Asia – Hippie In Heels

How to spend 11 Days in Ladakh, North India

Jules Nazareth — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 07:30:43 +0000

Are you heading to Ladakh but not sure where to start? Check out this 11 day itinerary that will give you a good taste of the beauty Ladakh has to offer!

Jules here, the local Goa expert finally taking a little trip outside of Goa and within the beautiful Mother India after what feels like over a year. India is full to the brim with culture, heritage, colours, sounds and absolute madness. There is so much to see and every state, village and corner seems to be different. After 5 years of wanting to make a trip to Ladakh, I finally did and wow!

Julley is how you say hello, goodbye, good day and all things nice.

When To Go?

The best time to visit Ladakh is between April and September. April to July being the warmer and busiest months and July to September cooling and slowing down. Once it gets to October, winter sets in and tourism is not so common as it can get to minus 10 degrees at night. I decided to go around the beginning of September and actually the weather was perfect. It was nice and hot in the day, sometimes even too hot and nice and chilly in the evenings. It also meant tourism was slowing down so it wasn’t as crowded as usual which is what you want when searching for tranquility!

I was able to take an 11 day trip to Ladakh which I feel was the perfect amount of time to do some exploring in a few different areas, have some time for relaxing and to incorporate the very necessary initial 2 days you need to take to acclimatise. Some people fly to Ladakh for the weekend but if you take into account the days you need to acclimatise this is not such a good idea. This is not a place that should be rushed and so if you have the capacity to stay a bit longer, then please do. Below are the full details on what I did, where I stayed and what I saw.

Where Is Ladakh?

Ladakh is up high in the Northern part of India, surrounded by the beautiful Himalayan mountain range. It is not the easiest place to get to and is still not considered the most safe due to its close proximity to China, Tibet and Jammu and Kashmir. However, I felt safe the whole time, the people are so friendly, everyone wants to help and the views will blow your mind. The only big reminder of potential trouble are the hundreds, probably thousands of army people you see everywhere. In all the remote mountain areas there are different army camps, with tanks and army trucks and all kinds of weapons. Fighter jets can sometimes be heard flying overhead and an important thing to remember is never take pictures of the army – this is not allowed and this will get you into trouble.

Leh from above.

At the beginning of September, we flew into Leh from Delhi on a small Go Air plane for a very reasonable price. They have quite a lot of planes arriving and departing everyday as Leh has suddenly become the Goa of the mountains. The views from the plane are just the beginning of what you are about to experience. If you can pay for a window seat on the left side of the plane, it will be the best 300rs you spend. When we were flying over the snowy peaks, our pilot was giving us a talk through the different mountain ranges and which monastery was which. If it is a clear day you will see absolutely everything and your mind will be blown! Once you land at Leh airport, you get down on the runway and although you will probably want to take a selfie or picture, hold yourself back, as photography is prohibited at army airports.

Leh is 11,480 ft (3,500M) above sea level and the more exploring you do, the higher you can go. You will be able to feel this as you soon as you get off the plane. Usually if you take the road and drive from Manali to Leh, your body will acclimatise as you go, but flying on a plane means you don’t get that time for your body to get used to the change. It’s a very short 1 hour and 10 minute flight and in that time you will have climbed up a fair distance. What you will feel is a slight headache and very out of breath. You will need to collect your baggage and take it very slowly. I walked up 3 or 4 steps and was out of breath as if I had sprinted up 25.

What Do You Need?

There is a foreigner registration desk at Leh airport which you will need to sign in to if you are travelling on a foreign passport. They will give you a C Form and they will just check on your safety while you are visiting. When departing from Leh airport you will have to go to the same desk so they can essentially sign you out of Ladakh.

To enter Leh you will need a negative RT-PCR test or a certificate to show you are double vaccinated. They will check this on your exit at Leh airport. There may be a testing facility available at Leh airport but it is worth having all your documents ready beforehand.

You will need to get different permits to explore different areas of Ladakh. These permits will be checked at different check-points throughout your journey and have your full details on them. Again I feel they do this for your safety and it is a way to check everyone who entered Ladakh, also exits. You have to select the permits you require for the different areas, so the best is to ask your hotel to help with this or you can do it yourself and choose all areas. The permit I used for my trip was 900rs and I used the official website. Do note you can’t get permits for one person and they usually need to be done in pairs. I also would not recommend travelling around Ladakh alone, it is definitely more of a shared trip, not only for your safety but also to be able to share the beauty.

Three life hacks for Ladakh that you should definitely listen to before your trip. Download all the offline maps of Ladakh while in Delhi. And download all offline music and movies you will want before the trip. In the 11 days I was in Ladakh I had absolutely zero phone signal and the wifi is not the best. Get yourself an Airtel SIM card either before you get to Ladakh or if you are an Indian National you can use your passport to get a SIM when in Leh. If you are a foreigner you will need your passport to get a SIM card but it will probably take a bit longer.

There is no nightlife in Ladakh, don’t go looking for a party and lots of alcohol. What you will find are peaceful starry nights and lots of opportunity for movie nights in your hotel room so make sure you are prepared!

Stok

We picked up a taxi at Leh airport and went directly to Stok which is even higher above sea level. If you don’t have your own working SIM then make sure you have the contact number of all hotels you are staying in as the locals in Ladakh will have SIM cards that do actually work – Airtel and even Postpaid JIO are the only ones that work apparently – and they will be able to call the hotel to check their location.

Kaya Homestay.

We stayed at Kaya Homestay, the perfect place to acclimatise and take it all in. Stok is a small village that doesn’t have as much going on as Leh and Kaya Homestay is in a small lane with it’s own home grown garden, panoramic bedroom windows, the BEST Vegan cafe and hot showers!

We stayed here for 3 nights. 2 of those days were spent doing pretty much nothing but taking it easy, watching movies, eating at the delicious cafe and staring at the beautiful mountain range out the windows. We went on very small walks in the day, nothing too major as you really do need to relax or you can get sick. Headaches came in the morning but were usually gone by the afternoon. Do not drink any alcohol or smoke for the first few days at least as this can really have adverse side effects and could ruin your trip and nobody wants that!

Whilst in Stok we took a trip to Leh to check it out. We hitched a ride with the owner of Kaya and went to visit the Central Asian Museum which has lots of history about Ladakh and also lots of stairs that you will spend a lot of time getting out of breath from. It’s only small and shouldn’t take any longer than 45 minutes to look around. There is also the Leh Palace which you can see up high but it wasn’t open when we visited. There are lots of shops in town where you can get the essentials you may need for your trip including medicines, toiletries, warm clothing and snacks for the the car journeys.

A rest on the steep steps.

Shanti Stupa, Leh Pagoda. @farhaddubash

There is also a beautiful Pagoda, Shanti Stupa, in Leh but it was up hundreds of stairs that I didn’t feel my lungs were ready to climb yet. I went up a quarter of the way to sit on the stairs and admire the view. If your lungs are settled and you are already a few days in then it is definitely worth visiting the Shanti Stupa for the views over Leh and beyond.

I would recommend not spending too much time in Leh and only passing through for a day or half-day visit. It isn’t the prettiest town and although it is nice to see the way of life there and the different fruits and vegetables they sell – lots of delicious apricots and apples – there are a lot of other quieter villages and towns that have more beauty.

Fresh fruit on the Leh streets for sale.

When you make it to Leh try Bon Appetit for yum food, The Tibetan Kitchen for the very delicious and traditional momos and The German Bakery for some bakery goodies. I also got some yum apricot jam and bottled Seabuckthorn juice which is the most delicious and apparently miracle liquid with all the vitamins you may need. Both are bright orange!

Golden Gautama Buddha, Stok

Back in Stok there is a huge golden Buddha a short walk away from Kaya. It is of course up a hill so again the walk needs to be taken slowly even after you have acclimatised. It’s a strange feeling of suddenly being very aware of your heart pumping away in your chest so take it slow at all times and listen to your body. This Buddha is sat up high with the most glorious view of the mountain range behind Leh. We ended up sitting here for at least 3 hours watching groups come and go and just enjoying the view from all corners. This was our first WOW moment and there were many more that came.

Bench with a view.

The Cafe at Kaya Homestay is now famous in Ladakh as they serve some of the most delicious and very instagrammable vegan food. Your mind will be blown and your taste buds will be alive. They have only recently opened up the Cafe to guests who aren’t staying so it does get busier now. There are also not many other or any other places to eat in Stok as it is not busy like Leh so when people make the trip to Stok they will also try the Cafe. My favorite was the Hummus Carrot sandwich which sounds very standard but the carrot was pulled out of the ground in front of us, the hummus was blitzed and the Ladakhi bread was freshly warmed. It was yum!

Breakfast at Kaya Cafe.

Our 3 Night Road Trip

We got our accommodation to help with a driver that he trusted to take us on what will forever be the most amazing road trip I have ever been on. If you are scared of heights, or have vertigo or find the idea of driving along cliff edges too stressful then these Ladakhi road trips may not be for you. But if you can find it within yourself to push through the fear you will be amazed!

We chose to do Stok – Nubra Valley – Pangong Lake – Leh.

Roads built into the side of the mountains.

The roads are literally built into the mountains and somehow seem to have enough room for 2 cars, the occasional overtaking and a lot of Army trucks that always seem to be in a very long convoy. Make sure you have your snacks packed, your music saved, your camera at the ready and literally just sit back and be ready to stare out the window for 6 hours at a time. The scenery just gets better and better and so you will end up having 20 pictures of the same mountain but from different angles!

The freezing view point of Khardung La.

Our first trip was from Stok to Nubra Valley. This took about 7 hours with a few stops, mainly for pictures as well as one very terrible wee stop. Terrible due to the smell of the toilet and me having to hold my breath but also trying to avoid dying by holding my breath as we are still very high up. On this route is where the ascent begins and you will have your first experience of cliff edge driving. It is scary at first but if you have the right driver, they have driven these roads a hundred times over and know exactly what they are doing. Here you will go through Khardung La Pass which is now the second highest motorable pass in the world. It stands at 17,852 ft (5,400M) high and you shouldn’t actually be up there for more than 5 minutes or so as it is bad for you. It is genuinely freezing cold with lots of snow but you will want to get out and take a picture next to the famous sign to show you made it. This was the busiest spot of the trip that day as lots of people congregate to get the perfect Instagram picture.

Nubra Valley.

Once you begin the descent after Khardung La the snow starts to melt and the amazing Nubra Valley range comes into view. It just seems to get better and better as you keep going and the colour of the mountains changes as you turn around the hairpin bends. We spent a lot of time in silence just looking out the window in awe. It really is mind blowing.

Make sure you have a read of the green and yellow highway signs that are dotted along all the roads you will drive along. They are written by BRO – Border Road Organisation and some of them will keep you smiling. A lot of them promote safe driving and keeping Ladakh clean and green. A few of my favorites were – ‘Accident Brings Tears, Safety Brings Cheers.’ ‘If you really think the economy is more important than the environment, then try holding your breath while counting your money.’ ‘BRO Be Careful on My Curves.’

Wisdom of Ladakh.

Nubra Valley

Nubra Valley Eco Lodge room view.

We stayed 2 nights at Nubra Valley Eco Lodge. This was a really beautiful spot with another big homegrown vegetable garden, the most amazing view of the mountains from the eating area and from our valley facing room. The food could be ordered during the usual breakfast, lunch and dinner hours and was nice North Indian food mainly. We didn’t book onto the all meals included option as we went out for day trips and had lunch elsewhere. However, there are no other restaurants nearby so you will be likely to end up eating dinner at wherever you choose to stay.

The door of beauty.

There was also a really cool door that lead out to the valley in front of our room and gave you a 360 degree view of the beauties. There was also a very random area with sand dunes and a bench, all natural and not man-made. This area through this secret door was my favorite spot in Nubra as you can find your own part away from anyone else and really take it all in. The weather seemed to change from 1 minute to the next and if it was suddenly super cloudy you wouldn’t even know the valley was there. We were lucky and had a lot of clear blue sky moments in the day and then an amazing clear starry sky in the evenings. Turn off the lights, sit on your room’s front balcony, crick you neck and watch the shooting stars fly past!

Self timer cameras saving lives.

The slightly sad thing about Eco Lodge is that the homegrown vegetable garden seemed to be only thing Eco about it. They kept giving out plastic water bottles and not offering the filter water they had, as well as using lots of single use plastic items for the tea, coffee, bathroom toiletries etc. Plastic is a big thing in Ladakh as they don’t have any recycling plants so all plastic that is used is just buried or burnt. They ask you to bring as little plastic as possible and to take any excess plastic home. The least you can do is carry your own re-usable water bottle as this really makes a difference to your plastic consumption!

Nubra Valley as seen through the door of beauty.

While staying at Nubra Valley, we hung out at the lodge but also took a little day trip over to Diskit and Hunder. This was a shorter journey of about 1.5 hours each way and took us to a very cool monastery that on a clear day gives you a great view over the valley.

Maitreya Buddha, Diskit.

Ladakh is mainly home to monasteries as Buddhism is the more prominent religion. These monasteries are usually built high up in the actual mountain faces. They have lots of prayer wheels that should always be spun clockwise for good luck whilst chanting Om Mani Padme Hum.

Next to the Diskit Monastery is another huge Buddha Statue, Maitreya, surrounded by prayer wheels. We got a really gloomy day so the view wasn’t as amazing as it could have been but these huge Buddha statues really are something else!

Bactrian Camels of Hunder.

Next we went to Hunder which is another natural sand dune area which is like a desert in the middle of the valley. They have a huge number of Bactrian Camels which can be ridden on the dunes for a fee. These are rare camels with 2 humps and a lot of fluffy fur. I decided not to ride them just because I am scared of camels and I try to avoid riding animals for tourist purposes. But I have to say they did look very well treated and pretty happy. The camel ride was not a long one and we watched a few people go on theirs. Behind the group of camels is part of the valley that is beautiful to walk through with lots of sheep, goats and dogs. Here you feel as though you could be in Scotland, Austria or Norway but are somehow in India!

Pangong Lake

The drive from Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake is another 6 hour journey full of beauty. We passed through more mountainous valleys as well as roads surrounded by green grassy spots with wild horses and winding streams. Then pops up snowy mountain tops that tower over everything else and again your car journey will probably be filled with silence and awe. We stopped for lunch on the way at a small roadside place where you can eat traditional Tibetan food like Momos, Thukpa and Noodles.

Pangong Lake – No Filter.

When you arrive at Pangong Lake you will be blinded by the beauty. It does not look real. It’s hard for your mind to comprehend how blue the lake is. I actually spent the evening before watching ‘3 Idiots’ which is a must-see movie whether you are going to Ladakh or not. The ending scene of this film is at Pangong Lake and is now the main reason why the lake has been added to everyone’s Ladakh schedule. The lake is located at just under 14,000 ft (4,250M) which makes it very cold and the weather very temperamental. Most people actually just drive to Pangong to have a look and then carry on back to Leh but we decided to stay overnight and I would recommend this.

Pangong House.

Don’t expect luxury or big hotels by the lake. What you will find are tents, homestays and small rooms. For 1 night this is perfect and we stayed at a very cute homestay called Pangong House which was a concrete home with food cooked by the family. The room window looked out onto the very blue lake and the duvet was nice and thick. The issue with the tents is that although they sound cool and adventurous, they are actually pretty cold at night and I am not one for the freezing cold. Staying overnight at the lake also means you get the chance to see the lake in all its glorious blue beauty. The lake looks different from the morning to the evening and if there are any clouds above the blue can be hidden. We were lucky to have a completely clear evening with the most amazing stars (which I could only stare at for 5 minutes before retreating from the cold) followed by a very clear morning which gave me the chance to take the images you see below.

Not a green screen, the actual back drop.

Do note, Pangong Lake is not for swimming, it is deep and actually very choppy and more importantly, freezing. I went in to my ankles and that was more than enough for me. What is very interesting is the lake is actually 134km long and goes from india all the way to China!

Witness these blue views on a clear day.

Chuchot – Indus River Camp

Our final part of the road trip was from Pangong Lake back to Leh. This was the final 7 hour trip and this was probably the bumpiest part. The roads were not as good and the several ‘Avalanche Prone Zone’ signs were a bit scary but the views were as beautiful as ever. We crossed lots of snow topped mountains and saw lots of Yaks and even a little blue lake with a pedalo that I wish we had stopped at to ride.

Natural beauty everywhere.

Thinley, our driver heading towards an unforgettable view.

I saved Indus River Camp until the end as I knew from the reviews that it was going to be exactly what we needed after our little road trip adventure. And really it was all it was hyped up to be and more. They have 8 cottages set on a huge 40 acre property with the most beautiful and comfortable rooms looking onto yet another glorious mountain range. The Indus River flows by and the peace and quiet was perfect. We stayed here for 4 nights which allowed me to unpack, settle in and completely feel like I was at home.

Indus River Camp rooms.

The balcony of our beautiful room.

They have a communal eating space where you can also sit and play games and make use of the wi-fi. The meals are the best we had in Ladakh, with three-course meals served at dinner and delicious lunch and breakfasts offered. All meals are additional and you need to let them know in advance if you want to be included. We were in for breakfast and dinner everyday. Everything is freshly made and the starter was always the yummiest soup, followed by a curry, vegetable side, chutneys, papads and a dessert you may not be able to finish but will always try to.

3 course meals of dreams at Indus River Camp.

They also have the option of a bonfire in the evenings, morning yoga by the Indus River, a telescope to see the stars and planets on a clear night as well as bikes for hire and a walk to see the special sunset views. Nico and Mary, the managers, will do all they can to make sure your stay is as perfect as possible and ours really was.

Yoga by the Indus River.

I did not want to leave but after an amazing and unforgettable 11 days, it was time to leave our Ladakhi adventure behind and fly back to the madness of Delhi. I hope the pictures in this blog have done some justice to what we saw but really you need to see it with your own eyes. I have done a lot of travelling in my time and these places above showed me the most natural beauty I have ever seen. You will leave feeling closer to Mother Nature and more at one with the mountains!

Sunset adventures.

To summarise:

Day 1 – Flew Delhi to Leh. Stayed in Stok – Kaya Homestay

Day 2 – Stayed in Stok – Kaya Homestay

Day 3 – Stayed in Stok – Kaya Homestay

Day 4 – Road Trip Day 1 – Leh to Nubra Valley – Nubra Eco Lodge

Day 5 – Road Trip Day 2 – Visit Diskit and Hunder – Nubra Eco Lodge

Day 6 – Road Trip Day 3 – Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake – Pangong House

Day 7 – Road Trip Day 4 – Pangong Lake to Leh – Indus River Camp

Day 8 – Stayed in Chuchot – Indus River Camp

Day 9 – Stayed in Chuchot – Indus River Camp

Day 10 – Stayed in Chuchot – Indus River Camp

Day 11 – Flew Leh to Delhi

If this blog helped, please let me know in the comments. I would love to hear form you!

The post How to spend 11 Days in Ladakh, North India appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Galgibaga: A Guide to the Most Peaceful Beach in Goa

Jules Nazareth — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 12:00:10 +0000

Even once you’ve decided where to stay in Goa and that you’d prefer the more relaxing south over north, there are still quite a lot of beaches to choose from! With the help of our local expert, Jules, we’re going to look at the best ones to visit. Here we have this little guide to Galgibaga Beach, Goa!

Buy our Insider Guide to Goa here

I, Jules, only discovered this beach a few years ago and was pretty much sworn to secrecy about it. And here I am spilling the beans, being naughty but mainly wanting to help keep the very few businesses on Galgibaga alive!

This is definitely the most peaceful beach in Goa that has just a teeny tiny bit of civilization. Here you will find a full length beach without one single beach shack, a beach without any rubbish or litter overpowering the beauty and a beach that should only be visited if you can help maintain this beauty. A beach that is only for the simple beachgoers, the ones who pack their own umbrella, their own beach towel and enjoy the sound of the waves rather than some (terrible) EDM which can be found further up North.

So please only read on if you can promise to pick up your litter, promise to only share the secret of Galgibaga with other likeminded travelers and promise to help keep this beach as pristine as it is.

The reason behind the beauty and emptiness of the beach is because it is a conserved turtle site where turtles hatch every year! Yay! No beach shacks, no sunbeds, no loud music, none of that is allowed to help keep the turtles safe when they are ready to come and lay their eggs.

Another difference between Galgibaga and the rest of the Goan beaches is the lack of palm trees. Here you will find a pine tree forest that lines the back of the beach.

To get to this very secluded sweet spot you need to drive all the way down South, past Agonda, past Palolem, past Patnem and through a few very cute small villages. You then get to a small and quite stressful blue bridge that can only fit one car at a time.. Big cars won’t get through and bikes definitely cause less drama. I have a memory of my Dad driving way too fast in our Suzuki Swift, me trying to observe the absolute beauty seen on either side but shouting in distress as our tyres literally scraped the sides!

Do note, same as all other beaches in the South, Galgibaga usually opens for tourists from November through to April. Between May and October the beach is usually deserted with all beach huts dismantled and the monsoon season setting in.

