Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Discover India's best kept secret - the Andaman Islands - at the Barefoot Group's first eco-retreat called 'Barefoot at Havelock.' Located exclusively on what TIME Magazine in November 2004 rated as the best beach in Asia, our small resort is set in rain forest and tropical fruit trees behind a pristine 2 km white-sand stretch of the quirkly named Beach No. 7 at Havelock Island.
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Nestled on a stunning beachfront, Barefoot at Havelock offers a serene getaway that is frequently celebrated for its natural beauty and tranquil ambiance. While opinions on value diverge, many guests agree that the hotel's location—just a short walk from Radhanagar Beach—is unparalleled. The amenities, including a pristine beach and lush surroundings, are generally well-received despite some missing comforts.
The staff's warm hospitality is often acknowledged, although occasional slow service has been noted. Cleanliness receives high marks across the board, but guests should be prepared for rustic rooms that may include some maintenance quirks.
Location
Beachfront
Atmosphere
Serene
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Relaxing
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My husband and I stayed at Barefoot at Havelock for 4 amazingly tranquil days.
We opted for the tent accommodation as to be immersed in the jungle setting and we were not disappointed. The spacious tents are situated amongst tall trees and other jungle foliage. They were air conditioned and comfortable and the bathroom was equally spacious. Housekeeping came twice a day with a turndown service that included a mosquito net over the bed (though surprisingly, mosquitoes were not a huge problem but better to bring some repellent along).
The onsite restaurant, with included breakfast, was so convenient and had some amazing seafood dishes as well as an Indian, Chinese and Italian menu.
Scooter rentals are available for a fun trip into town or other excursions like Elephant Beach Trekking (highly recommend).
Now for the star of the show…the most gorgeous beach!! Barefoot is situated just a minute walk from a secluded white sand beach - no rocks, no seaweed, just pure sand, blue water and the sound of crashing waves! The sunsets are a must to experience and don’t miss the complementary “lal chai” (red tea) served at the beach at sunset everyday.
The staff, everyone from reception, housekeeping, bell boys, bar and restaurant, are friendly and eager to accommodate.
Don’t go to Barefoot if you are looking for your run of the mill luxury resort, but don’t miss it if you want an experience that will leave you relaxed, recharged and one with nature.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Bring sunscreen and mosquito repellent. The jungle pathways are rocky and uneven so a pair of...
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.
Response from Guest Relations, Other at Barefoot at Havelock
Responded 12 Apr 2024
Dear Ms. Hetal, Greetings from Barefoot Family ! Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you and your husband had four amazingly tranquil days at Barefoot at Havelock. Opting for the tent accommodation sounds like it truly immersed you in the jungle surrounding, and we're glad you found them spacious, comfortable, and equipped with all the necessary amenities. It's great to hear that our housekeeping team ensured your comfort with the turndown service. We're delighted that you enjoyed the convenience and delicious seafood dishes at our onsite restaurant, as well as the diverse menu options. Exploring the area with scooter rentals and embarking on excursions like the Elephant Beach Trekking adds to the adventure! Secluded white sand beach sounds like paradise, and we're thrilled that you found it so breathtaking. Watching the sunsets and enjoying Laal chai at the beach sounds like the perfect way to unwind. Thank you for your kind words about our staff. We take great pride in providing friendly and accommodating service to all our guests. We are glad that Barefoot at Havelock provided you with a unique and unforgettable experience that left you relaxed, recharged, and connected with nature. We can't wait to welcome you back for another memorable stay!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed here for seven nights and thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We stayed in one of the cottages. The room was large, the bed comfortable and shower great.
The beach is absolutely beautiful and seemed to stretch for miles . it was lovely and easy to walk along the sand .. no stones, lots of tiny crabs scurrying around digging holes and no sunbeds (great). The sea is warm and as there are lifeguards you can swim without too much concern. The sunset is amazingingly beautiful.
The grounds of the hotel are filled with trees and it's lovely to hear the birds singing -although they can start quite early in the morning!
There are various trips available with local drivers which the receptionist will arrange. We were very lucky in arranging a trip with Ranjeet, a tuk tuk driver, very early in our stay so we were able to arrange lots of other trips with him and see many other beaches, locations on the island. He was great and very knowledgeable.
The food was good although more options would have been helpful but, realistically, I imagine this would be challenging given the location and delivery options.
There's no TV and wi fi at reception can be temperamental but, in my opinion, this is all part of the experience and contributed to why Barefoot is so lovely.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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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Barefoot is not just a resort but an experience that will be remembered and cherished. And what makes this place so special is the staff running the show and providing exceptional services to guests. Right from the booking experience, to transfers, check-in/checkout and a special mention of the food being served at their restaurant "The Swiming Elephant". This is not just a resort that is built overnight but its created over 25 years of transformations and finally took its shape today. It's one of the oldest properties on island and enjoys the location premium of close proximity to Radhanagar Beach (Beach #7). The moment we landed at Port Blair we were contacted by their staff at our hotel who briefed us about our itinerary. We booked Andaman Villa for 3 nights and the stay was an extremely memorable one. The food served at their restaurant is the best on the island but pricey. The chef made the famous Daab Vegetables for us which is primarily a local delicacy made out of shrimps but was modified to our vegetarian needs. We booked 2 boat dives from Barefoot Scuba and can say that they are the best and most professional folks on the island. I did another dive at Neil island from a local vendor at Bharatpur Beach and could easily make out the difference in the quality of training and dives these guys offered. Even the divers at neil acknowledged that Barefoot Scuba folks are the best. The pathways to the villa are rocky and it becomes pitch dark at night. However they provide guests with torches.
