawksbill turtles and the enormous Leatherback, the largest sea turtle species in the world, have all been recorded nesting at Kalipur. The nesting season runs primarily from November to March, with hatchlings emerging from January through April depending on incubation timings. A boat trip from Kalipur to Craggy Island, a short hop offshore, offers excellent snorkelling over healthy coral with reef fish, hard corals and, on fortunate days, turtles and rays in the water.
Kalipur Beach operates on a different rhythm from every other beach in the Andaman Islands. During the nesting season, the day does not end at sunset, it begins. As darkness falls over the grey sand and the forest canopy fades to silhouette, the Forest Department guides take small groups of visitors down to the waterline and the waiting begins. Then, from the black water, a shape emerges, heavy, ancient, determined, and an Olive Ridley turtle pulls itself up the beach to begin the nesting ritual that her species has been performing for millions of years. No amount of description prepares you for the experience of witnessing it in person.
The Forest Department's approach to turtle watching at Kalipur is strictly controlled and deeply responsible. No torches, no flash photography, no approaching the turtles without guide instruction, and all viewing conducted at distances that do not disturb the nesting behaviour. The same protocols apply to hatchling release events, which the Department organises when clutches hatch successfully, visitors can witness the hatchlings' first journey from sand to sea, a spectacle that is simultaneously one of the most fragile and most triumphant natural events in the marine world. These events are not guaranteed, they depend entirely on the turtles' own timing, but the Forest Department communicates upcoming release events to the adjacent resorts, meaning that guests staying at Pristine Beach Resort or Turtle Resort are always first to know.
Outside the nesting season, Kalipur Beach remains a beautiful and deeply peaceful destination in its own right. The grey volcanic sand creates a beach environment that is entirely unlike anything in the southern Andaman chain, darker, moodier and extraordinarily photogenic in the early morning and late evening light. The rocky pools along the shoreline are excellent for low-tide exploration, and the mangroves behind certain sections of the beach provide rich birdwatching habitat throughout the year. A short boat trip to Craggy Island delivers one of the better snorkelling experiences accessible from Diglipur, with clear water and patches of healthy coral in a site that is entirely free of the commercial activity found at the more famous southern Andaman snorkelling destinations.
The accommodation immediately adjacent to Kalipur Beach, Pristine Beach Resort and the government-managed Turtle Resort, are among the finest-positioned properties in North Andaman. Staying here, particularly during nesting season, transforms what might otherwise be a day-trip beach visit into a full immersive wildlife experience. The resort locations allow night-time turtle watching without any transport, and the views from both properties over the volcanic sand and the open sea are exceptional at any time of day or year.
Plan Your Kalipur Beach Visit with Our Local ExpertsKalipur Beach offers one of the most extraordinary wildlife and nature experiences in India, all four sea turtle species, a Forest Department hatchery, Craggy Island snorkelling, volcanic sand beach walks and the most direct access to Ross and Smith Island in the entire Diglipur region. Here is what to plan for during your visit.
Night turtle watching at Kalipur Beach is the most intimate and most extraordinary wildlife experience available anywhere in the Andaman Islands. Under Forest Department guide supervision after dark, small groups of visitors are taken to the waterline to witness Olive Ridley, Green, Hawksbill and, on rare occasions, Leatherback sea turtles emerge from the sea and come ashore to nest in the volcanic sand. No torches, no flash photography and strict distance protocols ensure the turtles are not disturbed. The experience is not guaranteed every night, turtles operate on their own schedule, but guests staying at Pristine Beach Resort or Turtle Resort, both directly adjacent to the beach, have the highest possible chance of a sighting during the November to March season.
The Forest Department's turtle hatchery at Kalipur Beach is one of the only government-built marine turtle hatcheries in the Andaman Islands. It protects eggs from natural predators and human disturbance, incubates them under controlled conditions and organises supervised hatchling release events for visitors when clutches hatch successfully. Watching dozens of tiny hatchlings make their first journey from the sand to the sea, small, determined and ancient, is one of the most emotionally moving wildlife encounters available in India. These events are notified to guests at the adjacent resorts, giving staying visitors the best possible chance of being present. Hatchling releases typically occur from January through April depending on incubation timing.
A short boat trip from Kalipur Beach to Craggy Island delivers one of the most rewarding snorkelling and scuba diving experiences accessible from Diglipur. Clear water, patches of healthy hard coral and a reef fish population that includes colourful tropical species, rays and, during turtle season, sea turtles in the water make Craggy Island a genuinely impressive marine site for a destination this far removed from the Andaman tourism mainstream. Diving shops near Kalipur Beach provide snorkelling gear rental and guided scuba sessions for both beginners and experienced divers. The calm sea conditions between October and April ensure excellent underwater visibility throughout the season.
