good for you

With white sand beaches that rival the best the Caribbean has to offer, untouched coral reefs and exotic wildlife, the Andaman Islands are a little-known paradise far off the east coast of India in the Bay of Bengal.

Hidden amongst soaring mahua trees, this eco-resort boasts 19 cottages and villas all designed to minimize your environmental footprint as you take advantage of the surrounding beauty, making yourself at home in the tropical forest. Activities abound, including snorkeling and diving in the reef, kayaking among the mangroves, swimming with the resort's resident elephant, yoga classes at the eco-lodge or simply lying in your hammock and listening to the birds.

good for india

Barefoot at Havelock is the only eco-resort on the Andaman Islands. The accommodations are built from mostly local materials, rainwater is carefully harvested, food is fresh, organic and local and most staff are Andaman Islanders. The Islands were devastated by 2004 tsunami, and the support of tourists is key to their future.

Rooms

Food

Shusheel, a local islander who built the resort with the help of friends, is a professional chef who treats his guests to a choice of Indian and European dishes cooked respectively in his traditional wood-fired oven and his contemporary kitchen. For breakfast you can alternate between spicy lentil curry (sambhar) with idlies (steamed rice cakes) or dosas, as well as more typical European breakfasts. For lunch and dinner, you can choose (and modify) a European set menu or an Indian one. Try a traditional thali, a bewildering vegetarian array of local gourds, banana stems, yams and spinach varieties; or the fishermen's catch of the day – rock lobster, gobra (coral grouper) or surmai (Spanish mackerel). If you get lucky on a fishing trip, your catch will be cooked to order – grilled, fried, or curried.

There is also a choice of spirits, Indian wines, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Whatever you eat, you can take comfort in the knowledge that the vegetables are organically grown and fertilizer free, seafood is fresh from the sea and the chicken (and eggs) are free range.

Next to the main restaurant is The Lounge, where guests chat (or dine) at low level tables with bolstered divans and aromatic candles. You can also enjoy perhaps the finest collection of jazz and lounge music in the Andaman Islands!

Breakfast is included in the rates.

Features & Facilities

• Barefoot has designed special eco-tours for its guests, showing no more than ten people at a time. A small and dedicated team of researchers have been exploring and researching this hotspot of bio-diversity for more than 25 years and making these islands known to the scientific community. As part of Barefoot's broader commitment to support these conservation projects and educate people to the rich yet fragile environment of the islands, a specially designed set of small group, minimal impact eco-tours offers guests the opportunity to trek across tracts of virgin tropical rainforest, track endemic bird and reptile species, identify the rare flora of the islands, camp on deserted beaches, snorkel in pristine coral reefs, and go crocodile spotting or game fishing under darkness. While you do this, you are ably escorted and led by local islanders or Karen tribals who make excellent nature guides and trackers. During the course of these eco-tours, you will meet the young researchers of these conservation projects, be sensitized and debriefed at their bases, and even participate in some of the ongoing research in sea-turtle and swiftlet conservation.
• During the high season (January to April) a resident Iyengar yoga teacher offers classes in a hilltop pavilion. You can take morning drop-in classes or book an entire course. Email inquiry for more details.
• Four ayurvedic healers offer treatments to guests.
• The resort has a resident field guide who can lead you on walks where you'll encounter birds, butterflies and exotic orchids as you reach the summit overlooking the cove.
• A small boat as well as hooks and lines are provided by the resort for fishing expeditions.
• The resort's pet elephant, Rajan, likes to swim in the sea. Joining him for a bathe is one of the highlights of a visit to Barefoot at Havelock – you can even get an underwater picture taken with him.
• The resort has bicycles for guests' use.
• Rates include a laundry service.
• The hotel shop sells sun cream, mosquito and insect protection, and film in case you run out.

Local Info & Activities

Flora and fauna: The reserved and protected forests extend to over 86% area of the Andaman Islands and the forest cover is more then 92%. About 50% of the forest has been set aside as tribal reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, which are inviolate. Luxuriant mangroves, perhaps the richest in the world, occupy nearly 11.5% of the islands. The aquatic life is simply breathtaking.

More then 150 plant and animal species are unique to the islands. Above water, the islands are a veritable Garden of Eden and a naturalists' dream. The canopied forests boast an amazing variety of timbers, foliage and blooms - the andaman paduk, the yellow hibiscus, the white lily, the pandanus as well as many varieties of orchids are but a few of the over 700 species of plants to be found. Flocks of parrots, brahminy kites, hornbills, sea eagles, and herons will delight the birdwatcher. Around sunrise one can often sight spotted deer along the shores.

Scuba Diving: From December to May you can dive the pristine reef to see brightly coloured reef fish, sea turtles, sting ray, tuna, barracuda and even dugong. PADI courses are offered at Barefoot Scuba on Beach No. 3, where you can also book dive trips around Havelock and other islands. Prices start from US$70 for a 2-dive package.

Snorkeling: If you're not a diver, there's still plenty to see through a snorkel mask, including tropical fish, bright corals and, if you're lucky, dugong..

Kayaking: The dive centre also rents out kayaks which are great for exploring the mangrove creeks and shallow reefs around Havelock.

Birdwatching: The forest is home to eight exotic species of bird.

