Destinations · Baratang Island · last checked 10 July 2026
Baratang Island: limestone caves, mud volcanoes & the mangrove creek
Baratang, about 100 km north of Port Blair in Middle Andaman, is the islands' one proper expedition day: an escorted convoy through the Jarawa reserve, a speed boat through mangrove tunnels, caves full of stalactites, and India's only known active mud volcanoes. It's a pre-dawn start and a long day — and for the right traveller it's the most memorable one of the trip. Here's exactly how it works.
Before you decide — the convoy rules
The road to Baratang crosses a tribal reserve. Vehicles travel only in escorted convoys at fixed times, photography anywhere in the reserve is strictly prohibited, and stopping or opening windows isn't allowed. The recent pattern has outbound convoys around 6:00, 9:00 and 11:30 AM with the last return at 3:00 PM — but these timings change, so we confirm the current ones the day we book your trip.
The four things you go for
Limestone caves
Nature's artwork, millions of years in the making
Stalactite and stalagmite formations compressed out of sediment over geological time — genuinely otherworldly inside, and pleasantly cool. It's a 1.2 km walk from the jetty and 45–60 minutes in the caves, with some mild climbing; wear shoes with grip, as the floor gets slippery, and carry a torch. Photography is allowed here.
Mud volcanoes
The only known active mud volcanoes in India
Natural gas pushes mud and water to the surface in slow, bubbling pools and miniature cone formations — the mud is around body temperature, not hot, and the activity is linked to the region's tectonic movement. A short trek of about 200 metres off the road, 4 km from the jetty, on a wooden walkway with a mandatory guide.
The mangrove creek ride
A speed-boat run through green tunnels
The 20–25 minute boat leg to the caves is an attraction in itself: dense mangrove canopy closing into natural tunnels over calm water. Morning light is best, both for photographs and for spotting kingfishers, monitor lizards and — rarely — a saltwater crocodile. Life jackets are provided.
Parrot Island
Thousands of parakeets coming home at dusk
A small uninhabited island where huge flocks of parrots and parakeets roost every evening — the sound as they arrive against the sunset is the part people remember. Boats leave around 4 PM for a two-hour round trip and seats are limited, so it needs advance booking; most day trips skip it, which is exactly why it's worth adding.
The day, hour by hour
A typical full-day trip from Port Blair — roughly 5 AM to 6 PM, 100 km each way.
- 5:00 AM
Pick-up in Port Blair
Hotel pick-up, drive to the convoy queue at Jirkatang
- 6:00 AM
Convoy starts
Escorted drive through the Jarawa reserve — no stops, no photography
- 8:30 AM
Middle Strait jetty
Vehicle ferry across the strait
- 9:00 AM
Nilambur jetty
Speed boat through the mangrove creek
- 10:00 AM
Limestone caves
1.2 km walk + about an hour in the caves
- 11:30 AM
Mud volcanoes
Short drive and a 200 m walkway trek
- 1:00 PM
Lunch
Simple local restaurants near the jetty
- 3:00 PM
Return convoy
The last convoy back — missing it means being stuck
- 6:00 PM
Back in Port Blair
Hotel drop
Group day tours run roughly ₹1,500–2,500 per person all-in as an indicative range; a private car roughly ₹4,000–6,000 per vehicle. Guides are mandatory at the caves and volcanoes; permits are handled by the operator.
What the day actually looks like
Our own frames from the trip — monsoon season, which is when the creek runs greenest. The cave interior itself is torch-dark and photographs poorly; that is what your eyes are for. No photography happens on the reserve-road convoy, ours included — the frames here start where the rules allow.
Do's & don'ts
Do
- Aim for the 6 AM convoy — the day only works with the early start
- Carry a valid photo ID; permits ride with the operator
- Book the Parrot Island boat in advance if you want it
- Wear proper walking shoes, not flip-flops — the caves are slippery
- Carry water, light snacks, cash, sunscreen and mosquito repellent
- Follow the guide in the caves and on the volcano walkway
Don't
- No photography anywhere in the tribal reserve — this is enforced
- Never stop the vehicle or open windows during the convoy
- No interaction of any kind with the Jarawa
- Don't touch the cave formations — oils from skin stop their growth
- Don't plan it in heavy rain — the creek ride and caves both suffer
- Don't cut the 3 PM return convoy fine
Best time to go
October to April is the reliable window — clear roads, calm creek water and good visibility in the caves. May and September are workable shoulder months: greener, quieter, cheaper, with the odd shower. Roughly June to August the day gets genuinely difficult — heavy rain hurts the road, the boats and the cave access — and we'll usually talk you out of it rather than sell it.
Whatever the month, go on a weekday if you can, and front-load the day: the caves and volcanoes are at their best in the cooler morning hours. For the month-by-month picture, see our Andaman weather guide .
Baratang questions we get asked
Is Baratang Island safe to visit?
Yes — the convoy system exists precisely to keep the journey through the reserve forest orderly and monitored. Travel with an authorised operator, follow the convoy rules and the guides' instructions, and it's a smooth, safe day.
What does a Baratang day trip cost?
Indicatively: group day tours around ₹1,500–2,500 per person including transport, permits and boat rides; a private car around ₹4,000–6,000 per vehicle. Add a little for lunch and the optional Parrot Island boat. We quote exact current prices on WhatsApp — these move season to season.
Can we stay overnight in Baratang?
There are a few basic guesthouses, but facilities are limited and almost everyone does Baratang as a day trip from Port Blair — a full day comfortably covers the caves, the volcanoes and the creek.
Are cameras allowed in Baratang?
At the attractions, yes — the caves, mud volcanoes, mangrove creek and Parrot Island are all fine to photograph. In the tribal reserve during the convoy, photography is strictly prohibited and the rule is enforced. Ask your guide whenever unsure.
Can elderly people manage the limestone caves?
The caves need a 1.2 km walk plus some scrambling inside, which can be hard with mobility issues. The mud volcanoes (short walkway) and the mangrove boat ride are much more accessible — the day can be shaped around what's comfortable.
Is food available in Baratang?
Basic local restaurants operate near the jetty and in Baratang town — simple Indian food, perfectly decent. Options are limited, so we carry snacks and water, and most tour packages include a lunch arrangement.
How this page stays true
Ported from our long-running Baratang guide and re-checked 10 July 2026, now with our own trip photography — taken only where the reserve rules allow. Convoy timings and tour prices change with the season, so treat the numbers here as the recent pattern — we confirm the current ones on the day we book your trip. The reserve-forest rules are not ours; they're enforced, and we follow them without exception.
Want the expedition day?
Tell us your dates and we'll say honestly whether Baratang fits your trip — and if it does, we handle the convoy timing, permits, boats and the 5 AM logistics.