Lakshadweep Itinerary For 4 Night 5 Days
Ever since the PM made his visit, Google searches for the beautiful tropical archipelago consisting of 36 islands in the Laccadive Sea, off the Malabar coast in India, have skyrocketed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pictures from his Lakshadweep visit have raised the curiosity of these beautiful Indian islands, for Indian tourists.
Given the recent tensions between India and the Maldives, the picturesque islands of Lakshadweep are being seen by the Indian tourist as well as the Indian traveller as the perfect alternative.
Are you one of those travellers who has always been curious about these gorgeous islands, part of our very own country? Have you always wanted to go, but did not know how to get to Lakshadweep, or where to start?
We have got you covered with everything you need to know to plan your own Lakshadweep itinerary and take in the sun, sand and calm waters of this beautiful place.
How to plan your own Lakshadweep Tour itinerary
Just like any other trip, planning your Lakshadweep itinerary will take a bit of time, effort and patience, since it is a unique destination with its own requirements.
Firstly, there is not a lot of information available online if you want to avoid the hassles of going through a travel agent.
Whatever information is out there is very confusing, as the place is not a regular tourist destination.
To plan your own Lakshadweep itinerary, you will have to do a little bit of independent research. Here are some tips to get you started.
About Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep (meaning, ‘a hundred thousand islands’) is a group of tiny coral islands off the coast of Kerala in the south-west of India.
Ecologically extremely sensitive, the Lakshadweep islands have been relatively unexplored, but are renowned among travellers for their beautiful beaches, spectacular diving opportunities and a unique culture.
Tourism, overfishing, shipping and climate change all have had an impact on the marine ecosystem in Lakshadweep, so both the Indian government and the island locals are very proactive in maintaining the fragile ecosystem of the islands.
The Lakshadweep islands have also seen a steady decline of coral reefs over the last two decades, so tourism is limited due to valid fears of further environmental degradation.
Planning your Lakshadweep Tour Itinerary: Places to visit in Lakshadweep
Bangaram, Thinnakara, Kadmat, Kavaratti, Kalpeni and Minicoy are the only islands in Lakshadweep currently open to tourism and with the necessary facilities for tourists.
Out of these, Kalpeni and Minicoy are more remote, so tourists can only get there if they are part of a cruise. Agatti island, which is the only airport in the Lakshadweep islands, is not a tourist spot with only a few basic resorts.
Agatti would be the starting point on your Lakshadweep tour, if you are flying in from Kochi, Kerala, as it has the transit facilities to get to the other islands.
Bangaram and Thinnakara islands
Bangaram island is the most popular island among tourists, making it the most expensive as a result. It has the most luxurious accommodation of all the islands, consisting of cottages.
Cottages have all the modern amenities expected in a 3-star luxury resort, complete with exquisite sunset views, beach buffet dinners and a total paradise feel for vacationers.
In contrast, Thinnakara is smaller, mostly-uninhabited, has fewer tourists and more basic accommodation. It does offer something that is priceless for a lot of tourists, that is privacy.
Bangaram lies a little to the north of Agatti, and accommodation is priced at INR 15,000 per night, including all meals.
Thinnakara island is to the north of Agatti, right next to Bangaram, and offers thatched roof tents on the beach, similar to the shacks in Goa.
You also get ‘green toilets’ attached in the tents and they are priced at INR 10,000 per night, including all meals.
Kadmat island
Kadmat is a little bit more remote and is the quieter of the islands with pristine beaches and corals.
The corals are mostly disappearing, due to a rise in global ocean temperatures.
Kadmat island is far to the north of Agatti, and has rooms that range from INR 5,000 to INR 11,000, all meals included.
Kavaratti
Kavaratti is the capital island of Lakshadweep and for people looking to immerse themselves in the islander culture, it is the best place.
Far to the south of Agatti, getting to the capital takes a while.
Being the capital, it is a major stop for cruises, so you can expect large crowds.
The lighthouse on Kavaratti island is famous for its sunsets.
The only accommodation is air-conditioned suites priced at INR 9000, with all meals included.
