Most of you know that I had recently gone on a cruise to the Lakshadweep Islands that is situated to the west of the Kerala coast in India. A lot of my friends and readers alike had expressed interest in knowing more about this tropical paradise. So I decided to put together this small report that aims to answer most of your questions and also provide my review based on my experience.
Questions and Answers
When did you go to Lakshadweep Islands?
Feb 08 to Feb 12, 2010
When is the best time to go to Lakshadweep?
After the monsoons to before the summers
Does one require special permission to go to Lakshadweep Islands?
Yes. Indians are allowed on all islands, but foreign tourists are allowed only to the islands of Agatti, Bangaram and Kadmat. Permissions can be got at the Lakshadweep Tourism office at Cochin or through your travel operator.
What are the available modes of commute to Lakshadweep?
By Air to Agatti Island or by cruise liners from Mumbai, Mangalore or Cochin.
How did you book your travel?
I booked through SPORTS (Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports) that handles all administration for Lakshadweep travel and tourism. They offer various packages to suit different needs.
Which package did you take?
I took the Coral Reef Package 5D/4N.
Did you book online or go through a travel agent?
I looked up the packages online at Lakshadweep Tourism’s website and then booked my tickets through their associated travel agent Clipper Holidays located close to Brigade Road at Bangalore.
How much did the package cost?
The overall package cost me INR 12,500 per head inclusive of taxes. Though, I spent additional for water sports like scuba diving (INR 2500 per dive; a dive lasts between 45 minutes to 90 minutes) and snorkelling (INR 100 per hour towards gear rental).
Which all islands were covered as part of this package?
Kavaratti, Kadmat and Kalpeni.
What all are covered in this package?
Accommodation on ship (dormitory, 4 person cabins or 2 person cabins) depending on class of booking. I had opted for the dormitory, that is similar to a train’s AC compartment. All food during the course of the journey either on the ship or on the islands. Island Sightseeing and some water sport activities.
Can you give more details about the day-to-day itinerary? This is not available on the Lakshadweep Tourism website.
Note: I have linked my blog posts to respective sections of the itinerary for your convenience.
Day 1: 8 AM: Report at Lakshadweep tourism office at Willingdon Island, Cochin to collect boarding pass. Security Check. Board bus to Cochin Port. Board Ship. Explore ship and enjoy Cochin harbour view. 1 PM: Lunch on ship. 3 PM: Ship leaves Cochin Harbour. Rest in your respective places or enjoy the ocean view and evening sunset. Night on the ship.
Day 2: Breakfast on Ship. Shortly, land on Kavaratti Island. Welcome session followed by relaxation on the beach, glass boat rides, swimming, kayaking and snorkelling. Lunch at Kavaratti. Local sightseeing including some rocky beaches, the marine museum and the desalination plant. Back to ship after evening tea. Evening, dinner and night on ship.
Day 3: Breakfast on ship. Shortly, land on pretty Kadmat Island. Welcome session followed by relaxation on the beach. Others went for local sightseeing while my friend and I went for scuba diving and snorkelling with Lacadives, a professional diving outfit at Kadmat. Spent the afternoon and evening exploring the beach. Then there was evening tea and snacks and then back to the ship. Dinner and night on ship.
Day 4: Breakfast on ship. Take a boat to Kalpeni Island. Welcome drink followed by kayaking and snorkelling session on nearby island. This was followed by lunch and some local sightseeing, which we chose to skip and instead chill out on the beach side under the shade as it was quite warm. Then, there was evening tea and snacks and then we walked to the main jetty through the island though we had the option of taking the bus/jeep. Back to ship. Dinner and Night on ship.
Day 5: Breakfast on ship. Arrival at Cochin Harbour by 10 AM. Disembark by 11:30 AM.
Which cruise liner too you to these islands?
Arabian Sea, the latest addition to the Lakshadweep government’s fleet.
Is liquor available at Lakshadweep?
Only at Bangaram Island.
What activities can one engage in at Lakshadweep?
Water sports stand high on the list with scuba diving, kayaking, snorkelling and water games being very popular. The beaches are great to explore and so are the islands with their nature’s bounty and local culture. Relaxing on the beaches with a book in hand is also a popular option.
Did you like your cruise to Lakshadweep Islands?
I absolutely loved it.
Would you go there again?
Definitely. These islands will always remain on my travel bucket-list.
Are 4N/5D enough for one to enjoy Lakshadweep?
