Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Andaman and Nicobar Islands

AREMOTE spatter of islands in the Bay of Bengal, 370 miles off the Burma coast, the Andamans are India’s very own desert islands. Until recently, this archipelago was a mystery, with more than 80% of the land marked as protected for forests and native tribes. Little by little, however, its turquoise waters, white-sand beaches and gentle way of life are being discovered.

Now, hotel group Taj has jumped on board, opening the first luxury resort on Havelock, one of the main islands. Set in 46 acres of dense jungle, on Radhanagar Beach, one of Asia’s best, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa has settled naturally into its location. Surrounded by tropical orchards, the 50 stilted villas are inspired by the huts of the local Jarawa tribe, with curved, thatched roofs.

Inside, it’s very stripped back—muslindraped four-poster beds, stark furnishings, calming grey hues and dark coconut-wood panels. There’s also an infinity pool, jutting out towards the sparkling aquamarine sea. It’s best experienced with a ginger nimbu

pani (lemon drink) in hand. The three restaurants tell the story of the island’s inhabitants and executive chef Kaushik Misra spent three months explor- ing the Andamans. The result is pitchperfect, combining native ingredients with modern Indian cuisine. The bistro-style Turtle House, offering international fare, is ideal for long lunches or there are coastal curries from the Andaman Sea at Shoreline.

For a real treat, pick The Settlers, which serves fine-dining dishes inspired by the different Andaman communities—don’t miss the Tamil-spiced lobster pepper fry.

Days are filled with countless adventures. Go for a dawn trek through virgin jungle with in-house naturalist Jocelyn. Swim and scuba-dive among vibrant coral, neoncoloured fish and magnificent manta rays. Try your hand at fishing with the locals. At night, kayak through braided mangroves, lit up by the glow of bioluminescent plankton.

The jungle-guarded beach retreat isn’t easy to access. There are no international flights to the capital Port Blair and the ferry to Havelock takes two hours. Don’t be deterred— simply combine your trip with a few days in Chennai (a two-hour flight away), which was recently included in UNESCO’S Creative City Network, thanks to its musical heritage.

After a day’s exploring, flop in an oceanfacing villa at Fisherman’s Cove, another Taj triumph. Harriet Compston Cox & Kings (www.coxandkings.co.uk; 020–3797 8027) offers a five-night tour to Chennai and the Andaman Islands from £2,095 per person, including international and domestic flights, return ferry crossing, private transfers and two nights B&B at Vivanta by Taj–fisherman’s Cove and three nights B&B at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa