Goa Beach Break
Overview
- Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
- Departures: Private, any date
- Group size: Private, from 2 travellers
- Accommodation: Comfortable 4★ beach hotel or boutique stay in south Goa, with upgrades on request
- Country: India
Unwind for five days on the quieter beaches of south Goa, with a morning among the churches of Old Goa, a canoe through the mangroves and plenty of time simply by the sea.
This short break is for travellers who want to rest on the coast of India without giving up all culture. It suits couples and honeymooners best, and it works well as a stand-alone holiday or as the last few days of a longer trip around the country.
You stay in one hotel on the quieter southern coast of Goa, where the beaches are wide and long, fishing boats rest on the sand and the evenings are calm. There are only two planned days. On the first, a guide takes you to the UNESCO-listed churches of Old Goa and the colourful Latin quarter of Panaji. On the second, you head out early in a canoe or small boat through the mangroves, a good place for birds, and then walk through a spice garden inland with lunch included.
The rest of the time is yours: a free day by the sea, sunsets over the Arabian Sea and long dinners of fish curry, prawns and bebinca, the layered Goan dessert.
The pace is slow. One honest note: from June to September the monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas, so this is very much a trip for the dry months. From late March onwards the days also grow hot and humid.
We can add more nights, a stay in north Goa, or a few days in Mumbai or Kerala. Tell us what you have in mind and we will plan it around you.
Day-by-day itinerary
Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your beach hotel in south Goa. Leave the luggage, change into something light and let the coast set the pace. In the evening, walk barefoot along the tideline as the sun drops into the Arabian Sea, then have dinner at a simple beach shack with grilled fish and a cold drink.
Overnight: South Goa
Head north with your guide to Old Goa, the former capital of Portuguese India, whose churches and convents are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the broad white front of the Se Cathedral. Shoulders and knees should be covered. Continue to Panaji for a stroll through the painted houses of Fontainhas, then return to the beach.
Overnight: South Goa · Meals: Breakfast
Set off early for a guided canoe or small-boat trip along a mangrove-lined creek, when birds are most active: herons, egrets and several kinds of kingfisher are often seen, though sightings depend on the season. Continue inland for a walk through a spice garden near Ponda, among pepper vines, cardamom and nutmeg, with a Goan lunch served on banana leaves.
Overnight: South Goa · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today has no plan. Stay on the sand, swim when the flags allow, or book a massage. If you want to explore, your driver can take you to a quieter cove further south, or to the cliff-top fort at Cabo de Rama for sunset. Finish the evening with a candlelit dinner by the water, which we can arrange for you.
Overnight: South Goa · Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a last swim or a lazy breakfast before your driver takes you to the airport for your onward flight. Depending on your flight time, you may have a few hours to buy cashews, spices or Goan sweets to take home. End of your trip.
Overnight: — · Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
- Accommodation with breakfast
- Private airport and hotel transfers
- Private car and driver on the sightseeing days
- Local English-speaking guide in Old Goa and Panaji
- Guided mangrove canoe or boat trip
- Spice garden visit with lunch
- Entrance fees to the sights in the itinerary
- 24/7 support during your trip
Not included
- International flights
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities, such as massages, sunset cruises or a private dinner
Good to know
Sample itinerary: we adapt the route, hotels and dates to you and confirm everything in your written quote. Best November–March.
You stay in one beach hotel for the whole trip, so there is no packing and unpacking. Your private driver handles the airport transfers and the two sightseeing days. Goa has two airports, and the drive to south Goa takes from under an hour to around two hours depending on which one your flight uses.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. You stay in one place on the quieter southern coast, with light sightseeing and a full free day. We can choose a hotel with a private pool or sea-view room and arrange a private dinner on the beach.
The sea is usually calm and good for swimming from about November to March. During the monsoon, roughly June to September, the waves are strong and swimming is often not allowed. Our Goa guide has more on the seasons.
Easily. Goa is a short flight from Mumbai and from Kochi for the Kerala Backwaters, and many travellers end a longer trip through India here.
