Lalaji Bay.
Only accessible by boat from Long Island. Long Island itself gets barely 50 tourists/month.WHY NOBODY KNOWS
Pristine white-sand beach with zero infrastructure. True Robinson Crusoe experience.
Skip to contentII · THE VERDICT III · THE WINDOW · 12 MONTHS, SCORED IV · THE FIELD BRIEF V · THE RISKS · WHAT TO KNOW VI · THE ATLAS · WHERE TO POINT Nº 015KM · 30MIN BY BOAT VII · THE COST · THE CROWDS · THE GROUND Plan your Long Island budgetTrip cost by days, travellers, month & style — a season-adjusted estimate.VIII · THE STAY · THE EAT Not sponsoredX · THE ITINERARY · DAY BY DAY XI · THE CODA
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ISSUE Nº 48 · JUNE 2026
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Long Island.
Robinson Crusoe vibes — pristine Lalaji Bay beach with barely 50 tourists a month
VERIFIED APR 2026 · ISSUE Nº 48
4 MIN READ·Or skip to the verdict ↓
“Robinson Crusoe vibes — pristine Lalaji Bay beach with barely 50 tourists a month”
WHY SPECIAL
One of Andaman's best-kept secrets. Lalaji Bay is a pristine white-sand beach accessible only by boat (30min from Long Island jetty). No ATM, no mobile network, no hospital. Forest Rest House is the only accommodation. True digital detox.
GO
WAIT
SKIP
Kids
2.0/10
Solo F
8.0/10
Crowd
QUIET
Cost
₹
Effort
MODERATE
Know before you go
- Price
- ₹500–800/night
- Best window
- Nov – Mar
- Access
- Rangat: ferry 2hr (₹200). Port Blair: ferry via Rangat 6-8hr total. 1 ferry daily to Long Island.
- Emergency
- None · No medical facility on Long Island
Every month rated on the 0–10 editorial scale. Click any cell to read the month-specific verdict — what to do, what to skip, what crowds you'll meet.
↑ Tap any month for the full read · colours match verdict bands
Read our scoring methodology →
Live weather
ELEVATION
One of Andaman's best-kept secrets. Lalaji Bay is a pristine white-sand beach accessible only by boat (30min from Long Island jetty). No ATM, no mobile network, no hospital. Forest Rest House is the only accommodation. True digital detox.
Every destination carries trade-offs. The cards below score the practical ones: confidence in the data, kids-suitability, solo-female read, and the emergency floor.
10.0
Safety Rating
Low-footfall island reached only via govt ferry (no private boats). One guesthouse + a few homestays. Fisher community, zero reported crime. Book ferry seats a day ahead.
🚗How to Reach
Rangat: ferry 2hr (₹200). Port Blair: ferry via Rangat 6-8hr total. 1 ferry daily to Long Island.
Road: N/A — walking paths and boat
Public transport: 1 daily ferry from Rangat
Self-drive: N/A — no roads
🏠Where to Sleep
2 options (forest-rest-house, basic-lodge)
₹500–800/night
Forest Dept office in Rangat or Port Blair
Emergency: Forest Rest House — only option (₹500)
⛽Fuel
Nearest: No petrol pump on Long Island
Next: Rangat (2hr ferry)
EV charging: Not available
🌙Weather at Night
Summer
25°C
Winter
23°C
Tropical. Very humid in forest interior. Beach breezy. Carry insect repellent.
🚨Emergency Contacts
Hospital: No medical facility on Long Island
Police: Small police outpost
Rescue: Evacuate by ferry to Rangat (2hr) then Port Blair
Ambulance: None
Helpline: Carry comprehensive first aid kit. Nearest doctor: Rangat PHC (2hr ferry)
📶Network Coverage
JioAirtelBSNLVi
WiFi: None
ZERO connectivity. Complete digital detox. Carry offline maps and entertainment.
KIDS · FAMILY READ
2.0
ADULTS
Minimum age: 14+ yrs
Best for: 14+
Stroller: Not possible
HIGHLIGHTS FOR KIDS
Lalaji Bay beach
REASONS
Lalaji Bay is pristine and unforgettable
CONCERNS
No medical facility whatsoever
No ATM, no mobile network
Only Forest Rest House — basic accommodation
6-hour ferry from Rangat
No pharmacy, no shops beyond basics
Solo-female safety
8.0/10— Safe with standard precautions
Homestay-only remote Andaman island — Emerald Gecko is the main female-safe stay. Book ahead, plan full 2-night — ferry schedules unforgiving.
