ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS: INDIA'S PREMIER BIRDING DESTINATION
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an isolated tropical archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, represent one of India’s most remarkable birding frontiers. Their geographic separation from the mainland and diverse habitats have fostered an exceptional concentration of birdlife, making the islands a truly unique destination for birdwatchers and naturalists. India is home to over 1,384 bird species, including 81 endemics, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands alone support around 340 species, of which 30 are endemic, nearly 37% of India’s total endemic birds. This extraordinary diversity is shaped by the islands’ rich variety of habitats, ranging from evergreen rainforests and hill forests to mangroves, freshwater wetlands, and coastal lagoons.
The Andaman group harbors 21 endemic species, while the Nicobar group holds 9 distinct endemics, with very few shared between the two. Lying along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, the islands also serve as a vital stopover and wintering ground for migratory birds traveling between Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Seasonal visitors such as waders, waterbirds, and raptors add to the region’s ever-changing avian diversity, ensuring rewarding birding opportunities throughout the year.
For birdwatchers, the islands offer more than just checklist destination, they offer the thrill of discovery. With pristine landscapes, a high concentration of endemics, and limited human disturbance, these islands remain one of Asia’s most captivating and biologically rich regions for serious birdwatching. We offer professionally guided birding tours across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, from single-day outings to multi-day expeditions with scheduled departures and fully customizable itineraries cater to birders of all levels, covering key habitats and sought-after endemic species across the archipelago. Explore our scheduled birding tours or let us know your preferred dates and we will design a personalized itinerary tailored to your interests.
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AVIFAUNA DIVERISTY OF A & N ISLANDS
340 +
Species
37 %
India's total endemic
30
Endemic Species
Expert Birding Guides
Our experienced Tour Leaders bring expert fieldcraft, delivering fast and confident IDs by call and behavior, while clear briefings turn every sighting into a learning experience; with a safety-first, conservation-minded approach, they position the group quietly for closer, longer looks and offer calm guidance to keep everyone focused on the bird.
WHY CHOOSE ISLAND EXPLORER BIRDING TOURS FOR BIRDING IN ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ?
Efficiency
Our tours are designed for maximum birding efficiency, with dawn-first routes that catch peak activity, smart sequencing that minimizes travel, streamlined logistics that cut waits and backtracking, and small, agile groups that move quietly between habitats, ensuring every hour is dedicated to spotting more birds.
Flexible & Custom-fit birding
Our tours feature tailored target lists based on season and habitat, whether you prefer focused endemic chases or a relaxed pace of discovery, with routes and terrain matched to your comfort; modular formats—from half-day and full-day outings to night add-ons—allow adjustments on the fly using live field intel, ensuring flexible plans shaped by real-time conditions.
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Get a closer look at our birding adventures, trip highlights, and behind-the-scenes moments. Follow us for fresh updates, rare sightings, and the latest tour news.
FIND US ON eBird
We documents every adventure on eBird to help birders worldwide understand the rich avifauna of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Our checklists reflect years of on-ground experience, research, responsible guiding, and a deep commitment to conservation. From endemics to seasonal migrants, our eBird records showcase the diversity we encounter across different habitats. Follow our profile to track our latest sightings, tour trends, and ongoing contributions to citizen science. Click here
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Insights and experiences shared by our valued guests.
"In March 2026 I had a wonderful birding trip of Great Nicobar with Dr. Sumit Kumar as bird guide. Sumit has skills (spotting and identifying bird species visually and by their call) and tools (spotting scope and laser pointer) necessary to be a bird guide. What stood out and made the difference was Sumit’s in-depth knowledge of best birding spots in Great Nicobar and his ability to give pointers and tips so that I could locate the bird quickly. Birding in Great Nicobar requires grit and tenacity on part of the guide as well as participant. This is so not only because some species can be difficult to find but also because the logistics are tough. Sumit certainly met both challenges admirably. Sumit was always observing every species (not just “targets”) which led to some pleasant surprises. While sighting of a couple of Great Nicobar specialities was fleeting, most gave ample opportunity to observe their behaviour in natural setting. The Great Nicobar birding trip was once-in-lifetime and for me now-or-never. I am thankful to Sumit for making it truly memorable"
"This was a truly amazing experience!. Sumit was a perfect guide, and made our trip special with his immense local birding knowledge, and his caring approach to the group. Would highly recommend!!