Galgibaga Beach

A Guide to Galgibaga Beach in South Goa

Places to Eat in Galgibaga

There are no beach shacks on Galgibaga so the choices of where to eat are slim. They are all located a bit further back from the beach, still giving you a beach view but not as close up as other beaches. I have had some super delicious meals and some average ones. If you are there for a few days, split your business around, it is nice to give to everybody.

One thing to know is that Galgibaga is known for their fresh oysters straight from the river. You don’t usually find oysters around Goa, it’s rare to see them on a menu in North Goa so if these are your thing then definitely have a try! I’m not even sure I need to tell you to splash out as the price of them compared to the US or Europe will be unbelievable!

The Drunken Clam

This is a newbie on the scene, first opening at the end of 2019. It is a very much welcomed newcomer with an amazing menu curated by a group of friends using delicious fresh ingredients and lots of freshly caught seafood. This may be the place you end up eating at more than once.

Surya’s

I really like Surya’s. I have eaten here quite a few times and love the Chilli Paneer and Surya’s Special Chips. I believe Gordon Ramsey made a documentary once and recommended this place or maybe visited it so you will see on all menu’s ‘Recommended by Gordon Ramsey’. I wouldn’t question it, the fresh fish, prawns, oysters, mussels are all delicious. They can all be served Goan style, Rawa fried, butter garlic and if you want a bit of a kick ask for the Goan Recheado masala.

Santosh

Santosh is the neighboring shack of Surya. I am not sure if they are friends, enemies or brothers. They must fight for customers but strangely Santosh says he is recommended by Jamie Oliver. No idea if this is made up but it’s a nice little celebrity endorsement feud going on between the two. I would suggest sticking to Indian food and trying the same as recommended above – fresh fish, prawns, oysters and mussels.

Cassoi’s – The Veggie Turtle

This restaurant has a few nicer tables than the above shacks but I am not sure I have ever been completely taken by the food. It is part of one of the few places you can stay that has lovely rooms. There is special vegetarian menu and if you are not in the mood for Indian or Goan food then here you will find dishes to suit European cravings. Quiche, bruschetta, pasta, corn cutlets and veggie pate.

Where to Stay in Galgibaga Beach

When I used to go to Galgibaga there was literally only one place to stay. Now another option has popped up on the scene but as you can imagine this can mean places do get full very quickly. This is the one beach I would recommend booking your accommodation in advance. There is no walking up and down the beach to haggle for rooms as the competition and the options are minimal. So have a look online for the below options and confirm this part of your trip beforehand.

Casa Galgibaga

Casa Galgibaga

This place is open all year round as it is located about 1 minute walk away from the beach but is not directly beach facing, saving it from what can be terrible monsoon conditions. It is a beautiful Portuguese house with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, dining room and a kitchen. When you rent it, you get all of this rather than just one room. It feels more like a home. It is a great place to stay for a couple of nights, a week, a month or even a few if you are looking for a peaceful state of mind. Message to book here

Cassoi By Ciarans

Cassoi by Ciarans

This is the other main option located a bit closer to the beach than the above. They have a few different room options of tents, huts and concrete rooms. I have stayed in the tent which is definitely more luxury than not with a big bed inside and a proper bathroom. Think glamping more than festival tent. I love the peace and quiet of this place and having the restaurant attached makes your morning masala chai with a beautiful view, possible. Book here

Talpona or Patnem Beach

If the above options are full then stay on the nearby Talpona or Patnem Beach and visit Galgibaga for a day trip. Try out the restaurants, enjoy the peace and quiet you won’t find anywhere else and head back along the coast to your room.

Talpona is the beach closest to Galgibaga and Patnem and is a little further away.

Things to Do in Galgibaga Beach

There really isn’t that much to do in Galgibaga and I believe that is the beauty of it. You go here to do absolutely nothing except read, listen to the waves, take a dip, eat, nap and eat some more. Don’t come here in search of a party because you definitely won’t find one.

Boat Trip

Speak to the owner of where you are staying and ask them to help organize a boat trip with a local from the village. You will need to take a short drive to get to the river where you can embark on the most beautiful and peaceful boat trip up the river and under the tiny blue bridge you would have crossed to get to Galgibaga. The palm trees are infinite, the reflections breathtaking and if you are lucky like me, you may see a herd of buffalo taking a little dip to cool off. This is best done in the morning before the afternoon heat sets in.

Best Sunset View

I have seen many many sunsets in my time but I think one of the best ones I have ever and will ever see was from Galgibaga beach. One of those ones where the clouds are all kinds of pink and purple and orange and it seems to get better and better as time goes on! Enjoy an unspolit sunset view with what will probably be a very small number of other people around.

(My picture does not do it justice!)

Beach Run

Yep this beach is perfect for a beach run when the tide is out. There is never a shelf or a steep slope so your ankles won’t be completely destroyed and if you are lucky you may see a few dolphins along the way if you are up and out early in the morning.

Swim Across the River

If you walk to the far South side of the beach the sea joins up to the river which is where the fresh oysters you may have had for lunch are fished. There is now an unfortunate and very ugly highway to your left which definitely does spoil the picturesque view and silence from this corner but the river gives you a nice shallow spot to cool off. You can swim across the river to a teeny tiny section of beach which really is like something from a paradise island.

Explore

There really isn’t that much to explore as Galgibaga really is tiny. But take a little walk back into the village and have a look at some of the architecture, the very random and sometimes terrible choices of house color and the cool church they have.

Relax

Read a book. Make a sandcastle. Count clouds. Do some yoga. Have a snooze. Meditate. Do all the peaceful things that are good for you. Galgibaga is the perfect scene for all of these ‘activities’.

Beaches and Towns Nearby Galgibaga

Patnem Beach

The nearest beach is Talpona which is a short drive away. There are some accommodation options on here and I am sure it probably is as peaceful as Galgibaga but I have never actually stayed here. Patnem is a bit further away and is still one of the more peaceful beaches of the South but definitely has a lot more going on than Galgibaga.

Once on the stretch of Patnem beach you can find the busier beaches of Agonda and Palolem.

And there you have it! A little guide to the very tranquil Galgibaga Beach in South Goa. Have you been? What did you think? Let us know!

For More Goa Travel Planning Guides:

Check out some of these posts to help you continue planning your trip to India:

For More South Goan Beaches

Goa Travel Tips

Trip Planning Tips

Logistics

Packing Tips

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Guide to the Hustle, Bustle and Beauty of Palolem Beach

Jules Nazareth — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 12:00:41 +0000

I, Jules, have been taking trips to South Goa for over 15 years. There are lots of different beaches along the Southern coastline, all offering a different kind of break or holiday. Make sure you read up on some of the other neighboring beaches such as Patnem, Agonda and Galgibaga before making your decision.

Palolem can be reached via taxi from Dabolim airport or via local buses from Mapusa, Panjim and Margao.

I would describe Palolem as one of the original Southern beaches that has been busy for a long time. I am not sure how true this is, but I imagine the concept of stilted beach huts in India, probably started there. Think of it as a large beach with the most glorious palm trees lined all along the back and all leaning towards the sun. Combine it with the most night life you will find in the South (not much compared to the North) and add a huge array of colorful stilted beach huts. It really is the wonderful beach holiday from our cliche dreams.

Do note, same as all other beaches in the South, Palolem usually opens for tourists from November through to April. Between May and October the beach is usually deserted with all beach huts dismantled and the monsoon season setting in.

A Guide to Palolem Beach in South Goa

If you do plan to visit Palolem Beach, here’s a full guide to help you plan your trip.

Places to Eat in Palolem

I think Palolem and along the road leading up to the neighboring beach of Patnem have the most trendy, cool and chic Cafes probably in Goa. There are a lot of independent cafes run by locals and some run by tourists who got lost and never ended up leaving. Most places are vegetarian with a lot of option for vegans too. Below are just a few suggestions but I would recommend taking a walk along the road running parallel to the beach and not just sticking to the beach shacks and their sea view.

However, if you are looking for fresh fish and a BBQ then the shacks on the beach would be your best bet. And of course don’t miss out on Happy Hour which you will find at most beach shacks during the golden sunset hour.

Zest

This is one of my favorite vegetarian/vegan breakfast spots in the South. If you aren’t veggie or vegan, don’t let it put you off as everything is genuinely so delicious you might find yourself going back for lunch. And if you are veggie or vegan, you may end up eating here daily. Try the granola bowl (enough to share between two), lemon and ricotta pancakes, coconut chia pudding, Mexican bowl and the pizzas! Yum!!

Little World

Another veggie and vegan spot with a large menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A very cute place to sit for some peace and quiet with a book or just to watch the world go by. If you go for dinner you can enjoy the lovely added touch of the fairy lights that decorate the whole place. Try the vegan cheesecake, scrambled tofu, shakshuka and of course the masala chai.

Art Resort Goa

This is a beach front restaurant on the more Southern side of Palolem beach. It is a bit more of a high end beach shack with the prices being a bit steeper due to the more premium rooms they offer. They do great cocktails and delicious Indian food. You can spend the day on their sunbeds, chilling in their hammocks under the palm trees or swinging on their very cool outdoor swing bed!

Cafe Del Mar

This is one of the more lively beach front shacks with screens for sports and a pool table. I am not sure the food is anything extremely special but if you are looking for a bit more of an atmosphere alongside your lunchtime or evening drinks (or breakfast! No judgement allowed on your holidays!) then this is a nice shack to sit by.

The Rice Mill

This is a new spot in town and has been furnished and decorated beautifully! Another place with lots of vegetarian and vegan options to choose from. Some of the food served is from recipes passed down from the grandparents of the owners. Try the smoothie bowls, pumpkin soup, burgers and freshly bakes scones!

Where to Stay in Palolem Beach

The stilted beach huts of Palolem are famous for their design and different color options. These are the epitome of an instagrammable room so I highly recommend you treat yourself to one – right on the front to give you that real holiday feeling. I have to be honest and say I have never booked in advance for any of the beach huts I have stayed in but this can all depend on the time of year you go.

If you are going during the months of December and January then it may be best to book in advance as the Christmas rush lasts a while. As it starts to get to April, it gets a lot hotter and a lot quieter. These beach huts line the whole length of the beach so there will always be accommodation available, it just depends whether you can be bothered to haggle or walk up and down looking for your perfect hut. If not, head over to Booking.com where a lot of them can now be reserved in advance.

Remember you will pay more for a beach hut that faces the sea. The further back you go, the cheaper it is. Depending on the time of year and how far back or in front the hut is, prices can range from 500rs – 3000rs per night. If travelling around Christmas time, double any expected prices.

There will usually always be a restaurant connected to your accommodation so do try and eat at least one meal here during your stay to help give them a bit of business. It’s pretty difficult for anyone to get a fruit bowl and a masala omlette wrong!

Ciarans

This is a very cute little resort offering beach bungalows as well as beach fronted stilted huts. They have a man-made pond area among the lush tropical green gardens in the back. Book here

Art Resort Goa

Some of these rooms are a bit on the higher side of the price scale, with one room even having a very cool and very Instagrammable bath tub! If you are looking for something a bit more trendy and unusual then I would suggest splashing out here. Book here

Palolem beach is lined with stilted beach huts and beach bungalows so the options are endless. Above are just a few I would specifically recommend and here are a few other names to look out for – Royal Woods Beach Resort, Roundcube Beach Bungalows, Neptunes Beach Resort.

Do note beach huts and bungalows are not 5-star. Don’t expect luxury, expect the basic necessities with a lovely beach view!

If you aren’t looking for a beach front hut or want to stay long term in a room with concrete walls then the best option is to take a walk down the road that runs parallel to the beach. Here you will find a lot of guesthouse options and a few hostels. However, in my opinion nothing beats a beach hut!

Things to Do in Palolem Beach

Cocktails & Dreams

This bar has been in Palolem for well over 15 years. I can remember going here for New Years Eve when I was about 12 and it being packed and the place to be. It probably still is the place to be on Palolem Beach as they have a few pool tables, a never-ending list of cocktails and very loud music. Get yourself a cocktail and challenge a local to a game of pool!

Palolem Rock

Climb The Rock

I have mentioned this rock in a few other blogs as it is a challenge I still haven’t been able to complete. Not sure I ever will. There is a huge rock out in the sea that is swimming distance away and if the tide is right you can climb up the rock, with a bit of a struggle and the potential of some foot cuts (be careful with those!), and feel like the king/queen of the castle! Once up, the only way down is to jump off.

Silent Disco – Neptune’s Point

I really hope this is still open as at the far South end of the beach there is a silent disco that takes place on Fridays and Saturdays. Get yourself a drink, leave a deposit for your headphones and dance in silence with lots of randomers on a beach in Goa. What more could you want?!

Walk to the River & Monkey Island

Palolem is a really long beach so prepare yourself for a nice long walk. Take in all the different colored beach huts, maybe turn it into a shack crawl, try a different cocktail at each one – dangerous! – but try and end up at the far North end of the beach where the sea turns into a river and if there is a fisherman you can have a nice little boat trip. Many years ago they showed me the infamous Magic Rock which I assume must still be there. A huge boulder that is somehow and quite amazingly balancing on the edge of a cliff.

There is also Monkey Island which is the large island you can’t miss that is again at the North end of the beach and a little out to sea. When the tide is completely out you can actually walk to this island and I believe there is a little bar serving drinks. I am not sure whether there are actually monkeys on the island but it wouldn’t be unbelievable. If you do decide to walk over, make sure you head back before high tide or you will be walking with your valuables on your head!

Kayaking

You will find lots of Kayaks for rent along the beach. I would recommend taking one out early morning or when the sun starts to go down to help avoid that dreaded sunstroke! Believe me, it is real! Wear a hat. Palolem is not known for having huge waves so you should be able to get out easily enough and get that beautiful panoramic view of all the leaning palm trees!

Boat Trip

Take up one of the many offers from the boat men on the shore to go out on a boat for sunset, to see Butterfly Beach or to try and find some lovely dolphins. I once hit the jackpot with a boat trip in Palolem. We saw a glorious sunset whilst a fishing boat turned up and put some nets out, this net attracted a lot of dolphins as the fish were getting grouped together and to top it off the fishermen sang a cool and very strange song while they pulled the nets in. So if you’re lucky and you time it right, maybe you will experience this too!

If you do decide on a dolphin trip, please let your boat driver know you don’t want to chase any dolphins but are happy to see from a distance and not scare them. Dolphin chasing is a big problem as they really don’t like the sound of the motor.

Beaches and Towns Nearby Palolem

Patnem is the neighboring beach on the southern side. It is a 15/20 minute walk away down a quiet road with a few hidden gems (shops and restaurants) along the way. If you don’t feel like walking you can take the very short rickshaw ride next door for no more than 100rs.

I recommend taking the time to visit Patnem, you might even find you prefer this quieter neighboring beach which happens to be one of my favorites. Or you could spend the day at Patnem and head back to Palolem for a bit of a livelier evening.

Agonda and Galgibaga are both taxi rides away if you feel like doing a bit of beach hopping while you’re there but be sure to have a read of our guides to know whether you want to stay overnight or just do a day trip.

And there you have it! A little guide to the bustling Palolem Beach in South Goa. Have you been? What did you think? Let us know!

For More Goa Travel Planning Guides:

Check out some of these posts to help you continue planning your trip to India:

Goa Travel Tips

Goa Beaches

Trip Planning Tips

Logistics

Packing Tips

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Top 5 Swimming Pools in Goa

Jules Nazareth — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 14:45:46 +0000

Are you taking a trip to Goa, but not much of a sea swimmer? Do you prefer a calm pool to the salty sea? Our local Goa expert Jules, has a list of swimming pools you should be sure to take a dip in.

As I am sure you are very much aware, Goa is famous for its beaches. The whole of the western side of Goa is coastline with lots of lovely beaches. However, the seas can be rough and salty-sea-swimming is not for everyone. If you are more of a poolside lounger, do not distress, as Goa is also home to lots of amazing swimming pools. Most belong to hotels and although some may only let guests use them, a lot of pools in Goa are open to day guests at an extra charge. This means you can avoid the high price tag of some 5-star hotels but still benefit from the use of their luxurious pools. This is not something that a lot of tourists know so make the most of this and get to Goa and start pool hopping!

What to Wear?

Ok, so this may sound like a silly question. You are going swimming right, obviously you will be wearing a swimming costume. Well yes, I hope you will be, but note that in India, a large amount of local Indian tourists may not own swimming gear which is why you may see large groups of people swimming fully clothed. This is also because, swimsuits are usually quite revealing and although Goa may be more liberal with their dress code, this is not the case in most other Indian states.

However, it is unlikely to find people swimming fully clothed in swimming pools but more likely in the sea. So just in case you were planning on swimming in your clothes in any of the below pools, please note this is not allowed and you will need to get yourself a swimsuit, bikini or swimming shorts.

Nilaya Hermitage Pool

1. Nilaya Hermitage

I think this may be my favorite pool in Goa. It is not usually that busy as the road to get to it, is not the easiest. It is a very long and steep stretch that I would avoid trying to walk and would only drive if you feel confident. The pool is located in Arpora, a secluded part of Goa and set up high surrounded by lush green and lots of birds. The rooms are all really beautiful, each with a different theme – water, sun, fire, earth and more. However, even if you aren’t staying you can come and use the pool here if you phone in advance to let them know. The pool is pretty deep but has a shallow section at the back with a waterfall flowing from above. The last time I went, it was 600rs for use of the pool, a sun bed and a towel. They also serve some delicious lunch options, so I would suggest going early and staying for the full day, having lunch and ending it with a beautiful long-distance view of the sun setting in the sea.

Check them out here.

One Section of the Grand Hyatt Pool

2. Grand Hyatt

This is the pool of the very fancy 5-star hotel in Bambolim which I think everyone needs to pay a visit to at least once. The grounds of this hotel are really beautiful with plenty of green coconut trees and huge banyans standing tall and strong. The pool is big with a few different pools, a shallow area, jacuzzi fountains, a deeper pool and lots of sun beds surrounding it.

A great option is to go for the Sunday Brunch so you get a huge unlimited buffet beforehand and then the use of the pool is included – priced between 2000rs and 3000rs. This needs to be booked in advance and will of course be busier than other days. Or if you want to skip the buffet then you can pay 800rs to use the pool, borrow a towel and lounge on a sun bed.

Check them out here.

Wildernest Resort

3. Wildernest Nature Resort

I have never actually made it to this pool but it is on my to-go list. I am not 100% sure if you can use it without staying but as it is in such a secluded location, it is unlikely you would be passing by and only there for the day. Located in Chorla, this swimming pool has a breathtaking view over the glorious green Ghats and makes it look as if you are swimming on the edge of a mountain. The rooms are for those who want to be at one with nature and escape the madness that you can sometimes feel in Goa.

Check them out here.

Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa

4. Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa

Taj being the large chain of hotels they are, must of course have a cool swimming pool. Though I don’t personally think it is as fancy as The Hyatt, it has a very cool beach-side view with the perfect spot to catch the sunset. I think you are able to go for drinks at The Taj if you aren’t staying but I don’t think you are able to use the pool unless you can prove your room number.

Check them out here.

Alila Diwa

5. Alila Diwa

Another amazing 5-star hotel, except this time located in the quieter area of Majorda in South Goa. Surrounded by the delicious green paddy fields and coconut palms Goa is famous for, this really is the pool from paradise. Depending on the busy-ness of the hotel in the past you have been able to use the pool for the day but you will need to call in advance to book a spot. My favorite part is the sun loungers set in the pool to help you stay cool while getting that perfect tan. As you can expect the room rate is pretty high but if you are able to, I would add this place to the treat-yourself list.

Check them out here.

Rachel Lounging In The Pool at Alila Diwa

Read Rachel’s review about Alila Diwa here from 2015.

Please note, that due to Covid, there may be some additional restrictions to the use of pools in hotels. I would suggest calling beforehand to double check the pool is open and whether they still offer day pool passes.

Let us know what your favorite pool in Goa is!

And be sure to avoid any green pools like this one I always used to see from the window of my gym!! It would get worse and worse as the weeks went on!

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A Quick Guide to Calangute, North Goa

Jules Nazareth — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 17:40:47 +0000

Heading to Calangute in North Goa? Our local Goa expert has written a quick guide full of tips to help with your stay.

I, Jules, would say Calangute is like the London of England or the New York of America. And yes when you actually get to Calangute you may disagree due to what you see but I mean this from the perspective of how famous and well known the area is. When travelling around India, anyone you meet will want to go to Goa whether they are tourists or locals and more often than not the main place they will have heard of is Calangute.

I am from Calangute and this means I live there and half my family originates from there so this will be a positive blog about Calangute. I am sure you can find plenty online about why you should never stay here or visit here because it is too busy and too mad but actually between all the madness, Calangute has its own beauty and does genuinely have a lot to offer! You also wouldn’t travel all the way to London and not visit Leicester Square and you wouldn’t travel all the way to New York and not visit Broadway.

Calangute is also pretty vast. It has a huge span of beach that has very very busy areas that I would only suggest visiting for a short experience of the madness and it also has quiet parts where you can find very cool and empty beach shacks.