Month by month
Jan
4
Feb
4
Mar
4
Apr
4
May
4
Jun
4
Jul
4
Aug
4
Sep
4
Oct
4
Nov
4
Dec
4
4–5 safe 3 vigilant 2 with operator 1 skip month-specific note closed
EMERGENCY · SOURCE-VERIFIED
Places to Visit in Long Island
☕
Lalaji Bay Forest Rest House
Basic forest accommodation with 5-6 tented cottages managed by Andaman & Nicobar Forest Department. Home-cooked meals available. Simple amenities: clean rooms and washrooms. Book in advance through Divisional Forest Officer, Middle Andaman (03192-274210).
🕐 Overnight🎫 Varies👶 Kid-friendly
🏔️
Lalaji Bay Beach
Pristine white-sand beach on Long Island's west coast. 30 minutes by boat from Long Island jetty, then 2km forest walk. Forest Rest House with 5-6 tented cottages managed by Forest Department. No ATM, no mobile network.
🕐 3 hours🎫 Free👶 Kid-friendly
HIDDEN GEMS · 3 NEAR LONG ISLAND
1.5-km pristine white-sand crescent on Long Island's northern coast, with snorkel-grade coral reef 30m offshore and a hidden cove to the trail-north of the bay with calm-water snorkel patches. Pack lunch from Blue Planet — there is nothing here except the beach. Best in low tide (sand stretches wider) around 11 AM-2 PM.
- Nº 03
Guitar Island View from Long Island Ferry Deck
3KM · VISIBLE FROM FERRY DECK ON YERRATA-LONG ISLAND CROSSINGThe island is a real geological curiosity: a "small Guitar" (the headstock) connected to "big Guitar" (the body) by a slim white sandbar (the fret-board), best photographed from the open-deck on the Yerrata→Long Island government ferry crossing (north-west horizon, ~3 km off Long Island's west coast). Bring binoculars.
OR INSTEAD · NEIGHBOURING READS
How Long Island stacks against the closest alternatives.
WHAT CROWDS LOOK LIKE
JAN
PEAK
FEB
PEAK
MAR
PEAK
APR
MOD
MAY
MOD
JUN
QUIET
JUL
QUIET
AUG
QUIET
SEP
QUIET
OCT
MOD
NOV
PEAK
DEC
PEAK
Peak Nov–Mar for dry season; Jun–Sep monsoon keeps the island nearly empty.
INFRASTRUCTURE · ON THE GROUND
How This Place Actually Works
Day-to-day logistics — what locals know that maps don't show.Taxis & local transport
Havelock-Long Island ferry 2hr.
Check-in / check-out norms
Blue Planet eco-lodge + homestays.
Cash vs UPI
Cash.
ATMs (real-world reliability)
None on island.
Shop & restaurant hours
Basic village.
Language realities
Bengali + English.
Internet backup plan
None.
HOW TO REACH
AIRPORT
Veer Savarkar International, Port Blair (IXZ) + 6hr ferry via Rangat
RAIL
N/A
WHERE TO EAT · 5 VERIFIED PICKS
CAFE
EST. 2007
Blue Planet Cafe
Signature: Padauk-tree dining-room thali
Founded 2007 by Iftekar & Hilary, Blue Planet built its central restaurant around an ancient Andaman Padauk tree (the A&N state tree) using salvaged plastic/glass bottles and old tyres — every meal is taken under the tree's canopy. The kitchen is the only public dining option on Long Island for non-residents.
Tip: Non-residents must reserve a table a day ahead by VHF radio call (relayed from Yerrata jetty). One menu per day; eggs/fish/veg only — no pork/beef/alcohol.
15-MIN WALK FROM LONG ISLAND JETTY· ₹₹· KIDS OK
CASUAL
Lalaji Bay Packed Lunch (Blue Planet)
Signature: Beach picnic veg/fish thali
Lalaji Bay has zero infrastructure (no shops, no toilets). Blue Planet kitchen packs a beach-lunch box for guests + walk-in non-residents who phone ahead — this is the only food available on the 1.5-km beach. Cooked fresh, packed in banana-leaf + greaseproof.
Tip: Order at the Blue Planet reception by 7 AM if you're trekking to Lalaji that day. Bring back the empty container — no bins on Lalaji, pack-out-what-you-pack-in protocol.