The only downside I felt was the pricing which is quite high and could be reworked.
Certainly one of the best places to stay @Havelock.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Avoid tented cottages as they are far from the reception and dining area.
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.
We visited Andamans in December and stayed at Barefoot resort, Havelock island, for 4 days. We were a group of 7, including 2 senior citizens who were above 70 plus. Our stay at Barefoot has been one of the unforgettable one, the experience at the place is something which I have never experienced elsewhere. Being a jungle resort, to enjoy this place, one needs to be a nature lover and adventurous to some extent. Apart from other things, the plus point is the proximity to the world class Radha beach! One can just lie on the shore and spend the days here. Radha beach is the most cleanest, picturesque and serene, would take the top slot amongst the beaches I have experienced around the world! The evening tea service on the beach by happy Barefoot’s staff added pleasantness to our experience. Barefoot as the name suggests, you need to go bare feet inside the cottages, restaurants and reception. The cottages are clean and nicely done up. It is actually a blessing to be away from the world, to relax in privacy and to be disconnected from the internet! The most important part of our experience was the attitude of the staff. We had a number of requirements and requests, and every time it was done with a smile. Never did anyone say that it cannot be done or that ‘we would try’! All the staff, went extra mile with a smile to keep us comfortable and happy, and they did their best, and won our hearts. I would say that the staff of Barefoot makes the resort stand out, their service is impeccable.
Thank you Barefoot for the happy memories. Your staff is what makes you what you are today. Congratulations to all your staff for being no1 in showing such a degree of hospitality, you would go great heights! I wish Barefoot all the best for a bright future and I would be more than happy to be back again!
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
The resort was set amidst a well conserved forest right on the beach. nature conservation was given a lot of importance here, and forest we were told was minimally harmed to make the resort. Our two-storied bamboo hut was gorgeous, with a sprawling upper deck and a pretty veranda to sit and relax. The bottle of wine and cakes was a nice welcome. Since the resort was not electrically lit apart from rooms and restaurant, we were given torches to walk around after sunset. But never did we feel unsafe. The pristine beach was just 2 minutes walk, lined with the tall ancient trees of the beautiful forest. We took long baths in the sea and long walks along the beach through the forest. the food was great, and so was the bar-cum-reception with its cozy sitting upstairs and live music in the evenings. Some services that made our stay quite special were the afternoon tea served on the beach after our baths, and the 'khichri' made everyday by the chef for our toddler at nominal cost.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
We arrived at Barefoot Jungle resort on the 26th Dec and the place was mesmerizing in term of the jungle/nature, the location and the way the rooms, bar, restaurant are all done up. I usually don't spend so much on stays but this was our honeymoon so we went ahead and paid up the full amount of 34,000 in advance for two nights. The welcome was warm. But to our surprise the washroom shower was not working. We made a complain. Also our room was far away from the restaurant and bar. The road is bad so it's either a long walk or a bumpy ride. But this isn't the worse. What we realised over the two nights there is that while the place is great, rooms are good the service is absolutely bad. The bar makes drinks with brands that should not be at a bar like this. Where lowest room rate is 17000. A cocktail cannot have royal challenge in it. People who pay so much for stay can't digest it even with a bottle of gelusil on the side. Next is the restaurant and this is where it gets really interesting. We are at an island, obviously we are going to have seafood, so we order a sea food platter and what we get is a very regular affair or prawn and fish. Nothing outstanding. Not seasoned well and the cherry on top- raw fish. Our tuna was raw from the inside. We complained about it only to hear the chef "educate" us that it's a tuna steak and it is served rare or medium rare. Being from Bangalore we understand what a steak is. When a steak is served it is mentioned on the menu or the customer is asked explicitly how they would like it. A steak that too a tuna steak is not just thrown in, in a platter. To our surprise the chef also started telling us how they always serve tuna raw as a ceviche. Again we didn't order a ceviche. We didn't even see it on the menu. Our complain of having to eat raw food was taking so casually, it seemed such complaints were common at Barefoot and the staff had become used to it. Overall it seems that the management has stopped caring about how they maintain standards and keep up the name of coffee day. It is not worth the money to stay at barefoot, precisely because of the lack of service and callous staff. Won't recommend to anyone. If I am going to pay so much, I'll upgrade and stay at Jalakara instead. This review his a cry out to whoever is listening so they can make this place what it deserves to be.
