Minicoy Island
Minicoy Island
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- Arup CKolkata (Calcutta), India10,277 contributionsA dream dayout on a dream Island..On our Lakshadweep 3 Island trip of Samudram package by MV Kavaratti ship..we visit Minicoy as 2nd Island after Kalpeni.. After disembarkment from MV Kavaratti..by boat we arrive on Minicoy jetty..then first place we visit Minicoy Lighthouse..360 degree panoramic view from the top of the lighthouse of Arabian sea n full Island is just mesmerising.. Next we arrive at Minicoy beach resort and get welcome with welcome dring..white sand and transparent blue waves is like a wallpaer frame,,just like to be a part of a dream frame.. Proceed hurry for registered for SCUBA,,and shortly went for it..it indeed a wonderful experience..with lots of corals and colorful fishes..then getting back with kayaking on sea.. Minicoy have a long flat belt of sandy not deep wated..lagoon type..perfect for sea bath.. After all watersports activity..we have a wonderful lunch and then make a long walk along beach..experiencing a magical coral beach during our walk.. After getting back..we proceed for experiencing village life of island..we went to Village community center, get wonderful evening local sweet n snax and get very well description of village panchayat system..also get privileged to see Jahadhoni..the racing boat..a winner.. After having a good sundown time at beach..we proceed to jetty to get return to our ship.. Three island we visited in out trip..according to us..Minicoy is best..and love to be here..to spend some days only here..Visited February 2020Written March 28, 2020
- Pushkar M.1 contributionPiece of Paradise !!A real gem!! Minicoy island is hands down one of the most beautiful places I've been to. Turquoise green lagoon for a kilometer and then the sea of deep blue shade beyond the coral reef. You could spend an entire day just looking at the water. The rooms were big & airy. Staff was very courteous & friendly. Had a blast doing water sports activities. Snorkeling was a pleasure. And to top it off, sumptuous & delicious food made in the local style. The journey on ship to & from Kochi was good too. Do not miss this place! Thanks Mr. Irshad Hussain of Lakshadweep Voyage to arrange everything smoothly. We didn't have to worry about anything. He has a transparent way of dealing. We would recommend him to anybody wanting to visit Lakshadweep.Visited March 2023Traveled with familyWritten March 18, 2023
- 2004Traveller9 contributionsMust visit in your lifetimeOne of the most beautiful island and beaches in india and it stands out for its pristine nature. The island beach resort(the only) is at its best and the staff are very friendly. We went by swaying palm package which has only Mincoy island and this is good for family with kids to relax and enjoy. Water activities like kayaking, snorkelling in lagoon add to an unforgettable experience. Village and lighthouse visit are only other things that could be done apart from enjoying at the beach resort which makes it a perfect package to explore the island completely. Summers are hot but equally enjoyable.Visited April 2023Traveled with familyWritten April 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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joemdas
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), India65 contributions
Nov 2016 • Friends
We (group of four) reached Kochi on the previous night and stayed overnight at ATS Willingdon hotel. We had booked the Lakshadweep Samudram package conducted by SPORTS, via Mint Valley (a private firm) for 8th – 12th November, 2016; which cost Rs. 26000/- per head inclusive of travel, food and accommodation.
Lakshadweep wharf:
It is located at around 2 km distance from the ATS Willingdon. We reached wharf the next day morning at 9.45 AM (we were instructed to reach there between 9 and 10 AM). It was a double storied building which was very much overcrowded with passengers. We were directed to the SPORTS office on the first floor, where we were issued tickets in exchange for the SDM vouchers. We were given one T-shirt (you can select the size), one cap, one wall calendar and one table calendar for each. Then we went downstairs to stand in the queue for around 45 minutes (this is the toughest part of the whole journey, having to stand in an overcrowded room, that too without AC), before undergoing security check. Then we boarded a bus which took us near the ship. Our luggage (including hand baggage) were carried in another vehicle. Though they tell us that there is no need to collect our baggage as they will reach our cabin, it is better to collect your luggage back before boarding the ship. Then we embarked the ship via stairs into the third deck.
Ship:
The MV Kavaratti ship was a huge one with 5 decks, excluding the upper deck. If you are in fifth deck you have to climb that much number of stairs. Tourists are accommodated mainly in the fourth and fifth decks and some in the third. You can freely access the upper deck, except the front part (you can’t stand like Jack and Rose). The ship is fully air-conditioned. There is a helipad and a mini-hospital with doctor. Small snack & accessory store and recreation hall are also there. The dining hall can accommodate around 90 passengers at a time. It has two life boats and almost 17 life rafts, which will be sufficient if there is an emergency. The daily schedule is like this: you will be spending day time in the islands and resting overnight in the ship. The ship started at 3 PM from Kochi and reached Kavaratti at 6.30 AM. At night, the ship will be moving to the next island. Our return journey started from Minicoy at 5.30 PM and ended at Kochi at 9.30 AM.
Room:
The room is air-conditioned, medium sized with two bunk beds. The bed size is more than sufficient to accommodate a normal man. Side rails are present and for climbing to the upper bed, a ladder is provided. A fan, two big cupboards (each can be locked separately – locks can be brought or bought from the snack store after 5 PM on the first day). One table, two chairs and a mirror are there. Some racks in the table cannot be opened. The key for racks or for the rooms will not be provided. Two life jackets are also present. One window is there through which you can see the outside, but should not be opened. You will be provided with one soap and 1L mineral water bottle for each. The mineral water bottles are given every day, whether you use it or not. The bed sheets will not be changed throughout the journey. While you go out to visit the islands, the rooms will be kept locked by the crew. One announcement speaker is present in each room, the volume of which can be adjusted. Just listen to the announcements made in English, as only these are for the tourists. The main announcements made are around 6.30 AM for breakfast, 7.30 AM for disembarkation and at 7.30 PM for dinner.
Toilet:
The toilet is of average size, clean and contains all the necessary amenities. The shower is hand-held and the temperature is almost always warm (not adjustable). There is never a scarcity of water. European closet is provided.
Food:
Food is supplied in a dining hall. There will be veg and non-veg buffet separately. Those staying in 4th deck will be called separately and 3rd and 5th deck people will be called together (but such rules are often broken by people towards the end of the journey). Once you hear the announcement just rush to the hall, otherwise you will have to stand in a long queue. Plenty of drinking water is available in the ship as well as in the island.
Morning tea – 6.30 AM: Tea/coffee + biscuits
Breakfast – 7.30 AM: Dosa/iddli/upma + curry + cornflakes/bread + scrambled/boiled egg + milk/tea/coffee
Lunch – 1.30 PM: in the island. First day lunch is in the ship. Breakfast on the first day and lunch on the last day are not included in the package. Rice + Chappathi + Currys + Chicken/Tuna + Curd + Vegetables +Dessert. You might get bored of the same kind of food by the end of the trip.
