• Andaman islands off the coast of India are some of the most pristine islands in the world. This tour combines five days of volunteering (environmental conservation) with nine days of active sightseeing.

  You will spend five days helping with environmental conservation of mangrove forests and natural habitats of endangered species like sea turtles. Your sightseeing time (9 days) will be filled with snorkeling, diving on spectacular reefs, interacting with indigenous tribes, and exploring rainforests, volcanoes and beautiful beaches.

• Environmental Conservation with ANET

  

   

  We go to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to immerse ourselves in untouched, natural beauty. We work with ANET to protect it.
  In the 1980s, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Environmental Team (ANET) was founded for the study and preservation of the ecological and wildlife treasures found within the islands. Through education, research and management, ANET works to help the islands maintain the very delicate balance of its ecosystems.
  
  Your volunteering work will include:

  • Document and protect habitats of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles
  • Conserve mangrove habitats and learn about the role they play in protection from natural disasters
  • Supplement on-station researchers with hands on surveys and studies
  • Help catalog and organize research information
  • Help with marketing materials and other base camp activities

  “We have been extremely impressed with our experiences at ANET. The tropical forest hikes, snorkeling in both pristine and human damaged reefs, lectures on tribal culture, and the natural history and ecology of mangroves have all been superb.”
  Neil Pelkey, Associate Professor, Environmental Science & Studies. Juniata College, PA, USA

  Click to learn more about Volunteering with ANET

• Highlights and Attractions

  

   

  Your trip starts with India's rich history

  • Experience the timeless majesty of the Taj Mahal
  • Tour the Agra Fort, a 16th century Mughal palace

  Then you fly to Andaman Islands. Imagine an unspoilt Hawaii without the overdevelopment. Where the bio-diversity is so great, that new species are discovered every year. Here you:

  • Dive along coral reefs teeming with innumerable species of sea life.
  • Immerse yourself in untouched rainforests, brimming with life
  • Be inspired by the indescribable sunsets on Havelock Island
  • Kayak through mangrove filled islands
  • Experience multiple eco-systems in a single hike
  • Enjoy a snorkeling cruise around the islands

• How your trip will change you

  

   

  There are destinations so beautiful and so mesmerizing that the sights alone stay with you forever, coloring your definitions of beauty, tranquility and inspiration. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are just such places. You will also encounter eco-systems, tribes and species that few people will ever see. You will return home with a new perspective on how fragile these environments are. By volunteering with ANET you will help preserve the unspoilt nature of this island paradise. The islands will become a part of your history and by helping to preserve them, you will become a part of theirs.

• Why Go Now

  

   

  The rapid increase of tourism in India is already having a dramatic effect on its more vulnerable resources and ecosystems. Big group tourism is on its way as Taj, India’s most luxurious hotel chain has plans to build on the islands. This will not only greatly increase the cost of visiting the islands; it will have a huge impact on the islands’ environment. Unless a balance can be struck between enjoying the islands and destroying the islands, you may be one of the last people to see them as they are now.

  NGOs like ANET are battling to protect the islands, and they need your help now to raise awareness of and educate the public on the dangers development will bring to the island ecosystems.

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• 

   

  DAY 1 - New Delhi

  Arriving in New Delhi in the early morning, you will clear customs and immigration.  Leaving the airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

   

  Highlight: Evening pre-trip briefing

• 

   

  DAY 2 - Delhi to Agra by car

  We travel by road to Agra, home to India’s most famous icon - the majestic Taj Mahal. Here we include a visit to this amazing 17th century marble mausoleum. In the afternoon, we will visit Agra Fort, begun by Emperor Aqbar in 1565 as a military structure, and finished by his grandson, Shah Jehan, as a luxurious palace.

   

  Highlight: Agra Fort, Taj Mahal

• 

   

  DAY 3 - Agra to Delhi

  This morning, you can head to the Taj for sunrise and then return to the hotel for breakfast. We will then visit the Baby Taj. Then we will drive back to Delhi.

   

  Highlight: Taj Mahal at Sunrise, Baby Taj

• 

   

  DAY 4 - Delhi to Havelock island, Andaman & Nicobar islands
  

  "Rising early, you will fly from Delhi to Port Blair, over the Bay of Bengal. After lunch in Port Blair, we take a relaxed ferry ride to Havlock island arriving in the late afternoon to our beach-front resort.

   

  Highlights: Havelock island ferry, Beach resort

• 

   

  DAY 5 - Havelock islands
  

  Wake up whenever you want to a relaxed island vibe. There are several options today - relax on a beach hammock, go for a walk to the main market, rent a motorcycle ($5/day), swim/snorkel in the lagoon.

  In the mid-afternoon, you can choose to go on a tropical forest hike to Radhanagar beach

   

  Highlights: zzzzz...relax, Snorkelling, Tropical forest hiking (optional), beach walks

• 

   

  DAY 6 - Havelock Island
  

  If you're diving, you'll wake up early today. After a quick snack, you'll get on the dive boat and head to some unforgettable dive spots. Drinks and snacks will be provided on the boat. You'll be in time for lunch. Options to go on afternoon and night dives (not included) are also available.

  For the non-divers, you can relax and enjoy the beach and the resort, or you can join us on another hike on the island.

  We dine on the beach tonight.

   

  Highlights: Diving, Snorkelling, Tropical forest hiking (optional), beach walks, zzzzz....relax

• 

   

  DAY 7 - AM Havelock island, PM Port Blair
  

  Today you have the option to join us on an included early morning trip around the islands, if the weather holds. We will be up before dawn. As we leave the harbor, the brilliant sunrise and chai will ... We'll visit several islands, stopping on a couple. If we're lucky, we might also get to see some dolphins and perhaps the rare sea eagle.