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Stayed here for a couple of nights. Check in was smooth. In fact had booked tented cottage but they upgraded us to the andaman cottage. Approach road is quite rough and internal paths too are unstructured, I think this is done to retain the forest like charm of the resort. No Tv, no wifi means you can thoroughly enjoy the set up on offer, especially the radhanagar beach. I think 24/7 access to the radhanagar beach is the biggest usp of the resort. We were able to take a walk beachside in the night too and it was quite and enthralling experience. Staff was quite polite and helpful for all our requests. Chef would personally come up and check on us if the food served was right. We were treated to some amazing varities in jain food which we were honestly not expecting in a place like andaman. Breakfast is also directly served at the table so you don't have to get up everytime to serve yourself. Rooms are wooden made and give a proper rain forest type charm. All in all a great experience, being so close to the nature, away from the hustle of the city. Would have liked the stay and restaurant prices to be a bit moderated but I guess the premium is on account of direct access to radhanagar beach which I think is being offered by barefoot and taj, which is 2x of this!! Great work guys! Kudos!!
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
We took the opportunity to stay for two nights at Barefoot Resort at the end of our vacation. This place is Great! If you are looking for an eco conscious, resort type accomodation, near a beautiful beach... then this is the place for you.
It is nestled in among the jungle trying to be one with the flora and fauna. The main reception area is amazing and pops out of nowhere upon arrival. The buildings are made of locally sourced renewable woods and palm frowns for the roof. Everything is open air which enhances the feeling of being part of the jungle.
The beach is just a 1 minute walk away and is a constant soothing sound in the background when on the resort. The beach, while being public access is white sand and sea foam green waters while also being slightly away from the crowds of the Taj.
This is a highlight from our stay because it's quiet, secluded and maintains a good balance of luxurious and quaint welcoming feeling. The staff have made this a great experience from Manit and Sureshna at the reception to Jack and the Chef extraordinaire in the kitchen.
Thank you so much Barefoot... we will being seeing you once again!
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
When I was booking this property, I read a lot of mixed reviews. But the good reviews resonated with me more than the bad so I went ahead.
Today I know why there are mixed reviews. It's a mismatch of expectations. This is a place for those who consider pure wilderness as luxury. It is an eco friendly property that is quite priceless in its location, the warmth of the staff, the chirping of the birds and the walk through the tall trees before you hit the best beach in Asia.
If you are looking for modern facilities like a swimming pool ( not eco friendly), television, wifi in rooms, intercom room service etc, this is not the place for you. You should book this place for the peace and quiet. For the delicious food and muddy pathways. For the experience of staying in a jungle resort which is 25 years old and still standing proud and tall to service guests. The rooms are old with some maintenance issues, but I see them as wrinkles on a beautiful face.
Some reviews cribbed about the walk from the room to the dining area being mucky during rains. What they don't tell you is how the property just comes alive in the rains. It's a green you will not see anywhere else.
Others said there no room service. I go to the jungles each month and no resort has room service. Do not compare this to a Taj. You are paying for the fact that this is inside a jungle. For the thatched cottages. For the fact that they have dim path lights to not disturb the nocturnal animals. For the privacy and the clear blue waters.
Having said that, the activities here are quite expensive. But the entire island is steep.
The only suggestion I have is to add some seating inside the tent. Not just outside.
So, For me, Barefoot was a find and I will surely be back!!
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Response from Guest Relations, Other at Barefoot at Havelock
Responded 6 Mar 2023
Dear Ms. Arpita, Greetings from Barefoot Family !!! This is indeed such an exceptional review! It is with great delight that we read that your experience with us was full of luxury staying amidst nature in an eco-friendly resort, joy, and warmth. This is what we strive for with all of our guests, and to hear that this was your experience is beyond exciting. Thank you for the amazing feedback, and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
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We stayed in a tent which was located amidst a natural surrounding, which was a completely new experience. The welcome drink was a tender coconut from their own farm and it was a pleasing start to our stay. All the staff of the resort were extremely helpful and responsive to all our requirements. The food served was really good though it is slightly expensive. We even made a special request for rasam on one of the days and the same was served with ease. They have a private access to the Radhanagar Beach and the path to the beach is amidst the jungle with a beautiful natural scenery. Radhanagar Beach is well suited to take a dip and a lifeguard from the resort is also present at the beach. The Laal Chai served at the beach during sunset was also fantastic. Even though the location and scenery is amazing , the tents and the interiors require improvements and refurbishments. The flooring of the rooms, tents, restrooms need further improvement and better maintenance.
Overall , it was a great experience with an amazing location and good hospitality from every person in the resort.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
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.
From Port Blair, you will need to catch a ferry to Havelock (daily departures between 0600hrs and 1400hrs, one and a half hours sailing time). Once you reach Havelock jetty, acess to our resort is by road (15 mins drive).
There are more places to choose from in the Havelock Island area.
PRICE RANGE
₹10,022 - ₹20,131 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
barefoot at havelock hotel havelock island, barefoot havelock island, barefoot hotel havelock island
LOCATION
IndiaAndaman and Nicobar IslandsHavelock Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
31
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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