Dinner – 7.30 PM: Recipe same as that of lunch.
Recreation:
Do bring some playing cards / board games for recreation. One recreation room is there, which contains carom boards. Briefing regarding the journey will be given in this room at around 4 PM on the first day. ALCOHOL IS PROHIBITED THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY.
Sea sickness:
None of us experienced a major problem. Minor dizziness was there at around 2 hrs of journey, which rapidly subsided. There is no need to be unduly frightened by this term, especially for those without a past history of motion sickness. Some minor vertigo was experienced by two of us after the entire trip.
Travel:
The travel in the ship is almost like in a bus running at a speed of almost 40 km/hr. Small swaying movements will be there occasionally. Most of the ride is very smooth. Very rarely you might have to catch hold of some nearest support. So be careful while standing near the brim of the decks.
Ship to island and island to ship:
Embarkation / disembarkation is done from 2nd deck. Once the announcement is made, rush to the embarkation door wearing the life jacket provided in the cupboard of the room, otherwise you will have to wait in a long queue. In the sea, you will have to step down into a boat, which carries around 30 people. But this is relatively safe as there are people to support you in the ship and in the boat. The boat journey to the island takes around 20-30 min in Kavaratti and Kalpeni and around 45 min in Minicoy. You will be thrilled by the clear waters of the lagoon. You have to step out of the boat into the island, where there will be cabs to pick you and drop at the beaches. Return journey from the island is usually at around 5 PM. There will be some waves and the boat will be having some swaying with the waves while you try to embark the ship. But this also can be done safely. Life jackets are to be handed over to the island people on getting out of the boat and carried back once you again get into the boat.
Forenoon:
Before lunch, you will be spending time in the lagoon, where you can do all the water sports. Make sure that you apply sunscreen. Lagoons are safe. Kalpeni lagoon has lot of corals which can hurt barefoot. In Minicoy, you can walk in the water for around 500m safely (water will come to your abdomen level only). Life jackets are available in plenty.
Afternoon:
After lunch, you will be taken to some local destinations, in cabs, where you can relax or buy some food items. No major luxury shopping is possible.
Kavaratti: coconut oil factory, marine museum
Kalpeni: North beach, T-shirt factory
Minicoy: Light house, village house
Water sports:
Glass-bottomed boat ride at Kavaratti, snorkeling at Kalpeni and kayaking at Minicoy are free. Payable sports are scuba diving, banana boat ride, speed boat ride and knee boat ride. If planning to do scuba diving, register for it immediately after reaching the island (preferably Kavaratti), paying Rs. 2000/-. I recommend it as a must-do water sports activity, as it is completely safe, except that you may have some apprehension in the beginning. The main thing about snorkeling and scuba is that you have to breathe via mouth. You need not know swimming to participate in either. If afraid, still you can enjoy the clear waters by just swimming / walking around.
Mobile network:
Only BSNL has network in the island. But you may not be able to access internet. In the ship, you are totally cut off from the outside world.
ATM counters:
Available in all islands.
Dress code:
You can wear any kind of dress, but nudity is prohibited.
Minicoy:
This was the third island we visited and the most mesmerizing one. We seem to be in some other world. Very clear waters and the ambience are extraordinary. Here scuba diving is at 6m. We enjoyed walking and swimming in the waters for around 500 m from the shore. Not many corals are there. One member in our group got sun burns. We also enjoyed kayaking. Before the beach visit, we were taken to the Minicoy light house, which has almost 250 steps, but the scenery from the top was breath-taking. In the afternoon, we spent some time relaxing in the island and after that, we were taken to a major village house, where we were given tea and snacks (Mugoo appam and fookuthu).
Must carry items:
1. Sun screen with SPF>40, which should be generously applied over the exposed parts
2. SDM vouchers
3. Photo ID cards
4. Carry your tickets and tourist ID cards (which they will issue from Lakshadweep wharf) throughout the journey
5. Chappals which can be worn in water
6. Paste, brush, hair oil, shampoo
7. Rain coats, if going near monsoon season
8. Mobile phone with BSNL connection
Lakshadweep wharf:
It is located at around 2 km distance from the ATS Willingdon. We reached wharf the next day morning at 9.45 AM (we were instructed to reach there between 9 and 10 AM). It was a double storied building which was very much overcrowded with passengers. We were directed to the SPORTS office on the first floor, where we were issued tickets in exchange for the SDM vouchers. We were given one T-shirt (you can select the size), one cap, one wall calendar and one table calendar for each. Then we went downstairs to stand in the queue for around 45 minutes (this is the toughest part of the whole journey, having to stand in an overcrowded room, that too without AC), before undergoing security check. Then we boarded a bus which took us near the ship. Our luggage (including hand baggage) were carried in another vehicle. Though they tell us that there is no need to collect our baggage as they will reach our cabin, it is better to collect your luggage back before boarding the ship. Then we embarked the ship via stairs into the third deck.
Ship:
The MV Kavaratti ship was a huge one with 5 decks, excluding the upper deck. If you are in fifth deck you have to climb that much number of stairs. Tourists are accommodated mainly in the fourth and fifth decks and some in the third. You can freely access the upper deck, except the front part (you can’t stand like Jack and Rose). The ship is fully air-conditioned. There is a helipad and a mini-hospital with doctor. Small snack & accessory store and recreation hall are also there. The dining hall can accommodate around 90 passengers at a time. It has two life boats and almost 17 life rafts, which will be sufficient if there is an emergency. The daily schedule is like this: you will be spending day time in the islands and resting overnight in the ship. The ship started at 3 PM from Kochi and reached Kavaratti at 6.30 AM. At night, the ship will be moving to the next island. Our return journey started from Minicoy at 5.30 PM and ended at Kochi at 9.30 AM.
Room:
The room is air-conditioned, medium sized with two bunk beds. The bed size is more than sufficient to accommodate a normal man. Side rails are present and for climbing to the upper bed, a ladder is provided. A fan, two big cupboards (each can be locked separately – locks can be brought or bought from the snack store after 5 PM on the first day). One table, two chairs and a mirror are there. Some racks in the table cannot be opened. The key for racks or for the rooms will not be provided. Two life jackets are also present. One window is there through which you can see the outside, but should not be opened. You will be provided with one soap and 1L mineral water bottle for each. The mineral water bottles are given every day, whether you use it or not. The bed sheets will not be changed throughout the journey. While you go out to visit the islands, the rooms will be kept locked by the crew. One announcement speaker is present in each room, the volume of which can be adjusted. Just listen to the announcements made in English, as only these are for the tourists. The main announcements made are around 6.30 AM for breakfast, 7.30 AM for disembarkation and at 7.30 PM for dinner.
Toilet:
The toilet is of average size, clean and contains all the necessary amenities. The shower is hand-held and the temperature is almost always warm (not adjustable). There is never a scarcity of water. European closet is provided.