Maybe not. But, staying longer is expensive as accommodation on the islands are pricey due to monopoly in the hotel business and some islands having private status. Instead, one can take different cruise packages and explore more places and islands.
What is your Review? Any Feedback?
The Place
The islands are fantastic. There is nothing that I dislike about the Lakshadweep Islands. I am just mesmerized by them. The tender coconut water is the best I have ever tasted.
The Cruise
Fortunately for me, I boarded a brand new ship and hence did not find anything wrong with the cruise liner. Instead, I found it to be a iron beauty. Though, I would say that the toilets in the dormitory section can be increased. They have 2 toilets (Male) and 2 toilets (Female) for 210 passengers. The food on the ship left a lot to be desired. They hardly had any taste or variety. But, then, I guess, for the money, it was worth it.
There is hardly any entertainment on the ship. So one should plan and carry their music, games and movies with them to keep themselves occupied. And, finally, folks prone to sea sickness, do remember to carry your medication as the ship can roll a bit.
If you have more questions, feel free to comment below. That way, I can try and make this post a great FAQ for taking cruises to Lakshadweep Islands.
This was great!!! thanks for all the info... very useful!
ReplyDeleteThank you Anu - I am happy that you find this info useful.
ReplyDeleteplease provide telephone no of cruise agent
ReplyDeleteDepending on your location, you can choose the agent contact numbers from this page: http://www.lakshadweeptourism.com/agents.html
ReplyDeletethanks buddy,
ReplyDeleteone mre thing can u have any idea of maldive ?
any cruise agent or any information review?
I haven't been to Maldives as yet and hence cant comment much about reviews or agent contacts. I guess you will just have to scout online.
ReplyDeleteGreat info, just what I was looking for. Just a couple of questions,if I choose the Coral Reef Package is there an option to travel to Minicoy instead of Kadamat, after Kalpeni and Kavaratti? I ask this question because in the website http://www.lakshadweeptourism.com/tourpackages.html they say we can "visit any of the three islands of Kavaratti,Kalpeni,Minicoy and Kadmat by ship- MV Arabian Sea."
ReplyDeleteThanks in advance
Thank you Sandy! I am glad you found the information helpful.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question, you need to directly check with Lakshadweep tourism about their schedule. They say any 3 islands, but the choice is not with the tourist. What they mean to say is that, some days, they will visit islands A,B and C and the other days, they will visit islands B, D and E. You will have to check out which trip works for you and select accordingly. I hope this answers your questions.
This definitely answers my questions.Thank you. Here are a few more queries that I have.
ReplyDelete1. Every morning when we leave the ship for an island, are we taken to any resort or do we directly head towards the beach?
2.Regarding Scuba diving, a) Does everyone get a chance to do this or is it on a first come first serve basis till all the slots are booked? b) How can I make sure I don't miss out on this?
1) You are taken to a makeshift setup. This is where food is served and cleaning facilities are available. Since most of the time you will be exploring the island, there is no need for a resort.
ReplyDelete2) for scuba diving, you need to book in advance with the diving agencies. In Kadmat, it is Lacadives and in Kavaratti, it is a govt setup. But, if you are not a certified diver, you can only do discover scuba diving. However, snorkelling and kayaking can be done easily.
Thanks for the clarification again! Now when you say we have to book for scuba diving in advance, do you mean that we need to book it when we reach the island or we should book it before we start the trip? If it is the second scenario then can you please give some info as to how we can book it with Lacadives.
ReplyDeleteYou need to book well before you reach there. I would recommend that you book the scuba dive right after you book you cruise. That way, you will have control over the date and timing. For contact, look up www.lacadives.com
ReplyDeleteI checked the website however they have not given any info as to how we can book. Can you please tell me where you had done your booking? It seems like they have their offices in Bangalore and Mumbai only, where as I am from Pune.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend you call the Mumbai office and block your dates. This interaction will also help you get more ideas too and the rates.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good idea. Thanks! You have been very helpful.
ReplyDeleteThe pleasure has been mine Sandy!
ReplyDeletewhat is the current budget in INR currency taking consideration coral reef package 5D/4N?
ReplyDeleteDOES it is suitable for vegetarians....?
For the current price, you will need to contact Lakshadweep tourism directly or through the travel agents on their website. The rates vary with class of accommodation that you seek.
ReplyDeleteRegarding food, they serve both veg and non-veg food on the ship. I am a vegetarian and had no problems. Though, please do not have high expectations with the food. Expect it to be edible and normal :-)
where can we a book a cruise from Mangalore to lalshadweep
ReplyDeleteAll cruises can be booked through the travel agents as per the websites provided in this post.
