Maldives or Andaman for your honeymoon?

What each one feels like

In the Maldives, the resort is the holiday: one island, a villa over or beside the water, the reef a few steps away and, if you want it, nobody else in sight.

The Andamans are a journey rather than a stay. You fly into Sri Vijaya Puram, the new name for Port Blair, and move between islands by ferry: Swaraj Dweep, still widely called Havelock, for Radhanagar Beach, and Shaheed Dweep, the former Neil Island, for a slower pace. Radhanagar was listed among India's Blue Flag beaches in 2025.

The sea and the season

The Maldives has two monsoons. The drier northeast monsoon runs from January to March, and the wetter southwest monsoon from about mid-May to November. December and April are the changeover months.

The Andaman tourism department recommends October to May. The southwest monsoon reached the islands on 16 May in 2026, and the wet months that follow are the ones to avoid.

Both are made for snorkelling and diving. In the Andamans the dive centres are on Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep and at North Bay, the season runs from October to May, and the minimum age for a first try dive is 10.

Paperwork

Andamans: Indian citizens don't need a permit for Sri Vijaya Puram, Swaraj Dweep or Shaheed Dweep. The tribal reserves and the Nicobar Islands are closed to visitors without a special pass.

Maldives: Indian travellers get a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival. Immigration asks for a passport valid for at least a month, a confirmed return ticket, a prepaid booking at a registered resort or guesthouse, and enough money for the stay. Within 96 hours before your flight, fill in the free IMUGA traveller declaration online. More in our Maldives entry guide.

What goes on the bill

When you compare Maldives quotes, check whether two government charges are included. The tourism goods and services tax has been 17% since 1 July 2025. The green tax, since 1 January 2025, is USD 12 per person per night at resorts and larger hotels, and USD 6 at smaller guesthouses on inhabited islands; children under two are exempt. For two people on a seven-night resort stay, the green tax alone comes to USD 168.

The Andamans are a domestic trip: prices in rupees, domestic flights, and nothing to change into foreign currency.

Getting there

Sri Vijaya Puram is a domestic flight, with nonstops from several Indian cities. Passenger ships sail there from the mainland too, but the voyage takes two to three days. The Maldives is a short international flight to Malé, followed by a speedboat or seaplane to your island.

So which one?

• The Maldives, if the point is to be alone together, the budget allows it, and you would rather not pack a bag again once you arrive.
• The Andamans, if you want to do things together: dive, swim off different beaches, move between islands, and make the budget go further.

Tell us your dates and the kind of week you want, and we'll give you an honest view of both. Browse honeymoon journeys, or start with the Maldives or the Andamans.