Food:
Food is supplied in a dining hall. There will be veg and non-veg buffet separately. Those staying in 4th deck will be called separately and 3rd and 5th deck people will be called together (but such rules are often broken by people towards the end of the journey). Once you hear the announcement just rush to the hall, otherwise you will have to stand in a long queue. Plenty of drinking water is available in the ship as well as in the island.
Morning tea – 6.30 AM: Tea/coffee + biscuits
Breakfast – 7.30 AM: Dosa/iddli/upma + curry + cornflakes/bread + scrambled/boiled egg + milk/tea/coffee
Lunch – 1.30 PM: in the island. First day lunch is in the ship. Breakfast on the first day and lunch on the last day are not included in the package. Rice + Chappathi + Currys + Chicken/Tuna + Curd + Vegetables +Dessert. You might get bored of the same kind of food by the end of the trip.
Dinner – 7.30 PM: Recipe same as that of lunch.
Recreation:
Do bring some playing cards / board games for recreation. One recreation room is there, which contains carom boards. Briefing regarding the journey will be given in this room at around 4 PM on the first day. ALCOHOL IS PROHIBITED THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY.
Sea sickness:
None of us experienced a major problem. Minor dizziness was there at around 2 hrs of journey, which rapidly subsided. There is no need to be unduly frightened by this term, especially for those without a past history of motion sickness. Some minor vertigo was experienced by two of us after the entire trip.
Travel:
The travel in the ship is almost like in a bus running at a speed of almost 40 km/hr. Small swaying movements will be there occasionally. Most of the ride is very smooth. Very rarely you might have to catch hold of some nearest support. So be careful while standing near the brim of the decks.
Ship to island and island to ship:
Embarkation / disembarkation is done from 2nd deck. Once the announcement is made, rush to the embarkation door wearing the life jacket provided in the cupboard of the room, otherwise you will have to wait in a long queue. In the sea, you will have to step down into a boat, which carries around 30 people. But this is relatively safe as there are people to support you in the ship and in the boat. The boat journey to the island takes around 20-30 min in Kavaratti and Kalpeni and around 45 min in Minicoy. You will be thrilled by the clear waters of the lagoon. You have to step out of the boat into the island, where there will be cabs to pick you and drop at the beaches. Return journey from the island is usually at around 5 PM. There will be some waves and the boat will be having some swaying with the waves while you try to embark the ship. But this also can be done safely. Life jackets are to be handed over to the island people on getting out of the boat and carried back once you again get into the boat.
Forenoon:
Before lunch, you will be spending time in the lagoon, where you can do all the water sports. Make sure that you apply sunscreen. Lagoons are safe. Kalpeni lagoon has lot of corals which can hurt barefoot. In Minicoy, you can walk in the water for around 500m safely (water will come to your abdomen level only). Life jackets are available in plenty.
Afternoon:
After lunch, you will be taken to some local destinations, in cabs, where you can relax or buy some food items. No major luxury shopping is possible.
Kavaratti: coconut oil factory, marine museum
Kalpeni: North beach, T-shirt factory
Minicoy: Light house, village house
Water sports:
Glass-bottomed boat ride at Kavaratti, snorkeling at Kalpeni and kayaking at Minicoy are free. Payable sports are scuba diving, banana boat ride, speed boat ride and knee boat ride. If planning to do scuba diving, register for it immediately after reaching the island (preferably Kavaratti), paying Rs. 2000/-. I recommend it as a must-do water sports activity, as it is completely safe, except that you may have some apprehension in the beginning. The main thing about snorkeling and scuba is that you have to breathe via mouth. You need not know swimming to participate in either. If afraid, still you can enjoy the clear waters by just swimming / walking around.
Mobile network:
Only BSNL has network in the island. But you may not be able to access internet. In the ship, you are totally cut off from the outside world.
ATM counters:
Available in all islands.
Dress code:
You can wear any kind of dress, but nudity is prohibited.
Minicoy:
This was the third island we visited and the most mesmerizing one. We seem to be in some other world. Very clear waters and the ambience are extraordinary. Here scuba diving is at 6m. We enjoyed walking and swimming in the waters for around 500 m from the shore. Not many corals are there. One member in our group got sun burns. We also enjoyed kayaking. Before the beach visit, we were taken to the Minicoy light house, which has almost 250 steps, but the scenery from the top was breath-taking. In the afternoon, we spent some time relaxing in the island and after that, we were taken to a major village house, where we were given tea and snacks (Mugoo appam and fookuthu).
Must carry items:
1. Sun screen with SPF>40, which should be generously applied over the exposed parts
2. SDM vouchers
3. Photo ID cards
4. Carry your tickets and tourist ID cards (which they will issue from Lakshadweep wharf) throughout the journey
5. Chappals which can be worn in water
6. Paste, brush, hair oil, shampoo
7. Rain coats, if going near monsoon season
8. Mobile phone with BSNL connection
Written November 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vipulagarwal77
Bengaluru, India7 contributions
Apr 2016 • Family
We have spent 5 days and 4 night in the SPORTS owned on the beach resort. We used the swaying palms package of SPORTS. I will first write about the package
Swaying Palms:
This is total 6N/7D package with 4N/5D in Minicoy Island Resort and 2N for travelling from Cochin to Minicoy and return including all meals. We traveled from Cochin to Minicoy on ship MV Arabian sea; this ship is mainly used by islanders and very few tourist are commuted through it.
Room: We had a room with four bunk beds, the room was clean, the bunk beds were wooden and bedding were nice and clean. The room had an attached bathroom with shower; however, there were no toiletries which means you have to carry you own hand and bath soap.
Food: The food was served in the dinning hall which was light and tasty. Usually the food to the tourist is served after the islanders.
Tourist Manager: Every ship has a tourist manager who takes care of all the need of the tourist. He was very courteous and helpful, he will provide all the assistance while boarding and unboarding the ship.
Now about Minicoy Island and the resort
Minicoy Island: I can describe the island in few words "Out of this world". The water is as transparent as glass and color cannot be described in words.
Resort: This was the biggest surprise for us in the whole trip. Honestly, knowing that the resort is government owned i had very less expectation but i was proven wrong beyond doubt. The resort has two types of rooms, deluxe and cottage. Deluxe rooms are quite big and ideal for family of 4 (2 Children upto 10 yrs). The cottage is perfect for couple, the room size is small and it has attached open air bathroom. The bedding was clean and comfortable, but here again the toiletries provided are only 2 soaps one for hand wash and one for bath.
Food: The resort served 3 meals and 2 time tea and in all the occasion the food was yummy to say the least. The buffet was not very elaborate, usually 3 veg and 2 non-veg dishes but it was great.
Now for best part of the resort its location. The resort is at the end of the island and right on the beach. The resort is gateway to one of the biggest natural lagoons in the world. The depth of water is around 1 meter and the span is almost 1 KM. One can walk in water for around a km without any fear. Its more like a huge swimming pool and kids can enjoy with or without life jacket.
