India, Aug. 13 -- The first thing I remember is squinting in the sun and trying not to trip over my suitcase as we walked straight from the airport to the pier at Port Blair. One moment, it was traffic and tarmac. The next, it was just me staring at the biggest stretch of water I had ever seen. My first time on an island, and I was not ready for how the ocean seemed to stretch endlessly. That was when I knew this trip was going to be different.

The Andaman Islands are not about all-night beach parties or crowded promenades. They are for those who want a holiday that feels unhurried, where the clock does not matter and the waves are the main soundtrack. After a few trips here, I have realised a few simple choices can turn a good Andaman t...