Barefoot at Havelock Resort

The Andaman Islands is India’s secret paradise; it’s ivory coloured beaches and pristine coral reefs look as idyllic in real life as they do in magazine pictures. At the heart of it sits Barefoot Resort, on Havelock Island. This low-key eco-friendly hideaway is arguably the only good place to stay if visiting the islands and it’s a wonderful place to enjoy the seclusion as it sits within seven acres of organic land. There are 19 cottages and villas that are scattered within tropical foliage. The simplest and cheapest is the Nicobari Cottages; these are made up of bamboo walls and thatched roofs with en suite bathrooms.  The Duplex Cottage has a mezzanine level bedroom with an en-suite as well as upper level day room with views of the rainforest. More contemporary is the air-conditioned Andaman Villa with the most luxurious being the Nicobari Villa. Eating at Barefoot is a real highlight, with seafood as a staple. There’s also a range of pasta dishes as the sous chef is from Italy. One of the biggest draws of Barefoot are the activities, which include snorkelling, scuba diving, boat trips, and bird watching.  Barefoot Resort is arguably one of the most special places to stay in the Indian Subcontinent and ideal if you’re looking to completely get away from it all.

Ideas for your free time

The Andaman Islands are not just a place to flop on the beach, they also offer a myriad of unique activities that will keep you more than occupied over a number of days. At Barefoot choose from escorted nature walks (the island is swathed in primary rainforest), snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing and Auyrevedic spa treatments. The opportunities for world class diving is a real draw to the island as Barefoot was the first, and still is the only, PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Resort in the Andaman Islands, perfect if you are an old hand or if you want to learn.