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
Most visitors to the Andaman Islands never make it to Ross and Smith Island, and that is exactly what makes it one of the most extraordinary destinations in the entire archipelago. Located in the northernmost reaches of North Andaman near Diglipur, these two uninhabited islands are connected by a natural sandbar that emerges from the sea at low tide, allowing visitors to walk between two islands through shallow turquoise water with waves breaking on one side and absolute calm on the other. There are no roads, no resorts and no commercial infrastructure, only white sand beaches, dense tropical forest, a protected marine sanctuary teeming with coral and marine life, and the nesting grounds of Olive Ridley sea turtles. It is among the most pristine and least visited island destinations in India, and the effort required to reach it is repaid many times over by the experience of arriving.
Ross and Smith Island, also known as the Twin Islands of Andaman, are two separate islands situated in Aerial Bay near Diglipur in North Andaman district. The islands are joined at low tide by a natural sandbar, locally called a tombolo, which creates one of the most remarkable natural phenomena in the Indian Ocean: a narrow strip of white sand rising from the sea between two islands, with crystal-clear turquoise water lapping gently on the sheltered inner side and waves from the open Andaman Sea breaking on the outer edge. Walking this sandbar, with open sea on both sides and two forested islands at either end, is an experience that visitors consistently describe as one of the most memorable of their entire Andaman journey.
Ross Island and Smith Island are distinct in character. Smith Island is the primary landing point for visitor boats from Aerial Bay Jetty and has the more accessible beaches, including a prominent triangular white sand beach at the southern tip where the sandbar attaches to the shore, and two additional secluded beaches further north along its eastern coast. The forest on Smith Island is dense and tropical, with nature trails leading through the interior. Ross Island, reached by a ten-minute walk across the sandbar, has a rockier coastline that is less suitable for swimming but offers excellent snorkelling off its fringing reef and a wilder, more remote feel than its more visited twin.
Both islands are part of a protected Marine Sanctuary, and the surrounding reef system along the eastern coast of Smith Island is one of the most biodiverse and least disturbed coral ecosystems in North Andaman. The islands are also a critically important nesting ground for Olive Ridley sea turtles, with nesting activity concentrated on the beaches between December and March each year. Forest permits are mandatory for both islands and must be obtained separately, the permit for Smith Island from the Forest Office at Diglipur, and the permit for Ross Island from a counter on Smith Island itself. No overnight stays are permitted.
Ross and Smith Island rewards every visitor who makes the effort to reach it with an experience that is genuinely unlike anything available at the better-known destinations in the Andaman chain. The journey itself, a long drive or overnight ferry from Port Blair to Diglipur followed by a 20 to 30 minute speedboat ride from Aerial Bay Jetty, filters out the casual day-tripper and ensures that the islands are always quiet when you arrive. The beaches here are immaculate because very few people walk them. The coral is exceptional because very few people snorkel over it. The turtles nest here because very few humans disturb them.
The sandbar connecting the two islands is the centrepiece of the experience and nothing quite prepares you for the sight of it. As the speedboat approaches Smith Island, the thin white line of sand rising from the sea between the two islands becomes visible, turquoise water on the sheltered side, open sea on the other, forest rising on both ends. Walking out onto the sandbar and standing at its midpoint with two islands flanking you and open ocean on either side is one of those Andaman moments that photographs cannot fully capture. The water on the inner side is shallow and completely calm, ideal for swimming, wading and safe for children. The outer side has gentle waves that more confident swimmers find exhilarating.
The snorkelling along the eastern coast of Smith Island and off the Ross Island reef is outstanding. The fringing coral reef that stretches along the protected eastern coastline is part of the Marine Sanctuary and hosts a remarkable diversity of coral species, reef fish, sea cucumbers, anemones and, during turtle season, Olive Ridley turtles that can be spotted swimming in the calm, clear shallows. Snorkelling gear is not available on the islands, visitors must carry their own masks, snorkels and fins from Diglipur or Port Blair. The visibility in the water here, far from Port Blair's harbour traffic and boat activity, is exceptional on calm days.