I wouldn’t say you should spend all your time in Calangute but have a read of my below suggestions and see if any of it appeals to you!

Calangute Beach on a Glorious Day – Cafe Roma

Where to Stay in Calangute

Villa Alina

A beautiful heritage property built on beach sand, this is an upmarket Villa that is rented out exclusively to one group. Sleeping up to 14, if you have more than 10 people, the high price tag doesn’t feel so much when split between everyone. Boasting a private infinity pool, daily maid service, 24 hour security and breakfast included, you won’t find another property with the same homely feel! Email julia@villaalina.com for more details or check here for more images.

Chalston Beach Resort – Beach Hut

Chalston Beach Resort

This family run hotel is located right on the beach with the most glorious gardens and beach-front restaurant. They have a range of hotel rooms for different budgets as well as some beautiful beach-side cottages. There is a swimming pool for guests and this is definitely one of my favorite sunset spots in Calangute. Book Here.

Le Meridien

A new 5-star hotel that has recently popped up in Calangute and isn’t too expensive. They have some amazing room options and a great pool for guests use. They offer a large spread for Sunday brunch and are connected to Noemi’s Spa which is a 1 minute walk from the entrance to the hotel. Book Here.

The Park

Part of the well known chain, also located in Calcutta, this hotel is built right on the beach. Known for its fancy decor and cool rooms, you will not be disappointed but it comes with a higher price tag. They also have a lovely rooftop bar with the perfect sunset view. Book Here.

Andores

This is a cute resort tucked away down side roads and a short walk from the beach. They have their own pool alongside a private gym and spa. The rooms are big and help you feel like you have your own little Villa. And to top it all off they have a delicious restaurant onsite serving amazing authentic Italian food. Book Here.

Where to Eat in Calangute

Goa is full of amazing restaurants popping up all over both North and South and Calangute definitely does not let the side down.

A Reverie – Fine Dining

A Reverie

This is probably my favorite restaurant in Goa for a special occasion or if you’re feeling fancy and you feel like treating yourself. The menu is amazing and will blow your mind with all the little added details and flavors. The decor of the place makes you feel like you are in a 5-star and if you end up leaving without having taken a photo of your food, you deserve a medal. A bit more on the expensive side but a must try! See More.

Infantaria

A very traditional place that you must visit for delicious traditional snacks. Since I was young we have always got our samosas, beef croquettes, chutney sandwiches, veg puffs and beef chops from here. There is a small counter to the right of the restaurant selling all of these and more but make sure you visit earlier rather than later as they always sell out. See more.

Navtara Thali

Navtara

Head over to Navtara for the most delicious North Indian veg food as well as a few Goan options too. They do everything from crispy dosas to xacuti to paneer chilli to pizza to thalis to chole, puris and parathas. My favorite is the Palak or Schezwan Dosa with extra coconut chutney!

Pousada By The Beach

This is a famous spot in North Goa with lots of celebrities coming to taste the authentic Goan dishes in their peaceful beach side shack. The menu has a lot of traditional Goan dishes to offer and the owners, Neville and Josh are very passionate about Goa and what they do. A little on the expensive side but worth the visit even just for a Pina Colada and the Serradurra. See more.

Zwe By Golden Eye – Tea Leaf Salad

Zwe By Golden Eye

This is a new addition to Calangute and I am so happy it has opened. A Burmese restaurant selling some of the most delicious food I have ever tasted and just a 1 minute walk from the beach. Make sure you try the tea leaf salad, crispy beef, bamboo shoots and the famous Khao Suey. See more.

Pina Coladas at Chalston Beach Resort

Chalston Beach Resort

Their restaurant is right on the beach front with a great sunset view. On some evenings they have live entertainment and the food is great. Try some of the fresh fish from the tandoor as well as the prawn papad, crispy garlic mushrooms and my favorite – The Pina Colada! They also have a pool table and a table tennis table. See more.

Roboto – Tantamen Ramen

Roboto

Another newbie on the scene, this amazing Japanese restaurant opened and has survived through the pandemic. They have amazing cocktail options, delicious mains and some of the best ramen I have ever tasted. If you are looking for Asian food, go here! See more.

Fisherman’s Wharf

This famous chain has now opened its doors in Calangute. The original is in Panjim and is a well known brand. They have delicious fresh fish cooked all ways so if you are looking for fresh seafood like many who come to Goa then don’t miss this place. See more.

Nirvana

This place has been closed for a bit due to the pandemic but I would like to include it anyway for when it decides to open its doors. Usually buzzing and full to the brim, this is a common hangout for the Brits, Russians and Europeans. Their menu is vast and anything coming from the tandoor is amazing. They also do the best pies – fish, steak and kidney, veg – as well as a traditional roast on a Sunday.

What to Do in Calangute

Calangute Sunset at Aggie’s Cafe

Beach Shack Hopping

Calangute Beach is a long beach that sits in between Candolim and Baga. It isn’t that clear when one becomes the next but it is a long stretch of beach. And along the Calangute stretch you can find some very quiet beach shacks and you can also find some very busy ones that will be rammed with people dancing, singing and looking like they are drinking beer for the first time! (Remember alcohol is not so common in other parts of India!). It really depends what you are looking for but Calangute does have it all.

Paneer Chilli and Crispy Calamari – Cafe Roma

My favorite beach shack, and one I have been going to since I was born is Cafe Roma. Here you will find some peace and quiet but still with a bit of atmosphere and some really tasty beach shack food. Try the fries, tuna salad, crispy fried calamari, prawn fried rice and the traditional fish curry rice. If you do pop by, say hello to Anthony and say Jules sent you. Just nextdoor is Aggie’s Cafe, another childhood shack that has a bit more of a louder atmosphere with great fresh fish and a delicious BBQ option that can be sorted in advance. If you do go here make sure you have the famous Aggie’s Mojito to complement a famous Calangute sunset! And say hello to Aggie too!

Sunset Mojito at Aggie’s Cafe

Other shacks to try – Jukebox, Flying Dolphin, Pine Tree, Pedro’s, Rovers Return.

Party on Tito’s Lane

This is one of the main reasons why a lot of people come to Calangute and although the lane is actually in Baga I will mention it in this blog. Tito’s Lane is a famous lane with the very famous Tito’s Club at the far end. You will see their branding painted everywhere all over Goa. This lane is full of different bars and clubs and is a bit like the party strip you find in most party towns abroad. Think neon lights, people trying to get you in with free drinks and lots of loud music. If you are looking for a fun cheesy and very late night out then make your way to the lane. If you are girls out travelling solo, just keep your wits about you as it can get busy and very male centred too.

Head to Cape Town, Cocktails & Dreams and Tito’s

And if you are looking for a more sophisticated night out then head to Favela or Cavala.

Sparaddise

Spa Visits – Sparaddise, Snip Salon & Spa, Neomi’s

Treat yourself to a spa visit at one of these three tried, tested and trusted spas. All spread around Calangute they offer amazing massages, pedicures, haircuts, waxing and all the pampering you may need.

Visit a Calangute Church

St Alex Church

There are quite a few churches in Calangute but the most famous and iconic is St Alex Church which is just behind the dolphin circle at the end of the road you would use to enter Calangute from Panjim. This lovely white church stands tall and has a beautiful interior and a lovely cemetery. My Grandparents got married here and my Great-Grandparent’s gravestone can be found at the front by the entrance. You are allowed to join a mass if you are religious but please dress appropriately when entering the church.

I hope this gave you more than a few reasons to visit Calangute. If you do head this way, let me know what your favorite tips were!

Chulo at Calangute Beach

For More on Goa

More Beaches & Stays in Goa

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Goa Beaches Explained – Which Beach is Best For You?

Jules Nazareth — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 10:15:38 +0000

Heading to Goa to lie on one of its glorious beaches? Our local Goa expert, Jules, is here to give you an idea of which beach is best for you.

Goa is a state with a coastline of beautiful beaches running all the way from top to bottom. It is famous for them and it would be pretty much impossible to take a trip to Goa without visiting at least one. The amount of beach options may be slightly overwhelming so I, Jules, am here to give you a little explanation of what each beach has to offer and hopefully help you decide which beach meets your holiday needs best.

Here are some questions you might want to ask yourself –

Do you want an actual sunbed? Do you want to be able to order food and drink? Do you want a calm sea or are you more of a wave surfer? Do you want peace and quiet or keen for some tunes on the beach? Are you looking for seclusion or do you want to meet some people, maybe make a few beach friends? Are you interested in water sports?

Please note I am not listing all the beaches in Goa as this blog would go on and on and on but hopefully below are some options that work for you. Also note that beaches look how they look below during the high season which runs from November – April. Outside of these months is when beach shacks are taken down, monsoon sets in and the beaches feel like a whole different Goa.

Check these other blogs for more help on where to stay, whether you should head North or South and what the nightlife scene in Goa is.

South Goa

Agonda Beach

Location: South Goa

Sunbeds: Sun beds are not actually allowed onto the beach here due to the turtle nesting but there are a few sneaky ones at the top edge of the beach near the restaurants. Otherwise there is lots of place for your towel or lungi to be put down.

Food and Drink: Lots of beach front restaurants serving food and drink.

Overnight Options: A large option of beach huts all along the front for rent.

Peace and Quiet: Many travellers will choose to stay here for a few nights to lap up the peace and tranquility. It very rarely gets too busy or crowded. You won’t find any water sports but there are options for dolphin and sunset boat tours.

The Sea: The water is a lot clearer here than most other Goa beaches. As this beach is set between two bays it is usually calm and friendly.

Find out more here.

Patnem Beach

Location: A smaller beach in South Goa.

Sunbeds: Lots of sun bed options set a bit further back from the sea.

Food and Drink: Lots of beach shack options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A few great restaurants on the main road behind the beach too.

Overnight Options: Beach huts are available for rent.

Peace and Quiet: Being a smaller beach it feels a bit busier but this beach is very quiet with no nightlife at all. By about 10pm, with dinner being over, lights will most likely be out and the glorious stars above will have come out to play.

The Sea: The sea can sometimes be a bit rough as it is a smaller beach and sometimes the waves can creep in but it is still calmer than most beaches up North.

Find out more here.

Palolem Beach

Location: South Goa, the neighbouring beach to the above Patnem Beach.

Sunbeds: Lots of sun beds available all along the stretch of beach.

Food and Drink: A large amount of options for food and drink from beach shacks all set along the front.

Overnight Options: This beach is where the stilted beach huts originate from. Think colourful huts on stilts facing the sea. Lots of options for rooms and huts.

Peace and Quiet: This is one of the busier beaches in South Goa and probably the most famous. It has the most beautiful set of palm trees lining the whole beach leaning towards the sun. The beach is quite a big stretch so there are definitely some quiet patches that can be found.

The Sea: The waves here are not so strong and the sea here feels more safe and chilled. There are lots of options for kayaking, boat trips and paddle boarding.

Galgibaga Beach

Location: This is pretty much one of the furthest South beaches. You used to have to drive over a teeny tiny blue bridge to get to it but now with the introduction of a highway it is a lot easier to get to.

Sunbeds: There are no sun beds at all on this beach. I think this must be the strictest turtle nesting site as there is not much sign of human life at all.

Food and Drink: There are 2 or 3 beach shacks on this beach serving food. All set back from the actual beach, because of the turtles, they serve delicious sea food and most famously oysters which are found in the backwaters of Galgibaga.

Overnight Options: There are a few options of places to stay in this very sleepy village. A few beach hut options that are set back and some set in the main village.

Peace and Quiet: This is probably the most peace and quiet you will ever find in Goa. Now with the highway I think there is a little bit more footfall but it wouldn’t be uncommon to find you are one of about 5 people on this beach.

The Sea: The sea is usually very calm but if you find it too choppy or the waves are too big you can walk to the most Southern point and swim in the part where the sea meets the river.

North Goa

Calangute Beach – the quieter side

Calangute and Baga Beach

Location: These beaches sit next to each other and are probably the two busiest beaches in North Goa.

Sunbeds: Sun beds are on the beach and are usually free of charge if you are spending money at the shack.

Food and Drink: There are lots and lots of beach shacks, some playing very loud music and all offering food and drinks.

Overnight Options: There aren’t many places to stay overnight directly on the beach but Calangute and Baga have a lot of hotel options in the towns.

Peace and Quiet: There are some quiet parts of Calangute Beach that are more towards the Southern side and towards Candolim but mainly it is busy and can get very crowded, especially at the Calangute main beach entrance. You won’t find that much peace and quiet here but you will be able to partake in a lot of people watching and can also tick jet skiing, parasailing or a banana boat ride off your list if it’s on there.

The Sea: The sea can be a little bit more rough here, more suited towards some wave surfing championships.

Little Vagator Beach

Location: This beach can only be accessed down some very steep steps that lead to a little secluded beach spot.

Sunbeds: There are sun bed options at the few beach shacks on the front.

Food and Drink: Food and Drink can be ordered and eaten and drunk on your sun beds.

Overnight Options: There may be a few beach hut options but it is not so common to stay overnight on actual Little Vagator Beach. There are places to stay back up the steep steps and along the roads.

Peace and Quiet: This beach can be very peaceful especially in the mornings unless an all night rave is still continuing from the previous night. There is a party place at the end of this beach which can sometimes have very loud trance music playing.

The Sea: The sea is usually very welcoming on this beach but there are a lot of rocks both on the beach and in the sea so see where others are swimming before diving in.

Morjim Beach

Location: The first of a very large stretch of beach along the North coast that begins with Morjim, moves on to Ashwem, Mandrem and then Arambol.

Sunbeds: This is also a turtle nesting beach so some areas won’t be allowed to have sun beds and will feel pretty secluded and other parts have sun beds and are much busier.

Food and Drink: There are quite a few beach shack options on the front as well as a few restaurants and bars set a bit further back.

Overnight Options: There are some hotels on the beach front in Morjim and a few beach hut options facing the sea and also set behind the beach.

Peace and Quiet: When the tide is out this beach can feel very vast and open. Water sports are not allowed and there usually aren’t bars or shacks playing music until the evening.

The Sea: The sea can be calm here in the mornings though there are also a few surf schools in this area which would of course suggest potential waves.

Find out more here.

Mandrem Beach

Location: To get to a certain part of this beach you have to walk across a river which can usually be pretty full in high tide and may mean you need to hold your belongings on your head.

Sunbeds: There are not any sun beds at all on this section of beach. Expect to take your own towel or lungi to lie on and if you are an avid beach goer, then your own umbrella too.

Food and Drink: There are one or two beach shacks along this stretch and lots of food options on the main road behind the beach (accessed via the river) so a beach picnic may be a better idea.

Overnight Options: There are lots of overnight options on the main roads and a few on the actual beach front.

Peace and Quiet: This is a very secluded and tranquil beach as there are no sun beds and due to the river crossing access point.

The Sea: The sea is usually very calm here. When the tide comes in there are usually little pools made on the beach and when the tide is out the beach is huge. This is a great beach to paddle board on, on a nice flat day.

Find out more here.

Please note any beach that has direct road access is likely to be busier than others. South Goa beaches are a lot quieter than North Goa beaches with a lot less nightlife and crowds. Most beaches won’t be as busy during the peak sunshine hours but as the sun starts to set is when everyone will start to come out.

Let us know in the comments what your favorite beach in Goa is.

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The Goa Collective Bazaar – Goa’s Best Friday Market

Jules Nazareth — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 10:15:54 +0000

Will you be in North Goa on a Friday night in high season? Our local Goan expert, Jules, is here to tell why you need to check out The Goa Collective Bazaar.

Hello, Jules here to give you a little update on the best market around town – The Goa Collective Bazaar. I have been living in Goa for 5 years now and have been to every single market possible, less so, now as a resident but a lot when I used to visit as a child. I have spent too-many-to-count hot Wednesdays at Anjuna Flea Market and lots of late nights at Ingo’s Saturday Night Market. I now spend every Friday at The Goa Collective Bazaar and below is why.

Markets are a huge part of Indian culture and also for me, a large part of the excitement of traveling. It doesn’t matter if you actually need to buy anything, I believe you should always jump at the chance to visit a market when in India. This is because, here you will be able to immerse yourself in what is usually organized chaos.

In Goa we have quite a few options for markets. Some smaller ones in villages and some famous ones where everyone goes to get their necessities.

You can find food markets, selling all the fruit and vegetables you will ever need, alongside meat and fish – my worst part, the smells! As well as flower markets, spice markets, fabric, clothing, basically everything.

There are day-to-day markets set up for locals to get their essentials for home and there are also weekly markets set up for tourists to get their souvenirs and goodies to take back with them. I would suggest going to both types of markets to really get a feel of local life vs tourist life. Set yourself a task of buying the juiciest watermelon and sourcing the spiciest chilies at the day-to-day markets and hunt down the Indian goodies you know you need to take home at the weekly tourist markets.

The Goa Collective Bazaar

Here we are going to talk about the newcomer, The Goa Collective Bazaar and the beauty that one can find when visiting this market.

DJs at The Goa Collective Bazaar

What Is The Goa Collective Bazaar?

The Goa Collective Bazaar has just completed its third season in 2021. Set up by 4 long term friends, it’s a different kind of tourist market that doesn’t sell the usual Indian tourist stuff (crap). Don’t get me wrong, every traveler needs to buy this stuff. It is part of the Indian traveling package and you can find that wall hanging or those elephant trousers you really need but this market offers more than that. Stalls are mainly set up by people who may not originate from India but are long term settlers of Goa. Here you can find more of a boutique vibe with people selling their brands of clothing, jewelry, artistic creations, spiritual gifts, cocktails and most importantly delicious food options!

If you are taking kids along I would suggest getting there early to take part in the art activities they usually have in the kids area near the entrance. You can also have your palms read and even your hair cut!

Every week there is an evening of music with a DJ and live bands until close. The live band is usually on until 11pm on the big stage and then after 11pm the party music comes out with a more house or techno vibe at the smaller stage until 1am. You can very easily end up spending 6 hours at this market by accident or on purpose!

When and Where is The Goa Collective Bazaar?

The market is on every Friday from 4pm until 1am during the high season which is end of November until end of April. It can be found in North Goa in Vagator at the famous Goan Trance venue of Hilltop. It’s 100rs entry per person with a stamp given to allow re-entry if needed.

What to buy at The Goa Collective Bazaar?

Studio Arpora

The variety of stalls at this market is huge. Every stall holder puts a lot of effort into their decoration and set-up which makes everything look so pretty, especially once the sun has gone down. Make sure you do a full circuit of the market but keep an eye out for some of my favorites! Studio Arpora, selling the most beautiful watercolor prints, cushion covers and very tropical tea towels. Get yourself the perfect shirt from Shoop Doop or the most amazing boutique designed outfits from Strange Shrew or Mermaid’s Boutique.

Hunt down the beautiful handmade fabric earrings and get yourself one of the strangest instruments I have seen, the very unique mouth harp. Stock up on incense and learn about the right stones you need for your spiritual journey or just hang out in the food section which is where you will find me!

What to eat at The Goa Collective Bazaar?

The busiest part of the market is the food court where there is a wide range of food stalls offering home-cooked delicacies. You will want to make sure you arrive with an empty stomach so you can try at least 3 different stalls. A few of my favorites are Go Local (this is actually my stall! Not bias obviously) for some delicious local Goan food and jarred Pickles, Eddie’s Khao Suey, Mama Kenya for amazing BBQ African chicken, Luna’s Pizza for the best pizza in town, Morgan’s for an amazing South Indian Dosa, Why Not? for North Indian street food you can be sure to trust and Smoke for meaty BBQ’d delights alongside lots of other stalls selling their delicious-ness. Think Thai, tacos, burritos, South Indian, momos, fresh juices, vegan treats, cookies, basically everything you could ever want and need. If you are like me and want to try everything, the best strategy would be to go with a group and all eat at a different stall and share. But maybe you are not all as obsessed with different delicious foods as I am!

Luna’s Cocktail Bar

Also do not miss out on trying the amazing cocktails from Luna’s Cocktail Bar. Not only are they tasty but they are also lethal. My favorite is the Elderflower Gin mix. If cocktails aren’t your thing then you can buy your standard beer and spirits from the other bars dotted around.

What to wear?

Do note this market is dusty. Very dusty. With a big footfall and a dry dusty floor, don’t wear your best trainers or shoes and even avoid white clothing if you can. But get your cool clothes out, dress the part as I feel this is the place to be on a Friday night for a lot of the cool cats in Goa! As with the usual dress code in Goa it is a lot more relaxed than the rest of India so feel free to get your legs, shoulders and stomachs out! Everyone else will!

How to get there?

Take a taxi to Hilltop and either ask it to wait or even better, just pick up another taxi on the way out. There are always some waiting outside ready to drop you home or on to your next destination. They also have a big parking area if you have your own car or bike.

I really hope you are in Goa during the right season and on a Friday, because it really is a magical market! And if you do end up coming, come say hey at Go Local!

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The Most Stylish Boutiques & Designers in Goa

Hippie in Heels — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 12:00:15 +0000

The shopping scene here is different to the rest of India. While, yes, you can find the typical goodies like elephant trousers, incense, and wall hangings, there are so many more cool, independent boutiques and designers in Goa getting their start! After all, while you can get those baggy, colorful elephant pants, how often can you really wear them once you’re back home?

