The essential 5-island sequence — Port Blair, Havelock, Neil, Ross, North Bay. Each ferry leg, lodging cluster, and snorkel-vs-dive call has been timed against actual ferry schedules, not the brochure version.
Sequence: Port Blair (1 night) → Havelock (3) → Neil (2) → back to Port Blair (Ross + North Bay day trips). The reverse loop also works. Book inter-island ferries 2 weeks ahead; same-day tickets often sell out.
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