The first ecologically-friendly resort on Andamans, Barefoot at Havelock Island is located on Beach No. 7, that TIME Magazine rated as the best in Asia. Inspired by the natural beauty of the Andaman Islands, the resort was built in local traditional style, using only the natural indigenous materials. Set behind a lovely stretch of white sand, in seven acres of tropical rainforest and fruit trees, it merges seamlessly with its surrounding rainforest, offering its guests a true local experience.
Built on stilts and with locally sourced, mostly organic materials, Barefoot at Havelock Island offers just 31 thatched cottages and villas. These are grouped in primarily three types, all of which (except two) are air-conditioned, spacious in size and come with a balcony. In addition, there is one each of fan-cooled villa and cottage. Inside, décor is minimalistic but elegantly furnished with four poster beds, large windows and balconies with a comfortable sit-out.
The in-house restaurant at Barefoot at Havelock Island serves delicious traditional and Thai cuisine either in the dining area or al fresco with views of the sea. There is a lovely communal lounge where guests can sit back and relax in the evenings. Guests have easy access to one of the best beaches in Asia as well as world-class diving sites. Barefoot has its own PADI certified diving school and offers courses and pleasure dives. Other activities include kayaking, fishing, and bird watching.
Amenities
24hr Room ServiceBar/PubCoffee ShopConciergeLibraryMultilingual StaffOutdoor PoolRestaurantSafety Deposit BoxesSpa/SaunaWi-Fi AvailableYoga Classes/Instruction On SiteStay Barefoot at Havelock Island features 31 thatched cottages and villas. Inspired by traditional "Nicobari Hut" used for dwelling by the local tribe in Nicobar Islands, each of these are built with indigenous raw materials using bamboo and wood. Inside, rooms are furnished with polished wooden floors, large four-poster beds and sitting area with plush sofas. All have designer lighting, a balcony with seating and large bathrooms. Amenities include a fan, air-conditioning and 24-hr hot and cold water.
ChildCare Families with children are welcome to stay at Barefoot at Havelock. Although there are no specific facilities for children, they will enjoy the surrounds and pristine beaches of Havelock Island. There are many water sports on offer as well as boat trips to neighbouring islands.
Dine There is an in-house restaurant at Barefoot at Havelock Island serving Indian or European cuisine, primarily focussed on fresh seafood. Most ingredients are locally sourced and are organically grown, fish is from the catch of the day and chicken and eggs free range. Adjacent to the restaurant is a bar lounge, stocked with a range of Indian and imported beverages, including a fine selection of Indian wines.
Relax The OMA Spa at Barefoot at Havelock Island offers unique therapies specialized by eastern and western holistic techniques. In Sanskrit Oma means 'life giver'. The Spa is based on holistic and natural, back to the earth wellness and beautification. Here you can relax on an altogether deeper dimension, as the therapists' dextrous fingers massage away the tension, cleanse the body and rejuvenate the spirit. There is also yoga and Ayurveda centre.
Experience There are wide range of activities on offer at Barefoot at Havelock Island, of which diving is the most popular. Most diving sites are no deeper than 20 meters but newer and deeper sites are being discovered. The dive sites are between 30 minutes and 2 hours by boat and vary with regards to topography and fish life. The coral reefs are full of tropical fish, turtles, barracuda, rays, Napoleon fish and the elusive dugong. Other activities include nature walks and bird watching tours.
Location This small resort is set in rainforest and tropical fruit trees behind a pristine 2 kilometres of white sand, quirkily named Beach No. 7 at Havelock Island in the Bay of Bengal.
Getting there There are daily flights on a variety of airlines from Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai to Port Blair. From Chennai, in South India, it’s a two-hour flight to the capital of Port Blair, on South Andaman Island. Havelock is then a 1.5-hour transfer by private speedboat. You can use the standard ferry between Port Blair and Havelock, but this does not always connect with the flight schedule.
When to go The best time to visit the Andamans is December to May although the high season lasts until early January. Avoid June to August as monsoons hit the island. September to November can be rainy, but still pleasant. Diving is best between December and April. Game fishing is best from mid-January to mid-March, which is also when turtles nest and dugongs come to feed on the sea-grass. Foreigners must obtain a permit at the Port Blair airport and keep it with them.
Destination
Southern, India
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