Below is an insider list of places where you can find some really beautiful items, stuff to make your friends jealous. and stuff you will actually be able to wear once you return to your everyday life!

Boutiques & Designers in Goa

TIA

Tia founded her namesake brand to offer a beautifully designed chic line of women’s swimwear and clothing. She’s a one woman entrepreneur who sources sustainable material and has everything made locally. Last season she had a beautiful shop in Mandrem – Alchemy – shared with Fara Boutique, though next year they are not sure if they will be going ahead with the space.

Even if you haven’t made it to Goa yet, have a look at her website as she does international deliveries! If you are in Goa keep an eye and ear out for any Alchemy pop ups! Tia was one of Rachel’s best friends in Goa, so if you’ve ever wondered about what she was wearing in India, you’ve probably heard of this brand countless of times!

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Fara Boutique

Another beautiful female owned line, Fara Boutique, has some super cool chic women’s clothing to offer. Have a look at the website to see the latest clothing and jewelry options which can be delivered worldwide. Keep an eye out for an Alchemy pop up when you come to Goa or contact the designer directly.

SHOP HER SITE OR ON ETSY & FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

Rangeela

Location: Assagao, North Goa

This amazing shop is one of my favorites in the whole of Goa. It’s the kind of shop you wish you could just buy everything. The taste and style makes you want to re-decorate your home, start again with a fresh new wardrobe, and invest all your money in jewelry. Set in a beautiful Portuguese house in Assagao, you can spend a few hours exploring the different rooms and then having a break on their comfortable swing. Products are from all around India as well as Bali and Africa and wherever else the owners have recently vacationed! Don’t miss it!

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Flame Store

Location: Various in North Goa

This is another home ware and fashion store with quite a few locations spread across Goa. They have beautiful locally designed and made clothing pieces. If you are having an evening out to Thalassa you can also find a Flame Store in the restaurant area.

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Studio Arpora

Location: Arpora, North Goa.

This cute studio is owned by Saffron, another friend of mine and Rachel’s. You can view some amazing art painted by Shireen Mody, the latest collection being Coconut Trees and The Friday Night Market. Saffron’s watercolor prints and originals are for sale as well as some beautiful scarves and tea towels. If you want to take a little bit of Goa back home with you, this is definitely a place to visit.

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Jaali Boutique

Location: Patnem, South Goa

This really cool boutique can be found in South Goa just next to Patnem Beach. They have a cafe selling tasty food so make sure you stop by for some lunch and a browse of the very chic store.

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O.M.O

Location: Panjim, North Goa

This cool boutique is located in Panjim in one of the colorful streets of Fontainhas. It is sort of attached to Blue Tokai coffee shop so stop by for a coffee and to purchase some treasures. They have great clothing for both men and women, jewelry as well as great gift options.

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Mermaid’s Boutique

Location: Anjuna, North Goa

This very cool boutique is owned by Katja, a true Goa enthusiast, Katja has lived in Goa for over 25 years now and lets her personality shine through her clothes, bags and designs. Her business started 15 years ago as a small stall in the Anjuna flea market and has progressed into the beautiful shop it is today. There are lots of lovely handmade products with amazing designs you won’t find anywhere else. I love the leather jackets!

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No Nasties

Location: Assagao, North Goa

This is a great organic, fair trade and vegan clothing line. From the designing, to the production to the sales there are no bad practices involved. Feel good about buying new clothes!

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People Tree

Location: Assagao, North Goa

People Tree is the resident shop at the delicious restaurant, Gunpowder. Whilst dining on some of the best food in Goa, take a look at this cool shop which sells a lot of different designers bits from clothing to jewelry to art to books.

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Atomic 29

Location: Mapusa, North Goa

A young independent designer on the scene, all of these items of jewelry are handmade at the designer’s home studio in Mapusa. She is a trained metal smith and has put her creativity into these unique pieces. Some can be found at People Tree but she can also be contacted directly for the full collection and special pieces.

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Bunti

Location: Agonda, South Goa

This boutique shop is in Agonda on the main beach street next to Zest. It is probably the only boutique shop in Agonda that isn’t selling the usual tourist stuff so if you are on that side make sure you check it out. They have beautifully designed handcrafted men and women’s wear.

SHOP THE SITE

Van Andel & Peace

Location: Cheshire Cat in Assagao, North Goa

This is a great jewelry shop full of beautifully designed and sometimes one off pieces of silver and gold jewelry with precious stones. Owned by a couple who have lived in Goa for over 20 years they make a lot of the pieces in their workshop in the garden.

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Paperworks

Location: Panjim, North Goa

Not so much a fashion boutique but this is one of the best shops in Goa if you have a thing for stationary like I do. Found in a pretty secluded spot in Panjim, they have a huge variety of products made with the most beautiful designs all in an Indian style. Everything from writing paper, cards, wrapper paper, diaries, note pads to gift tags and artwork. I always stock up for future birthday cards!

Friday Market – The Goa Collective Bazaar

This is not a specific designer or shop but The Goa Collective Bazaar really has a lot to offer in terms of independent designers. Consider this the more premium market with a lot of the above designers taking a stall every Friday. If you are in North Goa on a Friday between November and April then be sure to visit this market to find a lot of options in one place!

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Design Village

Location: Ashwem, North Goa

In Ashwem, just off the beach and behind the famous La Plage restaurant is a little square filled with boutique shops, independent European designers and the occasional bit of tat. Things from furniture, to art, to clothing. A great little spot to shop before or after a trip to the beautiful Ashwem Beach.

Rangeela Kimonos

Tips for Shopping Designers in Goa

When visiting designer boutiques the style of shopping is slightly different to the usual haggling saga that takes places at most markets around India. In shops, items are likely to be a fixed price, with it written on the label. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t be a bit cheeky and ask for a deal if you are buying more than one item. Maybe they will say yes, maybe they won’t but it shouldn’t cause any offense. Trying to halve the price from its original sticker price, might, so best to avoid that.

As a lot of the above are independent designers, they are likely to be in the shop – so speak to them. Ask them about their line, their story and if you love their stuff, tell them.

If you saw something on their Instagram but can’t see it in store then contact them. If you can’t find their shop but love their clothes and branding, contact them. Everyone above is very accessible and I am sure would be very happy to help.

Happy Shopping!

For More Goa Travel Planning Guides:

Check out some of these posts to help you continue planning your trip to India:

Goa Travel Tips

Trip Planning Tips

Logistics

Packing Tips

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A Cool Staycation at Olaulim Backyards

Jules Nazareth — Thu, 20 May 2021 16:16:56 +0000

Looking for a cute place to stay in Goa? Our local Goa expert, Jules, recently stayed at the very cool Olaulim Backyards in North Goa. Here’s what to expect if you want to stay.

And in case you missed it, don’t forget to read about the first and second staycation at the very unique and cute Wigwam and Casa Jaali.

Jules has started this Staycation Series to bring some love to businesses around the state. She’ll be taking some staycations in both North and South Goa to highlight the cool, quirky, and sometimes slightly secret options Goa is lucky to have.

I am attempting to keep the beauty and excitement of travel alive whilst still realising the danger of it during the Covid-19 Pandemic. There are different rules all over the world to do with travel restrictions and all countries and places should be checked before you decide to travel, if you do. India has banned all International flights since March 2020 which is a big (and unfortunately necessary) blow for a lot of businesses who depend on foreign tourism.

Here in Goa, life is slowly trying to get back to ‘normal’ as businesses and people try to make the most of the monsoon season and reach out to the main crowd of domestic tourists. I want to help people realise the importance of supporting your local communities, businesses, restaurants, hotels, guesthouses and boutiques during this difficult time. This doesn’t mean you need to travel far and wide to find them, they could be on your doorstep, down the road or a little drive away.

** Please note that all staycations should be taken responsibly. Wear your mask, sanitise your hands, and don’t go if you are feeling unwell.

Checking into Olaulim Backyards: A Jungle Paradise

Olaulim Backyards, a jungle paradise, has been up and running for over 10 years now. It is run by the most lovely couple, Pirkko from Finland and Savio from Goa. Their passion for the place, the sleepy village of Olaulim and their crazy animals (more on this later) is apparent as soon as you step on to the property. It literally is a hidden gem in North Goa with no signboard outside just a strange ‘Beware’ sign on the gate that will help you know you have arrived at your destination.

Rachel loved this place and it was one of the first places she wrote about when starting her blog. Both Savio and Pirkko knew Rachel and Ben very well, even giving them their famous cat, Kitkat!

Olaulim, is in what I would like to call the ‘country side’ of Goa. It’s on the opposite side of the highway to the beach and is a very green and tranquil village with not much going on at all. There are no nightclubs, no supermarkets, no late night bars and very few restaurants. This part of Goa is not meant for the typical party Goa tourist but for the tourist or resident who loves nature, enjoys peace and quiet and is in need of actual R&R. Olaulim Backyards is the perfect place for this. With only 5 rooms available on the very large property, they have chosen quality over quantity. Each room is different and is named after a different type of bird species which can be spotted on their property if you are lucky. All rooms are large wooden huts with outdoor bathrooms and the option of doubles, triples or quadruples. Two rooms are located at the same level as the bar and dining area and 3 are located a bit further up at the back of the property up some steep steps. Myself and my friend Nishtha, stayed in one of these which had a beautiful view of the glorious green jungle below. Don’t expect a 5 star luxury stay, expect nature and comfort and homely feels. Rooms don’t have air conditioning, but the fan was very sufficient when I stayed in the hot month of April.

It is open throughout the year usually with a few weeks or a month of closure for maintenance or a break. Choosing to stay during monsoon amongst the non-stop rains and luscious green grass would most definitely be amazing!

Gloriously Green Balcony

When you first enter the property you will see their very beautiful and very blue swimming pool neatly placed under the palms and between their dining area, chill area and the backwater in front of their property. You will then also realise why they have a sign telling you to ‘Beware Dog/Donkey’ as their resident Donkey, Mantra, is likely to be grazing by the bar or taking a little drink from the pool. You genuinely should be a little bit aware of the donkey as he has been known to be interested in humans and want to give them a little love bite. They also have a beautiful shiny brown horse, a goat and 4 or 5 dogs.

Nishtha and Mantra.

Behind the pool is the backwaters which separates Olaulim Backyards from the fields and neighbours across the way. When sitting in the pool the silence of the place is pretty unbelievable especially when you live on the other side of the highway in the thick of it, like me!

Food

Breakfast is included in your room rate and is served in the cute dining area by the pool. They have communal benches where everyone can mingle and serve themselves some of the homegrown fruit, homemade juices and delicious eggs they have to offer. The pineapple, jamun, melon, papaya, guava and mangos are all grown on the property and the freshly made cashew fruit and bimbli juice I tasted, were delicious.

Breakfast Is Served

They have a honesty bar just near the pool which is stocked with beer, wine and most spirits. You can write down what you drank and pay for it later. If there is a specific drink you want then you can let them know and they will source it for you. In the months of April and May they may have some delicious Urrak which is served with Limca, salt and chilli. A delicacy in Goa!

Taverna Hama Hama

For lunch and dinner they have a new addition which is the Backyard Cafe by Nikita. This is located just between the main entrance of Olaulim Backyards and the little gate you use to enter. I had the most delicious iced coffee and a very refreshing kokum spritzer. The mushroom burger was amazing and the specials – falafel with pesto hummus – change weekly. The cafe is for anyone and not just guests at Olaulim Backyards so you will be likely to see lots of residents who live locally popping by.

Backyard Cafe By Nikita

Activities

There are lots of options for cool activities here. Things you don’t usually get to do living or staying in Goa.

Kayaking

I think the most exciting activity is the kayaking which can be done on the backwaters behind the property. It is a large body of water which goes around the property and into a nice big open space. There are a few fishermen with fishing nets so these need to be avoided but the views and the peace and quiet are amazing. You can kayak and see both sunrise and sunset which are the best times to beat the heat. For sunrise we were out in the kayak by 6:30am ready to see the big pink ball of fire in the sky. It is definitely the most beautiful and satisfying way to start the day, though you may need a little nap afterwards like me. They also have a rowing boat and a surfboard that can be used as a paddle board.

Ready For A Sunrise Kayak

Swimming

You can swim both in the pool and the lake. I would say lake swimming is for adventurous people unlike myself who is terrified if anything touches my leg. However, for others it may be the refreshing dip you have been waiting for. My sunrise kayak session meant the water in the lake was hot, like really hot, and could have easily been a jacuzzi if bubbles were added! The pool was the cool off that was most definitely needed in the heat of April.

Sunset By The Pool

Bike Rental

They have quite a few bicycles available for guests to take out and explore the local village. It is definitely worth taking one out and riding to the neighbouring villages of Aldona and Nachinola to see their local churches, beautiful houses and sleepy streets.

Village Walk

Pirkko, who honestly knows everything about all the plants, flowers and area surrounding Olaulim Backyards, if available can take you on a very cute walk around the village and neighbouring houses. Along the way there are beautiful flowers, lots of vegetables being harvested and dried out in the sun (see chillies below) and the views and experience of proper Goan village life. All the neighbours know Pirkko and Savio and it is very obvious they are all very fond of them and what they done with Olaulim Backyards.

Village Chillies

Chill and Chat

Take some time to chill. Take a seat on the swing, the sunbeds or the lounging chairs and immerse yourself in the peace and quiet. Read a book, play some of the board games and if you feel in the mood for it, meet the other guests. With only 5 rooms, this place can be as intimate or secluded as you want it to be. The communal bar and dining area is perfect for getting to know the stories of other guests and the very interesting story of Pirkko and Savio and their journey to where they are now. I am still amazed and very jealous to know, Pirkko speaks 10 languages and Savio speaks 5!

The Chill Area

How to Book

You won’t find Olaulim Backyards on any third party sites and so the best place to book is directly through their website which can be found here.

Also check out their instagram @olaulimbackyards which has more pictures and updates of their jungle life!

Tips

Take extra mosquito spray and be prepared for the annoying creatures to come out at dusk and dawn – best to keep your room doors shut when possible.
Don’t stay here if you are scared of nature and wildlife. You don’t have to be a huge fan, I am a born and bred city girl, but you need to be accepting of frogs in the bathroom, an occasional spider and a few noises out in the wild at night time.
Speak to Savio and Pirkko about their lives, about the village, their kids and about the future of Goa. They really make the homestay feel like home!
Get up for sunrise! It is difficult but it is so so rewarding!

A Rest After A Sunrise Kayak

The post A Cool Staycation at Olaulim Backyards appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Places in Old Goa to See Portugal’s Influence

Hippie in Heels — Sun, 02 May 2021 12:00:55 +0000

Curious about which places in Old Goa to visit and if you should even include it in your India itinerary? Check out this complete guide, written by Jules, our local Goan expert!

For more on planning your trip, don’t miss our Insider Guide to Goa and the Hippie in Heels Guide to India.

Old Goa, also known as Velha Goa, is a city full of history located on the banks of the lovely Mandovi River. Situated in North Goa it acted as the capital city of Portuguese India back in the 15th century before Panjim took over. It is probably the most religious area in the state with lots of beautiful churches all located within walking distance or a short car journey of each other.

Goa, as I am sure you are all aware, is mostly known for its beaches. It doesn’t have as many tourist landmarks as other Indian states and cities, so if you do find yourself needing a break from the beach and a thirst for some culture – visiting Old Goa is one of the best things to do.

“I thought India was mainly Hindu and Muslim,” I hear you say.

Well, the Portuguese are said to have brought Christianity to India during their colonization in the 15th century. Firstly to Kerala and then along the Konkan coast. It is the third largest religion in India, and there are a few states that have large populations of Catholics and Christians – Goa being one of them. If you have been traveling around other parts of India, especially the North you will notice you have mainly seen temples, mosques and gurdwaras. It is now time to feast your eyes on some beautifully designed, (usually) white Goan churches!

Credit @Sumehr

Tours to Old Goa

There are lots of great tours to be found in Old Goa. There really is so much history so if you are interested in finding out a bit more then I would recommend joining a tour to really be able to learn about the different Saints, about how Catholicism made it’s way to Goa and all the beautiful architecture. Below are a few options:

Klook offers a great walking tour around the ruins and a few churches. Viator has a private heritage walk if you don’t want to join a group. And my favorite but may not be as informative is the B:Live electric bike tour around Old Goa.

I would also suggest pairing a day out to Old Goa with a trip to the Spice Plantation in Ponda. This can all be done in one day and is a great way to see both. Hire a taxi for the day and start with lunch at the Spice Plantation and then Old Goa on the way back.

Tips for Old Goa

How to Dress

You will have noticed that the dress code in Goa differs largely from the dress code around the rest of India. Shorts are encouraged and a cheeky shoulder or knee are welcomed. However, when visiting Old Goa it is recommended to take a shawl or sarong with you to cover up those cheeky knees and shoulders.

Especially for ladies, I would recommend taking two shawls, one for your shoulders and one to act as a stand in skirt while you enter the churches. This means you won’t have to overdress for the day and melt in the heat. For men, as usual, it is fine to be wearing shorts but it is best to carry an extra shawl just in case.

Be respectful of worshippers

When inside the churches, notice your surroundings and try and keep conversation to a minimum as there may be people attending a service or coming in to pray. Old Goa gets very busy with tourists so it can be hard on the people actually going there to worship.

Careful with the photos

Some churches don’t allow photographs inside so please keep to these rules. If they aren’t allowed there will be a clear sign outside saying so. If there isn’t one then take it as pictures are fine but please make sure the flash is off.

Pace yourself

Pace yourself, don’t feel like you have to rush around and see everything to tick it off the list. I always feel like it is better to see 3 places slowly than see 10 in a rush. If you have been traveling around India then I am sure you know what it feels like to be temple’d out!

Places in Old Goa to Visit

Goans are very proud of their faith and churches, and many will make the journey to Old Goa every Sunday for their weekly service. Within the Old Goa area there are eleven churches in total. However, I wouldn’t recommend pushing yourself to see them all unless you really want to. Below are a few I recommend:

Basilica of Bom Jesus

Opened in 1605, this is not the prettiest of places in Old Goa from the outside and, unusually, it is not white. However, it is maybe one of the most sacred as it holds the remnants of St. Francis Xavier’s body who was the Patron Saint of Goa. He is said to have done a lot for Catholicism back in the 15th century in Goa and is very well respected and worshiped.

Rumor has it that a lady who was visiting tried to bite off the toe of St. Francis Xavier and keep it for herself and that is why the body is no longer on show all year round. It is now kept in a glass case up high and only comes down every ten years. I am not sure how true this story is but the every ten years part is now true!

There is a big festival in Old Goa every year on the 3rd December for the Feast of St. Francis Xavier where thousands come from all of over to attend. Lots of stalls will be put up selling goodies, sweets, snacks, and unnecessary tat. There will be a large procession with the body being paraded around and worshiped. If you happen to be in Goa around this time I would recommend going to take a look but prepare yourself for the heat and the crowds and for this you will definitely need to dress respectfully.

Chapel of Our Lady of The Mount

This is my favorite place in Old Goa mainly because of the view and location. This is set apart from the rest and is located up a long and very steep hill. You can walk up (I have done this once) but it is also recommended to ask your taxi to take you up and wait at the bottom of the stairs for you – which in itself is quite a hike!

It was built in 1519 and has been rebuilt twice since then. It has a really beautiful sunset view over the Mandovi River and looks way out towards Panjim from the courtyard. If you find yourself in the Old Goa area in the evening, this is a sunset to chase!

Every year in February the lovely Monte Marte Music Festival takes place in the courtyard of this chapel and also inside. I was lucky enough to attend this year (2020) and watch a beautiful Indian flute show with the sun setting behind. My friend’s mum then sang in a choir inside the chapel which was amazing to experience. You don’t need tickets for this but it is best to arrive early to get a chair. If you are in Goa in early February I would highly recommend coming to this to really see the true beauty and culture Old Goa has to offer.

St. Augustine

Built in 1602, St. Augustine once had 4 towers. It now lies in ruins as it collapsed hundreds of years ago due to neglect. Now only one tower remains which stands very tall and looks as though it could fall any minute (hopefully it doesn’t!). It is quite eerie. I believe this site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the more visited sites in Goa. There are a few inscriptions to be found along the way and be sure to check the signboards to see what it would have looked like back in the day.

Saint Cajetan

Completed in 1661, this church is said to be modeled on St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. It has a very beautiful altar that isn’t the usual lavish decor you may be used to. If you look up you should be able to find the occasional sneaky bat hanging upside down from the ceiling having a nap. When standing near the altar, have a look on the floor. There you can find the markings of the opening to the cemetery located underneath the altar. It was used for dead Portuguese soldiers. Creepy!

Cathredral Se

This cathedral, set among a pretty garden, is set just adjacent to the Basilica of Bom Jesus. If you want to see a big extravagant and very gold altar then head over to this one.

I can’t pretend I have visited all eleven churches in Old Goa. However, the above are the ones I have been to and can vouch for. If you are into religious history and the architecture of churches then I recommend making room in your beach-filled Goa itinerary to see them.