All the required equipment for Snorkeling, Scuba diving or just swimming are available at the resort. You may just need to carry swimming glasses and life-jacket for small kids (4 yrs or so).
The cost of snorkeling, scuba diving is quite reasonable, Snorkeling is 300-500 rs per 30 mins, Scuba Diving is 2000/30 mins including underwater Pics and Video. Other sports like Banana Boat, Speed Boat, Water Scooter, Glass Bottom Boat and kayak boat are all available and reasonably priced.
I hope this review will help all the future travellers.
Swaying Palms:
This is total 6N/7D package with 4N/5D in Minicoy Island Resort and 2N for travelling from Cochin to Minicoy and return including all meals. We traveled from Cochin to Minicoy on ship MV Arabian sea; this ship is mainly used by islanders and very few tourist are commuted through it.
Room: We had a room with four bunk beds, the room was clean, the bunk beds were wooden and bedding were nice and clean. The room had an attached bathroom with shower; however, there were no toiletries which means you have to carry you own hand and bath soap.
Food: The food was served in the dinning hall which was light and tasty. Usually the food to the tourist is served after the islanders.
Tourist Manager: Every ship has a tourist manager who takes care of all the need of the tourist. He was very courteous and helpful, he will provide all the assistance while boarding and unboarding the ship.
Now about Minicoy Island and the resort
Minicoy Island: I can describe the island in few words "Out of this world". The water is as transparent as glass and color cannot be described in words.
Resort: This was the biggest surprise for us in the whole trip. Honestly, knowing that the resort is government owned i had very less expectation but i was proven wrong beyond doubt. The resort has two types of rooms, deluxe and cottage. Deluxe rooms are quite big and ideal for family of 4 (2 Children upto 10 yrs). The cottage is perfect for couple, the room size is small and it has attached open air bathroom. The bedding was clean and comfortable, but here again the toiletries provided are only 2 soaps one for hand wash and one for bath.
Food: The resort served 3 meals and 2 time tea and in all the occasion the food was yummy to say the least. The buffet was not very elaborate, usually 3 veg and 2 non-veg dishes but it was great.
Now for best part of the resort its location. The resort is at the end of the island and right on the beach. The resort is gateway to one of the biggest natural lagoons in the world. The depth of water is around 1 meter and the span is almost 1 KM. One can walk in water for around a km without any fear. Its more like a huge swimming pool and kids can enjoy with or without life jacket.
All the required equipment for Snorkeling, Scuba diving or just swimming are available at the resort. You may just need to carry swimming glasses and life-jacket for small kids (4 yrs or so).
The cost of snorkeling, scuba diving is quite reasonable, Snorkeling is 300-500 rs per 30 mins, Scuba Diving is 2000/30 mins including underwater Pics and Video. Other sports like Banana Boat, Speed Boat, Water Scooter, Glass Bottom Boat and kayak boat are all available and reasonably priced.
I hope this review will help all the future travellers.
Written April 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Major_Cholmondeley
Nottingham, UK276 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
I recommend you read the review by joemdas - 19 November 2016 - which is detailed and very accurate.
We also booked the Samudram package via Mint Valley, but travelled on 21st November for four nights. We travelled as a group of four, and were amongst only 7 Europeans on the cruise. Usually there are none, as this cruise is very much geared towards the Indian tourist. As a foreigner you need to be aware of the regulations concerning the special Lakshadweep permit and ensure that your travel agent arranges this at least three weeks before you embark. They will need electronic copies of your Indian visa and passport.
Embarkation occurs at Lakshadweep Wharf. The process is quite crowded and chaotic, but eventually you will get through - collecting tickets, checking in, security check etc. Be aware that no alcohol is allowed to be carried or consumed on this cruise. Although I normally enjoy a drink I have to say this didn't seem a huge sacrifice. We let the company take our luggage on board and it was at the cabin by the time we got there.
MV Kavaratti is a working passenger ship which transports the islanders from Kochi to the islands and between the islands. On the days it drops the 'tourists' off at the tourist resort islands it spends the way visiting other islands. Do not expect 'western' cruise ship luxuries. The swimming pool had no water in it and the small snack bar is very limited in stock and opening hours. None of this matters, because there is a packed itinerary to keep you fully occupied. The ship itself is only 8 years old and comparable to passenger ships I've travelled in around the UK. It is clean and well maintained. The cabins are a reasonable size and have AC power and en suite bathrooms. The aircon is sufficient and the ship is relatively quiet on the upper decks. We slept really well.
The first meal served after departure was a very basic biriyani, with little meat (non-veg version) and many of our fellow passengers were complaining. However, the subsequent meals on board were fine; a mixture of rice, dhal, veg dish and a meat / tuna curry with chapatti and pickles. It was clearly designed to please the mainly north indian tourists - we would have preferred a few south indian dishes as variety, but that's a minor quibble. The filtered water is safe to drink. The tea is always sweetened, in true indian style, but we found it possible to request a pot of tea with no sugar (though the crew thought this rather strange).
The Tourists visit three islands in turn. We visited Kavaratti, Minicoy, and Kalpeni in that order - but the order does change. The order of the day is similar each day: 7am breakfast (we didn't bother with 6.30am sweetened tea), then don lifejackets (provided in cabin) to jump onto the launches which take you to the island. Back on the launches between 4-5pm, then dinner at 7.30pm.
Kavaratti was the first island we visited. The 'resort' is not far from the port. The beach appears idyllic, but there is some diesel pollution from the nearby harbour. The (free) trip in the glass bottomed boat was great - we saw three turtles and a small shark, as well as hundreds of brightly coloured fish. Various other activities are offered, including scuba diving, and jet-ski. The jet-ski was allowed to operate right up to the beach, which was dangerous, and would be forbidden on european beaches. A tour of the island was offered in the afternoon, which is interesting. We also went for a walk to explore our surroundings on foot. The island is very built up compared to Minicoy and Kalpeni.
Next day we visited Minicoy, which involves a long 30-40 minute transfer by launch from MV Kavaratti. First stop was the lighthouse, built by the Brits in 1885. You can see the whole island from the top! The 'resort' was excellent and the buffet offered at lunchtime, as on the other two islands, was really excellent. At Minicoy snorkelling costs a few hundred rupees. You must do this - the coral was absolutely sensational. Not as dramatic as the Barrier Reef or as colourful as Fiji, but there was a huge variety of colourful fish and the giant clams were amazing. You are expected to wear lifejackets for this activity but may be allowed to discard them, as we were, by explaining that you can actually swim.
