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Plan your Andaman holiday with local experts based in Port Blair
Most visitors to the Andamans never hear of Long Island, let alone Lalaji Bay Beach. That is precisely the point. This is not Havelock, not Neil, not a place with ferry queues, crowded sunsets, or beach shacks playing loud music. Long Island sits off the coast of Middle Andaman, a quiet, sparsely populated settlement where life moves slowly and the internet is unreliable. Lalaji Bay Beach is its crown jewel, a perfect crescent of white sand framed by towering palm trees and lapped by water so clear you can see your toes in chest-deep water. There is no road to this beach. You cannot drive there, you cannot take a scooter. The only way in is by boat from the Long Island jetty, followed by a short walk through tropical forest. There are no shops, no shacks, no lifeguards, no crowds. On most days, you will have the entire beach to yourself. For travellers who have done the southern islands and want something quieter, something that feels like genuine discovery, Lalaji Bay is exactly what they have been searching for.
Lalaji Bay Beach is located on the western coast of Long Island, which sits off the coast of Middle Andaman, approximately 120 kilometres north of Port Blair. The journey from Port Blair takes time and patience, first by ferry to Long Island, a trip that can take three to five hours depending on the type of boat and the weather, then by local boat or kayak from the Long Island jetty to Lalaji Bay. The beach is not visible from the settlement, which is why so few people ever find it.
The beach itself is roughly one kilometre long, a smooth arc of soft white sand that curves gracefully between two forested headlands. The sand is fine and powdery, the kind that squeaks pleasantly under your feet when you walk on it. The water is shallow for the first fifty metres or so, making it safe for wading and swimming even for children and non-swimmers. The reef starts further out, beyond the lagoon, which means the water near the shore is completely free of coral and rocks, just smooth, soft sand underfoot.
What makes Lalaji Bay truly special is not any single dramatic feature. It is the combination of isolation, natural beauty, and the effort required to get there. This is not a beach you stumble upon by accident. You have to want to come here. You have to plan. You have to book ferries, arrange boats, pack your own food and water. And because of that effort, you are rewarded with a level of peace and solitude that the southern islands lost years ago. It is the Andamans the way they used to be.
Long Island has a tiny population, a few hundred people living in a cluster of houses near the jetty. For decades, Lalaji Bay was just another beach on the western side of the island, known to local fishermen and families but not marked on any tourist map. Fishermen used it as a landing spot during calm weather. Families from the settlement would walk there on weekends for picnics. But outsiders almost never made the trip.
The beach got its name from a local figure, though the exact origin is unclear and disputed among the island's residents. Some say a man named Lalaji used to fish in these waters every morning. Others say the name comes from an old local word for a beautiful or blessed place. Whatever the truth, the name stuck, and today it is the name you will see on the few travel blogs and forum posts that mention Long Island at all.
In recent years, a handful of guesthouses have opened on Long Island, catering to the small but steady stream of travellers looking to escape the crowds of Havelock and Neil. Word has spread slowly, mostly through word of mouth and online forums for offbeat travel. But even now, on a busy day, you might see ten or twelve people at Lalaji Bay. On a quiet day, you will see none.
The Andaman tourism department has done very little to promote Long Island or Lalaji Bay, which is probably for the best. The beach remains completely undeveloped, no concrete paths, no changing rooms, no snack shops, no trash bins. It is exactly as it has been for generations, a stretch of white sand and turquoise sea, waiting for those willing to make the journey.
Plan Your Long Island and Lalaji Bay Beach Visit with Our Local ExpertsLalaji Bay is not about activities or checklists. It is about slowing down, disconnecting, and enjoying a beach the way beaches used to be before tourism changed them. Here is what to expect during your visit to Long Island.
The water at Lalaji Bay is shallow for a surprisingly long way out. You can walk fifty metres from the shore, and the water will still be only chest high on an average adult. The bottom is soft white sand, no rocks, no coral, no sudden drop-offs, no unpleasant surprises. This makes it one of the safest swimming beaches in the entire Andaman archipelago, especially for families with young children. The waves are gentle, almost non-existent on calm days. The water is warm and clear. There are no strong currents in the lagoon area. Further out, beyond the sandbar, the reef begins and the water gets deeper, but for most visitors, the shallow lagoon is more than enough. Just wade out, float on your back, look up at the palm trees, and listen to the silence. That is what Lalaji Bay is for.
The boat drops you at a small, simple jetty, a wooden structure at the edge of the dense tropical forest. From there, a well worn path leads through the trees to the beach. The walk takes five to ten minutes, depending on how slowly you choose to move. The path is shaded by a thick canopy, cool and pleasant even on the hottest days, and you can hear the waves getting louder and closer as you walk. Then, suddenly, the trees part, and the beach opens up in front of you in a full panoramic view. That moment, that first glimpse of white sand and turquoise water framed by green palm fronds, is worth the entire journey from Port Blair. The path is flat and easy, with no steep climbs, no tricky sections, no roots to trip over. Anyone with basic mobility can manage it comfortably.
The shallow lagoon at Lalaji Bay is perfect for swimming, but if you want to see fish and coral, you need to go further out. Beyond the sandbar, at the edge of the lagoon, the reef begins. The water depth increases gradually, and you can find healthy patches of coral with angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, and the occasional clownfish swimming around them. The reef is not as dense or as colourful as the famous sites near Havelock, but the trade-off is that you will have the reef completely to yourself. No other snorkelers bumping into you. No boats dropping off groups of twenty people. No noise. Just you, the fish, and the gentle movement of the sea. Bring your own mask and snorkel, because there is nowhere to rent gear on Long Island. Also bring reef-safe sunscreen, as regular sunscreen damages the coral.
