Goa Activities

Goa is much more than just beaches, and this tour will show you around the less touristy historic part of the state. Old Goa was the capital of Portuguese India, and its churches and convents comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus, which holds the remains of St. Francis Xavier, and the huge Se Cathedral, with its tall white walls and old carvings. After that, you drive inland to a spice plantation near Ponda, where a guide walks you through shady gardens full of cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. You smell, touch, and taste the spices; enjoy a refreshing herbal drink; and sit down to a traditional Goan lunch. The tour takes about 6 to 7 hours from your hotel, with a comfortable pace and plenty of time for photos. It is a perfect way to see the real Goa on a day when you want a break from the beach.

Grand Island is one of the best places in Goa for a first scuba dive, and it is a highlight of any beach holiday. The island sits in the Arabian Sea off the Goa coast, and the boat ride there is a fun part of the trip, with a chance to spot dolphins on the way. Before the dive, your instructor gives you a simple briefing and shows you the gear, the hand signals, and how to breathe underwater. Then you slip into the sea and swim slowly with your instructor, who holds you the whole time, past rocks, coral, and shoals of colorful fish. No swimming skills or past experience are needed, so it is a safe and easy first step into the underwater world. The whole experience lasts 3 to 4 hours with 30 to 40 minutes of actual snorkeling and is great fun for couples, groups of friends, and families. The best time for snorkeling is between October and May, when the sea is calmer and the water clearer.