HAVELOCK
Where Time Stands Still and Lush Forests Meet Pristine Shores
Welcome to Havelock Island, an untouched paradise nestled within the Andaman archipelago, where the deep greens of ancient rainforests meet the surreal blues of coral-rich waters and the white of paradisiacal beaches.
Beyond the beaches, Havelock is a land of endless adventure, offering sea kayaking, treks through lush forests, and quiet retreats for the soul. It’s a place where the essence of island life enchants, each sunset painting the skies in shades of gold and pink.
Join us on Havelock, a slice of paradise where every moment unfolds in the magic of untouched nature.
Day 1 - Recharge after a long journey
Jalakara is by far the loveliest place to stay - a dreamy boutique hotel of seven suites where the informal yet attentive hospitality is the number one feature. Everything here will make you feel home, with the perks of being surrounded by tropical gardens and stunning views. It’s just the perfect place to recharge and escape from the excesses of modern life.
When you arrive, ask the hotel to rent a scooter to ease your island’s discovery and make it even more fun. The staff is always helpful and willing to do everything to make your stay unforgettable - from accommodating your dietary preferences, to preparing amazing lunch boxes and providing you with everything you may need.
During your stay, take the right time to explore the island, as well as to enjoy Jalakara’s peaceful atmosphere - the infinity pool is probably one of the most beautiful you’ve seen in your life. Take a dip while immersing yourself in this nature’s paradise and rest on a sunbed after what probably has been a long journey - all you need is sunscreen and some good books.
Depending on the time you arrive, you can always ask the staff for a sandwich or a light lunch - they’re also happy to guide you through the gardens and explain all the different plants and vegetables they grow, which are the ones that they cook. The food is definitely the best on the island and you’ll be tempted not to try any other place for dinner.
They don’t have a wide range of wines but make some nice cocktails that you can sip by the pool at sunset or after dinner.
Enjoy a long night’s sleep and get ready for your next day’s discovery!
Day 2 - The discovery of the extraordinarily rich marine life
If you’re a fan of scuba diving, you’re in the right place! Wake up early and after a nice breakfast go to the diving center for your first underwater experience - we dove with Scubalov.in and had an overall good experience. They’re located inside the SeaShell hotel and you can book in advance your PADI course or fun dives.
Havelock is a diver’s dream - The island is renowned for its thriving marine life and crystal-clear waters. Depending on the sites, you’ll be able to see rich coral gardens teeming with life, as well as large schools of barracudas and trevally swimming through the blue, sea turtles or clownfish nestled within the coral. Beyond the underwater nature, there are a few shipwrecks that will make your dives even more exciting.
A nice spot for a well deserved lunch after the dives is the Full Moon Café - they serve fantastic freshly squeezed juices and both Indian and international dishes.
With your belly and soul fulfilled, you can go back to the hotel and rest by the pool for a bit. When you’re ready, take your scooter and hit the road which is by itself a whole experience. There are only two roads in Havelock (and both of them are marvelous) - it’s literally impossible to get lost!
Head to Radhanagar Beach before sunset and take a walk on the beach - the incredible thing is that, even though the beach stretches for kilometers, you’ll find it packed with people only in the portion nearest to the access point. Once you walk past it in a couple of minutes, you’ll be completely on your own. Even more incredibly, most local people usually leave before the sun goes down, allowing you to enjoy this breathtaking show in an almost private setting.
Return to Jalakara for another amazing dinner and night’s sleep.
Day 3 - Havelock’s untouched nature
Jump on your scooter at sunrise and go to Elephant Beach - you’ll have to park here and proceed by foot on the walking path. It’s an approximately 30 minutes hike to get to the beach, during which you’ll be surrounded by a wonderful, dense jungle. Make sure that you’ll get down during low tide - this way you can enjoy the whole beach and be closer to the reef while you snorkel.
The nature underwater is just fantastic - turtles, rays, colorful fish and fantastic corals. The visibility is usually outstanding. Enjoy!
Going back will probably be harder than getting there - depending on the tide, you might not be able to take the same path to go back to your scooter, but don’t worry, you’ll find your way and it will be totally worth it!
During the whole time, you’ll experience total silence and find yourself immersed in untouched pure nature.
In addition, on your way you’ll discover cute funny local plants that have grown in any possible way and shape.
Return to Jalakara for a nice breakfast and some relaxing time - there’s no need to rush here, just enjoy the beauty of the place, one bit at the time!