Our final stop was Kalpeni, which is perhaps the most picturesque of the islands. The snorkelling here is free. Again, you must do it - though the coral doesn't rival Minicoy's. We borrowed a bicycle from some of the local workers and went off to explore the local village - which was a great experience. The organised tours in the afternoon, including the T-shirt shop, were chaotic and meant we didn't get back to MV Kavaratti until it was nearly dark.
Every day was a full on experience. Once back on the MV Kavaratti you will just want to shower, eat your evening meal, and then sleep. The lack of 'luxury cruise ship' amenities is immaterial because of the excitement of each island visit.
As joemdas says, make sure you have adequate sun protection, especially for pale white skin. We carried beach shoes, which are good for walking along coral beaches. Our indian friends appeared to get 3G connection, but we couldn't afford to check this!
Finally, we have to say, the staff of the MV Kavaratti were fantastic: always friendly and helpful. We found there was really good spirit amongst our fellow passengers too - we may have been in a minority as european tourists, but everyone was really friendly. I have to say this is our experience generally in India, which is why we love travelling in this country.
We also booked the Samudram package via Mint Valley, but travelled on 21st November for four nights. We travelled as a group of four, and were amongst only 7 Europeans on the cruise. Usually there are none, as this cruise is very much geared towards the Indian tourist. As a foreigner you need to be aware of the regulations concerning the special Lakshadweep permit and ensure that your travel agent arranges this at least three weeks before you embark. They will need electronic copies of your Indian visa and passport.
Embarkation occurs at Lakshadweep Wharf. The process is quite crowded and chaotic, but eventually you will get through - collecting tickets, checking in, security check etc. Be aware that no alcohol is allowed to be carried or consumed on this cruise. Although I normally enjoy a drink I have to say this didn't seem a huge sacrifice. We let the company take our luggage on board and it was at the cabin by the time we got there.
MV Kavaratti is a working passenger ship which transports the islanders from Kochi to the islands and between the islands. On the days it drops the 'tourists' off at the tourist resort islands it spends the way visiting other islands. Do not expect 'western' cruise ship luxuries. The swimming pool had no water in it and the small snack bar is very limited in stock and opening hours. None of this matters, because there is a packed itinerary to keep you fully occupied. The ship itself is only 8 years old and comparable to passenger ships I've travelled in around the UK. It is clean and well maintained. The cabins are a reasonable size and have AC power and en suite bathrooms. The aircon is sufficient and the ship is relatively quiet on the upper decks. We slept really well.
The first meal served after departure was a very basic biriyani, with little meat (non-veg version) and many of our fellow passengers were complaining. However, the subsequent meals on board were fine; a mixture of rice, dhal, veg dish and a meat / tuna curry with chapatti and pickles. It was clearly designed to please the mainly north indian tourists - we would have preferred a few south indian dishes as variety, but that's a minor quibble. The filtered water is safe to drink. The tea is always sweetened, in true indian style, but we found it possible to request a pot of tea with no sugar (though the crew thought this rather strange).
The Tourists visit three islands in turn. We visited Kavaratti, Minicoy, and Kalpeni in that order - but the order does change. The order of the day is similar each day: 7am breakfast (we didn't bother with 6.30am sweetened tea), then don lifejackets (provided in cabin) to jump onto the launches which take you to the island. Back on the launches between 4-5pm, then dinner at 7.30pm.
Kavaratti was the first island we visited. The 'resort' is not far from the port. The beach appears idyllic, but there is some diesel pollution from the nearby harbour. The (free) trip in the glass bottomed boat was great - we saw three turtles and a small shark, as well as hundreds of brightly coloured fish. Various other activities are offered, including scuba diving, and jet-ski. The jet-ski was allowed to operate right up to the beach, which was dangerous, and would be forbidden on european beaches. A tour of the island was offered in the afternoon, which is interesting. We also went for a walk to explore our surroundings on foot. The island is very built up compared to Minicoy and Kalpeni.
Next day we visited Minicoy, which involves a long 30-40 minute transfer by launch from MV Kavaratti. First stop was the lighthouse, built by the Brits in 1885. You can see the whole island from the top! The 'resort' was excellent and the buffet offered at lunchtime, as on the other two islands, was really excellent. At Minicoy snorkelling costs a few hundred rupees. You must do this - the coral was absolutely sensational. Not as dramatic as the Barrier Reef or as colourful as Fiji, but there was a huge variety of colourful fish and the giant clams were amazing. You are expected to wear lifejackets for this activity but may be allowed to discard them, as we were, by explaining that you can actually swim.
Our final stop was Kalpeni, which is perhaps the most picturesque of the islands. The snorkelling here is free. Again, you must do it - though the coral doesn't rival Minicoy's. We borrowed a bicycle from some of the local workers and went off to explore the local village - which was a great experience. The organised tours in the afternoon, including the T-shirt shop, were chaotic and meant we didn't get back to MV Kavaratti until it was nearly dark.
Every day was a full on experience. Once back on the MV Kavaratti you will just want to shower, eat your evening meal, and then sleep. The lack of 'luxury cruise ship' amenities is immaterial because of the excitement of each island visit.
As joemdas says, make sure you have adequate sun protection, especially for pale white skin. We carried beach shoes, which are good for walking along coral beaches. Our indian friends appeared to get 3G connection, but we couldn't afford to check this!
Finally, we have to say, the staff of the MV Kavaratti were fantastic: always friendly and helpful. We found there was really good spirit amongst our fellow passengers too - we may have been in a minority as european tourists, but everyone was really friendly. I have to say this is our experience generally in India, which is why we love travelling in this country.
Written December 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
reachmathen
Kottayam, India415 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
Boarded ship from Kochi, booked direct with Lakshadweep office Kochi earlier. Previous day spent on Kavaratti Island.
At 6:30 tea and coffee with biscuit is served.
Had breakfast around 7 30 on MV Kavaratti. Breakfast included bread, butter, jam,boiled eggs, upma & chutney, Corn flakes & milk, tea & coffee. Disembarked ship onto smaller boat to minicoy Jetty.Ride to the island was around 40 minutes. Small vehicle lined up to take tourist to the light house on the way to the center and then further to Sports Center. This center has the best lodging facilities. Greeted with welcome drink coconut water. Briefed on the day’s activities.
The center has Snorkeling Rs 300 and Scuba Rs 1900. Kayaking is free on samudra package. Water is very clear and very shallow only knee deep. The best and cleanest among all Lakshadweep Island. Best for swimming.
Lunch was served in a dining hall.Lunch included rice, chapatti, chicken curry, tuna fish fry, dal, veg.subji 2 nos, payasam etc. After lunch there was local sight seeing tofirst to falessery village. Served local atta and parippu vada, coffee and tea. In the village we were shown the race boat and village elder’s house. Got a chance to buy local tuna fish pickle(pickle factory) which is excellent (tried it back home).
The facilities have green toilet and change rooms. Carry your towels and change clothes. Only BSNL network work on the island. Good lodging facilities available.