If you can’t make it to Old Goa, churches can be found in most neighborhoods around Goa. They may not be as sacred or extravagant, but they do exist. Try Lady of Immaculate Conception in Panjim, St. Alex in Calangute (my grandparents got married here!), St. Thomas in Aldona.

If you also find yourself in Goa around Easter, then check out Old Goa on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The churches will have large and long services happening with some holding processions. If you do choose to attend then again prepare yourself for the heat and the crowds and dress respectfully.

I find Old Goa very cool because you really wouldn’t imagine all these churches to be found in India. Goa feels like such a world away from other parts of India, and Old Goa really highlights this for me. If you close your eyes while you are there you could be in Italy, Portugal, or Spain. Just ignore the constant beeping, shouting offers of taxis, and the requests for selfies!

If you do make the trip, let us know which were you favorite places in Old Goa!

For More Goa Travel Planning Guides:

Check out some of these posts to help you continue planning your trip to India:

Goa Travel Tips

Beaches in Goa

Trip Planning Tips

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Cover Photo by Sandeepsea via Wikimedia

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A Guide to Morjim Beach in North Goa

Jules Nazareth — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 12:00:52 +0000

Heading to Morjim Beach in North Goa? Our local Goan expert, Jules, is here to give you all the details!

Morjim is the first of the furthest North Goa beaches after you cross Siolim Bridge (my favorite bridge in Goa because of the amazing views on either side). This section of North Goa’s coastline begins with Morjim then follows on to Ashwem, Mandrem and Arambol. There is no cliff in between to break the beaches up — they just somehow and somewhere fade into the next beach without you ever really realising. Even though they are basically the same elongated beach they are all still very different. Different vibes, different seas, different sand and a different crowd heading to each one.

I have to be honest and say Morjim isn’t my favorite beach out of the options of North Goa but I am not really sure why. It isn’t a bad beach and it really does have a lot to offer as you will find out below but I just don’t find myself visiting it very often anymore.

As a kid I used to go to Morjim frequently as it was usually emptier and had a lot less sunbeds and maybe less party music. It really is a wide beach that can feel like you need to walk miles to get into the sea when the tide is out. At the southern end, depending on the time of year, you can find turtle nests which are looked after by the forest department. Goa has quite a few nesting areas along the coast for the endangered Olive Ridley species and the safekeeping of these nests are taken very seriously. Yay!

Morjim Beach, Goa, India

You can also see Chapora from here where the sea becomes Chapora River. If you make it to Thalassa in Siolim for sunset this is the bay you will be looking at. Morjim then carries on as the wide spacious beach it is and you can then walk around a little corner to get to a part of Morjim Beach where there are no shacks at all, just a lovely empty beach. Somewhere along the way this fades into Ashwem Beach.

I would go to Morjim to eat some of the delicious food found at the restaurants mentioned below, to stay in some of these cool spots and to enjoy what feels like a pretty spacious empty beach.

Where to Stay in Morjim Beach

Jardin d’ Ulysses

Jardin D’Ulysses

This is a beautiful place to stay a little bit down the road from actual Morjim Beach, so it is not beach front but the rooms are really beautiful, the vibe is peaceful and it will feel like checking into home. They also have an amazing restaurant which I talk more about below!

Book here

Montego Bay, Morjim, Goa

Montego Bay

They have lots of different room options at this amazing beach side resort. This is on the beach front so you can literally walk out onto the beach in less than a minute. They have maintained it all really well with lovely gardens, a restaurant, bar and best of all it is a pet friendly hotel – so if you live in India and want to take your animals with you, you can. And if you don’t live in India but love animals it’s likely there will be more friendly doggos around to pet!

Book here

Artist Cottages, Morjim, Goa

The Artist Cottages

These are very cute cottages set back from the beach about a minute walk away. Perfect for some peace, quiet and Morjim simplicity. They only have about 10 rooms so need to be booked in advance. These are set back just a bit from Silver Sands which is likely to become the daily shack you visit if staying here.

Book here

Living Room Beach Resort

At Living Room they offer Chalets to stay in. A full Chalet with a living room as well as one bedroom options. This is located directly on the beach and has a great bar and restaurant with the perfect sunset view. I have been to one or two parties here in the main season time. So be aware that on weekends it may not be the quietest place to stay if you are an early bird.

Book here

Buena Vida

Buena Vida Beach Resort

This is another cool resort set on the actual beach front with cute beach hut style wooden cabins. They have a nice restaurant and lovely deckchairs out front to chill on. Burger Factory is just next door which is also a big plus!

Book here

Woke Hostel

If you are looking for something a bit cheaper try Woke Hostel, it has a pool and the usual hostel options of dormitories and private rooms. It is not located right on the beach front but on the main road running parallel to it next to lots of cool shops and restaurants. Book here.

Book here

Where to Eat in Morjim Beach

Beetroot and Goats Cheese Salad

Jardin d’Ulysses

A real hidden gem, not so much on the usual tourist trail is this amazing restaurant, shop and guest rooms – mentioned above. The food here is genuinely delicious with every dish I have ever ordered being amazing. They also have some fun live music evenings with a cool ambience and all outdoor tables. Try the Rum Steak, Coconut Prawns, Tandoori Rockfish and Spinach and Cheese Momos!

Burger Factory

These are most definitely the best burgers in Goa. And yes they are beef (did you know beef is only found and eaten in Goa?). You can also find vegetarian options. I am pescatarian and though I do miss a beef burger from time to time, the vegetarian options here are divine. The spinach and blue cheese or the black bean burger are the winners for me. For the beef eaters, try the mango, avocado or the cheese bbq bacon burger. Yum!

Tomato’s, Urba and Cape Town Cafe

Tomato’s, Urba or Cape Town Cafe

These are cute beach front spots with sun beds. They all have a good menu offering some great dishes from the tandoor – try the fish tikka, chicken tikka or paneer tikka from Tomato’s. They all have some fun cocktails and are usually one of the places playing music. So if you are looking for bit more of party beach scene, try this part of the beach.

Silver Sands

This beach shack is a bit more towards Ashwem and is slightly raised up from the beach. They have their own sun beds and are on a bit more of a quieter section of the beach. This is a nice spot to chill at for the day. To the left they now also have beach hut options which are new this season.

Khana & Love Cafe

This is the cutest, cosiest little cafe on the road leading up to Morjim Beach. They have great smoothies and delicious coffee as well as a little boutique with some cool clothes. They have a sweet terrace at the top where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. The service was not the fastest but the food was delicious!

What to Do in Morjim Beach

Party By The Beach

If you want to party while in Morjim then head to Marbela Beach Resort which is right on the beach and usually has big DJ bookings every month. Living Room also has some fun DJ nights in their beachfront restaurant and Rock Water is a cool venue with big parties usually going until dawn.

Solaris is found a bit further up North in Ashwem but also has big events and sometimes festivals going on.

Or if you are looking for something a lot more chill then head to The Rice Mill for their weekly jazz nights in their very cute venue which actually was an old school rice mill!

Morjim Surf Gang

Surfing – Octopus Surf School

If you are a beginner like myself then surfing in Morjim is what you should do. The waves are nice and friendly and there is a great school on the beach that offer surf lessons throughout the day for all levels. If you are experienced like Rachel, the Hippie In Heels founder, was then you can rent a board from them to take out yourself. This is a lot of fun and a great way to start any morning in Goa! Contact Eddie on Instagram – @surfinggoa for more details.

Konkan Explorers

Kayaking

Konkan Explorers is a great tour company who offer a kayak adventure along the beautiful mangroves of Chapora River. The meet point is at the Jetty in Morjim and you can pick different tour options. Friends of mine have done the 3 hour tour in the evening where you do some kayaking for about an hour and then spend time on a great boat cruising along the river. Book Here.

Beach Bumming

Of course you should never forget about just spending time on a beach and not actually needing to do anything except lie on a sun bed, take a dip in the sea to cool off and have a cocktail or a fresh coconut in your hand at all times!

Walking

As said above, Morjim is the beginning of one long elongated beach so if you wanted to, you could walk all the way to Arambol and though this would take you hours and you may get heat stroke, it would most definitely be a beautiful walk. To avoid the heat stroke, walk in the mornings or at sunset and maybe try and make it to Mandrem beach instead. See for yourself if you can feel the difference in the sand!

Khana & Love Shopping

Shopping

There are lots of nice stalls and shops in Morjim along the main road rather than along the beach. Here you can find the usual tourist Goa gifts but I have also stumbled on some great printed shirts for men and cool beach dresses for women. You can also find Fabindia on the main road which has some great traditional Indian clothing. If you are heading to Jardin d’Ulysses or Khana & Love then be sure to check out their boutiques too!

I hope this guide gave you an insight into what you don’t want to be missing out on when visiting Morjim Beach! Enjoy!

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A Unique Staycation at Wigwam, Goa

Jules Nazareth — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 13:00:59 +0000

Looking for a cute place to stay in Goa? Our local Goa expert, Jules, recently stayed at the very cute Wigwam in Goa’s Mandrem. Here’s what to expect if you want to stay!

Jules is beginning this Staycation Series to bring some love to businesses around the state. She’ll be taking some staycations in both North and South Goa to highlight the cool, quirky, and sometimes slightly secret options we are lucky to have available.

Don’t forget to pick out our Insider’s Guide to Goa

Jules, here, trying to keep the beauty and excitement of travel alive whilst still realising the danger of it during the Covid-19 Pandemic. There are different rules all over the world to do with travel restrictions and all countries and places should be checked before you decide to travel, if you do. I have family in England who are completely locked down and won’t be going anywhere for a while – both due to fear and restrictions. India has banned all International flights since March 2020 which is a big (and unfortunately necessary) blow for a lot of businesses who depend on foreign tourism.

@Farhaddubash

Here in Goa life is slowly carrying on as businesses and people try to make the most of what’s left of the tourist season (November – April) and reach out to the main crowd of domestic tourists. I want to help people realise the importance of supporting your local communities, businesses, restaurants, hotels, guesthouses and boutiques during this difficult time. This doesn’t mean you need to travel far and wide to find them, they could be on your doorstep, down the road or a little drive away.

** Please note that all staycations should be taken responsibly. Wear your mask, sanitise your hands, and don’t go if you are feeling unwell.

Checking into Wigwam, Goa: A Unique Stay in Mandrem

Wigwam is in its fourth season now and is owned by a lovely couple from the UK – Tanya and Nic. It is definitely one of the coolest spots I have ever stayed in Goa, beginning with the insanely cool reception desk that leads on to the very Instagrammable tipis.

@Farhaddubash

They have seven of these beautiful tipis, two wooden cottages, and two apartments on offer. I was lucky enough to stay in a tipi, Number 7 to be precise. It is a surprisingly spacious structure with a very comfortable bed and mosquito net in the middle. The excitement of staying in a tipi is real, with a funny mesh door and a hole in the roof at the top where the bamboo poles meet and allow some of the morning blue sky to shine through. We also had Jax the resident dog sleeping outside the entrance of our tipi which was extra cute.

Each tipi has its own bathroom, not inside but found just next door, down your own little path. This beautiful outdoor bathroom is a real treat – I had 2 lovely palm trees growing in mine. I have always said there is nothing quite like showering under the stars or amongst the luscious green jungle. It can never not be special!

@Farhaddubash

The grounds of Wigwam are breathtaking with the gardener definitely needing some sort of medal. Each tipi or wooden cottage has its only little path to get to it, surrounded by all different types of palm trees, glorious green leaves and flowers. There are different areas for guests to chill in, with beds, sofas and chairs scattered around.

Food

I checked in on a Sunday. This is when they have their special BBQ night with a DJ, fun cocktails and a great BBQ selection. We tried to lamb shawarma, hummus falafel, corn on the cob, and the aubergine dip – all delicious. I recommend the strawberry daiquiri or espresso martini to get you in the holiday mood. The very cute cafe area also serves breakfast and lunch with an amazing selection of smoothie bowls.

Activities

Wigwam has a few bicycles you can take out to explore the sleepy village roads surrounding it. If you take a right out of Wigwam you can cycle up towards Mandrem beach which is not far at all and happens to be my favourite beach in North Goa. I think cycling is the best way to explore a new place. You actually have time to take it all in and can of course stop for photos any time you want without holding up traffic or nearly being run over or crashing into a cow – all very possible in India!

They also offer different types of morning yoga and meditation classes. They have a board up in the cafe with the timings for the week. Classes are all donation based and take place on a very cute decking surrounded by the lovely green jungle.

Make sure you also check out the clothes shop before you leave, just next to the cafe area. They have some of the coolest denim jackets I have seen with very cool patches and prints sewn onto the back! I need one in my life!

@Farhaddubash

How to Book

As I said above, Wigwam has tipis, wooden cottages, and apartments. Definitely something different if you’re looking for a cool and unique space to stay in Goa.

While you can book here, you can also check out their website and their Instagram, @wigwamgoa, for more information. Mention that Jules sent you!

Where else in Goa would you like to see? Let us know!

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Agonda Beach, Goa: An Essential Travel Guide

Hippie in Heels — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 10:23:50 +0000

Don’t miss out on our Insider’s Guide to Goa!

Agonda is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Goa, and I have to say I agree. It is clean, is the closest to silky white sand you’ll find, and has huge green cliffs closing in on either end. When you are swimming in the very clean and usually friendly sea, it can feel magical. Like the paradise you see in movies.

Located about an hour and a half from Dabolim Airport via taxi (or accessible via local bus from Panjim or Margao), Agonda is one of the busier and more popular beaches along the southern coast. It still feels like a sleepy beach with its own sense of community that comes alive in season.

Nightlife is optional in the form of live music, drinks at a few of the bars, and lots of great restaurants. Don’t expect nightclubs or beach raves to be common. There’s really only Leopard Valley, which is where you can find a late-night rave scene monthly or weekly depending on the time of year.

Agonda has a welcoming vibe about it, it’s big enough to explore but small enough to feel at home and comfortable. I wouldn’t say it would be the best place to meet new traveling friends through accommodation as you are unlikely to find shared rooms or hostels. But the yoga scene and the bars are perfect to meet other like-minded people along the way.

Do note, same as all other beaches in the South, Agonda usually opens for tourists from November through to April. Between May and October the beach is usually deserted with all beach huts dismantled and the monsoon season setting in.

A Complete Guide to Agonda Beach, Goa

Places to Eat in Agonda

Zest

I really love this place. Like really. This is a vegan spot that serves the most instagrammable and delicious food. The fruit granola bowl with a coconut chai latte is a dream. They have amazing lunch options that include de-constructed sushi bowls and glorious pizza. There’s a really comfortable seating area which is a perfect place to take some time out of the heat. Do not miss this place if you make it to Agonda Beach!

Indah Desa & Kopi Desa

Indah Desa is a great beachfront restaurant that serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I have eaten here quite a few times and always find myself going back because I know it is going to be good. They also offer a BBQ service at the table which I haven’t tried but looks fun. You can also stay here at their beach huts which line the front and are also along the back.

Kopi Desa is the sister place which is a bar further down south of the main road. This place gets busy in the evening and serves great cocktails. I recommend trying both places!

La Dolce Vita

If you are craving some Italian, La Dolce Vita is where you should be heading. I believe it is Italian-owned and serves very authentic dishes.

Fatima’s Corner

This cute place is set right at the entrance to the main beach road in Agonda. It has been around for years and serves great, authentic Indian food. Everything from North Indian food to momos to South Indian.

Places to Stay in Agonda

Agonda Beach itself stretches about two kilometers long, so there are quite a few beachfront places to stay. I’d, of course, suggest staying at one of these spots for the ultimate holiday experience! Book one of the stilted huts with their own, private sea-facing balconies. Though do note the roar of the sea can be surprisingly loud so if you’re a light sleeper take a hut a little further back!

All the places can pretty much be found online whether on one of the booking sites or with their own site. There are so many places to choose from, so this is one of the places I suggest booking in advance. This way you don’t have to walk up and down the beach with your bargaining hat on.

Nearly all spots have a restaurants and many include breakfast. Nothing spells out vacation more than breakfast on the beach! The rate of rooms really depends on how close you are to the beach, and whether it is sea facing. Rooms should range from Rs 1,500 – 5,000+ per night. Agonda is bit more on the premium side compared to the other beaches in South Goa.

Jardim Y Mar

Jardim y Mar

This is my go-to place to stay in Agonda as it’s located in the middle of the beach making it feel like either end is not too far of a walk away. The staff is really nice, they have different room options, and the menu is huge and delicious. They also have a great common area in the shade which is definitely needed during the day. I have stayed in their beach-facing stilted hut, the courtyard beach huts with not so much beach to be seen, and also their concrete rooms which have A/C. As expected, the beach facing stilted hut comes with a much higher price tag. In high season, you could pay up to Rs 5,000 per night. Book now

H2O

This place is located just opposite Zest, the amazing vegan place, and has a lot of rooms to offer. This is one of the bigger places that has a big restaurant and bar and live music options. They have their own sun beds on the beach, which not every place has. Book now

Harmonium

Harmonium is set at the far end of the northern side of the beach, closer to the river. These rooms are a little more luxurious than some of the others, more like proper rooms rather than beach huts. They have some great bean bags out front to lounge on and this side of the beach feels deserted. Book now

The Tribe

This is more for the jungle goers than the beach lovers. The Tribe is set back from the beach and is more inland. You can live among wildlife and learn about permaculture at this eco-resort. If you want to take trips to the beach but feel more of a sense of a community than The Tribe is more for you. It’s not a hostel but has that feel to it. Book now

What Else Is There to Do?

Go bird watching

Walk up to the far north side of the beach where the sea meets the river. There should be one or two people offering you a riverboat trip to go bird watching. Even if you aren’t a keen birdwatcher like myself, I highly recommend waking up early for this. It really is such a peaceful and beautiful way to see sleepy, tropical Goa. Captain, who is the boat driver in the white captain hat, will point out all the colorful birds along the way whilst you take in the breathtaking views.

Go on a boat trip

Take up the offer of a boat trip to see the dolphins, for sunset, or to one of the other beaches along the coast. This is a great way to see the beauty of Agonda from the middle of the sea. I recommend an early morning trip to avoid strong currents and choppy waves.

Walk along the beach

I know it is hard to step away from sunbathing and a good book, but I also recommend putting your Piña Colada down (or taking it along with you) and going for a nice walk to either end. The far north end is where the sea meets the river and on the far south end you can find some huge rocks to climb if you are feeling adventurous.

Go shopping

The main road that runs parallel to the beach has lots of cute shops selling goodies for great prices. Take a walk from one end to the other and treat yourself.

Rent a moped and explore

If you can ride a scooter, then it’s a great way to see some of the other beautiful beaches along the coast. Try riding to Cola Beach – though it has the most horrible bumpy road to conquer – Cabo de Rama, and the neighboring beach of Palolem.

Watch the cows at sunset

I have only seen this happen on Agonda Beach. All the restaurant and hotel owners gather up their food waste and put it out in boxes on the beach at sunset each day. The cows know this routine now and come in their 20s and 30s to snack on these veggie delicacies. It is a great view with the sun setting behind.

Beaches/Towns Nearby

The closest beach on the north side of Agonda is Cola Beach. This is a semi-secret beach with a beautiful, picturesque lagoon and a few places to stay. As mentioned above, the road leading down the Cola Beach is not the most friendly so be careful if you are on a scooter.

On the other side is Palolem Beach which is a bigger, busier beach. This beach has a lot more going on in the evenings and more of a backpacker vibe to it.

If you have the time I would suggest pairing a few nights stay in Agonda with a few nights in Patnem or Palolem.

Have you been to Agonda Beach, Goa? What did you think? Let us know!

For More Goa Travel Planning Guides:

Check out some of these posts to help you continue planning your trip to India:

Goa Travel Tips

Trip Planning Tips

Logistics

Packing Tips

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Patnem Beach, Goa: What to Do, Where to Stay, and More for a Tranquil Escape Down South

Hippie in Heels — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 11:00:16 +0000

Even once you’ve decided where to stay in Goa and that you’d prefer the more relaxing south over north, there are still quite a lot of beaches to choose from! With the help of our local expert, Jules, we’re going to look at the best ones to visit. First up is this little guide to Patnem Beach, Goa!

I, Jules, find the beaches in South Goa are perfect for some me-time rather than the usual friend-finding adventures that go hand-in-hand with backpacking in North Goa. There aren’t as many hostels or common areas, so it’s more of a peaceful retreat whether you go solo or with a partner or friend.

Located almost two hours from Dabolim Airport in a taxi right between Palolem and Galgibaga, Patnem Beach is one of my favorites in the South. I’ve been going for over a decade now! It has definitely gotten a lot busier with a few more sun beds lining the beaches. However, it still has the same tranquil charm as it always did.

I like to compare evenings here to those you see on Pinterest with the candlelit tables out on the beach, the moon, and the stars clear in the sky, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. It is literally the perfect date-night location or perfect for the need-some-time-away-from-my-backpack evenings!

