Lakshadweep Itinerary – How to Reach, Permit & Resort Stay

Looking for a Lakshadweep Itinerary?

Lakshadweep — the name itself means ‘a hundred thousand islands’. Some big, some small, same far, some near, some inhabited and some not.

Located off the coast of Kerala, the islands of Lakshadweep are bestowed with miles of heavenly sun-kissed beaches devoid of the crowds, magnificent lagoon, and turquoise blue water brimming with colorful marine life.

Each and every island are like little gems sprinkled all around that will make you want to whip out your pen and paper and get creative.  The islands are beautiful inside out and the beauty is unparalleled.

With its laid-back vibe, the islands of Lakshadweep offers a multitude of experiences for any traveler; all of which are bound to create lasting impressions.

Here we pop all the details to plan your trip to Lakshadweep.

FACT FILE:

Lakshadweep is an archipelago made up of thirty-six islands spread across an area of 32 sq. kilometers, 10 out of them are inhabited – Agatti,  Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Amini, Bitra, Chetlat, Androthm, Bangaram, and Minicoy.

Tourists are allowed to visit just a few selected islands. The islands of Agatti, Kadmat, Kavaratti, Minicoy, Bangaram, and Thinnakara.

Location: 8° and 12° North Latitude and 71° and 74° East Longitude

Inhabited Islands: Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan and Minicoy

Language: Malayalam & Mahl (spoken on Minicoy Island). Jeseri ( similar to  Malayalam with a hint of Tamil) is a dialect that is also spoken in Lakshadweep.

Total Population: 60595 as per 2001 census, of which 95% are Muslims.

Occupation: Fishing and coconut cultivation.

Lakshadweep Itinerary:

Here is a sample itinerary. Just mix and match and plan your itinerary.

A Week-long Trip ( Suggested):

• Kadamat (2 days  )
• Bangaram/Thinnakara ( 2 days ) 
• Kavaratti ( 2 days )
• Minicoy/ Kalpeni ( 1 Day )

Long Weekend Trip ( Our Itinerary):

Day 1 – Reach Agatti and hop on a speed boat to Bangaram Island

Day 2 – Enjoy your Time snorkeling, scuba diving, island hopping ( Pareli 1 & 2 )

Day 3 – Stay at Thinnakara island

Day 4 – Enjoy your time in the morning and then head back to Agatti

Our flight was from Kochi to Agatti and we booked our stay via SPORTS. ( Official Lakshadweep Tourism Site )

( Read Next: Our Stay at Bangaram Island Resort )

Cruise package:

Two days/ Weekend Excursion Package: Lakshadweep islands are perfect weekend getaways from Cochin, Mangalore, and Beypore. The ship departs on Saturday from Kochi/Mangalore/Beypore and on Monday it returns to Kochi/Mangalore/Beypore.

Coral Reef  Package: It is a five-day cruise package which takes tourists to the coral islands for a day excursion. Nights you would be staying at MV Kavaratti or MV Tippu Sultan.

Lakshadweep Samudram is a Five-days cruise to visit the islands of Kavaratti, Kalpeni, and Minicoy by ship- M.V Kavaratti.

Get all the latest updates HERE

A post shared by Swati & Sam | Travel Bloggers (@thetalesofatraveler) on May 17, 2016 at 1:14pm PDT

Best Time To Visit Lakshadweep : 

October to March/April is the best time to visit any of the islands of Lakshadweep with temperatures dropping to 30°C along the coast. Post-April till mid-September, monsoon hits Lakshadweep and ferries and resorts are mostly closed. The rains are most frequent and abundant during these months.

If you still want to visit during off season, chopper services are also available. But it is advisable to check before planning. October to May is perfect time if you want to opt for cruise packages.

Summer Months: March to May

Monsoon Months: May to mid-September

Winter Months: September to Feb

– Islands To Visit in Lakshadweep –

Agatti Island:

Agatti Island will be your first stop as you land at Lakshadweep. The island boasts of having some of the finest beaches and offers tons of water-sports activities.  The beaches are clean and the water is deep blue teeming with the most colorful and diverse underwater world.

Where To Stay: 

Local guest houses and few private run resorts are the only options. 

Note: Seashell resort is still closed due to permit issues. ( Update: May 2016) 

Do check the latest update on the official tourism site.

