Being a quiet island with long stretches of beaches, Neil is a tropical destination through and through. This little untouched island in Andaman is a visitor’s paradise, ready for beach babies and water sport junkies. It is a relatively new island, with settlement that only arrived in 1960. It is also small and close knit, with only 17 square km and a population of 2000. The main occupation of people here is farming. They produce almost all of the vegetables supplied in Andaman. Hence Neil Island is also called the salad bowl of Andaman.

The weather here is generally pleasant all year round, but the best time to visit Neil Island is from October to May, that is, its winters and summers.

October marks the onset of tourist season in Neil Island. It also sets the tone for tropical winters here, which are not cold but pleasant and drier than other months. Sightseeing blooms as skies are clear, sunsets and sunrises full on the horizon. Water sports are the most fun at this time of the year and temperatures range anywhere from 14-30°C. They also celebrate the 10-day long Island Tourism Festival at this time, where tourists from far flung countries come just to enjoy, dress up and be one with this island. 

If it is your first time to Neil Island then we recommend winter for your trip.

The great Indian summers are considered to be quite hot. But Neil island is spared the misery, as its tropical climate and surrounding waters cool the place even through the heat of summer. March marks the end of winter and beginning of summer. The weather is warm and humid, but bearable. Humidity can rise as months progress (as high as 80%). The average summer temperature here is 34°C.

Mornings and afternoons can be sweltering sometimes. However, cool moist breezes sweep the island by evening and everything becomes airy. This season may not be the most ideal for tourists but because school summer vacations fall in this time in India, you may find some crowd.

Neil Island receives moderate to heavy rainfall every year. June to September marks the monsoon season and rains are frequent. The land becomes wet, farms and trees lush. As Neil is also the salad bowl of Andaman aka the place where most of the island’s vegetables  are grown, monsoon is a significant season for the locals.

For tourism, the area doesn’t see much influx as water sports are not possible in choppy, swelling seas. Nature enthusiasts and luxury travellers may still choose monsoon for the sweeping sights of the landscape.