Elephanta Beach, Havelock Island: How to Get There and What to Do
Elephanta Beach is the place on Havelock where people go to get in the water properly. It sits on the island's north-west coast, and there is no road to it, so you either take a 20-minute speedboat from Havelock jetty or walk about 2 km through the forest. Once you are there it is snorkelling, sea walks and jet skis, with a strip of white sand to rest on in between.
Many boatmen and signboards call it Elephant Beach. It is the same place.
Updated October 2026 by the Blue Bubble Andaman team in Port Blair
Two Ways to Reach Elephanta Beach
First you need to be on Havelock Island, which is a 1.5 to 2.5 hour ferry ride from Port Blair. From there, pick the boat or the trail.
Our tip: take the first boat of the morning. The water is clearest early, the activity queues are short, and you are back at the jetty by lunch with the afternoon free for Radhanagar Beach and its sunset.
Most Popular
By Speedboat from Havelock Jetty
About 20 minutes each way · Shared boat · Round trip only
Shared speedboats run from the boat association counter next to Havelock jetty. The same boat drops you, waits, and brings you back, so your time on the beach is fixed by the boat's return slot, usually two to three hours.
The round trip costs around ₹1,000 per person. In December and January the morning slots sell out, so book a day ahead. We do this for our guests.
For Walkers
On Foot through the Forest
About 2 km · 40 to 60 minutes · Starts off the Radhanagar road
The trail begins a few kilometres before Radhanagar Beach, where there is a small parking spot. It runs through tall forest, crosses a small wooden bridge and comes out onto the sand. It is mostly flat, but roots and mud slow you down.
Go with a local guide, wear proper shoes and start early. After rain the path gets very slippery and is often closed in the monsoon.
Things to Do at Elephanta Beach
Every activity is booked and paid for at the counters on the beach. Prices are fixed by the operators and change each season, so carry cash.
Snorkelling
Snorkelling
Guided · Non-swimmers welcome · About 20 to 30 minutes
This is the main reason people come. A guide takes you out in a life jacket and keeps hold of you, so you do not need to swim. You will see reef fish and patches of coral close to shore.
The reef here was damaged in the 2004 tsunami and by coral bleaching later on, so do not expect wall-to-wall colour. The guides know the better patches.
Sea Walk
Sea Walk
No swimming needed · Helmet with air supply · Photos usually included
You wear a helmet fed with air from the surface and walk along the sea floor a few metres down, holding a rail, with a diver beside you. It suits older guests and anyone nervous about water, since your face stays dry.
There are age and health limits, so tell the operator about any heart or breathing problems.
Fast Rides
Jet Ski, Banana and Speedboat Rides
A few minutes each · Driver on board for jet ski
Short, loud and good fun, especially for groups and teenagers. The banana ride ends with everyone tipped into the water, which is the point. Parasailing also runs here on some days.
Stay Dry
Glass-Bottom Boat
About 15 minutes · Good for small children
If someone in your group would rather not get wet, this is their way to see the reef. The boat drifts over the shallows and you look down through the floor panel.
Scuba Try-Dive
Scuba Try-Dive
Short briefing · One instructor per diver
Some operators offer a short beginner dive from the beach. For a proper first dive with better reefs, we usually suggest a boat dive with one of the dive centres on Havelock instead. Ask us and we will book one that fits your day.
Slow Down
Sit on the Sand
Free · Shade near the treeline
Walk away from the activity huts and the beach gets quiet quickly. Grey, sun-bleached tree trunks knocked over by the 2004 tsunami still lie along the shore, and they make good photos.
Swim only where the staff tell you it is safe, as boats come in and out of the shallows all day.
Elephanta Beach Timings and Costs
Speedboats start leaving Havelock jetty from about 8 am, and the last boats head back in the early afternoon. Activities on the beach stop around 3 pm, and nobody is allowed to stay after closing. There is no entry fee for the beach itself. Your costs are the boat (around ₹1,000 per person, round trip) or a trek guide, plus whatever activities you choose.
Boats do not run when the sea is rough, and the port authority can stop them at short notice. If that happens we move your Elephanta trip to the next morning where we can.
Best Time to Visit Elephanta Beach
October to May is the season. November to April usually brings the calmest water and the best visibility for snorkelling, with December and January being the busiest weeks. From June to September the monsoon makes the sea choppy, boats are often cancelled and the forest trail turns to mud, so we do not plan Elephanta for guests then. Within the day, go in the morning.
Before You Go
There are no hotels at Elephanta Beach and you cannot stay overnight. Stay near Havelock jetty if you are taking the boat, or near Radhanagar if you plan to walk.
Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, cash and a dry bag for your phone. There are changing rooms, lockers and a few snack stalls on the beach, but no ATM and no medical clinic.
Do not stand on coral or take shells and coral home. Plastic bottles and bags are discouraged, so carry a refillable bottle.
Keep the time of your return boat in mind. Boats leave on schedule, and missing yours can mean a long wait or paying for a separate ride.
Places Near Elephanta Beach
Radhanagar Beach is the obvious pair. Do Elephanta in the morning and Radhanagar in the afternoon for a swim and the sunset. Kalapathar Beach, on the east side of the island, is quiet and good at sunrise. Our Havelock Island guide covers the rest of the island, Neil Island is a short ferry away, and the full list of Andaman beaches covers every island.
Want Elephanta Beach booked into your Havelock days?