VANAMCOVE 
Elephant Beach
Shallow coral beach for snorkelers
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
- Early boat or forest walk
- Shore snorkel at slack tide
- Beach breakfast
- Second snorkel round
- Return by midday
Geography & terrain
Elephant Beach is the small north-east cove of Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island), an arc of soft sand under rainforest cliffs, reached either by a 45-minute forest trail from the Kalapathar road or by a 15-minute boat from the jetty — the island's gentlest snorkelling water.
History & culture
The name puns loosely on the elephant-shaped rock offshore rather than live herds; for two decades the cove has been the island's entry-level snorkel spot, kept simple by design — a shore-based reef, a snack counter and boats ferrying day-trippers from the jetty village.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,200–2,800/nightMid-range
₹2,800–6,000/nightComfort
₹6,000+/nightThings to do
Coral shelf snorkelling
Elephant rock
Forest trail
Cliff views over the bay
Parrotfish & anemone life
Eat & drink
- Grilled reef fish
- Coconut and seafood curries
- Tropical fresh fruit platters
Getting there
- Fly
- Veer Savarkar Airport (IXZ), Port Blair
- Train
- No rail — island chain served by ferries
- Road from Port Blair
- road + ferry hub for all islands
- Getting around
- Autos and scooters on the islands; ferries between them
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹5,500–13,000 (2 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,200–6,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹800–1,200
- Per day · Activities
- ₹800–1,200
Month by month
Practical info
- Language: Hindi / Bengali / Tamil (multi-language islands) (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Oct–Mar
- Connectivity: Patchy off the main islands — download offline maps
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- Mornings only — the bay roughens with the afternoon breeze
- Coral shoes prevent reef cuts on the shelf
- No lifeguards or shade: bring water and a hat, stay inside the sandy arc
Frequently asked questions
The trail (45 minutes of flat rainforest walking) is the prettier route and costs nothing; boats suit families in a hurry.
Yes — this is Havelock's gentlest reef, three to four metres deep and close to shore; a guide is optional but worth it the first time.
The boat service pauses on rough-sea days in monsoon; the trail keeps the beach reachable year-round.
Shallow coral beach for snorkelers
Take the break. We'll take the planning.
Tell us your dates, budget and travel style — we'll build your Elephant Beach plan with day-by-day routing, stays, food and bookings.