"A heartfelt thank-you to Dr. Sumit Kumar for creating such a memorable bird photography experience during our family vacation to South Andaman and Little Andaman. What truly stood out was how thoughtfully the sessions were planned — seamlessly woven into our family travel, allowing me to enjoy incredible bird photography while still spending quality time with my family (who were happily not bird photographers 😄). Yet, within just 2 days of birding, was fortunate to witness remarkable sightings of endemic birds, something that only deep local knowledge, dedication, and perseverance can make possible. Thanks to Sumit’s patient guidance and sharp field skills, I was able to observe nearly 95% of the targeted endemic species. He is refreshingly humble and guided by passion rather than commercial motives, focusing on meaningful, responsible wildlife experiences instead of aggressive marketing or profit-driven tourism. If you’re planning a trip to Andaman and are interested in bird photography or immersive nature experiences, I would highly recommend Dr. Sumit Kumar and Island Explorer Birding Tours without hesitation. I wish him great success in all his future endeavours as he continues to share and protect the natural beauty of the Andaman Islands.
"Absolutely enjoyed birding with Dr. Sumit. He was very polite, ensured we were comfortable and put in a lot of effort to show us many endemic birds over our 2 day itinerary. We customised our plan to cover as many landscape types as possible within a short span of time. What I really appreciated was that, unlike other commercial bird guides, Sumit asked us if we were comfortable with playbacks and when I said no, he respected that and did not use any playback for any of our birding session. During the last leg of our birding session, we impromptu decided to do tide pooling instead of birding and Sumit agreed to show us some cool inter-tidal invertebrates. We also got to know that he is an expert on butterflies and moths in Andamans as he has pursued a PhD in that field. So, if you are interested in more than just birds, then he is definitely your go to person in Andamans. Overall, I had fun and got to see a number of island endemic birds. "
"I had a very pleasant day of birding with Sumit. He is very knowledgeable of the birds and its locations, is good company and very accommodating. I can recommend him very much for organizing your birding days on the Andaman Islands! "
" The 5 nights Andaman Endemics Birding Tour was a very enjoyable and rewarding experience. Dr. Sumit Kumar of Island Explorer Birding Tours who led the tour is an expert, very knowledgeable and knows the exact location (in some cases the actual tree) where to search for specific bird species. He put in a tremendous amount of effort to ensure that I saw and photographed all endemics on the island apart from several other species. I am 77 years old with some mobility issues. Sumit was really considerate and helpful in ensuring my comfort while birding and helped me in photography. He is a very simple self effacing individual, polite with a wealth of knowledge on birds, insects, reptiles etc. I strongly recommend birders, both amateur and professional avail his services while visiting Andaman & Nicobar - he offers a range of birding tours. "
" I have known Shri Sumit since his days at ZSI. His deep-rooted knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Andaman Islands is truly remarkable, befitting the PhD scholar that he is. While he is an exceptional spotter of birds and their calls, what stands out even more is his incredible tenacity and stamina, qualities that helped me capture the elusive Andaman Crake and Ruddy Kingfisher in the year 2024 when I had nearly given up all hopes. His mild manners and expertise make him not just a top birder of the Andamans, but also a wonderful companion in the field. He certainly is the person to accompany during any birding trip "
" Birding with Sumit was an awesome experience. Despite the rain we saw many of the endemic species. Sumit has a lot of patience and keeps enough time for us to wait and watch for the birds to turn up. He knows some good spots for owls so I was able to see the Andaman boobook & Hume’s boobook and the Oriental scops owl! "