Left faliserry around 4:30 p.m by boat to the ship.
Dinner at 8:00p.m.Served chapathi, chicken curry ,dal,red bean curry,salad payasam etc.
Ship has a kiosk open at night where you can buy chips,nuts,water,soft drinks etc. Ship has 4 and 2 bed a/c cabins with clean attached bathrooms with shower. Journey is comfortable but not plush. Any day better and cleaner than the railways. Crew on ship are well behaved and very friendly.
Set sail to kochi on 26/4/15 from Kalpeni,visited Kavaratti on 24/4/15
At 6:30 tea and coffee with biscuit is served.
Had breakfast around 7 30 on MV Kavaratti. Breakfast included bread, butter, jam,boiled eggs, upma & chutney, Corn flakes & milk, tea & coffee. Disembarked ship onto smaller boat to minicoy Jetty.Ride to the island was around 40 minutes. Small vehicle lined up to take tourist to the light house on the way to the center and then further to Sports Center. This center has the best lodging facilities. Greeted with welcome drink coconut water. Briefed on the day’s activities.
The center has Snorkeling Rs 300 and Scuba Rs 1900. Kayaking is free on samudra package. Water is very clear and very shallow only knee deep. The best and cleanest among all Lakshadweep Island. Best for swimming.
Lunch was served in a dining hall.Lunch included rice, chapatti, chicken curry, tuna fish fry, dal, veg.subji 2 nos, payasam etc. After lunch there was local sight seeing tofirst to falessery village. Served local atta and parippu vada, coffee and tea. In the village we were shown the race boat and village elder’s house. Got a chance to buy local tuna fish pickle(pickle factory) which is excellent (tried it back home).
The facilities have green toilet and change rooms. Carry your towels and change clothes. Only BSNL network work on the island. Good lodging facilities available.
Left faliserry around 4:30 p.m by boat to the ship.
Dinner at 8:00p.m.Served chapathi, chicken curry ,dal,red bean curry,salad payasam etc.
Ship has a kiosk open at night where you can buy chips,nuts,water,soft drinks etc. Ship has 4 and 2 bed a/c cabins with clean attached bathrooms with shower. Journey is comfortable but not plush. Any day better and cleaner than the railways. Crew on ship are well behaved and very friendly.
Set sail to kochi on 26/4/15 from Kalpeni,visited Kavaratti on 24/4/15
Written April 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bikernisudha
New Delhi, India11 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
This is the southernmost island of the Lakshadweep group of islands. In fact it is just 70kms from Maldives and therefore ethnically and culturally closer to them.
The lagoon here is beautiful with clear blue waters and clean white sand. The people speak Mahal which is the official language of Maldives and whose script is very similar to Urdu.
We were greeted with refreshing fresh coconut water. The island has a lighthouse which dates back to 1888 established by the British.
There is a variety of water sports that one can enjoy which include kayaking, snorkelling and scuba.
We visited a village named Palassery which was established in 1701. Here we tasted some local snacks made out of tender coconut pulp and jaggery courtesy the simple village folk.
Only BSNL / MTNL cellphones work here so be sure to take one along.
The lagoon here is beautiful with clear blue waters and clean white sand. The people speak Mahal which is the official language of Maldives and whose script is very similar to Urdu.
We were greeted with refreshing fresh coconut water. The island has a lighthouse which dates back to 1888 established by the British.
There is a variety of water sports that one can enjoy which include kayaking, snorkelling and scuba.
We visited a village named Palassery which was established in 1701. Here we tasted some local snacks made out of tender coconut pulp and jaggery courtesy the simple village folk.
Only BSNL / MTNL cellphones work here so be sure to take one along.
Written April 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AbhishekB
650 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
Minicoy island is the second largest island of Lakshwadeep; largest being Androth. Malayalm is widely understood and spoken (a different variant of Malayalam) in the island. Though, English and Hindi are also understood by the locals.
We went there under the Sanubdran Package of SPORTS. It’s SPORTS who has the authority to conduct tours in most islands of LD. Samundram Package is a 5D/4N tour program, where by MV Kavaratti Ship, they take you to three islands. You spend the entire day in the island and then in evening you come back to the ship for your next destination. The ship operates from Cochin. In the islands, you have the option of enjoying Scuba and other sports activities.
Minicoy Island was the last of the three islands on our tour program, and I must admit, it was the show stopper. Minicoy has a slightly different culture than rest of the LD islands which we saw. The ocean around the islands is not deep. Therefore, MV Kavaratti ship had to anchor quite far from the island and we were ferried to Minicoy via jetties and other fishing boats. Though, many would not like this practice, but for us, it was fun. The travel duration from ship to the island will not be more than 25minutes. Travelling on fishing boats in the ocean was thrilling. The boat used to jump on the waves and you can enjoy the absolute blue water flowing by your side. The moment you enter the Minicoy Island’s lagoon, you will simply be amazed by the water color. The water is so clean and it’s florescent greenish in color. There is absolutely no pollution, and it’s just stunning. It feels like you are entering in to a natural swimming pool.
Once you reach the island, SPORTS organized vans will first take you to the Minicoy Island’s Lighthouse. The drive to the lighthouse is good. You will be driven through the villages and you will have the chance to see and observe the locals lifestyle. In lighthouse complex, you will be welcomed by tender coconut water. You need to remove your foot wears before entering the lighthouse, and you need to pay Rs. 20 for any kind of camera (smart phones as well). This light house was constructed in 1885 and is located in the Southern end of the island.
There are around 250 metallic steps which you need to climb to reach the top of the light house. Since, all the tourists of MV Kavaratti are taken here; there can be a situation wherein you have to wait to get to the top. Lighthouse’s top has the capacity to hold around 10-15 people at a time. Therefore, you might need to wait for your chance. I request don’t get impatient here and wait for your chance. I can gurantee that once you reach the top, you will realize that it was worth waiting. The lighthouse provides you breathtaking views of the island. You can observe the shallow ocean waves hitting the shores on one end, and on another end you can observe the full view of the island. It’s just awesome and you are definetly going to enjoy every seconds that you spend.
Next destination was the Minicoy beach. In one word, I will describe the Minicoy beach as ‘Natural Swimming Pool’. The depth of the water is hardly 1 meter and you can just walk through the waters till 500 meters inside the ocean. The ocean water is crystal clear and there is no pollution whatsoever. It is a white sand beach and very neat. There are several shade arrangements made in the beach where you can lie down and enjoy the views of the ocean. Apart from that you can do Kayaking (included in the package) and other paid water sport activities like yatch ride, banana ride, sped boat ride, scuba, snorkeling etc. Scuba costs Rs. 2000 for a 15minute dive with an instructor and they provide you 6 photos and a 2 minutes video. Scuba dive is highly recommended for everyone. Underwater world is simply amazing and you need to see it to believe it. You can touch live corals and see different colored fish swimming along with you. Best part is that you don’t need to know swimming for a scuba dive. If you are lucky, you can see turtles coming on the shores.