Exploring nearby islands: The resort can help you book a trip to nearby Islands. You can also arrange to camp there overnight and enjoy a barbecue dinner on remote Long Island. ?You can spend the night camping on Barren Island, India's only active volcano or go on longer eco-tours to conservation bases scattered across the Andaman Islands.

insider tips

Anti malarial medication is recommended for the Andaman Islands.

December to March is the best time to enjoy the Andaman islands. There is less rain, and the diving is at its best. January to March is when the sea turtles nest.

One tip for beating the sandflies is to cover your legs in baby oil – the sandflies stick to you, which is a little disagreeable but better than being bitten.

Credit cards don't work on Havelock so bring plenty of cash.

Sustainability

• The cottages are built on stilts from all-natural and mostly local materials.
• Rainwater catchments ensure only moderate use of the local spring, which the local people rely on for fresh water.
• Organic food is grown on the premises and fish is caught locally.
• All Barefoot Eco-Tours are conducted in small groups not exceeding 10 people, adopt environmentally sustainable camping or fishing practices, ensure minimal impact on rainforest, reefs and mangrove eco-systems, and strictly follow a policy of neither establishing contact with indigenous tribes, nor entering any tribal reserves. A significant portion of the proceeds of these eco-tours goes towards supporting the various conservation projects in the Andaman Islands.
• About 70% of the resort's staff are from Havelock and nearly all of them are native Andaman Islanders.

Getting There

This resort is not easy to get to – we recommend a stay of about a week to make the trip worthwhile and take in all the area has to offer.

Havelock Island, in the Bay of Bengal, is about 3 hours by boat north-east of Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman Islands. Port Blair is easily accessible by air or sea.

Fly direct from Europe to Chennai or Kolkata in India and then take one of the daily domestic flights from these cities to Port Blair. Airlines that fly the route are Indian Airways, Jet Airways and Air Deccan. The flight is about 2 hours.

transfers to havelock

On arrival in Port Blair, you will be transferred by the afternoon ferry which departs at 1400hrs and arrives at Havelock at 1615 hrs. The return ferry from Havelock to Port Blair departs at 1400hrs and 1630 hrs. Be aware that ferry timings are subject to change at the government's discretion, however Barefoot will do its best to implement your itinerary to the fullest and provide you with commensurate back-up options in case you are stranded.

Transfers from Port Blair Airport to Havelock and back in a non-air con vehicle, as well as round trip ferry tickets, cost around US$ 70 per couple.

You can transfer direct from Port Blair to Havelock on the Government-operated afternoon fast ferry when you disembark your plane into Port Blair. However, none of the regular public ferries returning from Havelock to Port Blair connect with departing flights on the same day. This means you need to allow for an extra 1-night stay in Port Blair before departing Port Blair the following morning.

To avoid the stopover in Port Blair on your way back from Havelock, you can opt for a different means of transport on your return from Havelock to Port Blair by chartering our motor launch for US$280 one-way. Or if you are feeling intrepid, then take a long-tail boat for US$140 one-way.

If you are using the government ferry from Havelock to Port Blair, then for your night stay in Port Blair, Barefoot can assist you with booking a hotel.

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

prices for single / doubles

1 june - 30 september 2007

Nicobari Cottage: US$75 / $85

Andaman Villa: US$90 / $100

Duplex Cottage: US$95 / $105

01 jun – 30 sep '08

Nicobari Cottage: US$75 / $85

Andaman Villa: US$110 / $120

Duplex Cottage: US$115 / $125

01 oct – 30 nov '07 & 01 may – 31 may '08

Nicobari Cottage: US$85 / $95

Andaman Villa: US$125 / $135

Duplex Cottage: US$130 / $140

1 dec – 19 dec '07 & 11 jan – 30 april '08

Nicobari Cottage: US$110 / $120

Andaman Villa: US$160 / $170

Duplex Cottage: US$165 / $175

20 dec – 10 jan '08

Nicobari Cottage: US$160 / $170

Andaman Villa: US$210 / $220

Duplex Cottage: US$215 / $225

• Prices are based on single or double occupancy. Extra adult: US$25 p/night, inclusive of breakfast and taxes. See below for extra child.
• Breakfast and taxes are included in all rates.
• Minimum 4-nights stay between 20 Dec – 10 Jan
• Andaman Villa available without air-con; deduct US$15 less per/night.
• Extra Adult: US$25 per night inclusive of breakfast & taxes

sleeping capacity of cottages

duplex:

Max. 6 adults (or) 4 adults + 4 children. Maximum 2 extra beds.

Cottages & Villas: Max. 3 adults (or) 2 adults + 2 children. Max. 1 extra bed.

child & infant policy

• Infants and children below the age of 5 years will be complimentary on the adult meal plan without any extra bed. If an extra bed is required, then an extra rate of US$12 p/night applies, which is inclusive of breakfast and taxes.
• Children between 5 – 12 years will be charged as per the child rates.
• Children above 12 years or third adult will be charged as per extra adult rates.

booking terms & conditions

• 100% of payment must be paid to secure payment
• For cancellations received 30 days or more before arrival date – 90% refund. 7-29 days before arrival date - 60% refund. Less than 7 days before arrival date – no refund.
• No refund for cancellations on bookings from 20 Dec to 10 Jan.
• No refunds for unused nights or early check-out.

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.