The Andaman Islands, located in the Bay of Bengal is a breathtaking archipelago of more than 300 islands.
The capital, Port Blair, is the entry point of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is well-connected to all the major cities as Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Bangalore, and New Delhi via Veer Savarkar International Airport.
It is also viable to reach Andaman from Chennai via ship, From Chennai, many passenger ships are available that run back and forth between Port Blairs Hadoo Wharf and Chennai Port.
Some of the top ships that operate between Chennai and Port Blair are MV Nancowry, MV Akbar, MV Nicobar, MV Campbell Bay, and MV Swaraj Dweep. These ships are operated by the Directorate of Shipping Services.
Therefore, there are two ways to reach Andaman from Chennai – by air and by ship, out of which the fastest and most convenient way is by air. Here is more information on how to go to Andaman from Chennai.
Due to ease of travel and time savings, Chennai to Andaman by flight is a preferred travel option for many tourists.
To reach Andaman from Chennai, board a nonstop flight from Madras International Meenambakkam Airport (MAA), also known as Chennai International Airport to Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXJ) in Port Blair (Shri Vijaya Puram).
Major airlines offering flights between MAA and IXJ include Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Air Akasa.
The Total travel time from Chennai to Andaman by flight is approximately 2 hours and 0 minutes, covering an air distance of around 1367 kilometers.
Chennai to Port Blair (Vijay Puram) flight distance is 1367 km or 849 miles. There are many non-stop flights operating every day from Chennai to Port Blair. And depending on your flight, you can cover this distance within 2 hours and 20 minutes. Here is a tabular schedule of flights and prices for economy class (one-way).
Chennai to Andaman Flight Fare
| Airline Name | Departure Time (MAA) | Arrival Time (IXJ) | Ticket Price |
| IndiGo | 04:45 AM | 06:50 AM | ₹5,489 |
| 07:15 AM | 09:15 AM | ₹5,489 | |
| 10:30 AM | 12:30 PM | ₹8,865 | |
| Air India | 05:05 AM | 07:15 AM | ₹7,455 |
| Spice Jet | 08:25 AM | 10:35 AM | ₹8,032 |
| Akasa Air | 07:40 AM | 09:55 AM | ₹6,695 |
Ticket prices are subject to change.
Travel to Andaman from Chennai via Ship offers opportunities to enjoy stunning views of the sea. The distance between Chennai to Port Blair by ship is around 1462 kilometers or 749 nautical miles.
The popular passenger ships running between Chennai Port and Port Blairs Haddo Wharf are MV Campbell Bay, MV Swaraj Dweep, MV Nicobar, MV Akbar, and MV Nancowry, and MV Harshvardhan.
The ticket prices of these ships are based on the cabin type which are Deluxe Cabin, 1st Class Cabin, the 2nd Class Cabin, and the Bunk Beds Cabin.
Lastly, it takes about 60 to 70 hours or roughly 2.5 to 3 days to complete your journey.
Learning about how to reach Andamans from Chennai by ship also includes knowing about the government-operated vessels and ship fares to assess your travel budget. Below is the tabular representation of the ships, their classes, and revised ship fare (2024-25) for islanders (residents of Andaman Islands) and non-islanders (tourists to Andaman Islands)
Chennai to Andaman Ship Ticket Price 2024-25
| Ship Name | Class | Fare for Islanders (INR) | Fare for Non-Islanders (INR) |
| MV Swaraj Dweep | Deluxe Cabin | 7475 | 14420 |
| 1st Class Cabin | 6750 | 11965 | |
| 2nd Class Cabin | 5075 | 9515 | |
| Bunk Class | 1385 | 3725 | |
| Seat | 0 | 0 | |
| MV Campbell Bay | Deluxe Cabin | 7475 | 14420 |
| 1st Class Cabin | 6750 | 11965 | |
| 2nd Class Cabin | 5075 | 9515 | |
| Bunk Class | 1385 | 3725 | |
| Seat | 0 | 0 | |
| MV Sindhu | Deluxe Cabin | 8220 | 15855 |
| 1st Class Cabin | 7420 | 13165 | |
| 2nd Class Cabin | 5585 | 10460 | |
| Bunk Class | 1520 | 4095 | |
| Seat | 1255 | 2670 | |
| MV Nalanda | Deluxe Cabin | 8220 | 15855 |
| 1st Class Cabin | 7420 | 13165 | |
| 2nd Class Cabin | 5585 | 10460 | |
| Bunk Class | 1520 | 4095 | |
| Seat | 1255 | 2670 |
The above fares exclude taxes and port charges and might be subject to change.
Andaman is an archipelago, which is a group of islands that are scattered in the west of the Bay of Bengal and east of the Andaman Sea. The Andaman Islands are approximately 1355 Km away from Chennai and there is no road, bridge, or railway network that connects Andaman to Chennai. The only way to travel to Andaman from Chennai is to either board a flight or a ship and cross the water body to get there. All the details regarding how to reach Andaman from Chennai by ship and flight have already been shared above.
No, Indian nationals do not require any special permits or documents to enter the Andaman Islands. All you need to carry is valid government ID proof, such as an Aadhar Card, Voter ID, or passport. Please note that a PAN card is not accepted as ID proof. However, visiting the tribal areas is strictly prohibited, and for visiting reserved areas, you need to get special permission from concerned authorities.
The cheapest fare from Chennai to Andaman can range from INR 4619 to INR 5070 for a one-way economy class.
The flight distance between Chennai and Port Blair is 1397 km or 849 miles.
For a quick, hassle-free, and convenient travel experience, take a flight from Chennai to Port Blair. And if you seek budget-friendly travel options, traveling by ship would be economical. However, a ship’s journey is comparatively longer, taking 2.5 to 3 days to reach its destination.
The availability of passenger ships from Chennai to Andaman is subject to change. Therefore, the best way to know about the Chennai to Andaman ship schedule is to check the Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) website.
The ship ticket price from Chennai to Andaman depends on the cabin space you avail. For example, the deluxe cabin is around INR 10, 250 whereas the Bunk Bed cabin is as low as INR 2630. Please note that the prices are approximations and are subject to change.
You can book Andaman to Chennai passenger ship tickets from the e-ticket Portal on the Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) website.
The Andaman Islands are surrounded by water and there is no direct railway network or road pathways that one can take for commuting. Therefore, ship and flight are the only two options to reach Andaman from Chennai.
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