Hampi and Goa
Overview
- Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
- Departures: Private, any date
- Group size: Private, from 2 travellers
- Accommodation: Comfortable 3–4★ hotels and a heritage-style or boutique stay near Hampi
- Country: India
Trade the sand of Goa for the granite boulders and royal ruins of Hampi for three nights, exploring by bicycle, coracle and on foot, then return to the coast to rest.
This eight-day trip suits travellers who want more than a beach holiday in India. It works well for active couples, friends and families with older children who enjoy walking, cycling and exploring ruins, and who are comfortable with two long road days in exchange for a very different landscape.
You begin and end in Goa. After a first night to rest, you cross the Western Ghats to Hampi, once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, whose ruins lie scattered across a landscape of granite boulders, rice fields and the Tungabhadra river. Over three nights you explore the temples of the Sacred Centre, cycle to the Vittala Temple and the Royal Enclosure, cross the river by coracle and visit the old village of Anegundi. A sunrise climb up Matanga Hill is there for those who want it.
You then return to the coast for two nights, with a free day to swim and relax, or to see the churches of Old Goa if you still have energy.
The pace in Hampi is active, with early starts to avoid the heat of the day. Two honest notes. The road journey to and from Hampi takes about eight hours each way, so those two days are mainly travel. And Hampi is hot for much of the year and very hot from March, so we recommend the cooler months.
We can extend your time in Goa, add a stop on the way or continue to Mumbai. Tell us how you like to travel and we will adapt it.
Day-by-day itinerary
Your driver meets you at the airport and drives you to your hotel near the coast. After a long flight, there is nothing to do today but rest. If you have energy later, take a walk along the beach and try a first Goan dinner. Your specialist goes through the plan for Hampi, which starts with a long travel day tomorrow.
Overnight: Goa
Leave after an early breakfast on the road to Hampi, about eight hours with stops. The route climbs through the forested Western Ghats and out onto the dry Deccan plateau, with sugar cane fields and small market towns. Where timetables suit, we can use a train to Hosapete instead. Arrive in the late afternoon among the boulder hills, and watch sunset from your hotel.
Overnight: Hampi · Meals: Breakfast
Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, and its ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start at the Virupaksha Temple, still in worship, then walk along the old bazaar street with your guide. Climb Hemakuta Hill among small shrines, see the giant monolithic Narasimha and Ganesha statues, and return to Hemakuta at dusk to watch the sun set over the boulders.
Overnight: Hampi · Meals: Breakfast
Set out by bicycle in the cool of the morning, with your guide alongside, to the Vittala Temple and its famous stone chariot and carved pillars. Ride on to the Royal Enclosure, the Lotus Mahal, the elephant stables and the stepped tank. In the late afternoon, glide across the Tungabhadra river in a round coracle, if the water level allows.
Overnight: Hampi · Meals: Breakfast
If you are up for a climb, walk up Matanga Hill before dawn with your guide to watch the sun rise over the ruins and the river. After breakfast, cross the river to Anegundi, a village older than Hampi, with rice fields, temples and local crafts. Return to your hotel for a rest before the drive back towards the coast tomorrow.
Overnight: Hampi · Meals: Breakfast
Today you travel back to Goa, about eight hours by road with breaks, or by train where the timetable suits. Watch the landscape change from rocky plains to the green hills and rivers of the coast. Arrive at your beach hotel by late afternoon, in time to put your feet in the sea and enjoy a quiet dinner.
Overnight: Goa · Meals: Breakfast
After the dust of Hampi, this day is for rest. Swim, read or walk along the beach. If you would rather keep exploring, your driver can take you to the UNESCO churches of Old Goa and the painted houses of Panaji, or to an old fort above the sea for sunset. Spend the evening at a beachside restaurant.
Overnight: Goa · Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a last breakfast before your driver takes you to the airport for your onward or international flight. If your flight leaves late, there is time for a morning swim or a little shopping for cashews and spices. End of your trip.
Overnight: — · Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
- Accommodation with breakfast
- Private airport and hotel transfers
- Private car and driver throughout, including the road journeys to and from Hampi
- Local English-speaking guide for two and a half days in Hampi
- Bicycle hire for the guided cycling day in Hampi
- Coracle ride on the Tungabhadra river, when the river level allows
- 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 a guided bouldering session or sightseeing in Goa
Good to know
Sample itinerary: we adapt the route, hotels and dates to you and confirm everything in your written quote. Best October–February.
The journey between Goa and Hampi takes about eight hours by road with stops, and you travel it in your own private car with a driver. Where timetables suit, part of the journey can be done by train to Hosapete, the nearest railway station to Hampi; we confirm the options when we book. Around Hampi you explore on foot, by bicycle and by car.
Frequently asked questions
We think so. Hampi is one of the largest ruined cities in India, spread over a wide landscape of granite boulders and banana plantations, and three nights give you time to explore without rushing. The journey is long, but the change of scenery is part of the experience.
You walk a good deal in Hampi, often on uneven stone paths and rocky hillsides, and the cycling day covers easy roads at a gentle pace. The sunrise climb is optional. If you prefer, we can replace the bicycle with a car or an electric vehicle where available.
Hampi’s granite boulders are well known to climbers. If you would like to try, we can arrange an introductory session with a local instructor and equipment, as an optional extra. Tell us your experience when you request a quote.
October to February is the best time, when the days in Hampi are warm and dry and the sea in Goa is calm. From March to May Hampi becomes very hot, and the monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain to the coast.
