National park · India
Smith and Ross Islands
Visit Smith and Ross Islands: take a short boat from Diglipur to Ross Island for the ruins and lighthouse (30 min), or stay for a full‑day turtle‑nesting walk on Smith Island (check season) – entry may require a permit.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
approximate
Established
2026
Best months
—
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
At a glance
- Country
- India
- Area
- 1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
- Very small islands; total land area roughly 0.5 km² (check).
- Established
- 2026
- Best months
- —
- Permits
- For some areas
Smith and Ross Islands are tiny Andaman islands reachable from Diglipur, known for British‑era ruins on Ross Island, a 1973 lighthouse, and seasonal Olive Ridley turtle nesting on Smith Island.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2026.
Size and age
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 2026
Very small islands; total land area roughly 0.5 km² (check).
Why go
- Explore historic British ruins on Ross Island.
- Climb to the 1973 lighthouse for views of the Andaman archipelago.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayAvoid
- JunAvoid
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepAvoid
- OctCaution
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanOlive Ridley nesting season
- FebTurtles still nesting
- MarEnd of nesting, occasional rain
- AprHeat rises, fewer turtles
- MayHot, monsoon approaching
- JunMonsoon season
- JulMonsoon, rough seas
- AugMonsoon, rough seas
- SepMonsoon, rough seas
- OctPost‑monsoon, sea calmer
- NovStart of nesting season
- DecNesting season
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Ridley turtles (nesting)Nov–Mar · Observe from a distance; no lights on beach | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Diglipur
Local boat from Diglipur jetty; 15–20 min ride
0.5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Ross Island | Ruins, lighthouse, short trails | Open with boat ticket |
| Smith Island | Beach, Olive Ridley nesting sites | Open with boat ticket; guided walk advised |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate centre points of the islands; use local maps for exact landing spots.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boat fee to Ross Island (per person) | INR 500–800 (≈ US$6–10) | person | Check with local operators in Diglipur |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit permit or guide
Park rules
- Drones
- Not allowed without permissioncheck
- Camping
- Not permitted on the islands; stay in Diglipur
- Fire
- Open fires prohibited; use designated grills on Diglipur beach
Where to stay
Near the park
Diglipur town
Guesthouses and budget hotels; base for boat trips
Safety
Strong currents medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Boat access only; islands not wheelchair‑friendly
Visiting lightly
- Avoid plastic; take rubbish back to Diglipur
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Smith and Ross Islands?
Boat fees from Diglipur are about ₹500–₹800 per person; a park entry permit may be required and is usually included in the boat price.
What are the best hikes in Smith and Ross Islands?
Short walks to the Ross Island ruins and lighthouse (easy) and a guided 2–3 hour turtle‑nesting walk on Smith Island (moderate).
When is the best time to visit Smith and Ross Islands?
For turtle nesting, aim for Nov–Feb; overall weather is most stable Jan–Mar and Oct–Nov.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Smith and Ross Islands
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