Kalipur Beach's distinctive grey to black volcanic sand creates a beach environment of extraordinary photographic beauty, particularly in the soft light of early morning and the golden hour before sunset, when the dark sand and turquoise water create a contrast that is unlike anything else in the Andaman chain. The rocky pools along sections of the shoreline are excellent for low-tide exploration, revealing small marine creatures and coral formations at close range. The mangroves behind the beach provide rich birdwatching habitat, and the forested hillside rising above the coastline adds a dramatic natural backdrop that makes every visit to this beach feel genuinely removed from the ordinary.
| Location | Northern coast of Diglipur island, North Andaman, a short distance from Diglipur town and Aerial Bay Jetty (departure point for Ross and Smith Island speedboats) |
|---|---|
| How to Reach Diglipur | By road from Port Blair via Andaman Trunk Road (10 to 12 hours by bus or private car); by government sea ferry from Port Blair (overnight, 10 to 14 hours). Road passes through Jarawa Tribal Reserve, stopping strictly prohibited |
| Best Time to Visit | November to March for turtle nesting season, the primary reason most visitors travel to Kalipur. October to May for general beach, snorkelling and Craggy Island visits |
| Turtle Species | All four sea turtle species confirmed: Olive Ridley (most common), Green, Hawksbill and Leatherback (largest sea turtle in the world). One of only a handful of beaches globally hosting all four species |
| Nesting Season | November to March for nesting; hatchlings emerge January to April. Hatchling releases organised by Forest Department hatchery, notified to adjacent resort guests |
| Turtle Watching Rules | Forest Department guided night watching only, no torches, no flash photography, strict approach distance rules. Do not attempt independent turtle watching without a Forest Department guide |
| Key Activities | Night turtle watching (all four species), hatchling release events, Forest Department hatchery visit, Craggy Island snorkelling and scuba diving, volcanic sand beach walks, rocky pool exploration, birdwatching, sunrise photography |
| Accommodation | Pristine Beach Resort (private, best value) and Turtle Resort (government-managed), both directly adjacent to Kalipur Beach and within walking distance for night turtle watching. Strongly recommended over Diglipur town accommodation for turtle season visits |
| Snorkelling | Craggy Island (short boat trip from Kalipur), best snorkelling site near Diglipur. Snorkelling gear available from local dive shops near the beach. Calm conditions October to April |
| Nearby Attractions | Ross and Smith Island (sandbar twin islands, Aerial Bay Jetty), Ramnagar Beach (35 km, second turtle nesting site), Saddle Peak National Park (highest peak 732m), Alfred Caves (41 limestone caves), Mud Volcano Hathi Level |
Stay at Pristine Beach Resort or Turtle Resort, not in Diglipur town. This is the single most important planning decision for a Kalipur turtle watching visit. Both properties are directly adjacent to the beach, night turtle watching requires no transport and no pre-arranged pickup. When hatchling release events are organised by the Forest Department hatchery, resort guests are notified immediately. Staying in Diglipur town and attempting to arrange late-night transport to the beach for turtle watching is significantly less reliable and considerably more stressful than simply walking out of your room to the shore. Book these resorts as early as possible during peak nesting season as availability is limited.
Never attempt to watch turtles without a Forest Department guide. The rules at Kalipur are strict and exist for the protection of the turtles, not the convenience of visitors. Any light source, torch, phone screen, camera flash, near a nesting turtle will cause it to abandon its nesting attempt and return to the sea. The Forest Department guides know the beach, know the turtles' current patterns and conduct all night watching in small groups with absolute discipline. Engage the guide service through your resort reception during the afternoon so that you are on the list for that evening's patrol.
Combine Kalipur Beach with a morning trip to Ross and Smith Island from Aerial Bay Jetty, the two destinations work perfectly together as part of a two-night Diglipur itinerary. Begin Day 1 with the Ross and Smith Island sandbar trip in the morning and turtle watching at Kalipur Beach on the same evening. Day 2 can include the drive to Ramnagar Beach and Alfred Caves, returning to Kalipur for a second evening on the beach. This two-day Diglipur circuit covers the region's most extraordinary natural experiences in a well-structured sequence. Our team at AndamanVacation.com builds this circuit into all dedicated North Andaman itineraries.
Carry a red-filter torch if you plan to be on the beach after dark, red light is far less disruptive to turtles than white light and is the only acceptable torch colour for use near nesting sites. Insect repellent is essential for evening beach time. Mobile network coverage at Kalipur is limited, inform family of your plans before arriving in the area. The beach is managed by the Wildlife Division of the Forest Department and all visitors should follow posted guidelines and warden instructions at all times.
Kalipur Beach is the reason Diglipur exists on the Andaman Islands travel map. It is not the most convenient destination in the archipelago, the journey from Port Blair is long, the infrastructure is basic and the wildlife encounters are never guaranteed. But it is the only beach in India where all four sea turtle species nest, and the experience of watching an ancient sea creature emerge from the ocean after dark and begin laying eggs in the warm sand of a beach that her ancestors have been returning to for thousands of years is one that no amount of convenience or luxury can replicate. It is wildlife travel at its most genuine, most humbling and most unforgettable.
Our team at Andaman Vacations India arranges complete Diglipur itineraries that include Kalipur Beach accommodation, Forest Department turtle watching, hatchery visits, Ross and Smith Island boat transfers, Ramnagar Beach day trips and Saddle Peak trekking, everything required to experience North Andaman's most extraordinary natural environment end to end. Tell us your travel dates and we will build a Diglipur itinerary that puts you in exactly the right place, at exactly the right time, to witness something genuinely extraordinary.
"I’ve traveled with many agencies, but this one stands out! personalized approach and attention to detail made our honeymoon unforgettable.