This is the real reason to come all the way to Long Island and Lalaji Bay. On most days, you will be the only person on this kilometre long stretch of white sand. Maybe two or three other travellers if the guesthouses on Long Island are full, which is rare. Compare that to Radhanagar Beach on Havelock, where you share the sand with hundreds of people even on what locals call a quiet day. At Lalaji Bay, you can walk the entire length of the beach without seeing another human footprint. You can pick a spot under a palm tree, spread out your towel, and hear nothing but the waves and the wind moving through the leaves. You can read a book for hours without a single interruption. You can fall asleep to the sound of the sea and wake up exactly where you drifted off. It is the kind of beach experience that has become almost extinct in the Andamans, the kind that used to be normal before the crowds arrived.
| Location | Long Island, Middle Andaman, approximately 120 kilometres north of Port Blair. Lalaji Bay is on the western coast of the island, facing the open sea. |
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| Also Known As | Lalaji Bay, Lalaji Beach, Long Island Beach. Some locals also refer to it as the Western Beach. |
| How to Reach Long Island | Government ferry or private boat from Port Blair to Long Island. The journey takes 3 to 5 hours depending on the vessel and sea conditions. Ferries are limited, typically one or two per day, so checking the schedule and booking in advance is essential. |
| Best Time to Visit | November to April, when the seas are calm, the weather is dry, and the boat ride is comfortable. The beach is exposed to the open sea on its western side, so rough weather can make the boat approach difficult or impossible. Avoid the monsoon season from June to September. |
| Key Attractions and Activities | Secluded crescent-shaped white sand beach, shallow calm lagoon perfect for safe swimming, forest walk from the boat jetty to the beach, snorkeling on the outer reef, complete privacy and solitude, excellent conditions for beachcombing and nature photography. |
| Water Activities Available | Swimming, wading, snorkeling. No water sports equipment rentals are available on Long Island. You must bring your own snorkeling gear, mask, and fins if you plan to explore the outer reef. |
| Where to Stay on Long Island | No accommodation is available directly on Lalaji Bay Beach. Stay in guesthouses and homestays near the Long Island jetty area. Options are very basic, a handful of small properties with limited rooms and simple amenities. Book well ahead during the peak season from December to March. |
| Facilities Available at the Beach | No facilities whatsoever at Lalaji Bay Beach. No shops, no restaurants, no changing rooms, no toilets, no lifeguards, no fresh water, no trash bins. The boat jetty is a simple wooden structure with no shelter. You must carry all food, drinking water, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, and other essentials from Long Island. |
| Nearby Attractions on Long Island | Long Island Jetty area where guesthouses and small shops are located, Merk Bay Beach which is another secluded beach on the eastern side of the island, Guitar Island which is a small uninhabited island visible from Lalaji Bay on clear days. |
Plan your ferry to Long Island very carefully. Ferries from Port Blair to Long Island are limited, sometimes only one departure per day. Missing your ferry could mean waiting a full day or even two days for the next one. Book your tickets as soon as your travel dates are confirmed, and confirm the departure time at least 24 hours in advance. Always have a backup plan and some flexibility in your schedule.
Carry absolutely everything you will need for a full day at the beach. There are no shops at Lalaji Bay, no food, no drinking water, nothing. Bring at least two litres of water per person, plus a packed lunch, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, sunglasses, and a basic first aid kit. Also bring a trash bag to carry all your waste back to the settlement. There are no bins on the beach, and leaving trash behind is both illegal and disrespectful to the local community.
Arrange your boat to and from Lalaji Bay with your guesthouse host or a local boat operator before you arrive on Long Island. The beach is not walkable from the settlement. You need a boat to cross from the eastern side of Long Island, where the jetty is located, to the western side where Lalaji Bay sits. The boat ride takes about fifteen to twenty minutes each way. Ask your guesthouse to help you arrange this before you arrive on the island, as mobile phone signal is unreliable.
Check the weather forecast and sea conditions before you commit to the trip. Lalaji Bay faces west, towards the open sea. If the wind is strong or the sea is rough, the boat ride can be uncomfortable and the swimming conditions can be genuinely dangerous. Do not go out to the outer reef if the waves are big, and do not swim beyond the shallow lagoon if you are not a very strong swimmer. There are no lifeguards anywhere on Long Island, so you are entirely responsible for your own safety. When in doubt, stay in the shallow water close to shore.
Lalaji Bay Beach is not for everyone. It is hard to reach, requires significant planning, and offers none of the comforts or conveniences that travellers have come to expect from Havelock or Neil. No restaurants, no beach shacks, no sunset bars, no reliable internet, no ATMs. But if you are tired of crowded beaches, if you have already done the southern islands and want something completely different, and if you do not mind basic accommodation, limited ferry options, and carrying your own supplies, Lalaji Bay is a reward that very few travellers ever experience. The beach is stunning. The water is clear. The solitude is absolute. And the feeling of having a kilometre of white sand all to yourself is something you will remember for the rest of your life.
Our team at Andaman Vacations India organises trips to Long Island and Lalaji Bay Beach as part of our Middle Andaman offbeat packages. We handle the ferry bookings from Port Blair to Long Island, the accommodation in simple but comfortable guesthouses on the island, and the boat arrangements to take you to Lalaji Bay at the right time of day. We also provide detailed guidance on what to pack, how to prepare, and what to expect from this remote and beautiful destination. Tell us your travel dates, and we will build an itinerary that takes you to one of the most secluded, peaceful, and beautiful beaches in all of the Andaman Islands.
"I’ve traveled with many agencies, but this one stands out! personalized approach and attention to detail made our honeymoon unforgettable.
