The Andaman Islands form an arc of over 500 islands in the Bay of Bengal, part of India but lying closer to Thailand and Myanmar, and offering motor yacht charter in some of the most unspoiled coral and mangrove environments in the Indian Ocean. The season runs from late October to early May, when the northeast monsoon delivers stable winds and flat seas, and visibility below the waterline regularly exceeds 20 metres. Motor yachts chartered in the Andamans are typically expedition-capable vessels able to range across the full island group without needing to return to Port Blair each night. The fleet is smaller than the Mediterranean, numbering a handful of well-equipped vessels from 25 to 55 metres, with shallow-draft tenders suited to the coral-fringed anchorages. Crew typically hold dive certifications, and most charters include a lead guide familiar with Andaman wildlife and permit requirements. Charter rates for motor yachts in the Andaman Islands run from around 60,000 euros per week at the compact end to over 300,000 euros per week for the larger expedition vessels, before an advance provisioning allowance covering fuel, provisions and any permit fees. Permits are required to enter tribal exclusion zones and certain restricted islands, and a local operator is typically engaged to manage the paperwork before departure. Motor yacht itineraries in the Andamans typically begin in Port Blair, then move south through Chiriyatapu to the Ritchie Archipelago, anchoring off Havelock Island at Radhanagar Beach, rated one of the finest in Asia. Neil Island follows, with its coral gardens accessible by snorkel at low water. Further south, the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor protects an immense reef system, while North and Middle Andaman carry deserted mangrove passages rarely visited by any vessel under power.
