Getting to Kavaratti requires advance planning. The island is accessible by air from Kochi (Cochin) on the Kerala coast — Agatti Airport, on a nearby island, is the only airport in Lakshadweep, and from there a helicopter or speedboat transfers passengers to Kavaratti. Flight schedules are limited and tickets sell out quickly in peak season.
The alternative is the government-operated ship service from Kochi, which takes 14–20 hours depending on the vessel and covers several islands. The ships are functional rather than comfortable, and the crossing can be rough during the monsoon season. However, the sea journey gives a genuine sense of the remoteness of the archipelago.
All visitors to Lakshadweep require a permit, obtained through the Lakshadweep Tourism office in Kochi or through an approved tour operator. Foreign nationals face additional restrictions on where they can go within the territory. Accommodation must be booked in advance, as the island has limited capacity: the main options are the government guesthouses and the Bangaram Island Resort (on a nearby island), which is the only private resort in Lakshadweep.