Bangaram Island

Surrounded by a shallow lagoon this island is one of the most beautiful islands of Lakshadweep. It boasts of world-class corals and rich marine life. From shipwreck snorkeling sites to hidden beaches with hermit crabs, bluest of the blue ocean to lagoon full of sea turtles, Bangaram fits the bill perfectly for a hidden away beach experience.

Where To Stay:

The only option is to stay at the Bangaram Island resort which is run by SPORTS (Lakshadweep Tourism).

Travel Time

•  From Agatti: 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the boat.

A post shared by Swati & Sam | Travel Bloggers (@thetalesofatraveler) on Apr 19, 2016 at 2:41am PDT

( Read Next: Our Stay at Bangaram Island Resort )

Pareli 1 & 2 :

These tiny islands surrounded by shallow lagoon on one side and deep sea on the other can be covered by foot in 15-30 minutes. The shallow lagoon is home to numerous sea turtles whereas deep sea is home to sharks, stingrays, and flying fishes.

The island is full of ( hungry 😉 ) hermit crabs and sea turtles.

Where To Stay:

No options. These islands can be visited as day trips from Bangaram, Agatti or Thinnakara

Travel Time

• From Agatti: 30 -75 min depending on the boat
• From Bangaram: 20-40 min depending on the boat
• From Thinnakara: 15 min

Thinnakara :

A bite-sized island midst shallow lagoon makes Thinnakara an ideal place for vacation. It is isolated and just a few cottages dotted on the shores. It is a perfect escape for those who want to be away from the rush of life. You can snorkel, sail out in your kayak, play beach volleyball and relax in a hammock doing nothing.

Even at times, it might happen you are the only one with the resort staff on the island.

Where To Stay:

Cottages on the Island

Travel Time

• From Agatti: 20-40 min depending on the boat.

Kadmat Island :

( Source )

Kadmat is one of the most stunning islands in the archipelago. You will find dolphins cleaving through the clear blue waters, sea turtles all around and if you are lucky enough flying fishes by dozens might come to greet you on your way to Kadmat from Agatti.

The phenomenal sweep of talcum-powder sand with dramatic waves breaking across the bay is an everyday thing here. Apart from the scenic vista, the island also offers various water sports activities like diving, snorkeling, kayaking, paragliding to name a few. Some of the best diving spots can be found here.

Where To Stay:

Kadmat Island Resort – You have an option of NonAC tents and AC rooms to choose from. However, the NonAC tents are a little away from the main resort.

Minicoy Island:

( Source )

Minicoy Island is a beautiful coral island dotted in the Arabian Sea full of dense coconut groves, long stretch of white powdery beaches and an amazing marine world. The island is distinct from the rest of the islands in terms of culture, lifestyle, and language. You can find a lot of influence from Maldivian and South Indian culture in this island.

Famed to be an important center for tuna fishing — the island is divided into a cluster of houses which is headed by an elected elderly man called Mooppan(Bodukaka). Each and every house on this island is beautifully decorated. Another major attraction of the island is the oldest Lighthouse which was constructed in 1885 that offers a breathtaking view of the island.

Where To Stay:

There are three tourist cottages and one 20 bedded tourist home.

Kalpeni Island:

( Source )

Kalpeni is famed for bewitching landscape with the small islets Tilakkam & Pitti and an uninhabited island on the north called Cheriyam. You can walk to Cheriyam island from Kalpeni during low tides but make sure you are not barefoot.

The islands of Kalpeni were reshaped because of a huge storm in 1800’s and the formation of the beautiful corals is attributed to this storm. It has the largest lagoons among all the islands of Lakshadweep. These lagoons are quite shallow and are perfect for all sorts of water sports activities. You can also explore the Sait Moinuddin mosque while on the island.

Where To Stay:

Koomel Beach Resort is the only resort for the tourist and it is run by SPORTS (Lakshadweep Tourism).

Kavaratti Island:

( Source )

It is the capital of Lakshadweep and the most developed of all the islands. Apart from sun-drenched white sandy beaches, amazing coral reefs, you can also explore the aquarium and museum on the island.

