Goa the most famous seaside and party state of India, has always been an attraction for the tourists, who want to be close to the sea, sand and enjoy the sun. In the 60's Goa was among the most frequently visited places in India. The hippies thronged the place and with them came a culture of careless, unbounded life. Today the essence of Goa tours has changed. Instead of the hippies, one spots serious tourists who come to enjoy the beaches and colourful culture of Goa. Today the beach parties might be small but they are livelier and have much more fun to offer than the "stoned" parties during the hippy trails of the past.
And who can forget Feni, the locally brewed liquor which is popular as much among the tourist as it is among the locals. But the main attraction of Goa is its soft golden beaches. These beaches still gets flooded with budget travellers of all ages and degrees of affluence.
General Information
Climate: Hot & Humid
Weather: min 20° C & max 35° C
Best Time to Visit: Monsoon (June and July) & Winters (mid-December and February)
Suggested Clothing: Cotton & Khaki fabric
Places to visit
Famous for sun, sand and sea, Goa offers many places to relax and rejuvenate. The itineraries will include visit to the famous churches like, Church of Our Lady of Rosary, The Rachol Seminary and Church of St. Francis of Assisi, The Se Cathedral and Basilica of Bom Jesus. Tours to Goa unleashes various magnificent temples which highlight the religious period. Beautiful golden sand of Goa attracts tourists from farfetched places. Beaches like The Aguada Bay, Calangute, Baga and Anjuna beach are very popular and are favourite tourist spots.
- Panaji- The state capital has great sightseeing options such as Panjim Church, Customs Museum, INOX theatre, Maruti temple, Se Cathedral, Basilica of Bom Jesus, beauteous beaches and more.
- Old Goa- Former capital is full of churches and convents and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Margao- The "Athens of Goa" also, Goa's cultural capital.
- Vasco da Gama- The port city.
- Mapusa- The city of locals, ideal for shopping and learning Goan lifestyle.
- Ponda- The city covered in green meadows and filled with grand temples.
Highlights of Goa Tours
Water Sports in Goa
Blessed with a long coastline, Goa offers opportunities to indulge in an array of water-sports. Cruising the sea, floating across the waves or a splash deep in, water sports in Goa offer varied levels of excitement with blue backdrop. While on a Goa tour one can try out numerous water sport activities such as jet skiing, parasailing, scuba diving, water skiing, wind surfing, water bikes and banana boat rides.
Goa Carnivals
Celebrated in the month of February, Goa Carnival is a three days long festival when the streets come alive in vivacious colours. Vibrant processions are carried on the strumming of guitars, performers marching and people don colourful attire with masks.
Food
Get the real flavour of Goa tourism by tasting the local cuisines at the most loved eat-out zones of this funky party town. Feni - the National Drink, seafood, chicken Xacuti, Pork Vindaloo, Fish and Prawn Caldine, Richado and a number of others are the ingredients that make Goa a gourmets' paradise. The beaches and adjoining villages are full with tiny hotels and restaurants, run by the locals and each of which serves some finger licking delicacies. Like Alfama- located at Cidade de Goa Beach Resort, Banyan Tree at Boga, Chit Chat at Tourist Hotel, overlooking Mandovi River, Delhi Darbar at M.G. Road, Sher-I-Punjab at Hotel Arama and many more offers the various cuisines to satisfy your taste buds. Pastry Cottage near the hotel Nova Goa is the right choice for those with sweet tooth.
Museums & Art Galleries
Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery: Located in Old Goa, museum on history of Goa, Archives Museum of Goa, located at Patto, Panaji, Museum of Christian Art, Rachol, located in Old Goa and Renaissance Art Gallery, located at Panaji.
Shopping
You can buy gifts, souvenir and handicrafts from all over the country in Goa. Be it Tibetan jewellery, gems, fur coats, ready to use powdered masalas, homemade taddy vinegar (Kokum) or port wine, you can get them throughout the length and breadth of the state.
River Cruises
Sunset Cruise, Sundown Cruise, and exciting Evening Cruise: one hour cruise including fold dances and live music, delightful Dolphin Cruise and breathtaking backwater Crocodile Cruise are some of the options.
Accommodations in Goa
Goa is stuffed with modes of accommodation fitting all price brackets. A number of praiseworthy guesthouses and hotels flank this hub of tourists. Those planning a longer stay can also rent from fully furnished apartments on offer. Essentially a beach town, people visit Goa to bask in the celestial beauty of its beaches and thus prefer to stay near the prime beaches. In the presence of numerous beach resorts, Goa tours become a rejuvenating and a laid-back vacationing experience absolutely worth the money paid. Premium properties in Goa.