Kalpeni
Kalpeni is a bit more inaccessible to tourists to access, unless it is part of a Lakshadweep cruise itinerary.
It is known for its large coral reefs washed ashore, which locals attribute to a storm in the 40s.
Minicoy
Minicoy is the southernmost island in Lakshadweep, making it more similar to Maldives culturally.
Again due to the vast distances involved, it is mostly only accessible by cruise to tourists.
With plans for an airport in the works, it might be easier to visit the island in the future.
How to get to Lakshadweep
You can get to Lakshadweep either by taking a flight from Kochi to Agatti, or by taking a cruise ship from the mainland to whichever islands your Lakshadweep tour itinerary includes.
If you’re planning your own tour itinerary, you can either book your flight or cruise. For accommodation and complete tour packages, you can go through the government-run Lakshadweep tourism website to book independently. The site also has a list of authorized travel agents, if you decide you need help.
There’s only one flight each day, from Kochi to Agatti which gets booked very quickly. So It might be a good idea to book your tickets in advance.
Bangaram and Thinnakara are generally not part of cruise packages, whereas Kalpeni and Minicoy are only accessible by cruise, so it depends on what is part of your personal Lakshadweep tour itinerary.
Booking your Lakshadweep Tour itinerary
Booking accommodation happens via directly calling or emailing Lakshadweep Tourism via the website or again using a government-authorized agent.
If you’re flying into Agatti, you will need to decide whether you want to travel north of Agatti, or south. There’s no accommodation on Agatti itself, as mentioned earlier.
The government-run SPORTS (Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports) resorts on each island are the only source of accommodation in Lakshadweep.
Private resorts, hotels and homestays are not permitted to run in Lakshadweep as of now.
If you decide to book a cruise, then you will probably spend most nights on board your ship and have less flexibility to move around.
Response times are standard government-run department variety, so plan accordingly and be proactive. You can get a cost estimate for your own tour itinerary if you do not go for the tour packages on the website.
Permits for visitors to Lakshadweep
Tourism in Lakshadweep is tightly regulated, so you’ll need a permit for each island you plan to visit, regardless of whether you’re an Indian or international tourist.
Your Lakshadweep tour itinerary needs to be decided and paid for in advance. You have to pay the entire tour amount in advance before getting your schedule confirmation and permits.
This process involves time, money and patience, as the permits are issued by the tourism department only once you’ve paid.
Plan your own Lakshadweep Tour Itinerary: Things to note
- A Lakshadweep 4 night 5 Days trip is bound to cost a minimum of INR 50,000 per person if you’re flying in, and INR 30,000 per person if you’re taking a cruise package
- Lakshadweep is expensive, and facilities are not at five-star luxury resort levels, so budget travellers and extreme luxury travellers might be equally disappointed. All meals are included in the booking amount though,
- A Lakshadweep tour itinerary needs at least three months of planning.The process of finalizing your tour itinerary with the tourism department will be painfully slow.
- Try and book your airplane tickets first, before planning the other details of your tour itinerary.
- Don’t expect quick response times or detailed information from the booking office.
- All accommodation and travel in Lakshadweep is 10% more expensive in season times i.e. December.
- It’s best to cross-check the schedule and quotation you get from the booking office, as it is not uncommon for travel schedules to get mixed up or accommodation dates to be wrongly booked.
- Make sure you get your entry permits first when planning your Lakshadweep tour itinerary
Tips on travelling between islands in your Lakshadweep tour itinerary
Getting around in Lakshadweep is not completely convenient, but with a little planning, it is definitely manageable and worth it.
Once you land at Agatti airport, you can take boats between Agatti and the capital Kavaratti (far south) or Kadmat (far north).
These boats ply only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. If one of these islands is on your Lakshadweep tour itinerary, you should plan to fly in or out on one of these days.
Boats to Thinnakara and Bangaram from Agatti ply every day, though.
Visiting Kavaratti and Kadmat first is better as other boats are regular and involve going through Agatti.
Kadmat and Kavaratti are also two-and-a-half hours away each from Agatti in opposite directions, the entire journey will take a minimum of five hours total.
The boat from Agatti to either Kavaratti or Kadmat costs INR 8,000 per person for a return journey.
