North Andaman

Saddle Peak · Ross & Smith Islands

Centred on the town of Diglipur, North Andaman is the least touristed corner of the main island chain — a full day's drive or ferry from Port Blair, which is exactly why it stays quiet. Saddle Peak National Park holds the archipelago's highest point at 732 metres, with a rainforest trail that's as much a birdwatching walk as a trek.

The reward at the coast is Ross & Smith Islands — two islets joined by a natural sandbar you can walk across at low tide, with clear water on both sides. Kalipur Beach nearby is a known nesting site for olive ridley and leatherback turtles in season.