How To Reach Lakshadweep? A Complete Guide

This stunning place awaits your presence but it is not that easy. The major obstacle in reaching here is the limited resources available on the internet to plan a trip. However, do not worry, The Wanderers is here with a complete guide to reach Lakshadweep as I hope you are already wondering, "What are my options for traveling to Lakshadweep Islands" after reading the post on Lakshadweep by The Wanderers. Well, there are three, viz., air, ferry, and cruise. All three options are amazing but pose a tradeoff so check them out!

Agatti Island, Lakshadweep

Cruise To Lakshadweep

Flight

Kayaking in Lakshadweep

Water Turns Turquoise

Agatti Island, Lakshadweep

Waves Created By Cruise

1. Flight to Agatti Island

If you come here via flight, you might have the best experience as the beaches you will stay at would be very much like your own private resort. The flight is run once daily from Kochi and Agatti (and Agatti to Kochi) by a single operator called Alliance Air. The tradeoff is that you will have to go through extra documentation and might pay some extra money compared to the ferry trip. You will need police verification to get accommodation at any private beach stay because Lakshadweep is a restricted area. The police verification sometimes takes too much time, and the flights get booked very quickly. So, there is a possibility of you missing the trip altogether for a single document!

However, you will have the opportunity to enjoy 3-4 lagoon islands for however long your wallet lets you. The ideal time is 3-4 days in which you cover Agatti, Bangaram, Thinnakara, and Kalpiti Islands by spending at least 40,000 per couple for the stay and meals at a beach resort, and transfer to other islands. You also have the option to take a stay at only Bangaram islands where the ocean sparkles with blue light at night due to bioluminescence! However, this drives up the cost a little and you will stay only on Bangaram Island with limited options to travel to other islands. So, decide accordingly. Coming to Lakshadweep Islands via flight is the best option if you are coming here with family. You should expect at least 25,000 rupees going out of your pocket per person that comes for this trip.

2. Ferry Trip To Reach Lakshadweep From Kochi

The next option is a ferry trip run by the government of India by the name Samudram package. It is a five-day trip from and to Kochi wherein you visit and spend time ashore on Kavaratti, Kalpeni, and Minicoy Islands in the day and are accommodated onboard on the ship M.V. Kavaratti in the night. The ferry cruise gives you two main accommodation options, dormitory, and rooms. The tradeoff is the ferry experience as it is a government-run vessel charging 37,500 per adult for the trip. Expect a mediocre experience from the stay on the ferry, but the islands it covers are probably the best and might make you forget about any moderate ferry experience.

Minicoy Island can only be practically visited via this package. However, some other islands can be visited through a few other packages available on the Lakshadweep Tourism Department's website. The Samudram package is ideal for solo travelers and people looking for the best island experience. But remember, the cruise experience might not be ideal. If you however want a true cruise experience, we have the third option waiting for you!

3. A Cruise Trip To Take A Peek Inside Lakshadweep

You can visit Lakshadweep island without any documentation or government interference if you choose to take a trip via the Cordelia cruise. The experience is a must, however, the tradeoff is huge, at least in the current context. You would visit only one island for a maximum duration of 5 hours. The cruise trip also costs over 35,000 per person but you get you experience a cruise for 3 to 4 nights and visit another major tourist destination along with one of the islands of the group! I visited Lakshadweep by this method and explored Agatti Island. However, I do not recommend this mode to reach Lakshadweep as you will not get to experience the islands. If you just want an extra experience from your cruise trip via Cordelia, only then you should come Lakshadweep via this mode.

So, now it is up to you to decide how to reach here. A quick tip is to contact an authorized travel agency for safeguarding yourself from any trouble for the trip via airways or ferry. These are available on the tourism website.

Check out the posts on Lakshadweep and Goa to see which fits you more for a beach vacation.

Don't hesitate to contact me for any relevant information!