There are nice and neat arrangements of washrooms for ladies and gents and food provided was awesome. In the evening, they will drive you for a village tours and traditional evening snacks and tea will be served at a destination where the Minicoy sailing boat is kept. Minicoy Island beach is probably the best beach in the world which is thankfully not crowded with tourists. Finally we were presented packaged Tuna Fish as a complimentary gift from Minicoy.
I request people visiting the island to not litter and maintain the natural beauty of the place.
Please note:
1) Only BSNL has coverage in Minicoy
2) Please carry at least 75+ SPF suns cream if travelling in summers
3) Carry sun glasses and caps
4) There are sharp stones and dead corals on the shores. Mind your steps while entering the water
5) Try to be the last one to enter the lighthouse. You have to wait the longest, but then you will have the maximum time to spend on top.
We went there under the Sanubdran Package of SPORTS. It’s SPORTS who has the authority to conduct tours in most islands of LD. Samundram Package is a 5D/4N tour program, where by MV Kavaratti Ship, they take you to three islands. You spend the entire day in the island and then in evening you come back to the ship for your next destination. The ship operates from Cochin. In the islands, you have the option of enjoying Scuba and other sports activities.
Minicoy Island was the last of the three islands on our tour program, and I must admit, it was the show stopper. Minicoy has a slightly different culture than rest of the LD islands which we saw. The ocean around the islands is not deep. Therefore, MV Kavaratti ship had to anchor quite far from the island and we were ferried to Minicoy via jetties and other fishing boats. Though, many would not like this practice, but for us, it was fun. The travel duration from ship to the island will not be more than 25minutes. Travelling on fishing boats in the ocean was thrilling. The boat used to jump on the waves and you can enjoy the absolute blue water flowing by your side. The moment you enter the Minicoy Island’s lagoon, you will simply be amazed by the water color. The water is so clean and it’s florescent greenish in color. There is absolutely no pollution, and it’s just stunning. It feels like you are entering in to a natural swimming pool.
Once you reach the island, SPORTS organized vans will first take you to the Minicoy Island’s Lighthouse. The drive to the lighthouse is good. You will be driven through the villages and you will have the chance to see and observe the locals lifestyle. In lighthouse complex, you will be welcomed by tender coconut water. You need to remove your foot wears before entering the lighthouse, and you need to pay Rs. 20 for any kind of camera (smart phones as well). This light house was constructed in 1885 and is located in the Southern end of the island.
There are around 250 metallic steps which you need to climb to reach the top of the light house. Since, all the tourists of MV Kavaratti are taken here; there can be a situation wherein you have to wait to get to the top. Lighthouse’s top has the capacity to hold around 10-15 people at a time. Therefore, you might need to wait for your chance. I request don’t get impatient here and wait for your chance. I can gurantee that once you reach the top, you will realize that it was worth waiting. The lighthouse provides you breathtaking views of the island. You can observe the shallow ocean waves hitting the shores on one end, and on another end you can observe the full view of the island. It’s just awesome and you are definetly going to enjoy every seconds that you spend.
Next destination was the Minicoy beach. In one word, I will describe the Minicoy beach as ‘Natural Swimming Pool’. The depth of the water is hardly 1 meter and you can just walk through the waters till 500 meters inside the ocean. The ocean water is crystal clear and there is no pollution whatsoever. It is a white sand beach and very neat. There are several shade arrangements made in the beach where you can lie down and enjoy the views of the ocean. Apart from that you can do Kayaking (included in the package) and other paid water sport activities like yatch ride, banana ride, sped boat ride, scuba, snorkeling etc. Scuba costs Rs. 2000 for a 15minute dive with an instructor and they provide you 6 photos and a 2 minutes video. Scuba dive is highly recommended for everyone. Underwater world is simply amazing and you need to see it to believe it. You can touch live corals and see different colored fish swimming along with you. Best part is that you don’t need to know swimming for a scuba dive. If you are lucky, you can see turtles coming on the shores.
There are nice and neat arrangements of washrooms for ladies and gents and food provided was awesome. In the evening, they will drive you for a village tours and traditional evening snacks and tea will be served at a destination where the Minicoy sailing boat is kept. Minicoy Island beach is probably the best beach in the world which is thankfully not crowded with tourists. Finally we were presented packaged Tuna Fish as a complimentary gift from Minicoy.
I request people visiting the island to not litter and maintain the natural beauty of the place.
Please note:
1) Only BSNL has coverage in Minicoy
2) Please carry at least 75+ SPF suns cream if travelling in summers
3) Carry sun glasses and caps
4) There are sharp stones and dead corals on the shores. Mind your steps while entering the water
5) Try to be the last one to enter the lighthouse. You have to wait the longest, but then you will have the maximum time to spend on top.
Written June 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shweta2015
National Capital Territory of Delhi, India41 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
I had visited it during the Minicoy Festival in December 2012. This is an apt place if you want to enjoy the lovely scenery, water, calm, as well as the adventure of scuba diving! Govt accommodation is available but as I understand, its only for the Govt. staff and their family. The island preserves its ecology as much as it can. The best time to go is of course in winter season (December, Jan). We traveled by Ship and that itself was an experience in itself! Wow! Cam back with amazing photos and memories!
Written January 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yatraenthu
Bengaluru, India24 contributions
Apr 2014 • Friends
Lakshadweep samudram package-
Our second stop aboard ship MV Kavaratti was the island of Minicoy. White sands, clear turquoise waters and an alluring resort in the backdrop welcomed us. The ride on the narrow roads en route from the dock to the beach has lush greenary and is refreshing.
We walked about a kilometer from the beach to the lighthouse. The view atop the lighthouse is absolutely breathtaking! Bicycles are also available which could use to ride around the island, as the trees adjoining the cemented roads provide good shade and shelter from the harsh sun.
While on the beach, we plunged into the cool waters enjoying swimming, kayaking and playing beach ball on the shore. [After few hours theres algae floating around in the waist high waters, thats a little annoying]
The lunch served by the locals consisted of the typical Indian menu of rice, dal and chapatti , all cooked in coconut oil. Non-veg dishes were of tuna and chicken.
Later in the afternoon we went into the deeper waters for Scuba diving in a glass-bottom boat. The instructors are well trained and give you initial training on underwater breathing with the scuba gear. This was my first time scuba diving and I was absolutely awestruck. While underwater the view seemed like scenes from the movie "Finding Nemo" :D Its abound with clownfishes, sting rays , turtles and of course the beautiful and massive corals.
In the evening we visited the village, where we did learn a bit about their history. We were also served coffee/ coconut water along with a sweet dish. It was a native delicacy made of coconut, rice flour and jaggery all steam in a leaf. It was delicious.
