The Andaman islands are not easy to get to but they're definitely worth the extra effort. Technically they're part of India but in fact they're much nearer to Myanmar and Thailand.

Getting there involves either going crazy trying to book a $195-each-way flight with Indian Airlines (the only airline in the world that doesn't want passengers) or a five-day journey on the boat from hell from Calcutta. Backpackers speak in hushed tones of the dreaded `bunk class' on these boats, where daily infringements of your civil liberties are the very least you can expect. Mind you it only costs a few quid.

But once you're there, you can camp on deserted islands with pure white beaches, go diving, learn more about the many different peoples of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and see an unexpected, untouched part of India.

What's left of most British Raj buildings - the capital Port Blair used to be a British penal colony - is overgrown and fallen down. Pictured left is a building on Viper Island, near Port Blair, where prisoners were once hung. Nicer now, I think.

A particularly good spot to visit is the Mahatma Gandhi Marine Park. This park is full of jungly islands and has been set up to protect local fish and corals which are some of the most colourful and spectacular anywhere. You can't stay the night in the park but you can go for day trips. The snorkelling there is fabulous and the diving at Cinque Island is top of the range.

When you're not diving, you can buzz around on a bike. Or, of course, you can eat barbecued fish on the beach. You can also get right out to the jungle and other pristine islands by going on a bus or ferry.  

I'd recommend going to the Andamans if you can get there, and it might well be simpler to book a flight straight there from Britain than to try and buy a ticket in India like we did. There's still plenty to be explored.