The ferry from Agatti to Bangaram takes 30 minutes and costs INR 4,000 per person for a two-way journey.
The boat from Agatti to Thinnakara takes around 45 minutes, and costs INR 5,000 per person for a two-way journey.If you’re already on Bangaram, it’ll cost INR 1,000 to Thinnakara and back.
Activities to include in your Lakshadwep tour itinerary
While a tropical island holiday is really about slowing down, away from the chaos of cities, traffic, some of you might want to do something apart from just walking on the beach, swimming and reading a book in Lakshadweep. These are some popular and unique things to do
- Shipwreck snorkeling: About a ten minute boat ride from Bangaram, there is a shipwreck submerged in the ocean, which presents a unique snorkeling adventure in Lakshadweep. The marine life in that area is talked about.
- Turtle watching at Palari island, about 15 minutes by boat from Bangaram island, is probably the best spot to see some turtles.
- Strawberry hermit crabs at Kalpati island: Just off the island of Agatti, a 10-15 minute boat ride takes you to Kalpati island, with its only inhabitants being the hermit crabs
- Kayaking:Most of the resorts in Lakshadweep will have a few kayaks at hand and there are enough life jackets if you are afraid of the water or cannot swim. Interestingly, you can kayak from the resort, even to the airport!
- Scuba Diving: You must scuba dive when you are in Lakshadweep. Diving is common in Lakshadweep. The cost for scuba diving in Lakshadweep is around INR 3000, much more reasonable than global diving hotspots and just as good if not better, being largely unexplored.
Local tips for your Lakshadweep Tour Itinerary
Local Lakshadweep cuisine is meat and seafood-based, being an island. Resorts do have more than enough vegetarian options, though tuna is popular. Parota (flatbread),scrambled eggs, vegetable curry and chutney are widely consumed by locals.
The locals are also very eco-conscious, so as a tourist, it is frowned upon if you do not follow basic etiquette. This means not leaving litter anywhere on the island, which could harm the fragile marine ecosystems.
Using waste bins is a must and tourists are encouraged to take their back with them, which should ideally be the case anywhere in India.
Sunscreen reacts with the fragile coral reefs in the Lakshadweep islands, so a good hat and appropriate clothes would be another good rule to follow. Locals use the completely natural coconut oil as an alternative, keeping both the tourists and marine life safe.
The drinking water on the islands might be a bit different to taste, for people used to bottled water. The locals drink purified rainwater, so that may be a better bet.
Best time to visit Lakshadweep
The best time to visit the Lakshadweep islands is between November and February, when the weather is nice and the water is calm. Prepare for higher prices during peak tourist season though.
During other times of the year, the water may be a bit rough, so getting around will be difficult.
The monsoon hits Lakshadweep between May to September, not the ideal time to visit.
Lakshadweep 4 Night 5 Days Itinerary
Here’s a quick look at the broad itinerary we followed during our trip. You could either follow this, too, or use this as a starting point to plan your itinerary.
| Day | Activity |
| Day 1 | 1. Fly into Kochi
2. Stay in Kochi |
| Day 2 | 1. Fly from Kochi to Agatti
2. Travel from Agatti to Kavaratti by boat (2.5 hours) 3. Stay on Kavaratti |
| Day 3 | 1. Travel from Kavaratti to Agatti by boat (2.5 hours)
2. Travel from Agatti to Bangaram by boat (30 mins) 3. Stay on Bangaram |
| Day 4 | 1. Travel from Bangaram to Thinnakara by boat (15 mins)
2. Stay on Thinnakara |
| Day 5 | 1. Travel from Thinnakara to Agatti by boat (45 mins)
2. Fly from Agatti to Kochi 3. Depart from Kochi |
Conclusion
Visiting Lakshadweep is like stepping into a different world, admiring the beauty of the reefs and the ocean, taking in the marine life, and relaxing with the trees swaying merrily in the breeze.
It is a bit of a task to plan a Lakshadweep tour itinerary yourself. We hope to have helped simplify things a bit for you and hopefully the sun, sand, gorgeous waters and cool breeze will be worth the effort.
Happy Travels!