It is a small beach, maybe only 1km or so long, with lots of great sea-facing restaurants dotted along it. There is one very thin main road leading down to the beach which means the flow of traffic is basically non-existent. It is a quiet stretch where you won’t find places playing loud music or parties into the night.

The sea is usually calm and if you get the tide timings right, the sand can be perfect for a morning or sunset run. I do appreciate holidays, and morning runs are not always compatible with vacationing, so please replace run with walk if necessary.

Do note, same as all other beaches in the South, Patnem usually opens for tourists from November through to April. Between May and October the beach is usually deserted with all beach huts dismantled and the monsoon season setting in.

A Guide to Patnem Beach in South Goa

If you do plan to visit Patnem Beach, here’s a full guide to help you plan your trip.

Places to Eat in Patnem

Home

My actual favorite place in Goa, I think, which is a pretty big claim. But I have my favorite table, favorite drink, and favorite breakfast, and I can’t seem to veer away from any of them! They have the most delicious vegetarian food on the menu for breakfast, lunch, and an early dinner. I believe it is French-owned (I may be wrong) so the salads and a lot of the dishes feel very European.

The Home Rosti (with extra mushrooms) is my go to meal accompanied with a strawberry or banana lassi, and if you have the space, a chocolate brownie to share. But genuinely everything on the menu is delicious. The service is great and they have hammocks and a cool floor seating area if you just need a space to chill in the shade.

Jaali Cafe

This is a newcomer on the scene. I made sure to make a special trip to try it out when I was last in the South. It did not disappoint. The menu again has a European feel and they have lots of tapas-type dishes that are perfect for sharing. Jaali is located on the main road so doesn’t have a beach view but instead has a breezy, laid back vibe about it. There is also a great boutique shop in the Cafe selling some beautiful bits you won’t want to miss out on.

Namaste, Papayas, and Nirvana

There are lots of sea-facing places to eat all along Patnem though I do remember eating at Namaste a few more times than others. I would recommend taking the time to try a few if you are there for a few nights. They usually have fresh fish from the day’s catch which can be chosen and grilled in the tandoor – ask for butter garlic or Goan red masala depending on your taste buds. This is where in the evening you will find the candle lit tables out on the beach, replacing the sun beds that are usually there in the day. During the hot sun days, take a seat inside the shacks where they usually have floor-seated tables with plenty of cushions.

April 20

For some delicious Indian food try April 20, which is set back a bit from the beach. They have a sister restaurant in Agonda and the food is great. I remember going here once with some friends years ago and the waiter dropping a tray of about eight drinks down my back but here I am still recommending them which shows the food must be great!

Beach Huts in Patnem

Where to Stay in Patnem Beach

I have spent many a time walking up and down this beach on arrival, bargaining my way down to the best price for a last minute beach hut stay. I have never booked in advance but depending on the time of year and your bargaining ability you can also book in advance on booking.com for a lot of places. Not all, but most of them.

Turtle Hill

This is a very fancy place to stay with the prices being on the much higher end of the scale – 5k+ per night. But you really get what you pay for here with very luxurious beach huts either facing the sea or located a bit further behind and in the garden area. These are the kind of huts you want to live in forever, so if you find they have availability, I suggest you treat yourself! Book here

Funtastic Beach Huts

I have been staying at these beach huts for years. It isn’t because they are anything majorly special but they are in a great location. Very close to Home, the restaurant – and the owners are nice. There is a great hut just above the reception desk which is on stilts and faces the sea though I recommend having a walk up and down the beach to see what takes your fancy. Book here

Home

This place also has rooms to offer. They aren’t beach huts or sea-facing. However, if you are more of a concrete-room-need-actual-walls kind of person then this is a great little place. Book here

Bougainvillea Patnem

These are very beautiful standalone beach huts on more of the southern side. They’re even quieter than the quiet north side of Patnem Beach. They seem a little bit more luxurious than the other standard beach huts found along the front. Book here

Check here for more Airbnb options and here for more accommodation options

Things to Do in Patnem Beach

Kayaking

Rent a kayak and get yourself up and out early in the morning before the current gets too strong. Take the kayak all the way to the south side of the beach and past the neighboring Rajbaga Beach to where the sea meets the river. You can then kayak into this river and give your arms a rest. I once met a Mumma dolphin and her baby here who gracefully swam by, showing their fins occasionally while I was terrified I would fall in, in excitement.

Kayaks can be rented from most places along the beach. Do not take your non-waterproof valuables because you are almost guaranteed to fall in especially when trying to get out of the sea at the end. This happened to me as we tried to surf a wave to shore which was great until the kayak flipped!

Walk to the River

If kayaking isn’t your thing then I suggest doing what is written above but just walking instead. You will need to walk around the big rock/cliff face that separates Patnem Beach from Rajbaga Beach. There isn’t really much happening on Rajbaga beach, not sure why, and head all the way down. If you are lucky, there may be a fisherman willing to take you on a little boat trip.

Boat Trip

There will be offers of boat trips. They’re great to see dolphins, visit next door Palolem and Butterfly Beach, or enjoy the sunset from the water. I would recommend trying it at least once. It is really lovely to get out into the vast blue sea on one of their boats. I think morning trips are always nicer as the waves are usually smaller, and you get less boat rock in choppy waters.

Yoga Classes

If you want to combine your Patnem beach stay with some timetabled yoga then Kranti has a large school located right on the beach. They offer drop-in classes as well as retreats and teacher training. I did a drop-in class here, the facilities are great and the common area was very cool and welcoming. There are quite a few other yoga schools along the beach which may also offer drop-in classes. You can’t beat a bit of sunset yoga!

Beaches and Towns Nearby Patnem

Palolem is the neighboring beach on Patnem’s northern side. I would definitely visit as it’s so close. You just need to walk along the beach and then take the road alongside Turtle Hill. Ask any locals walking by and they will all point you in the right direction. This shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes. However, if you don’t feel like walking, you can hail a rickshaw from the main road for 100rs or less.

Palolem is the busier, louder, bigger beach with the most beautiful palm trees lining the shore all leaning towards the sun. A lot of people stay here because it has more to do. But I have always stayed on Patnem and taken the short rickshaw journey over to Palolem for any nights out. Depending on the type of holiday you are looking for you could do it the other way and stay on Palolem and visit Patnem.

And there you have it! A little guide to the tranquil Patnem Beach in South Goa. Have you been? What did you think? Let us know!

For More Goa Travel Planning Guides:

Check out some of these posts to help you continue planning your trip to India:

Goa Travel Tips

Trip Planning Tips

Logistics

Packing Tips

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The post Patnem Beach, Goa: What to Do, Where to Stay, and More for a Tranquil Escape Down South appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Should I Go to North or South Goa?

Rachel Jones — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 12:00:32 +0000

You might have noticed Rachel wrote mostly about North Goa on her blog. That is because she lived there. While Goa is the smallest state in India, it still takes four hours to drive along the whole coast. Which means if you’ve only scheduled a few days here, you may want to choose between North and South Goa. Rachel once answered that question here, but we thought we’d give you a more thorough, updated guide below with our local Goa expert, Jules!

I, Jules, also currently live in North Goa at Villa Alina and spend most of my season up North, though occasionally I treat myself to a much needed getaway to the South. For me, North Goa will always be home, I am a city girl born and bred in London so the fast paced life and busy streets appeal to me. The South is the countryside of Goa, the quieter side with less going on and more time for rest and relaxation.

How to Decide if You Want to Go to North or South Goa

Many people emailed Rachel about coming to Goa for one week or two and want to know if they should stay in the North or head down to the South. The answer to this depends on a lot of different factors from how much time you have to your interest to what kind of holiday you want. The North and the South are two very different places sometimes.

Depending on your schedule, you may be able to explore both North and South. However, if you have a limited time you will want to make sure you spend your time wisely. Getting around without your own means of transport is not the easiest as Uber doesn’t exist in Goa, we don’t have a metro, taxis are extortionate compared to the rest of India, and renting a moped is great but also comes with a long list of precautions. So making the right decision about which area you stay in is important as you will want things to be within walking distance.

Here are some questions that may help you decide:

Which is closest to the airport?

The airport is midway between North and South Goa, so you’re pretty much evenly distanced depending on how far North or South you choose to go.

What kind of holiday are you looking for in Goa?

If you’re looking for more to do and see…

North Goa is the busier side with a lot more happening. Here you can experience the buzz of daily life in almost every area with a much bigger selection of parties, hundreds of restaurant options, cafes, bars and shopping markets. The North is your best bet for those that want a mix of actually doing things as well as beach hopping along the coast.

If you’re looking to just relax on the beach…

If you’re in the mood for rest and relaxation, sunsets, and swims, than South Goa and its more beautiful and secluded beaches are for you. The beaches in the South are quieter with less options of a late night party, so if candle-lit dinners on the beach, spending your days stretched out on a sun bed and struggling to decide whether you want a fresh coconut or a cocktail, then I would suggest the South. There are still restaurant options and the occasional party but not in the same variety as North Goa.

Are you looking to avoid crowds?

Yes…

There are quiet beaches both in the North and South of Goa but the South has a lot more and is where you want to be if you need a break from the madness of India.

Not Really…

If you are travelling solo and want to meet people then the North has a lot more hostels to choose from and a bigger selection of activities to do. I personally find lying on a beach is more of a solo activity and a harder place to make new friendships. If you want to be able to dip in and out of the busy-ness of India either at the local markets, bars or beach shacks then the North has a larger selection and bigger buzz.

Comparing North and South Goa: A Breakdown

Old Quarter Hostel, Panjim

Which is better for backpackers on a budget?

In India, accommodation is pretty cheap wherever you go unless you are splashing out on a 5-star hotel. As for Goa there are options for all different budgets but of course it also depends if you are travelling solo, in a couple or as a group.

North Goa

As mentioned above there are a lot more hostel options in North Goa which offer a bed for as little as Rs 500 a night. There are lots of cool options with great communal areas to meet other backpackers. For hostels check Jungle Hostel, Papi Chulo, Old Quarter, Funky Monkey or Prison Hostel.

South Goa

The South is more of a stilted beach hut experience than a budget backpacker scene. The further you stay back from the beachfront the less you will have to pay and I would recommend taking a walk along your chosen beach and bartering for the best price. The later in the day it is the cheaper they will be. Beach huts can range from Rs 1,000 to 5,000 per night.

Anahata, Mandrem Beach

Where to Stay in Goa

There is a huge selection of places to stay in Goa. We have everything from hostels, guesthouses, homestays, jungle huts, eco resorts and luxury villas to 5-star resorts. It is impossible not to find something to suit your needs, check out our updated guide on where to stay in Goa for a longer list of our favorite spots.

North Goa

There is a larger variety of options in North Goa for all different budgets. Places here are not as beachfront as they are in the South and you can stay a lot more inland in towns and even villages. Anjuna is the best area for backpackers, Mandrem has a more hippie chic vibe and Calangute is the epicenter of the madness.

South Goa

South Goa has a few 5-star resorts in very secluded areas for people who don’t want to venture out. It also has a lot more choice of the famous stilted beach huts and falling asleep to the sound of waves. Here most places will be a few steps away from the actual beach as their USP is a sea view.

Agonda is one of the most beautiful beaches in Goa, Palolem is the busier area, and Patnem is the quieter neighbor. The South can be explored in one long line with the coast being the main area of civilization for tourism. Do note in the monsoon, South Goa is basically closed as seas become rough and the shacks, huts, and guesthouses are all taken down.

Better for Sightseeing?

Goa is not full of as many bucket list-must-sees as most other areas in India. The landmarks could be done all in one day if you really stretched yourself but you will find like many others, you end up getting distracted by the beaches, normal life or needing to try a different cocktail in every beach shack.

North Goa

North Goa has a lot more choice of cultural landmarks with Old Goa being the main attraction. If you have been to other places in India then you will notice you will have mainly seen temples or mosques. Goa is full of beautiful churches because of the Portuguese influence. If you want to spend your days doing some exploring then North Goa is where you should be and you should see Panjim, the capital of Goa, Fontainhas – the amazing colorful Portuguese streets within Panjim and the Spice Plantation – I always send my guests here. And of course exploring the different beaches along the North coastline.

South Goa

South Goa is not for the kind of traveler who needs to get up and do a lot of things throughout the day. Here your activities are based around the beach and are likely to include sunbathing, reading, beach walking, kayaking, boat trips, chasing sunsets and snoozing. Nothing wrong with these activities but if you are like me and get bored of lying on a beach all day then maybe the North is for you.

Tip: If you want to see the famous cows at Agonda, they arrive before every sunset and are fed the vegetable waste from the kitchens along the beach!

Where & What to Eat

The options for food in Goa are some of the best in the whole of India. We have every single cuisine possible and you could finish a two week holiday without eating any Indian or Goan food. There is difference between Goan and Indian food. If you have traveled around India you may or may not have noticed key differences between dishes in each state. I, of course, don’t recommend this because all types of Indian and local food are the best but, just to highlight if you can’t look at another plate of daal and rice, then you have come to the right place.

North Goa

North Goa has the largest selection of places to eat, a lot of them better than most places you would find in your hometowns. There are beach shacks, fancy restaurants, pizzerias, sunset dining options, juice bars, vegan spots and even a few restaurants that offer shows and more of an late-night experience. Check out La Plage, A Reverie, Gunpowder, Calamari, Fat Fish, Thalassa, Bean Me Up, Luna’s Ristorante, Sublime, Artjuna, Eva’s Cafe…I could literally go on forever. On Rachel’s last trip, she ate at a lot of places in North Goa.

South Goa

South Goa has a few standout spots to check out but here you will mainly be eating at beach shacks and enjoying the view rather than being blown away by food. Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean food is bad in the South, far from it, but there are just not as many well known places or options to choose from as the North. Whilst in the South don’t miss Home, Zest, Martins Corner, Zeebop, Jaali Cafe, Dunhill and Indah Desa.

For the best local Goan food try a small beach shack and order FishCurryRice – said in this way. This can be found in both North and South, just make sure its locally made which includes lots of coconut.

Hideaway, Vagator

Where to Party

Goa is well known for its party scene and is comparable to the Las Vegas of India. Well, I think so anyway! We have late night parties that go well into the morning, trance parties that you should not miss out experiencing, 24-hour casino boats and a party option for most nights of the week! If you’re coming to experience the party scene, don’t miss these nightlife tips before you come.

North Goa

North Goa is full to the brim with options for parties. There is somewhere to go every single night of the week whether it is a bar, a club or a beachside party. If you are looking for busy club scenes, cheesy music, techno parties, live music, going to more than one club in a night or all of the above then the North is for you. Nearly all of the best nightclubs in Goa are located in the North and there are options depending on which kind of vibe you are going for. Check out Curlies, Shiva Valley, Hilltop, Thalassa, Soro, Hideaway, Cavala, Cohiba, Showbar and more.

South Goa

The party scene in South Goa is very limited with set days for parties at only two main venues which are Leopard Valley and Neptune’s Point. I am sure these would be cool parties to go to but there is no guarantee that they will be busy. Here you should be happy with either an early night or taking over a beach shack and having drinks and cocktails with a group of friends.

Where to Relax on the Beach

Goa is a coastal state lined with beaches from North to South. Though much of the west coast of India has some secluded beautiful beaches, Goa is the designated beach holiday destination. There are a lot of beaches to choose from and I wouldn’t recommend trying to visit them all.

North Goa

North Goa has a variety of beaches to meet peoples different needs. If you are looking for a busy beach, water sports and a large selection of beach shacks then Baga, Calangute and Candolim beach are for you. If you want the typical tourist vibe with a few beach shack party places then Anjuna and Little Vagator/Ozran Beach are for you. And if you want a more quiet, hippie, bohemian vibe then Morjim, Ashwem and Mandrem are for you. The furthest North is Arambol where you will find a lot of backpackers, drum circles and a trance scene.

South Goa

For the most beautiful beaches head South where you will find silkier sand, calmer seas and more peace and quiet. Majorda and Benaulim Beach are empty with not much else to do nearby. Agonda and Patnem are quiet with sea facing beach huts and a beautiful stretch to walk along. Palolem is the busier part of the South with glorious palm trees lining the whole shore leaning towards the sun. Butterfly Beach, Cabo De Rama, Cola and Galgibaga are the even more untouched areas where you are unlikely to bump into many other people at all.

Kranti Yoga, Patnem Beach

Where to Do a Yoga Retreat

If you are coming to Goa and plan to book a yoga retreat then you will want to decide whether you will prefer to be in the North or South. Yoga can be found all over Goa and if you don’t want to commit to a full on retreat there are lots of options of drop-in classes or even hiring a teacher for private classes to come to you.

North Goa

If you want a busier retreat with the option of more to do after your classes in the day then the North has a few options that I have heard about from friends – Dunes or Anahata in Mandrem and Purple Valley Yoga in Assagao which is more inland. There are lots of options for drop in classes at the many yoga shalas, cafes, or even resorts.

South Goa

The retreats in the South are likely to be a lot more chilled out. There’s less temptation to go out and drink and a lot more peace and quiet to really give your all to the retreat. I know I would personally choose to do a retreat in the South. I feel secluded beaches and more alone time go hand-in-hand with a yoga retreat. Here you could try Kranti Yoga School, Bamboo Yoga Retreat or Lotus Oasis Yoga all found on Patnem Beach.

Where to Go Shopping

If you have been traveling around India you may feel as though you are all shopped out! But you will change your mind once you see the shops in Goa. You can find everything you need from the cliche Goa tourist stuff for your friends at home (elephant trousers, Goa fridge magnets, anklets, henna etc) to the amazing independent designer clothes you won’t find anywhere else.

North Goa

North Goa is lucky enough to have all the shopping markets. These markets have a huge variety of everything you could possibly want all in one place. The Flea Market is the famous daytime market every Wednesday in Anjuna, the new Goa Collective Bazaar happens every Friday in Vagator and The Saturday Night Market is in Arpora. Each market is different and if you can you should make time for all three. There are also very cute boutique shops you must visit. Rangeela, No Nasties and People Tree are in Assagao; Paperboat is in Sangolda; Alchemy is in Mandrem, and Studio Arpora is in Arpora.

South Goa

South Goa has a few great shops but not the same selection as the North. Here you can find some hidden gems at the roadside stalls but you will have to spend some time looking. There aren’t any particularly large markets though sometimes there are pop ups at Leopard Valley. Boutiques in the South to check out are Bunti and Jaali Cafe.

Hopefully, you now have a clearer idea about whether you want to go to North or South Goa! And if you’re lucky enough to have time for both, you now have some recommendations on where to go, what to see, and, most importantly, what to eat!

For More Goa Travel Planning Guides:

Check out some of these posts to help you continue planning your trip to India:

Goa Travel Tips

Trip Planning Tips

Logistics

Packing Tips

Pin it for later!

Originally published Sept 2017; updated Sept 2020

The post Should I Go to North or South Goa? appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

75 Unique Things to Do in Goa You Don’t Want to Miss

Jules Nazareth — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:00:17 +0000

Back in the day, Rachel once wrote a bucket list of fun things to do in Goa. While you can still do a lot of her recommendations today, many suggestions are no longer open! We’ve given her original list a much needed update to help you plan your own trip.

I, Jules, have lived in Goa now for 4 years and have been lucky enough to have family and friends visit quite a few times over the years. I have had to become lead tour guide for a lot of groups and because of this I have a lot of Goa’s must-dos, must-sees, must-eats, must-haves all up my sleeve. Below are the best things to do in Goa – some slightly random, some very important, and some only a “local” would know.

Planning your trip to Goa? Don’t miss our ultimate Goa ebook with everything you need to know about the area! You can also buy our ultimate India ebook for even more insider advice!

Agonda Beach, South Goa

Classic/Touristy Things to Do in Goa

1. Visit the Spice Plantation.

I highly recommend a trip to the Spice Plantation in Ponda to walk through a tropical plantation and learn all about the spices that are the backbone to most of the food you will be eating throughout India. It really is very interesting and you get lunch cooked with the same spices from the plantation. I would not recommend riding the elephants as they seem to be the only ones left in Goa and they are not treated very well.

2. Check out the old churches in “Old Goa”.

“Old Goa” is one of the only places you will need to dress appropriately. Cover your knees and shoulders, mainly directed at females, so worth bringing a sarong or a cardigan you can put on when needed. This can be done on the way back from the Spice Plantation. Have a look at the Patron Saint of Goa, Francis Xavier’s, embalmed body and take the drive up the steep hill to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount for a beautiful view over Goa. If you would rather join a tour try this one.

3. Get a photo of the cows on the beach…

…make sure they aren’t eating from your plate as you snooze on your sunbed and if you are feeling adventurous maybe even try a cow selfie. Cows in Goa are usually pretty friendly and love a little stroke or neck scratch but watch out for the bulls and their horns!

4. Visit Mapusa Market

Mapusa Market is a big bustling market full of bright colors, weird, wonderful, sometimes terrible smells and lots of shopping opportunities. Friday is the busiest day of the week for Mapusa Market but you can go any day, the earlier the better to beat the heat. Make sure you visit the fabric shops, flower section, fruit and veg, fish market if you dare and the meat section if you can stomach it. Here you will see lots of ‘typical Indian scenes’ – ladies sat in beautiful saris behind piles of their local produce – a great day out for any budding photographers!