There are no food stalls, no accommodation and no commercial facilities of any kind on Ross or Smith Island. The islands are entirely undeveloped, and the Forest Department enforces strict conservation rules including a no-plastic policy, no littering and no disturbance of wildlife. Visitors must carry all food, water and supplies from Diglipur. The permit system limits daily visitor numbers, and boats must return to Aerial Bay Jetty before 2 PM, making an early morning departure from Diglipur essential for maximising time on the islands.
Plan Your Ross and Smith Island Trip with Our Local ExpertsRoss and Smith Island offers an immersive, unhurried experience built entirely around its extraordinary natural environment, the sandbar walk, coral snorkelling, turtle spotting, pristine beaches and tropical forest trails. Here is what to plan for during your visit to these remarkable twin islands.
Walking the natural sandbar that connects Ross and Smith Island is the defining experience of a visit to Diglipur and one of the most remarkable natural phenomena in the entire Andaman archipelago. At low tide, a narrow strip of white sand rises from the turquoise sea between the two islands, calm, shallow water on the inner side and open-sea waves on the outer edge, creating a corridor between two uninhabited island worlds that is unlike anything else in India. The walk takes around ten minutes from Smith Island to Ross Island and passes through water that is ankle to knee-deep for most of the route. Visitors should plan their visit around low tide to ensure the sandbar is fully visible and walkable.
The eastern coast of Smith Island and the fringing reef off Ross Island form part of a protected Marine Sanctuary that hosts one of the most biodiverse and least-disturbed coral ecosystems in North Andaman. Snorkelling directly from the beach at Smith Island's southern tip reveals a massive reef slope with living corals, colourful reef fish, sea cucumbers, anemones and, during turtle season, Olive Ridley turtles moving through the shallows just metres from the shore. The water clarity here is exceptional, far removed from Port Blair's harbour traffic. Snorkelling equipment is not available on the island, carry your own mask, snorkel and fins from Diglipur or Port Blair for the best experience.
Ross and Smith Island are among the most important Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting sites in the Andaman chain, with nesting activity concentrated between December and March each year. Visitors who arrive during this season have a genuine chance of spotting turtles in the water during snorkelling sessions, and with patience and quiet on the beach, nesting activity can sometimes be observed from a respectful distance. The Marine Sanctuary designation of the surrounding reef protects this nesting habitat from disturbance, and Forest Department wardens enforce strict rules about approaching wildlife. Even outside nesting season, turtles can be spotted swimming in the calm, clear shallows around the sandbar during low-tide periods.
The inner side of the sandbar at Smith Island provides the calmest and most sheltered swimming in North Andaman, shallow, crystal-clear turquoise water that is ideal for families and children and safe for non-confident swimmers at low tide. Beyond the sandbar, the beach at Smith Island's southern tip and the two additional secluded beaches further north along its eastern coast offer exceptional beachcombing, nature photography and complete solitude. Forest nature trails through Smith Island's dense tropical interior provide a shaded walking environment with birdwatching opportunities, the forest here is entirely undisturbed and rewards slow, quiet observation with endemic island bird species and rich tropical flora.
