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Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Mayabunder (Karmatang Beach)

Turtle beach at Karmatang with Karen villages inland on Middle Andaman

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Best time to visit Mayabunder (Karmatang Beach)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: December to March
  • Shoulder: April and November, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: July to August

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryMarchDecember

Mayabunder (Karmatang Beach) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec-Feb is the season: green turtles haul out at Karmatang after dark and the sea is flat enough for the Avis Island run

Summer March to May Prime time

March and April are dry near 33 C and the Interview Island permit still comes through before May squalls build

Monsoon June to September Mixed, read the detail

Jul-Aug the Avis and Interview boats stop and the trunk road turns to mud; June and September are wet but passable

Autumn October to November Shoulder

October rain thins and November brings the water back clear, with Karmatang empty and turtle season just starting

What Mayabunder (Karmatang Beach) is actually like

One bazaar street, a PWD guest house and two lodges; evenings are the jetty, fishing boats and a very early dinner

Things to do in Mayabunder

The local places worth your time in and around Mayabunder, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Karmatang Beach

    Beach · 13 km out

    Turtle nesting beach 13 km from town; the Mayabunder forest division releases olive ridley hatchlings here.

  • Avis Island

    Island · 5 km out

    Uninhabited coconut island 20 minutes by boat from Mayabunder harbour; landing needs special forest department permission.

  • Interview Island

    Wildlife · 30 km out

    Wildlife sanctuary island with feral elephants first brought for logging; about 3 hours by dinghy through Austen Strait.

  • German Jetty

    Heritage · 2 km out

    Old jetty about 2 km from town, said to have been built by a German engineer during the Second World War.

  • Webi

    Village · 10 km out

    First Karen village in the Andamans, founded in the 1920s, 10 km from the jetty; women weave sling bags at Andaman Karen Crafts.

Getting to Mayabunder (Karmatang Beach)

Bus up the Andaman Trunk Road from Port Blair, about 10 hours, or 2 hours north of Rangat; ferries call at the jetty

Practical ways in: flightroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
11 m
State
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Coordinates
12.9245, 92.8985

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Mayabunder (Karmatang Beach)?

December to March is peak season in Mayabunder (Karmatang Beach). April and November is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid July to August. Dec-Feb is the season: green turtles haul out at Karmatang after dark and the sea is flat enough for the Avis Island run.

How many days do you need in Mayabunder (Karmatang Beach)?

3 days is the usual stay. One bazaar street, a PWD guest house and two lodges; evenings are the jetty, fishing boats and a very early dinner.

How do you get to Mayabunder (Karmatang Beach)?

Bus up the Andaman Trunk Road from Port Blair, about 10 hours, or 2 hours north of Rangat; ferries call at the jetty. Practical ways in: flight and road.

Is Mayabunder (Karmatang Beach) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

Is there a festival in Mayabunder (Karmatang Beach)?

Dec/Jan: Karen New Year at Webi village. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Mayabunder?

Karmatang Beach, Avis Island, Interview Island, German Jetty and Webi. Turtle nesting beach 13 km from town; the Mayabunder forest division releases olive ridley hatchlings here.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

All 9 destinations in Andaman & Nicobar Islands