5. In Arambol, check out the sweet water lake.

It’s just near the beach and is pretty cool to take a dip and some photos. It has become quite a common spot for tourists now so you are likely to share the lake with a lot of people. Please remember to take your rubbish with you when you leave. Here’s a little guide to Arambol.

Palolem Rock, South Goa

Adventurous Things to Do in Goa

6. Try SUP (stand up paddle board) at Vaayu.

Vaayu in on the road facing Mandrem Beach. You can also rent surf boards from them or try kite surfing classes. Their cafe, Prana, serves up delicious breakfast burritos, fish tacos and smoothies. This is a very cool place to hang out for the day.

7. You can go white water rafting.

Not even many locals or Goa residents know you can go white water rafting in Valpoi. This takes place in the off season when the rivers are full and raging. This would be great fun in a big group or a good way to meet new people and see a different part of Goa.

8. Have a surf lesson at Surfwala.

Surfwala is between Mandrem and Arambol. You can hire out surfboards or get yourself an instructor to help you conquer the not-so-large waves of Goa. You can spend the day chilling at Surfwala.

9. Try bungee jumping at Mayem Lake.

There is a new attraction in Bicholim where you can bungee jump off a 55M platform over Mayem Lake. This is one for the adrenaline junkies. You won’t find me anywhere near here!

10. Go-Karting in Arpora.

There is a Go-Kart track in Arpora next to The Saturday Night Market. Rachel was a Go-Kart lover; she and Ben used to test out a track in most places they visited together around the world. This one in Arpora is not really the most exciting but is a fun option to change it up from the usual Goa activities.

11. Kayaking at Patnem Beach.

Rent a kayak on Patnem Beach and go for a little paddle. And by little I mean a slightly strong paddle as the sea can be tiring. If you paddle out towards the South of the beach where the sea meets the river, it’s lovely and still. I was once surrounded by a mum and her baby dolphin here. Kayaks can be found to rent at most beaches in South Goa.

12. Take a B:Live Electric Bike Tour.

Try an electric bike tour where you can literally sit back and power the bike with the flick of a wrist. They have lots of different location options including Old Goa, Panjim, Chorao and Divar Island. If you are a bit nervous on the bike I would suggest one of the islands as the traffic on those is pretty non existent and you get to go on a little ferry across the river. Tours can be booked here.

13. Climb up to Chapora Fort.

Take the steep climb up to Chapora Fort to see the view over Vagator Beach. It isn’t the most exciting fort but it is a nice activity to get you away from the sun bed. And fits in perfectly with a deserved juice from the famous Chapora juice shop which is spoken about below.

14. Climb the huge rock in the sea at Palolem Beach.

Swim out to the huge rock at Palolem Beach, attempt to climb up, view the beautiful palm tree lined beach from a different angle and jump back off into the sea. It is easier to climb the rock at high tide and be careful of cutting hands and feet!

15. Go for the perfect beach run.

This may not sound adventurous to some but actually a great beach run can be a game changer for your day. Especially if it is at sunset or you are lucky enough to see dolphins – this happened in Agonda. Not all beaches in Goa are good for running and a lot of time it depends on tide timings as running on a slope isn’t so good for your knees. You can run any time of the day at Morjim, Mandrem or Palolem and only at low tide on Calangute, Patnem and Agonda.

16. Volunteer with the animals!

Rachel wrote about a few of the options here. This is pretty adventurous as you are likely to be out of your comfort zone whether it is helping out with animals or people. There are lots of great organizations needing your help and these add some really rewarding experiences to your travels. It can even be something as simple as taking a few dogs for a walk.

17. Get a tattoo at Inkfidel with Duncan.

If you are thinking about getting a tattoo in Goa please don’t go to one of the 3 million tattoo shops we have on every corner of every street. Duncan is the guy you need to speak to and the man who has drawn all over most of the residents of Goa. His work is great and he can help with any designs or ideas you want to create. Obviously only get a tattoo if you really want one as it is there forever! Check out @inkfideltattoo on instagram.

18. Go crocodile hunting in the mangroves.

Ok not actually hunting, no crocodiles will be harmed but go searching for the crocs that believe it or not, do live in Goa and hang out by the mangroves of Chorao and Divar Island. I did this trip recently with Uday, The Crocodile Man and we saw a HUGE sleeping crocodile. It is also just a lovely boat trip around the island. Contact Uday on +91 9021918613 to book.

Thalassa Sunset, Siolim

Relaxing Things to Do in Goa

19. Watch the sunset from Thalassa Restaurant.

Thalassa has moved to a beautiful spot in Siolim right next to the mouth of a river and a glorious sunset view. This is a bit over budget for a backpacker but if you had to treat yourself to a holiday experience whilst backpacking this is it. Dress up and eat lots of delicious Greek food.

20. Enjoy the lounge chairs at Antares in Little Vagator Beach.

This was a secret of Rachel’s, that if you eat at Antares you can use their sun beds which face the sunset and they have their own staircase going down to Little Vagator Beach. No seems to use these beds so you could have them all to yourself.

21. Take the long drive up North to Keri Beach.

Keri Beach is the last beach before Goa becomes Maharashtra. This is a very secluded area with not much going on at all. If you want the beach to yourself, take a picnic and your own umbrella and enjoy paradise for the day.

22. Let yourself have a foot massage on the beach.

Depending on which beach you are sat on, lots of ladies will come around asking to massage and thread you…give in, let yourself be pampered! You can also buy sarongs, anklets and other things you probably don’t need or want but it’s always nice to give them a little something. Just be firm that once you are done, you are done or they could end up sitting by your bed for the rest of the day offering another massage just in case you change your mind!

23. Go to the “secret” beach.

I won’t name it here, but please check out Rachel’s article and review for the hidden beach resort or you can skip and just use this link to book and see where this resort is ;)

24. Go to Snips Salon & Spa for a massage.

It’s much cheaper than back home and is fantastic. Treat yourself to a massage, hair spa, manicure, pedicure or all of the above if you are feeling fancy! There are two salons in North Goa now – Calangute or Porvorim.

25. Spend the day at Nilaya Hermitage’s swimming pool.

Pay Rs 500 to spend the day at Nilaya and use their amazing swimming pool. This is my favorite swimming pool in Goa. Have lunch here, try the grilled fish, and soak in the beautiful view over Arpora.

26. Get an amazing gel manicure to last your whole trip!

If chipped nails stress you out then go to Tanya at Sparaddise in Calangute where you can get the best gel manicure you will ever have. This is an inside local tip that most visitors won’t know about. Girls, thank me later!

27. Watch a sunset from Vagator Hill for a full panoramic view.

This is not such a common tourist spot as you have to know where to park your car but if you drive past La Rive in Vagator and leave your car at the bottom of the hill you can walk up to the top and have a beautiful panoramic view from Anjuna to Morjim.

28. Go bird watching at Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.

Take the car ferry over to Chorao Island and have a walk around Salim Ali bird sanctuary. There are lots of beautiful species of birds in Goa with lots of them being seen around the quiet mangroves. You can also take a boat trip around the island which is a great way to see a quieter side of Goa.

If bird watching is your thing you could also try this bird watching tour.

29. Hit up Fort Aguada Taj Hotel for drinks.

Take in the amazing view over an old Fort, sit in a fancy chair and order yourself a fancy cocktail at the Taj. This is a lovely hotel so dress up and try and make it for sunset.

30. Stay at Jamboree Creek!

If you want a cute jungle hut and swimming pool at decent prices, this is it. They have daily yoga classes, meditation classes and private access to the beautiful Mandrem Beach. Book a stay here.

Food Stalls at The Goa Collective Bazaar, Vagator

Foodie Things to Do in Goa

31. For traditional Goan Food…

Strangely it is actually quite difficult to find good Goan food in Goa. Try Bhatti Village in Nerul which resembles the kitchen of an old Goan Grandmother. The menu changes depending on what is available. And Nostalgia in Panjim which has recently opened in Fontainhas selling all the Goan delicacies. Try the xacuti, prawn rissois and beef croquettes.

And if you make it to The Goa Collective Bazaar, I have a food stall called Go Local where you can taste freshly made local food only on Fridays. The caldin, cutlet pao and tendli pickle may change your life!

32. Try “rava fry fish” and squeeze lime all over it.

This can be found all over Goa and is a must have if you are trying something new. Seafood in Goa is usually fresh and delicious, so try some prawns rava fry, mussels rava fry, fish rava fry, everything rava fry. It is basically fish coated and fried in spices and semolina. Yum!

33. Taste a bite of South India at Gunpowder in Assagao.

This was Rachel’s favorite restaurant that she always made time to eat at and was conveniently located not so far from her house. The veg curry and chili pork ribs were Rachel’s go-to but the chicken curries are what most go for. I love the andhra prawns and potato ishtew. And definitely get a couple of heavenly malabar parathas!

34. Eat Goan Sausage, Ros Omlette Pao, and drink a Sweet Lime Soda.

Goan sausage is apparently the Indian chorizo. Try a Goan sausage dish at a restaurant or a choriz pao at a street side vendor. You can also try a ros omlette pao which is Xacuti (coconut based curry) gravy with an omelet inside a soft pocket of bread known as poie which is the local Goan bread. Yum! A fresh lime soda, either sweet, salty or mixed is exactly what you need daily to keep you hydrated in the Goan sun. If you’re really branching out you can try the local liquor, cashew feni, which in my opinion smells like nail varnish remover. You are guaranteed to have a fun night and a sore head in the morning drinking feni cocktails.

35. Chill out and have a juice at the famous Scarlet’s juice center in Chapora.

This juice center is famous in Chapora with lots of locals hanging out here. This is a fun people watching spot, a great place to meet new people, or to just watch the world go by.

36. Take time for a long lunch at La Plage.

This is a beautiful lunch or dinner spot set back on the beach at Ashwem. It usually opens in December and closes in March so if you are in Goa in that window make sure you don’t miss out. It can be busy on weekends so you will need to book – which you rarely need to do in Goa unless you are a big group. The tuna is their famous dish but everything on the menu is amazing. Their Bloody Marys are very unique with an added curry flavor and are a huge local favorite. If you are with a big group or you love dessert, order the chocolate Thali, you will not be disappointed!

37. Eat at as many food stalls as possible at The Goa Collective Bazaar – The Friday Market.

The Goa Collective Bazaar which takes place every Friday from 4pm onwards at Hilltop in Vagator, is not just a market for shopping but also has some great cocktails and a huge food court. There is food from all over the world and lots of seating available. Come with an empty stomach and have a little nibble from as many as possible. Some recommendations are Eddie’s Khao Suey, Morgan’s Pizza, Bean Me Up, Irori Sushi, Freshly Baked Cupcakes, Falafels, Burrito Boys, and, of course, Go Local.

38. Have a coffee at Old Quarter Hostel in Fontainhas.

If you are planning to explore Fontainhas, the Portuguese style streets in Panjim, then stop for a coffee and rest your feet at Old Quarter. Bombay Coffee Roasters operates here so if you feel you are in need of an actual coffee and can’t bear to look at a Nescafe instant ever again, this is where you need to be.

If you would like to join a tour of Fontainhas, you can book here.

39. Have a beer at Joseph’s Bar.

Joseph’s Bar is a very old school hangout in the small back streets on Fontainhas in Panjim. It is a tiny bar with 2 tiny rooms that give you the real Indian feel. Sit down, have a beer, have a snack, and speak to the owner about how long he has been running it and all the issues they currently face with the neighbors and noise complaints.

You could also join this bar crawl of Goa which takes place in Panjim.

40. Eat a traditional Portuguese lunch or dinner at Venit.

Venit is down another great, tiny Portuguese-style lane in Fontainhas. You will feel you like you are in Portugal if you choose to dine on one of the tables with the balcony overlooking the street. The walls are covered with wise words from travelers who have been and gone and the menu has some of the best traditional Goan/Portuguese food.

41. Taste some typical Goan snacks from Mr. Baker in Panjim.

This bakery has been around since 1922 and has some delicious traditional Goan snacks you can munch on while you explore. These are the kinds of snacks that are served at all weddings, anniversaries, birthdays all over Goa. The options include beef chop, prawn rissois, beef croquette, veg chop, meat/veg samosa and lots more. If you are feeling adventurous try the dessert, Bebinca, which is a Goan cake that uses 24 eggs!

42. Treat yourself to a whole new eating experience at A Reverie.

Book yourself a table at A Reverie in Calangute where your taste buds will be in for a treat and you will be 100% wowed by the menu and the food presentation. They have amazing cocktails and dishes usually have a twist. You could feast alone on the starters as these are the most fun but the mains are also delicious.

Try the mushroom chai, Mexican pani puri, Goldrush coconut chips and the chicken lollipops. If you manage to have space for dessert the de-constructed Banoffee pie and the chicken or the egg are amazing. This place comes with quite a steep price tag compared to what you will be used to paying elsewhere but is a lot cheaper than what you would pay in your hometown. Highly recommended.

43. Try some of the best gelato in town.

Head to the local hangout in Anjuna, cream choc gelato, for the best ice cream in all of Goa. Yep in all of Goa! They have a nice seating area outside with a few cute resident dogs, including Tripod, the 3 legged dog that Rachel rescued after he was hit by a car. Try the salted caramel, dark chocolate and the delicious fruity sorbets!

44. Eat the famous chicken at the Saturday Night Market.

This chicken is genuinely famous in Goa. The queues are always huge and if you decide to line up you will know why. Ask anyone where the chicken man is and they will point you in the right direction – note he is only at Ingo’s Saturday Night Market.

Seasonal Things to Do in Goa

45. Celebrate Holi in Goa.

Holi is always a lot of fun in India. In Goa, it is nowhere near as crazy as other states as for some reason different neighborhoods celebrate it on different days and the Hindu community isn’t as comparatively large in Goa. However, you can always find some colorful powder to buy and some people to have a little color fight with. The best option is to go to an all day Holi party. Try La Rive, Sinq Pool Party or Hilltop. And of course you need to wear white!

46. Hit up the carnival in Arambol.

Arambol is probably the hippiest place in Goa although it wasn’t back in the day (Anjuna was). They have their own carnival every year in February. Head up to Arambol to celebrate the hippie lifestyle with drum circles, live music, hula hooping and lots of fancy dress.

47. Make sure you’re here on a Saturday for the Saturday Night Market.

There are now two different Saturday Night Markets, both in Arpora which can be confusing. The original one is called Ingo’s and is located just next door to the go-kart track. This is my preferred option as I know my way around it and there are some great food and shopping stalls here.

The newer market, Saturday Night Bazaar, sometimes has a fun fair – which I wouldn’t recommend – and always has a full car park. Be careful as some taxi drivers will pretend the other market is closed. This usually begins beginning of December. It has a great vibe and is a great evening out with shopping, live music and food.

48. Don’t miss the Panjim Carnaval.

This “Carnaval” takes place along North Goa as different areas compete for the best floats. The parade begins early in the day so make sure you go early to get a spot and witness all the creative and sometimes very weird and random floats. This is a great day out and a real treat if you are here during your travels. End the evening in Samba Square with live music and lots of snacks and drinks.

49. Go Narkasur hunting in October/November.

A Narkasur can only be found in Goa on the evening before Diwali. It is a strange tradition where different areas build the biggest demon possible and then burn their creation at a silly time in the morning. It is amazing to see the efforts people put in and the size they are able to build these monsters. I went on a little car journey with some friends to see what people had done. Each Narkasur usually has a group of people surrounding it dancing to some terrible EDM until the early hours!

Hideaway, Vagator

Nightlife Things to Do in Goa

50. Definitely experience a trance party at Hilltop or Curlies OR Shiva Valley or Soro.

There are a lot of trance parties in Goa. A lot. Goa is so known for this way of life that you really should experience the scene for yourself. Check wug.com for dates and this post on the best party places in Goa.

51. Watch some live music at Hideaway.

If trance is not your thing, like me, then head over to Hideaway in Vagator for some great food, great cocktails and an amazing vibe. They usually have a live band on a few nights a week so check their Instagram or Facebook page for updates. This is where you will find lots of locals and residents spending their weekends.

52. Go to the silent disco at Neptune’s Point on Palolem Beach.

At the furtherest South point on Palolem Beach is Neptune’s Point where they have a weekly silent disco every Saturday. Depending on the time of the season (not during monsoon season), it could be packed or it could be pretty empty. Either way, experiencing a silent disco on a beautiful beach in Goa is always going to be a win.

53. Catch a late night DJ set at The Goa Collective Bazaar – Friday Market.

The Goa Collective Bazaar which takes place every Friday always has a few live acts on throughout the evening. As the evening goes on and some of the stalls start to pack up the techno/trance DJ set begins until about 2:00 AM on good days. If you are in the mood to carry on, head to La Rive which is a short 5-minute drive away.

54. Hit up Soro for some old school Hip Hop on Thursdays only.

The only authentic Hip Hop night in Goa that actually plays good tunes. Head over to Soro in Assagao for a fun and very busy night.

55. Watch a great Indian dance show on Wednesdays.

This is a slight secret but if you head over to Chalston Beach Resort on a Wednesday evening and have dinner at their restaurant you can also watch their live Indian Dance Show for free. The show has quite a few different outfit changes as two amazing dancers take you through the different types of traditional dances found within India. You are encouraged to get up and move for the last one so wear your dancing shoes!

56. Hit the dance floor in Cavala on Fridays for retro music and some salsa.

If you are looking for some old school retro music then Cavala is where you need to be. Filled with lots of local regulars who have been dancing at Cavala for years, you will have a great time singing along with the band and watching the famous salsa dancers.

57. Check the ever-changing evening DJ line up at Prana Cafe.

Prana Cafe is not just great for lunch and a smoothie bowl; they also have select evenings with cool DJ lineups. The DJ area is pretty cool with a large lit up tree as the backdrop. Try the Piña Coladas and Tropical Rum Cocktails.

58. Don’t miss the shows at Thalassa on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Table bookings are essential for Thalassa. Probably the most famous restaurant in Goa, it is buzzing nearly every day of the week. Sunset tables are usually booked way in advance but if you are coming to party then the book the evening slot and stay until it closes which can sometimes be 3:00 AM. They have a large dance floor, a huge cocktail menu and a few shows that take place through the evening. Fire throwing, a very special Greek dance, a robot laser dance show, and sometimes the infamous male belly dancer. This place is not really backpacker budget friendly but you are definitely in for a fun night.

Shopping Things to Do in Goa

59. Buy some spices and tea as souvenirs.

You can’t come to India without buying some of the very colorful spices from the very cliche picture you hopefully took at the market. You’ll see them so much that it’s hard not to and of course they make great gifts. See what else to buy in Rachel’s India souvenir guide.

60. You better be here on a Wednesday too!

The Wednesday Flea market is one of the most famous hippie markets in the world. It’s located in Anjuna leading up to the beach and goes until sunset. It is a huge market that is very easy to get lost in. You could easily spend the whole day here but due to the heat it is better to get there early, make your way through the market, and then end up at Cafe Looda for a drink at the beach.

61. Buy an “India” scarf for the perfect souvenir from Fara.

These beautiful scarves are hand drawn onto silk and make great gifts or the perfect treat for yourself to remember your trip to India.

62. For more shopping, hit up Alchemy in Ashwem.

Fara (from above) and Studio TIA opened up a shop together called Alchemy, and it’s located in Ashwem. You can see some of her outfits here and check out her shop on Etsy too! These are beautifully designed pieces of clothing that you won’t find at home in your high street stores.

63. Get some clothing tailored and make your own fun designs at great prices.

You can take one of your favorite dresses to a local tailor who can copy for you in any fabric you desire. This can be great fun whether you want to make a suit, a new beach dress or the perfect festival shirt. Here’s how to get clothing made in India.

64. Visit Paperworks in Panjim for all your stationery needs.

This is a semi-secret shop in the far end of Panjim with a very confusing entrance. But once inside this shop will make you want to throw your clothes away and fill your bags with all the beautiful stationery they have to offer. Everything from beautiful writing paper, painted cards, wrapping paper to journals, diaries, bags. Everything.

65. Treat yourself to a trip to Rangeela.

This beautiful shop can be found in Assagao. Make time for a visit to see their beautiful collection of treasures the owners have found around India, Bali and on their travels to Africa. It is impossible to leave this shop without picking up at least one, if not more, treasure to take home.

66. Buy a secondhand book from Literati, the beautiful book shop in Candolim.

Check out Literati in Candolim for the perfect secondhand book for your travels. Or have a look through the shelves that line every single possible wall for the perfect brand new book. Books are a lot cheaper in India than in your hometown, so definitely worth buying them along the way rather than filling your bag. If the cafe is open, stop for a sweet lime soda and a sandwich.

67. Venture to the Friday Market for some premium goodies.

Yes, I have mentioned this market in nearly every section but it deserves to be here! It really has everything you will need for your Friday night out. So head to The Goa Collective Bazaar for your not-so-common shopping experience at Indian markets. Here you will find good quality items, one off designers and lots of premium goodies.