LALAJI BAY BEACH, LONG ISLAND· ₹₹· KIDS OK
STREET FOOD
Long Village Bazaar Tea Stalls
Signature: Bengali masala chai + telebhaja
Long Village has roughly 1,500 residents (mostly Bengali settler families resettled here in the 1960s) — the main bazaar lane has 3-4 tea-stalls that double as the village social anchor. These are not on tourist trails but you walk past them every time you head to Lalaji Bay trail-head.
Tip: Bengali shopkeepers will direct you to homestays/boat-hires for free; reciprocate by buying chai. Limited stock — they replenish only on ferry days.
LONG VILLAGE MAIN BAZAAR, LONG ISLAND· ₹· KIDS OK
CASUAL
Tapovan Rest House Kitchen (Bakultala)
Signature: Forest Dept rest-house thali
Tapovan Forest Rest House at Bakultala (1 km from jetty) has a basic in-house kitchen that cooks for residents and pre-booked walk-ins. The Bakultala settlement is older than Long Village — Bengali colonists arrived here in the 1950s. Booking via Divisional Forest Officer Middle Andaman (Phone: 03192-274210).
Tip: Book a thali by morning if you're not staying — the cook only fires up portions on confirmation. Veg thali default; fish only on request.
BAKULTALA, LONG ISLAND· ₹· KIDS OK
CASUAL
Yerrata Jetty Canteen (Middle Andaman-side)
Signature: Daal-chawal + fish fry
Yerrata Jetty is the Middle-Andaman-side ferry departure point for Long Island (2-hour government boat). The jetty has a single Forest Dept canteen + a couple of Bengali tea-stalls — these serve everyone waiting for the once-daily ferry schedule.
Tip: Eat BEFORE you board — there is no food on the 2-hour ferry, and Blue Planet on Long Island requires reservation. Best time: 8-9 AM before the morning Long Island sailing.
YERRATA JETTY, MIDDLE ANDAMAN· ₹· KIDS OK
WHERE TO SLEEP · EDITOR'S PICKS
experience · ₹25,000–₹45,000 PER NIGHT
Havelock Island Resort
Luxury Beach Resort
We recommend this for its private beach access, water sports facilities, and consistent 4.5+ ratings on dive-operator partnerships that define Andaman's draw.
“Day trip to Merk Bay Beach (dinghy-and-trek access only, no vehicles) for what's often called the clearest water in the Andamans — far below any tourist threshold.”
value · ₹6,000–₹12,000 PER NIGHT
Blue Lagoon Resort, Havelock
Mid-tier Beach Resort
We recommend this for its beachfront rooms, reliable WiFi, and in-house restaurant that delivers solid comfort without the resort-tax markup of premium chains.
“A&N Forest Department rest house at Bakultala village (1 km from Long Island jetty). Basic AC/non-AC rooms + in-house mess (advance-booked thali). Booking via Divisional Forest Officer Middle Andaman (03192-274210).”
xfactor · ₹8,000–₹18,000 PER NIGHT
Barefoot at Havelock
Eco-Lodge with Treehouse Rooms
We recommend this for its open-air treehouse design nestled in coconut palms, minimal-intervention interiors, and the specific quiet that comes from having no TVs or air-con—only fans and the sound of the island.
“Six tented accommodations constructed by the A&N Forest Department at Lalaji Bay (6 km north of Long Island jetty) — the only stay AT the secret Lalaji beach itself. Booking via Forest Dept Middle Andaman.”
location · ₹4,500–₹9,000 PER NIGHT
Sea Princess Hotel, Port Blair
City Hotel
We recommend this because it sits metres from the harbour, the starting point for all inter-island ferries and snorkel tours, and is walking distance to the local markets.
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On the Ground
How to spend your time here, block by block.Long Island
Morning
Port Blair/Havelock ferry.
Midday
Lunch at island.
Afternoon
Lalaji Bay Beach — trek or boat.
Evening
Sunset.
If weather turns
Monsoon ferries cancelled.
For travelers like you
Tap any traveler type below to see how this place feels for them.
GO — quiet beach.
Best For
Who we'd send here — and why.Best for
Sustainable eco-tourism
Blue Planet lodge pioneered sustainable Andaman tourism — solar power + limited rooms
Best for
Lalaji Bay untouched
Hidden beach accessible only by 1hr trek or boat — minimal footprint
Best for
Merk Bay white sand
White sand beach accessible by boat — quieter than Havelock
Best for
Middle Andaman access
Ferry route between Havelock + Rangat — less-visited middle Andaman
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— The NakshIQ editors
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