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Plan your Andaman holiday with local experts based in Port Blair
Karmatang Beach is a 4-kilometre stretch of dark sand on the western coast of North Andaman, about 10 kilometres from Mayabunder town. There are no beach shacks here, no water sports operators, no sunbeds for hire. What there is: one of the longest unbroken stretches of natural shoreline in the entire Andaman archipelago, a leatherback sea turtle nesting site monitored by the Forest Department each year from January to March, and the kind of absolute coastal quiet that has vanished from most of the islands in the south. Karmatang is not a destination for every traveller. For those who do make the journey north, it is often the beach they remember longest.
Karmatang Beach sits on the northwestern coast of Middle Andaman Island, approximately 10 kilometres by road from Mayabunder town. The beach is long, around 4 kilometres end to end, and faces the open sea with no reef barrier, which gives it a slightly stronger surf than the calmer lagoon beaches of Havelock and Neil. The sand is darker than the powdery white of the southern islands, closer to a buff grey, and the shoreline is backed by a thick band of coastal forest rather than coconut plantations or resort fencing.
The beach is a documented nesting ground for leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), the largest sea turtle species alive and one of the oldest reptile lineages on earth. Leatherbacks have been nesting on Karmatang and the surrounding North Andaman coast for as long as records exist. The Forest Department of Andaman and Nicobar Islands runs active nest monitoring operations here between January and March each year, when females come ashore at night to lay eggs above the tide line. Under certain conditions and with proper coordination, guided supervised visits during nesting season are possible, these are among the rarest wildlife experiences the Andamans offer.
Outside nesting season, Karmatang is simply a very large, very empty beach. Swimming is possible in calm weather but the absence of a protective reef means waves are stronger than at most Andaman beaches, and the lack of any lifeguard presence means you should exercise caution. The real draw is the scale and the solitude. On most days you will have the entire shoreline to yourself, which is a genuinely unusual thing in any beach destination.
Karmatang sits within a stretch of North Andaman that was historically used for timber extraction and limited coastal settlement. The surrounding region, including Mayabunder subdivision, saw significant activity during the British colonial period when Karen labourers from Burma were brought in to work the forests. The beach itself was not developed for any commercial purpose and remained part of the natural coastal fringe that lines much of Middle and North Andaman's western shore.
The leatherback turtle nesting at Karmatang has been documented in wildlife surveys conducted by the Zoological Survey of India and the Forest Department over several decades. Leatherbacks nest on exposed open-sea beaches rather than the sheltered lagoon coasts that attract green and hawksbill turtles, which is why sites like Karmatang, facing the open Bay of Bengal with minimal human disturbance, became and remain active nesting grounds. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold some of the most significant leatherback nesting populations in the Indian Ocean.
Active conservation monitoring at Karmatang increased in the 1990s and 2000s as leatherback populations globally came under pressure from fishing bycatch, plastic ingestion, and nest site disturbance. The Forest Department now patrols the beach during nesting season and records nest locations, clutch sizes, and hatchling emergence. This data feeds into broader sea turtle conservation work for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Tourism at Karmatang Beach has remained intentionally minimal. There is no commercial infrastructure on the beach itself. The road from Mayabunder is motorable but basic. This is not an oversight, the Forest Department's approach to Karmatang has consistently prioritised the nesting site over visitor development, and that policy is directly responsible for the beach remaining as intact as it is today.
Plan Your Karmatang Beach Visit with Our Local ExpertsKarmatang is not a beach you visit for organised activities. The reasons to come here are the scale of the shoreline, the wildlife, the solitude, and the rare chance to see the natural Andaman coast without any tourist infrastructure on top of it.
Between January and March, female leatherback sea turtles come ashore at Karmatang Beach after dark to dig nests and lay eggs above the tide line. A single female may lay 6 to 9 clutches per season at intervals of about 10 days. Leatherbacks are the largest living turtle species, typically reaching 1.5 to 2 metres in length and weighing 300 to 500 kilograms, and watching one come ashore at night is one of the more extraordinary wildlife encounters available anywhere in India. Supervised visits during nesting season must be arranged in advance through the Forest Department range office in Mayabunder. No lights, no flash photography, and no approach without the accompanying ranger. Demand during peak nesting months significantly exceeds permitted group sizes, so early coordination is essential.
The 4-kilometre shoreline at Karmatang is one of the longest uninterrupted natural beaches in the Andamans accessible by road. Walking the full length takes about an hour at a relaxed pace, and the scale of the empty beach, backed by dense coastal forest on one side and the open Bay of Bengal on the other, makes for a photographic environment that is entirely different from the resort beaches of Havelock and Neil. Early morning, when the light comes in low across the water and there are no other visitors present, is the best time for photography. The forest edge at the northern end of the beach is worth exploring on foot for birdwatching, with a range of coastal and forest species active in the early hours.
Karmatang Beach faces the open Bay of Bengal without the reef protection that shelters many Andaman beaches. This means the surf is more pronounced than at Havelock or Neil Island, particularly from October to December when swells from the northeast monsoon reach the western North Andaman coast. Swimming is possible during the calmer months of January to May but requires caution, there are no lifeguards, no flags, and no safety infrastructure of any kind. Strong swimmers in good sea conditions will find the beach entirely rewarding. Families with young children should stay at the shallower southern end and be conservative about conditions. The reward for all of this is the open-sea feeling of the water, which is a genuinely different experience from the sheltered lagoon swimming at most southern Andaman beaches.