The local women dressed in white and green burkhas are very orthodox and did not talk to the tourists. Mahl is their native language.
Thus ended our day, as we headed back to the dock and back on our ship.
I would recommend tourits to stay a day or two on the Minicoy Island. I strongly recommend Lakshadweep to all scuba diving enthusiasts. PADI also offers professional certification here which I intend to attend later this year. Cant wait to be back there.:)
Our second stop aboard ship MV Kavaratti was the island of Minicoy. White sands, clear turquoise waters and an alluring resort in the backdrop welcomed us. The ride on the narrow roads en route from the dock to the beach has lush greenary and is refreshing.
We walked about a kilometer from the beach to the lighthouse. The view atop the lighthouse is absolutely breathtaking! Bicycles are also available which could use to ride around the island, as the trees adjoining the cemented roads provide good shade and shelter from the harsh sun.
While on the beach, we plunged into the cool waters enjoying swimming, kayaking and playing beach ball on the shore. [After few hours theres algae floating around in the waist high waters, thats a little annoying]
The lunch served by the locals consisted of the typical Indian menu of rice, dal and chapatti , all cooked in coconut oil. Non-veg dishes were of tuna and chicken.
Later in the afternoon we went into the deeper waters for Scuba diving in a glass-bottom boat. The instructors are well trained and give you initial training on underwater breathing with the scuba gear. This was my first time scuba diving and I was absolutely awestruck. While underwater the view seemed like scenes from the movie "Finding Nemo" :D Its abound with clownfishes, sting rays , turtles and of course the beautiful and massive corals.
In the evening we visited the village, where we did learn a bit about their history. We were also served coffee/ coconut water along with a sweet dish. It was a native delicacy made of coconut, rice flour and jaggery all steam in a leaf. It was delicious.
The local women dressed in white and green burkhas are very orthodox and did not talk to the tourists. Mahl is their native language.
Thus ended our day, as we headed back to the dock and back on our ship.
I would recommend tourits to stay a day or two on the Minicoy Island. I strongly recommend Lakshadweep to all scuba diving enthusiasts. PADI also offers professional certification here which I intend to attend later this year. Cant wait to be back there.:)
Written May 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suny S
Hong Kong, China40 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
Minicoy island has easily the best beach in India and even comparable to that of Maldives, Mauritius !!
Crystal clear water and that too just 1m deep till 1km into the sea ..
Beautiful corals around the beach which makes snorkeling and scuba diving amazing !!
Resort is great, Food served is tasty and has lot of variety. Staff is very courteous and friendly.
Ship travel was great too, accommodation being very comfortable.
Overall a great holiday destination and very reasonably priced !!
Crystal clear water and that too just 1m deep till 1km into the sea ..
Beautiful corals around the beach which makes snorkeling and scuba diving amazing !!
Resort is great, Food served is tasty and has lot of variety. Staff is very courteous and friendly.
Ship travel was great too, accommodation being very comfortable.
Overall a great holiday destination and very reasonably priced !!
Written May 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shanart
Bengaluru, India73 contributions
Apr 2016 • Family
this is easily one of our best holiday trips till now... We took the Samudram SPORTS MVKavaratti ship package for 4N/5D. We stayed in the ship all days n were transported to n from t ship by boats everyday for site seeing. this package covers minicoy, kalpeni and kavaratti. the best beach is minicoy and the best dive/snorkeling is in kavaratti. All activities r well planned
, t ship is not the luxury type but I class cabins r decently sized n clean -but it will b difficult for very tall (6ft 3in+) ppl. food is a pleasant surprise -we were veg n food was of decent quality all days.the best thing abt lakshadweep is the hospitality of t tour planners they were very patient n encouraging for us first time divers n snorkellers. We even made our 4yr kid do snorkeling . A great trip worth the money - we will revisit
, t ship is not the luxury type but I class cabins r decently sized n clean -but it will b difficult for very tall (6ft 3in+) ppl. food is a pleasant surprise -we were veg n food was of decent quality all days.the best thing abt lakshadweep is the hospitality of t tour planners they were very patient n encouraging for us first time divers n snorkellers. We even made our 4yr kid do snorkeling . A great trip worth the money - we will revisit
Written April 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Please inform me about Swaying palms package total cost including transportation?
redcanopy
Kolkata (Calcutta), India211 contributions
It's a 7D 6N package.9k for room per day, 3750 per person for ship one way
Hello All,
Is there any way to travel from Kochi to Minicoy and spending 3-4 days in a private resort?
I read all the reviews but they are about samudram package and not an individual island.
deeksha
1 contribution
Hi Vikas, you can take the swaying palm package which covers only the Minicoy island. The stay is 4-5 nights. Please contact us at indiatrotter for further details and getting your package organized.
How to reach minicoy island from agatti
Please inform me the dates of samudram packages of the year 2022.
Kshiteej Mohan
Rajgir, India37 contributions
How can I book packages other than Samudram package as the SPORTS website doesn't have any option for it?
Please suggest.
whether we can take liquor on the ship?
Arpita G
Kolkata (Calcutta), India2 contributions
refer some local tour operator etc for booking in lakshadeep
LakshadweepYathraHolidays
Lakshadweep, India116 contributions
WELCOME TO LAKSHADWEEP
“Lakshadweep Yathra” is one of the leading inbound tour operators in Lakshadweep with a team of Local professionals with vast industry experience.
Arpita G
Kolkata (Calcutta), India2 contributions
please share how you managed your bookings to lakshadeep , I mean contacting local tour guides etc?
Can i go with my 2 year old son? Should I pay extera money for my kid?
ankit s
Allahabad, India2 contributions
please talk to Lakshadweep tourism regarding this.
Can someone help me for the following inquiry.
1.What is the process and how much does it cost for a minicoy 5 days trip
2.minicoy is better place for honeymoon
3. shall i get any kerala trip coordinator number for minicoy trip
Regards
I'm having to choose between two islands, Minicoy and Kadmat. And the question is actually for those who are familiar or have visited both of these islands. The schedule published by the SPORTS website in Lakshadweep Samudram Package is such that I need to choose between Minicoy and Kadmat depending on the dates. Pls tell me if I can skip Minicoy or will a trip to Lakshadweep remain incomplete without visiting Minicoy? Simply put, is "Kavaratti-Kalpeni-Kadmat" a better option or is "Minicoy-Kavaratti-Kalpeni" better?
Sachin Mehta
Mumbai, India75 contributions
Hi,
I am planning to book Swaying Palms package in 2018 to Minicoy ex Cochin. But I can't view the dates and schedule of Swaying Palms on official site of SPORTS.
1. From where do you get the release of Swaying Palms schedule? On which website?
2. How many months in advance the dates the out?
3. Who is the best person to contact in SPORTS for proper updates and planning?
ankit s
Allahabad, India2 contributions
the schedules are displayed on the website however u can also get it through e-mail from the SPORTS
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