Wandoor Beach, Port Blair: The Quiet Shore Where the Marine Park Boats Begin
Most people only see Wandoor for half an hour, on the way to the boat for Jolly Buoy or Red Skin. It deserves a little more time than that. The beach is long and flat, with mangroves at one end and pale tree trunks from the 2004 tsunami still standing in the sand, and on a weekday you may share it with a handful of local families and nobody else.
This page covers what the beach is like, how the island trips work, where it is safe to get into the water, and how to fit Wandoor into a Port Blair day.
Updated October 2026 by the Blue Bubble Andaman team in Port Blair
Wandoor Beach at a Glance
DistanceAbout 25 to 30 km south-west of Port Blair
Drive time45 minutes to 1 hour by road
Entry to the beachFree
Island boatsMorning departures, closed on Mondays
PermitNeeded for Jolly Buoy and Red Skin, not for the beach
SwimmingOnly where the boards allow it, and with care
Best seasonOctober to May
Time to keep aside1 to 2 hours, or a full morning with an island trip
Wandoor Beach at low tide, with the old tree trunks left by the 2004 tsunami
What Wandoor Beach Is Like
Wandoor is a village at the south-western tip of South Andaman, and the beach runs along its edge facing the open sea and the scattered islands of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. The sand is grey-gold rather than white, the slope into the water is very gentle, and at low tide the sea pulls back a long way, leaving rock pools and wet sand to walk on.
The thing people remember is the trees. When the 2004 tsunami hit, it flooded this whole stretch and killed the coastal forest, and the trunks were never cleared. Two decades on, they still stand in rows along the waterline, bleached almost white. It is a strange, beautiful sight, and a reminder of how hard this coast was hit.
There is not much else here, and that is the point. You will find a few tea and coconut stalls near the jetty, a parking area and the Marine National Park office. No resorts sit on the sand and there are no water sports run from the beach itself. If you have come from the crowds at Corbyn's Cove, Wandoor feels very still.
Planning Jolly Buoy or Red Skin? Leave Port Blair by 7:30 am so you reach Wandoor before the boats start boarding. Walk the beach after you come back from the island, when the light is softer and the jetty crowd has gone.
Things to Do at Wandoor Beach
Wandoor is mostly a place to walk and look, plus the starting point for the two marine park islands open to visitors.
Walk · Photos
Walk Among the Tsunami Trees
Right by the parking area · Best at low tide
The dead trunks along the shore make Wandoor one of the most photographed beaches near Port Blair, even though few people stay long. Walk away from the jetty and within ten minutes you usually have the place to yourself.
Low tide is the best time. The water drops back far enough to expose the roots and small pools full of crabs.
Boat Trip · Permit Needed
Boat to Jolly Buoy Island
From Wandoor jetty · 35 to 60 minutes by boat · Usually November to May
This is why most visitors come to Wandoor. Jolly Buoy has a small white sand beach and a shallow reef with some of the clearest water around Port Blair. You can snorkel with a guide or see the coral from a glass-bottom boat.
Plastic bottles and packets are not allowed on the island, and there are no shops, so eat and fill steel bottles before you leave Wandoor.
Boat Trip · Monsoon Months
Boat to Red Skin Island
From Wandoor jetty · Opens when Jolly Buoy is closed
Red Skin is the island the park opens while Jolly Buoy rests, mostly during the wetter months. It has a sandy beach, a short forest trail and coral you can see by glass-bottom boat or snorkel.
The sea can be choppy at this time of year and trips are cancelled when the weather turns, so keep a spare morning in your plan.
Nature · Early Morning
Mangroves and Birdwatching
North end of the beach and the road in · Early morning
The drive to Wandoor passes paddy fields, small creeks and patches of mangrove, and the north end of the beach runs into thick mangrove growth. Early in the morning you can see kingfishers, egrets and white-bellied sea eagles here.
Keep to the open sand and the road. Mangrove creeks are muddy, tidal and not a place to wander into.
Wandoor and the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
Wandoor sits at the edge of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, set up in 1983 to protect the reefs and mangroves around a group of about 15 small islands off the south-west coast. Only two of these islands, Jolly Buoy and Red Skin, are open to visitors, and usually only one of them at a time, so the reef on the other can recover.
The beach itself is open to everyone. The island trips are different: every visitor needs a park permit, numbers are capped each day, and boats leave in the morning and come back in the early afternoon. The park is closed on Mondays. Permits have to be booked ahead, especially from December to February, and we sort these out a day in advance for our guests.
Inside the park, the rules are strict and enforced: no plastic, no collecting shells or coral, no standing on the reef, and no feeding fish. Guides will ask you to leave anything plastic behind at the jetty.
Is Wandoor Beach Safe for Swimming?
Wandoor looks calm, and on many days it is, but it is not a swimming beach in the way Corbyn's Cove or Radhanagar are. There are no marked swim zones and you should not expect lifeguards. Paddling at the edge is fine for most people. Going out deeper is not something we suggest.
Read the Warning Boards Before You Go In
The Forest Department puts up notices at Wandoor about currents and about saltwater crocodiles, which have been seen along creeks and mangrove coasts in South Andaman. Take them seriously and stay out of the water near the mangroves and creek mouths.