Most visitors to Karmatang Beach arrive as part of a Mayabunder day excursion or a longer North Andaman circuit combining Baratang, Mayabunder, and Diglipur. The beach is 10 kilometres from Mayabunder town by road and takes about 20 minutes by hired jeep or auto-rickshaw. It pairs naturally with a visit to Avis Island, a short boat ride from Mayabunder jetty, to cover both coastal environments in a single day. For travellers doing the full North Andaman route, Karmatang is best visited in the morning before the midday heat, with the afternoon reserved for Mayabunder town, the jetty, and the short boat trip to Avis Island. Our team builds itineraries that cover this circuit without wasted travel time.
| Location | Western coast of Middle Andaman Island, approximately 10 km by road from Mayabunder town; 242 km north of Port Blair via Andaman Trunk Road |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Karmatang Turtle Beach; locally referred to simply as Karmatang. Not to be confused with the Karmatang Karen village, which is a separate location nearby |
| How to Reach | By road from Port Blair via Andaman Trunk Road (6 to 7 hrs, passing through Baratang creek crossings). Government ferry from Port Blair to Mayabunder available a few times per week (8 to 10 hrs). From Mayabunder town, reach Karmatang by hired jeep or auto-rickshaw (approx. 20 min) |
| Best Time to Visit | October to May for general beach visits. January to March for leatherback sea turtle nesting season, the primary wildlife reason to visit. Avoid June to September (monsoon, rough seas, access road may be difficult) |
| Turtle Nesting Season | January to March. Supervised night visits must be pre-arranged with the Forest Department range office in Mayabunder town. Carry photo ID. Group sizes are strictly limited |
| Key Attractions | Leatherback sea turtle nesting (seasonal), 4-km natural shoreline, coastal forest birdwatching, open-sea swimming, beach walking, nature photography, solitude |
| Entry and Permits | No entry fee for the beach. Forest Department permission required for supervised turtle nesting visits. Foreign nationals require Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for travel in North and Middle Andaman |
| Facilities Available | None on the beach itself. Basic accommodation and food available in Mayabunder town (10 km). Carry food, water, and all supplies from Mayabunder before visiting |
| ATM and Cash | No ATM at or near Karmatang Beach. ATMs in Mayabunder town are unreliable. Carry sufficient cash from Port Blair or Rangat before travelling north |
| Nearby Attractions | Mayabunder town (10 km), Avis Island (boat from Mayabunder jetty), Interview Island Wildlife Sanctuary (boat from Mayabunder), Karen villages of Webi and Karmatang, Diglipur (approx. 60 km north) |
If you are visiting during nesting season (January to March), arrange the Forest Department permit before you arrive in Mayabunder, not on the day of the visit. The range office in Mayabunder town issues permissions but group sizes are capped and demand during peak nesting months is higher than most travellers expect. Contact the Mayabunder Forest Range Office directly or ask your travel agent to coordinate in advance. Night visits typically start after 9 PM and require you to follow the ranger's instructions precisely. No torches, no mobile phone lights pointed at the beach, and absolutely no flash photography. A leatherback on the shore is alert to light and movement, and any disturbance during the nesting process will cause her to abort and return to the sea.
Karmatang has no facilities on the beach itself. Bring everything you need from Mayabunder, water, food, sunscreen, insect repellent. The forest backing the beach means mosquitoes and sand flies are present, particularly in the early morning and evening. Long sleeves and repellent matter more here than at the resort beaches in the south.
The road from Mayabunder to Karmatang is surfaced but narrow. Jeeps and auto-rickshaws handle it fine. Two-wheelers are possible for experienced riders in dry conditions but the road's condition varies after rain. Do not attempt to drive a standard car without local knowledge of the route.
Karmatang Beach combines most naturally with a visit to Avis Island in the afternoon, the boat departs from Mayabunder jetty and the trip takes about 20 minutes each way. Together, the two make a full day out of Mayabunder that covers a natural beach, a wildlife nesting site, and an offshore island with decent snorkelling. Our team builds this combination into standard North Andaman itineraries. Foreign nationals must carry their immigration documents and Restricted Area Permit at all times while travelling in North and Middle Andaman.
Karmatang is what the Andaman coast looked like before the tourism infrastructure arrived in the south. Four kilometres of beach, a forest backing, no crowd, and one of the most significant sea turtle nesting sites in the Indian Ocean. It takes a full day to reach from Port Blair and requires some advance planning for the turtle visits. Most travellers who get there say it was worth both.
Our team at Andaman Vacations India includes Karmatang Beach as part of North Andaman circuits covering Baratang, Mayabunder, Avis Island, and Diglipur. We handle the Forest Department coordination for turtle nesting visits, all transport bookings, and accommodation across the route. Tell us your travel dates and how far north you want to go, we will put together a practical itinerary that covers the part of the Andamans that most visitors never see.
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