When you feel it’s time to move again, hop again on your scooter and go for lunch or a coffee at the Taj. From there, go back to Radhanagar Beach, this time during early afternoon to experience its different vibe during this time of the day. Enjoy some beautiful snorkeling and walk on the beach until you reach Neil’s Cove.
One again, return to Jalakara for the amazing sunset by the infinity pool and another tasty dinner.
Day 4 - From the sea to the village
Start your day with a recharging open-air yoga session, followed by breakfast and another diving experience - believe us, you’ll never have enough!
After a lunch by the sea, you can have a walk in the only little town of the island - even though Havelock is small and isolated in the middle of the Ocean, the vibe will exactly be the one you expect from a South-East Asian town - the crowd, the markets, the variety of colors and smells. Walk around and talk to local people - you’ll discover new types of fruits and vegetables you’ve never seen in your life and see local craftsmen making all sorts of objects from coconut.
Take a nice book and a towel, pick your favorite beach and enjoy the last hours of the day.
Day 5 - Turtle time!
After a nice yoga session at sunrise, go back to the beginning of the walking path to Elephant Beach - this time, however, proceed further until you reach Turtle Beach. Depending on the tide, you might not be able to reach it by foot, so be sure to check the tide hours before going.
This insane nature’s paradise gets its name from the nesting sea turtles that frequently come ashore, and the high chances of spotting them while snorkeling - beyond the turtles, snorkel there is probably one of the bests on the island, with vibrant coral reefs and colorful fish painting the underwater landscape. It’s a quiet haven for those looking to experience Havelock’s natural beauty away from the more popular beaches.
An alternative, if you don’t feel like hiking, is broken tree beach - this is simply the East Side of Radhanagar beach, a 5 minutes hike away from the access point. This bottom of the ocean on this side of the beach is full of grass, ideal location for a turtle’s meal! If you swim for a few minutes, you’ll almost surely find one!
Since you’d probably want to spend several hours here, consider asking the hotel to prepare breakfast or lunch boxes for you and some water bottles to be free to stay there as long as you’d like. Jalakara’s lunch boxes are probably the best we’ve ever seen. Not only is the food great, but they pack it in beautiful steel containers divided in little pockets. In each pocket, a different kind of food - Sandwiches, fruits, nuts, etc.
Enjoy your afternoon as you prefer, knowing that all options will definitely be rewarding and satisfying!
Celebrate and cheer to another beautiful day in paradise in front of a tasty dinner and a glass of wine at Jalakara’s restaurant.
Day 6 - New hidden and untouched pearls
As you might have understood already, your day can start either with a dive, a yoga session by the pool with the incredible view of Jalakara’s garden, or with an early morning swim in one of the beautiful and untouched beaches of your choice.
In the afternoon, it’s time to discover another hidden pearl of this island, which will definitely surprise you: Kala Pathar. To reach this incredible paradise, drive until this point and then start walking in the forest. It’s an easy but surreal walk, during which you’ll be surrounded by lush forests, where trees have grown in any direction to get more sunlight. From the forest, you’ll glimpse the turquoise waters and, depending on the tide, you can take a dip into them whenever you like. Once you walked for about 20-30 minutes, this will be the sight you’ll find yourself in front of. And of course, it’s just going to be you!
Return to Radhanagar Beach to witness another out-of-this-world sunset.
Day 7 - The last goodbye
Since the connections to this remote island are rare, you’ll probably won’t have a last full day to enjoy - Make the most of the hours you have left on the Island!
Taste your french pressed coffee and homemade breakfast in front of one of the most amazing views of the island, which you’ll definitely never forget, and take in all the wonder you’ve witnessed in the past few days. Havelock will leave you recharged and light, yet full and extremely grateful.
For the last time, hit the road and enjoy these incredible views - You’ll treasure them forever!
Mandatory is a last dip - probably on your own - in these splendid waters to say goodbye to a place that has definitely treated you very well. Until next time!
Our practical suggestions for you
How long: 5-7 days - depending on where you’re coming from, you want to try not to make it shorter than one week to make the most of this isolated and not-easy-to-reach place.
Season: between October and May
How to travel through the country: There’s only two roads on Havelock and you can easily walk, but we suggest you rent a scooter to even better enjoy the island.
Practical advice:
If you’re a wine lover, you’re more than welcome to bring your own bottles, knowing that the offer is limited due to the isolated location.
Be aware of the sand flies - small insects lying on the sand especially during the sunset hours. They’re so small but bite like crazy! The hotel will provide you with mosquito repellent, but bring some after-bite as well.
