Our verdict
Choose the Andamans if your budget is under ₹50,000 per person with flights and you want 5–6 nights of beaches, snorkelling and island-hopping. Choose the Maldives for a short, private resort stay with a water villa and house reef; 3 nights with flights start around ₹70,000 per person and the visa is free on arrival. The Maldives costs nearly twice as much per night.
Side by side
| Factor | Andaman Islands | Maldives |
|---|---|---|
| Best months | November to April | November to April; May–October wetter but cheaper |
| Flight from Delhi | Non-stop or one-stop to Port Blair, 3–6 h | About 4 h non-stop to Malé |
| From Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kochi | Non-stop from Bengaluru; via Chennai or Kolkata from Mumbai | Short non-stops: about 2 h from Bengaluru and Kochi, under 3 h from Mumbai |
| Visa and paperwork | Domestic trip; photo ID only | Free 30-day visa on arrival; passport plus online traveller declaration |
| Total cost with flights from Delhi | 5N from about ₹38,000 per person | 3N from about ₹70,000 per person |
| Tax on booking | No TCS | 2% TCS on overseas package (from April 2026), adjustable against income tax |
| Water and reefs | Good coral at Havelock, Neil and North Bay; visibility varies | House reefs steps from your villa; consistent visibility |
| Privacy | Shared public beaches | One island, one resort; overwater villas |
| Food | Indian food everywhere; easy vegetarian | Resort buffets with Indian dishes; meal plans add cost |
| Variety | Cellular Jail, mangrove creeks, island-hopping | Mostly resort-based; few sights |
| Honeymoon appeal | Quiet beaches and Radhanagar sunsets | Overwater villas and private dinners |
Which one is for you?
Choose Andaman Islands if…
- Your all-in budget is under ₹50,000 per person including flights
- You want 5–6 nights and variety, not just one resort
- You're travelling with parents who prefer Indian food and no passport formalities
- You'd like to try scuba at India's main dive centre without resort prices
Choose Maldives if…
- You want a water villa and a private, resort-only honeymoon
- You have only 3–4 nights and want few transfers once you land
- Snorkelling off your own deck on a house reef is the priority
- You're flying from Bengaluru, Kochi or Mumbai, all within about three hours
The question is really about budget and style
The Andamans and the Maldives share the same warm sea and white sand, but they are different trips. The Andamans are an island-hopping holiday across Port Blair, Havelock and Neil, with public beaches, ferries and Indian food. The Maldives is a resort holiday: you fly to Malé, take a speedboat or seaplane to one private island, and stay there.
Total trip cost, flights and visa included
| Per person, twin sharing | Andaman Islands (5N) | Maldives (3N) |
|---|---|---|
| Land or resort cost | From ₹22,000 | Included in package |
| Return flights from Delhi | ₹14,000–26,000 | Included in package |
| Package with flights | About ₹38,000–48,000 | From about ₹70,000 |
| Visa | Not needed | Free on arrival (30 days) |
| TCS on package | None | 2%, adjustable against income tax |
The Maldives starting figure assumes a 4-star resort reached by speedboat, breakfast and dinner, and return flights from Delhi or Mumbai. Water villas, all-inclusive plans and seaplane transfers (often USD 500–800 per person return, about ₹44,000–70,000) can push it past ₹1.2 lakh. Resort bills also add tourism GST and a nightly green tax. The cheaper Maldives option is a guesthouse on a local island such as Maafushi, but local islands serve no alcohol and expect modest dress on public beaches. See the Maldives trip cost and Maldives visa guide.
The Andamans need no passport for Indian citizens, and with five nights you get more variety for about half the money. See the Andaman trip cost.
What the sea is like
Maldivian resorts sit on coral atolls, so many have a house reef you can snorkel straight from the beach or your villa deck, with turtles and reef sharks common. In the Andamans the best snorkelling is at Elephant Beach on Havelock, Bharatpur Beach on Neil and North Bay off Port Blair, mostly reached by boat. Visibility is good in March and April but more variable than in the Maldives.
The honest trade-offs
In the Maldives you're on one small island for the whole stay, paying resort prices for every meal, drink and excursion. Three nights can feel short for the money, and Indian vegetarian choice is usually limited to the buffet.
In the Andamans you lose half-days to ferries, mobile data is slow on Havelock and Neil, and hotels are simpler at the same star rating. The May–September monsoon brings ferry cancellations.
Who should go where
Couples spending on a special honeymoon, and anyone set on an overwater villa, should choose the Maldives. Families, first-time island travellers and couples who'd rather spend ₹45,000 than ₹90,000 per person should choose the Andamans and stay five or six nights. More on when to visit the Maldives.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Andaman cheaper than the Maldives?
Do Indians need a visa for the Maldives?
Which is better for a honeymoon, Andaman or Maldives?
Are the Andamans as good as the Maldives for snorkelling?
How many days are enough for the Maldives and the Andamans?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
