Paddle through living cathedrals where the forest meets the sea — silence is the loudest sound
There is a place on Havelock Island where the trees grow from the water itself. Their roots arch downward like buttresses of a submerged cathedral, disappearing into the tidal mud below. Sunlight reaches the water in broken shafts, filtered through a canopy so dense it turns midday into green twilight. This is the mangrove channel — and the only way to truly experience it is from the seat of a kayak, gliding at water level through corridors that no motorboat can enter.
Mangrove kayaking in the Andaman Islands is a slow, deliberate immersion into one of the most important coastal ecosystems on Earth. These salt-tolerant forests filter sediment, sequester four times more carbon than tropical rainforests, and provide nursery habitat for juvenile reef fish. Your Turtle Kayaking guide — trained in marine ecology alongside NIWS water sports certification — transforms this paddle from sightseeing into understanding a living system.
Your guide — trained in marine ecology — gives a concise introduction to the mangrove ecosystem. Learn what you’re about to see and how to paddle without causing harm.
Paddle across clear, shallow open water toward the mangrove channel. The tree line rises like a green wall ahead with a narrow opening — the entrance to another world.
Everything changes inside the channel. Temperature drops, light turns dappled green, and birdsong replaces ocean sounds. Single-file through corridors barely two kayaks wide.
Paddles rest in a wider section. Within a minute, the ecosystem resumes — White-bellied Sea Eagles circle above, mudskippers launch between roots, herons stalk the shallows.
Emerge into a hidden lagoon or paddle toward Havelock Lighthouse before returning via an alternate channel. Refreshments and photo sharing await at base.
Our guides know 30+ bird species by call, can explain mangrove root systems, and time every departure to the tide for maximum channel access.
We cap mangrove tours at 6 kayaks per guide — the smallest on the island for a quieter, more wildlife-rich paddling experience.
No touching roots, no littering, no flash photography near nesting birds. Every booking supports community-led mangrove replanting on Havelock.
Mangrove channels are sheltered from wind and waves — virtually flat water, ideal for beginners, families, and first-time kayakers.
Mangrove kayaking takes place in calm, sheltered creek waters — making it one of our safest tours. Every mangrove kayaking tour is led by guides who double as trained naturalists.
What wildlife can I see during mangrove kayaking?
Havelock’s mangrove creeks are home to Kingfishers, White-bellied Sea Eagles, Herons, mudskippers, and occasionally monitor lizards and juvenile sharks in the shallow waters.
Is mangrove kayaking suitable for children?
Yes! The calm, sheltered waters of the mangrove creeks make this our most family-friendly tour. Children ages 5+ can ride tandem with a parent.
How long is the mangrove kayaking tour?
The mangrove kayaking experience lasts approximately 2 hours, covering around 3-4 km of scenic waterways through the forest.
What makes mangrove kayaking eco-friendly?
We use zero-motor kayaks to maintain the silence of the ecosystem, follow strict Leave No Trace policies, and our guides are trained naturalists who help you appreciate the ecology.
When is the best time for mangrove kayaking?
Early morning during high tide offers the best experience — calm waters, active birdlife, and comfortable temperatures. We schedule departures based on daily tide charts.
Book your mangrove kayaking eco-adventure in Andaman today. Explore Havelock’s ancient mangrove forests with our expert naturalist guides.
Mangrove kayaking in Havelock begins with a short paddle across open, shallow water to reach the entrance of the mangrove channel. Once inside, the environment changes dramatically. The canopy closes overhead, sunlight filters through in dappled green shafts, and the temperature drops noticeably. The creek narrows to just two kayak-widths in places, requiring single-file paddling through corridors formed by aerial roots that have been growing for decades.
The wildlife in Havelock's mangrove creeks is remarkably active, especially during morning high tide. White-collared Kingfishers perch on low branches waiting to strike, White-bellied Sea Eagles circle above clearings, and mudskippers leap between exposed roots at the waterline. With patience, you may spot monitor lizards basking on sun-warmed branches or juvenile blacktip reef sharks cruising the shallow nursery waters.
The Andaman Islands contain India's largest and most biodiverse mangrove ecosystems. Mangrove kayaking in Andaman gives you access to forest systems that cannot be reached on foot or by motorised boat. The zero-motor, human-powered approach of kayaking means the ecosystem remains undisturbed, wildlife does not flee, birds continue to call, and the natural soundscape stays intact. This is what makes mangrove kayaking Andaman a genuinely ecological experience rather than just sightseeing.
Turtle Kayaking caps mangrove tours at just 6 kayaks per guide, the smallest group size on Havelock Island, ensuring quieter water and more wildlife sightings per trip.
