Barren Island
The only active volcano in South Asia, seen from the sea.
Overview
Barren Island is home to the only active volcano in South Asia, rising sharply from the sea east of the main archipelago, and it remains one of the more specialist add-ons to an Andaman itinerary. Very few standard tour packages include it at all.
There is no landing permitted on the island, so viewing is entirely from a boat, and the trip requires special permission from the forest department, usually arranged well in advance through an operator running dive or expedition trips. The stark black rock of the crater slopes runs straight into the water with almost no vegetation, a landscape unlike the rest of the tropical Andamans. Occasional steam or ash confirms the volcano is genuinely active, and the sheer drama of the crater-to-sea view makes the demanding logistics genuinely worth the effort for the right kind of traveller.
What to see and do
Active Volcano
Only active volcano in the region, occasionally releasing visible steam and ash from its crater.
Crater-to-Sea Landscape
Dramatic black volcanic rocks and steep crater slopes descend directly into the surrounding ocean waters.
Remote Diving
Pristine surrounding waters attract experienced divers on permitted expedition trips exploring unique marine life nearby.
Rare Wildlife
A small resilient wildlife population survives on this isolated and extraordinary volcanic island ecosystem alone.
How to reach
By boat from Port Blair with forest-department permission, sometimes on dive or expedition trips.
Good to know
- Landing is not permitted here, this stays strictly a from-the-sea viewing experience only.
- Requires forest-department permission that should be arranged well in advance of travel.
- Trip stays weather-dependent and is not suited to a tightly fixed travel schedule.
Explore
Barren Island in Our Packages
Tell us your dates and what you are after, and our Port Blair team will build an itinerary that fits this island in at the right pace.