Old roots and broken trunks from the tsunami trees sit under the surface at high tide and can cut feet. Wear sandals you can walk into the water with, and keep children close.
Best Time to Visit Wandoor Beach
October to May is the season. December to March has the calmest sea and the clearest water at Jolly Buoy, which also makes it the busiest time for permits, so book early. From June to September the monsoon brings rough water, Jolly Buoy closes and Red Skin trips depend on the weather on the day.
Through the day, mornings are taken up by the boat crowd at the jetty. If you only want the beach, come in the afternoon when the island trips are back and it goes quiet again. Low tide makes the walk among the trunks much better, so check the tide table the night before.
How to Reach Wandoor Beach from Port Blair
The road from Port Blair to Wandoor runs south-west through small farming villages and paddy fields, about 25 to 30 km in all. It takes 45 minutes to an hour by car, a little longer if traffic in town is slow.
By Car or Cab
This is the easiest way, and the only sensible one if you are doing an island trip and want to get back to Port Blair in time for lunch. Book the car for half a day, since there are few taxis waiting at Wandoor for the return. All our Port Blair itineraries that include Jolly Buoy or Red Skin cover this transfer.
By Bus
Government buses run from the main bus stand in Port Blair to Wandoor several times a day. They are cheap but slow, and the timings do not always fit the morning boats.
By Scooty
Renting a scooty works if you are a confident rider. The road is mostly good and the countryside is pretty, but start back well before dark, as the last stretch has no street lights.
Our Suggested Half Day at Wandoor
- 7:30 am: Leave Port Blair with breakfast packed, and steel water bottles filled.
- 8:30 am: Reach Wandoor, show your permit and board the boat to Jolly Buoy or Red Skin.
- 9:30 am to 12:30 pm: Snorkel or take the glass-bottom boat, then sit on the island beach.
- 1:30 pm: Back at Wandoor. Coconut water at the stalls, then a slow walk among the tsunami trees.
- 3:00 pm: Drive back, or head on towards Chidiya Tapu for the sunset.
Places Near Wandoor Beach
Wandoor is on the same side of Port Blair as several other quiet spots, so it fits well into a south-west loop. Chidiya Tapu is the best add-on if you want a sunset. Collinpur Beach is close and even emptier, with no water sports at all. Back in town, Corbyn's Cove Beach is the easy one for a swim, and North Bay Island is the other good snorkelling trip near Port Blair.
For the full list of beaches and attractions around the city, see our Port Blair guide, or browse all Andaman beaches.
Want Wandoor and a Jolly Buoy trip built into your Andaman holiday? We handle the permit, boat and car.
Wandoor Beach FAQs
How far is Wandoor Beach from Port Blair?
Wandoor Beach is about 25 to 30 km south-west of Port Blair. The drive takes 45 minutes to an hour by car, through villages and paddy fields.
Is there an entry fee for Wandoor Beach?
The beach itself is free to visit. You only pay for a permit and boat ticket if you go on to Jolly Buoy or Red Skin Island in the Marine National Park.
Is Wandoor Beach closed on Mondays?
The beach stays open, but the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is closed on Mondays, so boats to Jolly Buoy and Red Skin do not run that day. Plan your island trip for any other day of the week.
Do I need a permit to visit Wandoor Beach?
A permit is only needed for the island trips to Jolly Buoy or Red Skin, not for the beach. Daily numbers are limited, so book the permit a day or two ahead in peak season. We arrange it for our guests.
Can you swim at Wandoor Beach?
Paddling near the shore is fine on calm days, but Wandoor has no marked swim zone and we do not suggest going out deep. Read the Forest Department boards about currents and crocodiles first, and stay away from the mangroves and creek mouths.
Why are there dead trees on Wandoor Beach?
The 2004 tsunami flooded this coast and killed the trees growing along the shore. The trunks were left standing, and today they are the most photographed part of the beach, especially at low tide.
What time do boats leave Wandoor for Jolly Buoy?
Boats leave Wandoor jetty in the morning and return in the early afternoon. Reach the jetty by about 8:30 am with your permit ready, since late arrivals can miss the day's trip.
Which island is open from Wandoor, Jolly Buoy or Red Skin?
Usually only one is open at a time. Jolly Buoy opens in the drier months, roughly November to May, and Red Skin opens while Jolly Buoy rests. Ask us before you travel and we will tell you which one is running.
What is the best time to visit Wandoor Beach?
October to May is the best season, with December to March giving the calmest sea. For the beach alone, come in the afternoon at low tide, after the island boats have left and the jetty is quiet.
Are there food and toilets at Wandoor Beach?
A few stalls near the jetty sell tea, coconut water and simple snacks, and there are basic washrooms near the park office. Carry your own lunch and water if you are going on to the islands, as there is nothing to buy there.
How much time do I need at Wandoor Beach?
One to two hours is enough for the beach. With a Jolly Buoy or Red Skin trip, keep the whole morning, from about 7:30 am to 2 pm including the drive from Port Blair.