Ujra Mosque constructed by Sheikh Mohammad Kasim in the 17th century is one of the most prominent attractions of the island and draws a lot of tourists. The island also offers a plethora of water sports activities like kayaking, snorkeling, parasailing and scuba diving at a very reasonable rate.

Where To Stay:

Kavaratti Island Beach Resort

Budget & Expenses :

Flight :

Flights rates are fixed and they don’t vary from Kochi to Agatti – Rs.4842*

Stay :

Stay at Bangaram – INR 10,000 for Tent and INR 15,000 for Cottage

Stay at Thinnakara – INR 10,000 for Tent

Inter-island transfers could be arranged and price varies depending on the boat. Everything for us was organized by the Sports and we paid around 60-65 K.

• Pick up from/ to airport + Stay ( Inclusive of all three meals ) + Island transfers

PS: We booked our stay at Bangaram & Thinnakara resorts via SPORTS. To confirm your booking you just have to share your flight details and pay by electronic fund transfer (NEFT) or check.

For customizing your trip, you could drop an email to  – laksports.reservation@gmail.com.

Packing for Lakshadweep :

Breathable fabric mostly cotton and linen are the best to pack for this tropical paradise. Pack all your breezy flowy maxi or midi dresses,  loads of swimwears, wide-brimmed hats, your best of shades and the most important SUNSCREEN with a higher SPF 😉

  

Handy Tips: Try to avoid revealing dresses at the islands inhabited by locals and respect the culture.

( Read Next : What To Pack for Lakshadweep )

How To Reach Lakshadweep:

By Air: Air India operates a flight from Kochi to Agatti Island every day except Sunday.

By Ship: M.V. Bharatseema, M.V Tipusultan, M.V Aminidivi and M.V Minicoy are passenger ships that operate between Kochi and the islands. You can choose the various packages offered by Lakshadweep tourism at a reasonable rate. ( You can see the detailed list: HERE )

Getting Around :

Interisland ferry operates from Agatti to most of the island. For island hopping and inter-island transfers, speedboats and chopper services are the only options.

You can also rent out a bike to explore the bigger island like Kadmat, Agatti or Kavaratti.

Things to Do in Lakshadweep :

 

If you are an adventurous soul, Lakshadweep offers a plethora of activities to keep you hooked.

Scuba Diving

Snorkeling

Parasailing

Glass Bottom Ride

Kite Surfing

Knee Board

Turtle Watch Tour

Fishing / Night Fishing

Water Scooter Rides

Kayaking

Island Hopping

 Rent a bike and go for a village tour

Last but not the least, it offers ample opportunity to just relax & unwind.

 

 

Good To Know

Tourists are allowed to visit few islands in Lakshadweep namely- Agatti, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Minicoy, Bangaram, and Thinnakara.

Resorts with AC and NonAC standard and Deluxe rooms are available on islands of Kadmat and Kavaratti. Islands of Bangaram and Thinnakara have non-AC tents/ cottages only.

Alcohol is banned on all islands.

There is no party scene on any of the island. If you are going in groups, you can plan something and ask staff to arrange a bonfire.

Try to avoid revealing dresses on islands inhabited by locals ( Kavaratti, Kadamat & Agatti )

The islands are underdeveloped so take whatever you might need for the vacation especially medicines and other toiletries stuff.

Flights are operated only six days a week ( Mon-Sat) and once in a day.

Permits can be arranged by SPORTS or travel agents prior to departure and had to be shown at the airport before boarding the flight.

Carrying corals – dead/alive or any shells back from the islands is a punishable offense.

ATM’s are few especially only on the islands which are inhabited. There are no ATM’s on islands like Bangaram or Thinnakara.

Try to haggle and settle down with good rates for all adventure activities offered by the resorts or kiosks on the islands.

Important Links:

• http://lakshadweeptourism.nic.in/
• http://www.lakshadweeptourism.com/tourpackages.html

 

NOTE

If you do find our article useful in planning your trip, don’t forget to send a note/picture of your trip to us ( Email:  thetalesofatraveler@gmail.com)

A post shared by Swati & Sam | Travel Bloggers (@thetalesofatraveler) on Apr 18, 2016 at 9:40pm PDT

SHOP THE STYLE

Pin It.

 Lakshadweep Islands are outrageously stunning.

We urge you to put this little corner on your bucket list before it becomes way too commercialized. 

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