" What sets Sumit apart is his commitment to ethical birding practices. Unlike many birders in the Andamans who prioritize financial gain, Sumit puts nature first, ensuring that his actions are guided by a sense of responsibility and conservation. Sumit's ability to spot birds and identify their calls is exceptional, and his enthusiasm is contagious. During our birding trip in 2025, his dedication and perseverance enabled me to spot 95% of the targeted endemic species. His calm and patient demeanor made the experience enjoyable and informative. I highly recommend Sumit for anyone interested in birding in the Andamans. His humility, expertise, and passion for nature conservation make him an invaluable resource. I wish him continued success in his endeavors to promote conservation and share the beauty of the Andamans with others"
We are glad to have Sh Sumit and Sh gaurav for our morning birding tour in Chidiyatapu, Andamans. In about 3-4 hours around Chidiyatapu, We sighted approximately 30 to 35 species of birds. During interaction with Sh Sumit we came to know that he is a PhD scholar in zoology, we really got enriched with his vast field experience and knowledge of birds during our tour. It was a wonderful experience for us and a must do activity in Andaman for the nature lovers."
"Dr. Sumit has extensive knowledge of birds especially those found in Andaman Islands and it was wonderful touring with him. We were able to locate hard to spot species such as Andaman Boobook, Andaman Nightjar and Andaman Scops Owl. I highly recommend him to anybody who would like to go for birding in Andaman"
" Thank you for such an incredible birding tour! Your deep knowledge of the local bird species, their calls, and habitats really enhanced the experience. I appreciated your patience and how you made sure everyone had a chance to spot and identify each bird. Your enthusiasm was infectious, and it was clear how passionate you are about birding. The pacing was perfect, and the route you chose offered great diversity. I will highly recommend your tours to any bird enthusiast."
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We provide expertly curated scheduled and tailored birdwatching tours throughout the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Comprehensive details on each tour can be found in our tour descriptions.
You can check the availability of seats for respective tours at our Tour calendar page. For pricing, customization options, Bookings or further inquiries, please contact our team by filling out our contact/ Booking form, drop an email us at info@islandexplorer.in, or call or send a WhatsApp message to +91 9933202175, or you can also reach out through our social media channels.
The best time for birding in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is generally from the first week of October to mid-April. In the Andaman Islands, birding is particularly rewarding between November and Feb, while the Nicobar Islands offer the best sightings from January to April.
Our tours are primarily conducted in English and Hindi. However, if you require assistance in another language, please let us know in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
In the Andaman Islands, major mobile networks such as BSNL, Airtel, and Jio are available. Both Airtel and Jio offer 4G services in most populated areas, while BSNL provides the widest coverage, especially in more remote locations. However, network connectivity can be patchy in some areas, particularly in isolated regions. In the Nicobar Islands, mobile connectivity is more limited. BSNL and Airtel are the primary providers, but coverage remains spotty in many areas,
1. For bookings made 60 days or more in advance: 20% advance deposit is required, with the balance payable at the start of the trip.
2. For bookings made less than 60 days in advance (59-16 days): 30% advance deposit is required at the time of booking, with the balance payable at the start of the trip.
3. For bookings made on 15 days or less from the tour start date: Full payment is required at the time of booking.
We accept payments through National electronic funds transfer (EFT), debit cards, most major credit cards, and UPI.
Payment details and instructions will be provided once your reservation is confirmed. To Know more about our payment terms click here.
Our terms and conditions define the guidelines for booking, cancellations, payments, and participation in our tours. They ensure a smooth experience while maintaining safety and service standards. You can find our detailed terms and conditions with the respective tour itineraries or you can click here.
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Our cancellation policy outlines the terms for cancellations and refunds for our tours. We strive to offer flexible options while ensuring fair practices. Please refer to our detailed cancellation policy here.
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