  If you so desire, you can skip this excursion and instead go for a morning dive instead or just sleep in.

  In the late afternoon we'll take a ferry to Port Blair and enjoy the sunset enroute. Today we also get an overview of our volunteering with ANET.

   

  Highlights: Early AM Photography island excursion by boat, Afternoon Ferry to Port Blair, Diving (optional)

• 

   

  DAYS 8, 9, 10, 11 - Volunteering with ANET
  

  After breakfast, we arrive at Wandoor, the base for ANET. Your work with ANET will focus on environment conservation - Olive Ridley Sea turtle monitoring and preservation of the indigenous mangrove habitats here. We will be supplementing on-station researchers with surveys, studies and other tasks. We may also go on field trips with them as part of our volunteering.

   

  Highlights: Environmental conservation volunteering with ANET, Chidiya tapu beach

• 

   

  DAY 12 - ANET, Cinque Island
  

  After breakfast today, we will get a final presentation from ANET staff members. After a few days of dedicated volunteering, we make a trip to Cinque island, weather permitting. Located to the south of Port Blair, it features twin beaches, and amazing diving and snorkeling.

   

  Highlights: Cinque island

• 

   

  DAY 13 - Fly to Delhi
  

  After breakfast today we board a plane to New Delhi, arriving in the late afternoon. The evening is on your own to explore.

   

  Highlights: Fly to Delhi, afternoon and evening free

   

• 

   

  DAY 14 - Tour ends
  

  After breakfast our tour ends. You can visit the governmental state emporiums of Connaught Place for last-minute shopping. There's also an option to go for a Heritage walk in Old Delhi. Transfer to your flight in the evening or take a tour extension.

   

  Highlights: Souvenir shopping/Optional heritage walk in Old Delhi/Free time

   

• We go to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to immerse ourselves in untouched, natural beauty.
  We volunteer with ANET to protect it.
  
  Your volunteering work will take place on or near ANET’s base camp at North Wandoor on the southern tip of South Andaman Island. Tucked away among forested hills and mangrove swamps, the base camp is just a few kilometers from the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park.

• What will you be doing

  

   

  Your work on the islands will have two main focuses; to aid in the conservation of the wildlife like the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles and to help preserve and protect the indigenous mangrove habitats here.

   

  Your programs will include:

  • Document and protect habitats of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles
  • Conserve mangrove habitats and learn about the role they play in protection from natural disasters
  • Supplement on-station researchers with hands on surveys and studies
  • Help catalog and organize research information
  • Help with other base camp activities

   

• How your work will help

  

   

  The Olive Ridley sea turtles are one of the world’s seven species of sea turtle and are highly endangered. Their nesting grounds have suffered due to human activity and natural events like typhoons and tsunamis. ANET has been monitoring the Olive Ridley sea turtles since the 1970s their hope is to use the information to design and implement conservation plans for to protect their habitats.

   

  ANET is doing extensive study of the natural regeneration of the mangrove forests as well as rebuild thehabitats that have suffered damage from human traffic and from the 2004 Christmas tsunami.

  ANET’s remote location greatly limits the number of volunteers able to help on site. Much of the local help available lacks the educational background or advanced skills necessary for many tasks. You and your fellow Always Outbound travelers each bring a fresh outlook and a unique skill set to ANET that can be utilized and maximized to make a positive impact.

• Why We chose ANET

  

   

  ANET is a non-governmental organization (NGO) staffed by researchers, scientists and scholars who are committed to learning about the plants, animals and sea life of the islands. At the same time, they have dedicated themselves to preserving these systems.

   

  Our company’s mission is to preserve and protect India’s eco-systems and culture, while promoting all that India has to offer the adventurous traveler. This goal blends beautifully with ANET’s mission to preserve and protect the endangered eco-systems and indigenous tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

•  

  Always Outbound and ANET: A Valuable Partnership

  Our desire to impact the Andaman Islands in a positive and meaningful way guides all of our decisions and choices, especially our partnership with ANET. We:

  • Combine active sightseeing with volunteering with a respected and local Non-Governmental organization
  • Select projects that we can achieve with our diverse clientele
  • Support the overall mission with short-term projects that make a lasting difference
  • Know how to help without being an added burden on the limited resources and time of ANET
  • Support locally owned and operated businesses, and minimize our footprint.

   

  Community travel isn't just a feature of our company; it is the reason for our company's existence. Learn how Always Outbound stands apart on the Our Difference page.
  

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REGULAR DEPARTURES

Start Date	End Date	Duration	Pricing	Spots	Status	Action
Jan 22, 2012	Feb 04, 2012	14 days	$2795.00	2 of 6 available	Open
Feb 12, 2012	Feb 25, 2012	14 days	$2795.00	6 available	Open
Mar 18, 2012	Mar 31, 2012	14 days	$2795.00	6 available	Open
Apr 01, 2012	Apr 14, 2012	14 days	$2795.00	8 available	Open
Apr 15, 2012	Apr 28, 2012	14 days	$2795.00	8 available	Open
Oct 07, 2012	Oct 20, 2012	14 days	$2795.00	8 available	Open
Nov 18, 2012	Dec 01, 2012	14 days	$2795.00	8 available	Open
Dec 02, 2012	Dec 15, 2012	14 days	$2795.00	8 available	Open
Dec 23, 2012	Jan 05, 2013	14 days	$2795.00	8 available	Open