ReplyDeleteFor the current price, you will need to contact Lakshadweep tourism directly or through the travel agents on their website. The rates vary with class of accommodation that you seek.
ReplyDeleteRegarding food, they serve both veg and non-veg food on the ship. I am a vegetarian and had no problems. Though, please do not have high expectations with the food. Expect it to be edible and normal :-)
The informations are very useful
ReplyDeletealways happy to help Aravind!
ReplyDeleteJust what I was looking for, This is the most comprehensive info about Lakshadweep cruises that I have come across. I am definitely planning a trip to Lakshadweep now. I had 1 question though. Are there any cruise liners which have onboard entertainment like a pool, gaming section, etc.. more like Star cruise Virgo/Libra?
ReplyDeleteNo. The only cruises that ply these waters are run by Lakshadweep tourism. They do not have any fancy services like the other global ones, but are pretty decent in terms of accommodation. The food is decent too, though not too fancy. The price is very low and hence nothing additional is provided.
ReplyDeletewhat type of food is available on the cruises.
ReplyDeleteboth veg and non-veg, though nothing exotic.
ReplyDeletehi, i dono swimming so still can i do this scuba diving, and other water sports. Else it will be a waste going there.
ReplyDeleteAmazin info buddy. :)
ReplyDelete1 question rather doubt currency used is INR only right over there. ??
Thanks
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Navneet!
ReplyDeleteSir, is there any cruise available for mumbai to lakshadweep..
ReplyDeleteBharat
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Sankara wow very informative, like a moving guide... i hv my schedule on oct '13, your comments would surely help
ReplyDeleteI am very happy to hear that. Hope you have a great time in Lakshadweep.
ReplyDeletehi m hetal from mumbai. me & hubby r planning lakshdweep in nov 13 for our anniversary & r bit confused as der is no luxury der is it right occassion to be der or should go to andamans.how is kadmat resort? 4 days will be leisure or simply nothing to do? plz reply soon. if we go andaman advance booking is to be done or can go der & select place to stay.
ReplyDeleteHetal,
ReplyDeleteLakshadweep has luxury, but it will be close to 40,000 per night. If that is what you want, fly into Agatti and Bangaram islands. If you want entry level luxury, you can find at Kadmat. If you are looking at Andamans, you can take a look at Havelock island. Lots of hotels have luxury options on Beach no. 7 and Beach no 5. Booking online is purely upto you. It depends on the time of the year and season. if you are very particular about the room and the experience, you should book online. you can look up travelguru for options. I hope this helps.
Do they have a suite on d cruise liner?
ReplyDeleteHi Sankara!
ReplyDeleteI have been through your report a lot of times. but I, somehow, cant get myself to book a pre designed tour. Is there a way I can customise the trip. Like, I plan what all islands i visit and make bookings likewise. Does SPORTS permit that? would that be costly?
If you don't want to take a tour, go on the hop on, hop off trips, where you get dropped on an island like Kadmat or Kavaratti or the likes and then you can stay there, do your thing and either return to the mainland or travel to the next island. You can contact SPORTS and avail of this option.
ReplyDeleteit is approx INR 25000 per head all inclusive of transport, food sightseeing ex Cochin per head please do contact Ms. Sheenu Mammen 9845596820 or Mammen Varghese 9845036310
ReplyDeleteThank you Mammen for the details. I am sure my readers will appreciate this piece of information.
ReplyDeleteHi can you tell me please if network for mobiles were available in all the places on places wherever went
ReplyDeleteHi Sankara...
ReplyDeleteCame across your blog first time and it is very informative and really looks like a guide. Me and my husband are planning to visit islands and want to cover as many Islands we can cover in 5 days trip among 10 Islands. But when we go through packages, we found that we can see only 3/2/1 Islands. We are planning like , travel in ship @ night times and spend the day time in islands. So in this course how many we can cover and what is the best way (package/going self)? Or is it possible to cover more than 3 Islands? Help me in this regard with appreciated information. I got some information from http://lakshadweep.nic.in/
You can cover more islands. In fact, you can create your own customized holiday. All you have to do is check with your nearest Lakshadweep travel agent. You can check the Lakshadweep website for all the approved travel agents.
ReplyDeleteAre tourists permitted to carry their own liquor while visiting island
ReplyDelete