| Location | Aerial Bay, Diglipur, North Andaman district, reached by speedboat from Aerial Bay Jetty (20 to 30 minutes); Aerial Bay Jetty is approximately 8 km from Diglipur town |
|---|---|
| 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 is strictly prohibited |
| Boat from Aerial Bay Jetty | Speedboat (approx. ₹5,000 for 4 persons return; ₹8,000 for group of 10); fishing dinghy also available. Arrive at jetty by 8:00–8:30 AM to share fares and catch early tides. Return mandatory by 2:00 PM |
| Best Time to Visit | October to April, calm seas, clear water and ideal beach conditions. December to March for Olive Ridley turtle nesting season. Avoid June to September monsoon when boat services are suspended |
| Sandbar Timing | The natural sandbar connecting both islands is visible and walkable during low tide only. Check local tide timings before visiting, plan your island time to coincide with low tide for the full sandbar experience |
| Permits Required | Forest permit mandatory for both islands, Smith Island permit: ₹50 Indian / ₹500 foreign nationals, obtainable from Forest Office Diglipur or Aerial Bay Jetty (except Sundays, 6 AM to 2 PM). Ross Island permit: issued separately on Smith Island. Carry valid ID proof |
| Key Activities | Sandbar walk between twin islands, snorkelling the Marine Sanctuary reef, Olive Ridley turtle spotting, swimming on sheltered inner sandbar side, secluded beach walks, forest nature trails, photography |
| Snorkelling Equipment | No rental equipment available on the islands, carry your own mask, snorkel and fins from Diglipur or Port Blair. Reef-safe sunscreen strongly recommended |
| Conservation Rules | No plastic permitted on either island. No overnight stays allowed. Do not disturb turtle nesting activity. Follow all Forest Department guidelines on wildlife approach distances and waste disposal |
| Facilities on Island | No food stalls, no accommodation, no ATMs, no mobile network on the islands. Carry all food, water and supplies from Diglipur in non-plastic containers |
| Nearby Attractions | Saddle Peak National Park (highest peak in Andaman, 732 metres), Kalipur Beach (turtle nesting site), Ramnagar Beach (turtle nesting), Diglipur town, Mud Volcano at Hathi Level |
The single most important planning step for Ross and Smith Island is to check the tide timetable before setting your boat departure time. The natural sandbar connecting the two islands is only visible and walkable at low tide, if you arrive at high tide, the sandbar will be submerged and the defining experience of the visit is lost. Consult the Forest Office at Diglipur or your hotel reception for the day's tide timings and plan your boat departure from Aerial Bay Jetty to ensure you are on the island during the low-tide window. Early morning departures typically align well with low-tide conditions throughout most of the October to April season.
Arrive at Aerial Bay Jetty by 8:00 to 8:30 AM to share speedboat fares with other visitors. Speedboat charges are per boat rather than per person, arriving early allows you to group with other visitors and split the cost, reducing the per-person expense significantly. If you arrive later in the morning, boats may already be full or the remaining boats may charge higher rates. The Forest Office permit counter is open from 6 AM, obtain your Smith Island permit before boarding the boat, and collect your Ross Island permit from the counter on Smith Island upon arrival.
Ross and Smith Island is most rewarding when combined with other Diglipur experiences into a two-night stay. Saddle Peak National Park, home to the highest trek in the entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 732 metres, is within reach of Diglipur, as are the turtle nesting beaches at Kalipur and Ramnagar and the Mud Volcano at Hathi Level. Our team at AndamanVacation.com builds dedicated Diglipur itineraries that combine Ross and Smith Island with the Saddle Peak trek and turtle beach visits for travellers who want to experience North Andaman at its most extraordinary.
Carry everything you need for a full day from Diglipur, water (at least 2 litres per person), food, reef-safe sunscreen, insect repellent, your own snorkelling gear, a dry bag for valuables and a light rain jacket. There is no mobile network or ATM on the islands and no facilities of any kind. Wear water shoes or sandals that can handle both sand and reef walking. The return boat departs by 2:00 PM without exception, ensure you are back at the Smith Island jetty point by 1:45 PM. Missing the return boat means arranging a separate hire at significantly higher cost.
Ross and Smith Island is the destination that separates the Andaman Islands visitor from the Andaman Islands traveller. It requires more planning, more travel time and more self-sufficiency than any beach in the Port Blair region, and it delivers an experience that no beach in the Port Blair region can match. The natural sandbar between two uninhabited islands, the undisturbed Marine Sanctuary reef, the Olive Ridley turtle nesting grounds and the complete absence of commercial development create an island environment that is among the most extraordinary in all of India.
Our team at Andaman Vacations India arranges complete Diglipur itineraries that include Ross and Smith Island boat permits and transfers, Saddle Peak trekking, turtle beach visits and accommodation at Turtle Resort or equivalent properties in Diglipur. Tell us your travel dates and we will build a North Andaman itinerary that takes you to the parts of this archipelago that most visitors never see, and that you will never forget.
"I’ve traveled with many agencies, but this one stands out! personalized approach and attention to detail made our honeymoon unforgettable.
