Port Blair Travel Forum

is this possible? I am finding possible information on ships leaving from chennai about once a week, but nothing about getting to thailand. We have the time to spare and don't want to fly more than we need to. Plus we are on a fairly short budget.
By the way, has the situation on the islands improved enough that tourists are ok to come? (All of these questions apply to our trip that will begin in may 2006)
if anyone has any advice, it would be welcome!

Did you check with SCI (Shipping Corporation of India)?
As far as I know, there is no ferry between Port Blair and Thailand. I thought (but I might be wrong) it is illegal (Indian authorities) to pass from Port Blair to Thailand.

You can take the ferry from Port Blair to Calcutta (about 4 nights sailing) and there get on a ship to Thailand. Be informed however, that sailings between Port Blair and Calcutta are sometimes suspended (for weeks or months in a row!) due to low water levels in the Hoogly river. The Calcutta dailies run news on this regularly. Check them online.

You may also check with The Cruise People (in either Toronto or London, http://www.tcpltd.com/): they arrange freighters that take passengers on board. But to be honest, I think your changes are nihil to find ships sailing from Port Blair to Thailand.

Just to make sure (but you probably already know this): you need a special permit to visit the Andaman Islands. It took me three months to obtain it, so apply in time.

Good luck and have a nice trip.

No regular connection allowed that way! There is a possibility of charter flights between Fort Blair and Thailand. That is being hotly opposed by the advocates for the tribals..

...oh man, what a pain in the butt.
the whole point of this was supposed to be saving money by going by boat instead of airplane!
and I was aware of the travel restrictions, I still really wanted to go because I read it was incredible, but if I can't get through to thailand, I am probably going to have to reconsider my route :(

Don't worry. As I understand it they are making great strides in exterminating the tribal culture to make way for Thailand style resorts..

You can check the schedule of ships (vessels) of Shipping corportaion of India that are published in Chennai dailies. All foreigners need special permission to visit Andamans.


You cannot fly or take a boat/ferry from Andamans to Thailand.You have to return to places in main land( chennai or calcullta) and then take a flight to Thailand.Permission is given for charted flights to land in Anadamans( Port Blair) from where you can go to Thailand.

Situation has much imporved but still earth quakes happen frequently.

The Andamans administration is workingout some schemes to conenct with Phuket(Thailand) but it is difficult to say the time frame.