68. Buy some local art from Studio Arpora.

Check out Studio Arpora, the cutest gallery in Goa with the most beautiful paintings by Shireen Mody and the loveliest illustrations by her daughter Saffron. Prints can be bought that can be easily packed and added to your luggage. Don’t miss out on seeing Shireen’s palm tree series in real life!

Villa Alina, Calangute

Luxury Things to Do in Goa

69. For a “splurging out” stay in South Goa…

Try the beautiful Alila Diwa in the South. It was Rachel’s favorite 5 star hotel in all of Goa and she treated herself to a few getaways here.

70. Treat yourself to a Sunday Brunch at the Grand Hyatt.

This really is a special treat but is so worth it. Spend a lazy Sunday at the Hyatt in Bambolim. Fill yourself up at the mouth watering food stations and then roll yourself out to the sun beds to make the most of their lovely pool. I would recommend booking ahead for this one as it does get busy. Lots of 5 stars offer Sunday Brunch deals so if you don’t feel like trekking to Bambolim have a look at some of your closer options.

71. Stay at Villa Alina – perfect for larger group stays!

Villa Alina offers six bedrooms to a single group of up to 16 people. Treat yourself to a whole villa experience with your own private infinity pool, daily maid service, 24-hour security, sunset views, breakfast included and the comfiest beds in all of Goa!

Check here for even more luxury stays in Goa

Expat Things to Do in Goa

72. Consider renting a house.

If you do end up staying in Goa for a month or more, it may be worth looking into renting a furnished place rather than staying at hotels or hostels. You can look on Airbnb or you can just stay in a guesthouse until you find somewhere. Here’s a guide to renting in Goa. There are lots of cute little Goan houses available for long term rent at great prices.

73. Take some classes at Tito’s Whitehouse or Artjuna.

You can do kickboxing, yoga, pilates, and more. Classes are affordable and happen every week. It’s a great way to meet people who live in Goa.

74. Sign up to the Sensible Earth co-working space.

Sensible Earth is a beautiful spot in the backstreets of Porvorim. They are a co-working space dedicated to finding sustainable solutions to help the world become a better place. They have an amazing open space that allows the breeze to fly through whilst being surrounded by trees and all things green. This is also a great way to meet new and like-minded people.

75. Catch a movie at the Inox Cinema at Mall De Goa.

This is one of my favorite activities in Goa that makes me feel like I am back home in London. The cinema in India is way better than in London. Your chairs recline; you can eat mixed cheese and caramel popcorn (yes this is the best thing ever!); they have an interval in the middle so you don’t have to miss any of the movie for a toilet break; they usually have air conditioning (take a jacket it can get cold!), and the price tag for one ticket in London is about the same as going 6 times in India. Try it, it’s a nice break from the non-stop travelling if you have been on the road for a while.

Hopefully this list of things to do in Goa will keep you going for a long time! Let us know what you enjoyed or if you have any must do’s you think should be added. Enjoy!

For More Goa Travel Planning Guides:

Check out some of these posts to help you continue planning your trip to India:

Goa Travel Tips

Trip Planning Tips

Logistics

Packing Tips

Pin for later!

The post 75 Unique Things to Do in Goa You Don’t Want to Miss appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Goa Nightlife: the 6 Most Popular Party Places in Goa

Rachel Jones — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 12:00:19 +0000

Goa nightlife is literally notorious for its party scene. However, it’s a very specific type of scene – one that Rachel, being an American, had no idea about since she listened to rap and country for most of her life!

After traveling around India and visiting Goa last, she heard of “Psy,” and wondered, “Is he a DJ?” (True story, lol). But Psy is not a DJ. “Psy Trance” is the music of choice in Goa, where it originated. The parties and raves here are unlike anywhere else. While Rachel shared the most obvious party places in Goa for you to try, we had her friend and fellow Goan expat, Jules, make sure everything was up to date and even add another popular spot!

Keep in mind that even if it’s not your cup of tea, it’s truly something to check out at least once. These parties are 100% part of Goa and Goans, Indians from outside Goa, and foreigners come together at them. It’s not something fake for tourism. In fact, these parties are as real as it gets! The “trance” parties are mostly Anjuna and Vagator but also in Morjim, Ashwem, and Arambol.

Most of these photos are from Rachel’s friend, Katja. She’s the designer behind Dadablui (who Rachel wrote about in this post) and has been partying at these places for decades- thanks, Katja!

Don’t forget to pick up our Insider Guide to Goa and Guide to India ebooks

A Goa Nightlife Guide: Top Nightclubs and Parties in Goa

1. HillTop

HillTop is definitely one of the best party places in Goa. It’s the most well known and also nostalgic. Just check out their Facebook page to see images of the scene and you’ll get how wild it is! Sundays are the night they have their biggest parties starting early at like midday until only 10 pm but some nights like NYE and Christmas Eve go on all night and through to the next day.

You’ll find backpackers, locals, old school Goa hippies who have been coming here for 30 years, and domestic Indian tourists altogether. It’s really not an “exclusive” vibe – people are welcoming and laid back at these things.

If you don’t want to dance there are sometimes ladies with chai on the sides (“chai mamas”) and you can go sit and chill and people-watch.

It does cost to get in! The cost is anywhere from 500 to 2,000 rupees depending on the party. Most of the amazing trance parties here are a little expensive. The DJ’s here are not just some random people, they are internationally known, amazing trance DJ’s and some people travel here just to see their favorites perform.

In January, they have their famous Hilltop Festival which is a 3 day Goan Trance festival with a huge line up of international DJs. This festival sees over 5000 people coming through the door. The stage decor is always amazing, so if Goan Trance is your thing don’t miss this one. It usually sells out and tickets should be bought in advance.

HillTop is up on the big hill in Vagator before you turn to go towards Ozran Beach. It is one of the originals and has been around since 1976!

2. Shiva Valley

Shiva Valley is on Anjuna Beach and is another really epic place for trance music and kind of one of the “original” places in Goa for this. It’s right next to Curlies, and it’s a beach shack like Curlies, but smaller. On Tuesdays, they have their big party which everyone goes to. This starts around 5 pm and there is a cover charge.

3. Curlies

Also on Anjuna Beach, Curlies is the more popular shack of the two side by side shacks (Curlies and Shiva Valley). I think Curlies is said to be the first ever beach shack in Anjuna Beach – but that could be a rumor! It’s been around for decades though.

Curlies is actually a pretty chill place to hang out during the day, too, and the food isn’t bad. We take friends here sometimes. After 5 pm or around sunset it becomes more of a party place though and sometimes goes all through the night. Of all the places on this list, Curlies is actually a place I do go to party sometimes, and it’s great that it’s open in the monsoon.

The party night here in on Thursdays and it’s free to come in. Keep in mind at all bars/clubs in Goa if you are a group of just men, you may be denied entrance. They try to keep the balanced men and women for safety and such.

4. 9 Bar

9 Bar is somewhere I tend to go really late at night after other parties have winded down. It’s a different type of place on Vagator Cliff. It has some outside parties but also this inside space which is a little dungeony since it’s soundproof.

It’s definitely that real “trance” vibe though and a cool place to check out; they get DJ’s here from all over the world. It’s near a lot of hostels and guesthouses, so tourists tend to pop in here for parties. A perk of this place is you get amazing views over the Arabian Sea! Every time I’ve been it was free entry, but there are some big parties where they might be charging a small amount to enter, depending on the DJ.

5. Chronicle

Chronicle is also on Vagator Cliff but down the cliff a little bit. It has levels and has amazing views. Chronicle isn’t really known for trance/psy but has all kinds of electronic music like techno and deep-house. Chronicle is also a restaurant and has a shop inside. I guess you could say it’s a little more upscale party place, and you can get more dressed up here if you want to. It’s actually new since I moved here and opened in 2013. You can check their Facebook page to see when they are having a big party and they do charge an entrance fee on nights like that.

6. Soro – Boshed

Soro, the name of the club, is in a sleepy part of Assagao and is an indoor area that has a pub vibe about it. On different days of the week they have specific nights on. One not to miss is Boshed. Every Tuesday, this techno party has its weekly resident DJs plus special guests. The party goes on until 3am and is always busy. Here you will find a younger crowd and lots of residents of Goa rather than tourists. Perfect for scoping out the true local techno scene. This party goes on throughout the year whereas most of the above will stop for monsoon.

And if HipHop is more your thing, the same Boshed organisers throw a Down n Dirty HipHop night on Thursdays, also at Soro.

So, which of these party places in Goa should you have on your bucket list?

Those were the top places to go for Trance, Psy, Techno parties (you can check their Facebook pages or WUG to see what DJ will be there). This really just scratches the surface though. There are so many more places to have epic parties in Goa like Monkey Valley or new ones popping up in Morjim. This guide is mostly just to show you the most well-known, classic, trance parties in Goa.

It’s definitely not my scene; although I’ve tried these parties a lot, I just don’t love this music. Wish I did! I love how it brings people together and all my friends are into it. But all these years have gone by and I’ve never gotten into it. (I think partly as I’m not much of a partier, in general, these days, so maybe when I was 20 I’d have loved it!).

You also have the commercial scene here in Goa with R&B, hip-hop, and Bollywood. This is mostly in Baga, Calangute, and Candolim at clubs like Sync, LPK, and on Tito’s Lane.

If none of this is your scene and you’re going to be in Goa for some time, you might want to check out my e-book, The Insider’s Guide to Goa, because in each beach/village, I write about nightlife and most include alternative nightlife like live music (which is hard to find here), Reggae, and more chilled out vibes that aren’t as hardcore or crowded as these.

Have you experienced Goa nightlife? Where would you recommend going?

For More Goa Travel Planning Guides:

Check out some of these posts to help you continue planning your trip to India:

Goa Travel Tips

Trip Planning Tips

Logistics

Packing Tips

Pin it for later!

Original Post: Oct 2017; Updated Post: June, 2020

The post Goa Nightlife: the 6 Most Popular Party Places in Goa appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Money in India: How To Get Rupees & Handle Money While Traveling in India

Hippie in Heels — Sun, 24 May 2020 12:00:10 +0000

This is one of the more practical posts Rachel wrote as it something she was often asked about weekly. While she has a more general guide on how to handle money abroad, this one is specifically about money in India and how to handle rupees, the local currency.

With the help of Jules, our local Indian expert, we’ve added a bit of an update for 2020 to help answer all your rupee-related questions. Don’t worry, though, as Rachel originally said, this is a pretty basic post! Even in India, money is quite straightforward.

Still planning your trip? Check out our India ebook, born out of Rachel’s six years living and traveling through the country! It’ll help you plan every aspect of your trip all in one place!

Money in India: All You Need to Know

The 2016 Money Crisis in India

Back when Rachel wrote this post in 2017, India had just experienced a tourism disaster in late 2016 when the government announced they were pulling all 500 and 1,000 notes from circulation. She covered it here and had advice for visiting here. Of course, even back then, the issue had passed and was no longer a problem in India. The main result was that 1,000 notes were no longer valid.

Additionally, because of this money crisis, all over India a lot of places installed card machines. Today, it is a lot easier and acceptable to pay by card. Especially in restaurants, shops, cafes and other establishments. However, remember you will need cash for transport, markets, and other things along the way.

Two Types of Bills

Another point to remember is that after the introduction of the new 2,000, 500, and 200 notes came the newly designed 100, 50, 20 and 10. These are all a different set of colors as seen below and look a lot like monopoly money. Just to make it confusing for visitors, all the old notes, except the 500 Rs, are still in circulation and are valid.

Basically, there are 2 different possible notes for 100, 50, 20 and 10. You will get the hang of it and they are very clearly labelled with the amounts. Just watch out for the purple 100 and grey 500 as they can sometimes easily be confused!

How to Get Rupees BEFORE your trip to India

In order to prevent tax evasion, it’s nearly impossible to TAKE rupees out of the country. The max is 10,000 Rs.

In the USA, you can get rupees at AAA. Rachel’s parents got 50,000 Rs there before their trip to India. You can also order them through some banks but not all and, of course, many have different exchange rates.

In England, you used to be able to get Rupees at Thomas Cook. However, now you will have to call and ask your bank if they can order some in.

Some people will say that you cannot get rupees outside of India, but you can: Rachel has done it both through her small town bank and AAA in the USA.

Other than these countries, I do not have details further, but we would imagine it would be similar in Canada and countries in the EU. Check with your big travel agencies and also your bank as banks do exchange money, too. Don’t be alarmed if the wording is “buying foreign currency” as technically, that is what you are doing.

How to Get Rupees DURING Your Trip in India

In our opinion, there really isn’t any reason to stock up on rupees before you come. Rachel used to only ever keep around 10,000 Rs or less on her at all times in case she lost any or got robbed.

Banks/Cards to Use

The easiest things to do is to just go to the ATM and take out money at the airport. The fees are usually cheaper than exchanging at any of the foreign currency exchange counters. Bonus: If you use Charles Schwab, which is what Rachel used, they’ll reimburse you for any ATM fees and foreign transfer bank charges.

If you are coming from the UK then one of the best cards to have is Monzo. You can get the best exchange rate through here when paying by card and they waive ATM fees. The app that you should download for your phone lets you know exactly how much you have spent in your home currency literally a few seconds after payment or withdrawal. And if you are in a group and you all have a Monzo, it is a great way to keep tab on what everyone is spending and you can easily transfer money between each other.

Can you travel with foreign currency?

Rachel also used to travel with some US dollars in case of an emergency. Bring about $100 in $20s with you to save and put somewhere else hidden away.

It is also very easy to exchange home currency notes to rupees. In most tourist places around India they have money exchange windows where you can usually get a pretty good rate – much better than at any airport. There will be a man with a drawer full of money who will happily exchange your notes. It is better to bring higher denomination notes. For example $5 and £5 are not commonly accepted everywhere.

Of course if you are going off the beaten track, to a hill station, a village or high up in the mountains then money exchange may not always be as common. So stock up when you can in cities.

What is each bill worth and how much should I take out at the ATM?

As of the time of updating this post, May 2020, you can get the following bills/coins in India:

Coins: you can get lots of different coins here, but the largest, 10 Rupees, is worth 13 cents. I often leave any coins as tips when I travel.
5 Rs bill (also a coin) = 7 cents
10 Rs bill = 13 cents
20 Rs bill = 26 cents
50 Rs bill = 65 cents
100 Rs bill = $1.31
200 Rs bill = $2.64
500 Rs bill = $6.59
2000 Rs bill = $26.35

As you can see there is a huge difference between the 500 note and the 2,000 note which is the largest note. This is because recently the 1,000 note was taken out of circulation with no news that it would re-enter.

Because of this, it’s difficult to break 2,000 notes outside of fancy restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels. When you can, try to break this big bill so that you have smaller change. Having smaller change will also make it easier to negotiate when you are shopping.

Max to take out at an ATM

As we said, take out no more than 10,000 Rs rupees at a time which is the maximum amount you can take out at most if not all ATM’s. You could, of course, use the ATM twice in a row and take 20,000 Rs and pay the fee twice. We only recommend this if you have to do something like pay for a week-long hotel in cash. Otherwise, you don’t need to have that much on hand as 10,000 Rs will likely last you around 5-7 days in India. Here is a breakdown of my India backpacking budget so you know how much to expect to spend (I go for $20/day).

If you need a large amount of money, compare the rates from your bank ATM fees and foreign currency transfer fees to the fees of Western Union. Often, it’s cheaper to send yourself money on Western Union which is very simple in India and can be picked up at most travel agent offices.

And there you have it. All you need to know about money in India and how to travel with rupees. Let us know if you have any questions below!

For More India Travel Planning Guides:

Check out some of these posts to help you continue planning your trip to India:

Trip Planning Tips

Logistics

Packing Tips

Itinerary Tips

Pin for later!

The post Money in India: How To Get Rupees & Handle Money While Traveling in India appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Corona Diaries – Lockdown in Goa

Jules Nazareth — Sat, 23 May 2020 16:00:09 +0000

As the world closes down and takes a break due to Covid-19 we are faced with a new way of doing things. Masks on, distance kept between everyone, closures and a real emptiness. As you may all imagine, keeping distance, peace and quiet doesn’t really come to mind when thinking about India. Below are some images of what I am seeing in Goa and how we are handling the situation.

Here is the line for the supermarket Newton’s on the first day of opening after 3 days of full closure on all shops in Goa. Crazy!

When shops were finally allowed to open, the rules were clearly stated. No mask, no entry!

The tips on preventing the spread of Covid-19 are put up on main roads. This is Panjim

Everyone in Goa has to wear a mask when out on the streets. A sari is a perfect makeshift mask

Ferries to Divar Island are usually full with cars and scooters but here we have lots of room and motorists with masks

The Lady of Immaculate Conception in Panjim – A million rupee shot, usually impossible to get a picture of the church without people or someone taking a cheeky selfie

Fruit shopping with masks and an impossibly empty road. Other than at 4am, you can usually never find a road without traffic

The lockdown has meant a lot of dogs are starving due to there being no scraps from shacks, food carts or anyone walking the streets

The new attire necessary for any beach walk – Calangute Beach

Delfino’s, one of the main supermarkets in North Goa has implemented a socially distanced queuing system

An impossibly clean and empty Calangute Beach. This is the main staircase of Calangute that is usually filled with at least 1000 tourists!

The new norm for vegetable shopping

Street Sweepers in Goa

Middle seats blocked off in Manipal Hospital to help enforce social distancing

Southern Calangute Beach resembling paradise with no beach shacks, no people, no watersports and no rubbish. Notice the clear horizon line due to the reduction in pollution

Mango roadside shopping with masks and distance kept

The usually buzzing Mapusa Market is completely empty with all stalls banned. This is the street normally full of fruit stalls

‘No Mask No Liquor’ is a common notice seen around Goa now. As well as lots of ‘No Mask No Entry’ for shops

Hope the images helped give you a little insight into lockdown in Goa and maybe you even recognised some of the places you have visited. We can only hope things will slowly open up and go back to normal soon. Goa is missing its people and its tourism.

The post Corona Diaries – Lockdown in Goa appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Everything You Need to Know About Uber in India

Hippie in Heels — Sat, 23 May 2020 12:00:14 +0000

To answer your first question, yes there is Uber in India. However, even nowadays, it is still not available everywhere and there are a few slight differences you may want to know about. With the help of Jules, our local India expert, we’ll try to help you with these changes as well as give you some tips for using the app!

When Rachel first came to India in 2012, Uber didn’t even exist in India yet! Back then, you got to the airport upon arrival and could either take a government prepaid taxi or arrange with your hotel to pick you up. Both options were, of course, better than trying to fight for a taxi right outside. Even then, she realized those prepaid taxis were rip offs and only used MERU cabs or taxi that used its meter. Then she’d just follow the car with her maps app to make sure the driver wasn’t going in circles.

Of course, nowadays Uber is well and alive in India, so here’s our best advice so you can feel safe while using it!

Want more tips for traveling India? Buy our India Guidebook and even if you ONLY read that, you’ll be 1000% prepared for your trip. It’s 6 years of India travel experience all wrapped up in an organized easy to read manner.

When to Use Uber in India

A Note on the Safety of Uber vs. Other Taxi Options

Honestly, there is no difference between using Uber, a MERU cab, government prepaid taxi, or jumping in a random cab. The background checks are not always done as they should be and although Uber should be more trustworthy, events have proved this false when a woman was raped by her driver in Delhi.

Delhi later banned Uber for not doing thorough checks. (Not that banning is a huge deal, as in India it’s a joke about what the next ban will be: beef, porn, bikinis in Goa, PDA, being gay, mannequins in lingerie, advertising alcohol (brands have some funny ways getting around this), and the movie 50 Shades of Grey to name a few).

Uber says they have made things more secure, so perhaps it would be a safer option, but really it’s just down to chance on these things, isn’t it?

Rachel would use Uber not just because of safety, but because the app was easier than waiting in line at the taxi stand and she’d sometimes forget to have cash.

Why Uber is Still the Better Option

When you choose a journey on Uber the price is set. There is no need to barter or do that thing where you walk away as the price is too high and then go crawling back because you actually need to take the taxi. You are given the final price before you commit to the journey and there is no need for negotiation which saves a lot of stress as you are of course unlikely to know what the price should be in foreign countries.

You will also see the reason why places like Goa protest against having Uber is because the prices given on Uber undercut the extortionate taxi drivers by a long way. Uber gives you what the real price should be and for us travelers, this is a godsend.

Additionally, with the use of the app it is an easy way to keep account of what you are spending on journeys which can be a great help for those budgeting in India and also for those traveling in groups needing to know who spent what.

Tips For Using Uber in India

1. Install Uber before you arrive

When Rachel first downloaded Uber, she did so in the US. When she later deleted and reinstalled the app, she discovered that she had issues logging in and since she had a new SIM number, she couldn’t verify her account. To be on the safe side, just download it at home first.

2. You can pay in cash

One other thing to note is that you can choose to pay with cash. This is easy enough. You just go to your settings and choose cash or card. You can use an international card, no problem. But if you prefer cash it’s an option. When Uber first came to India, it was card-only as it is in most countries. They waited a long time before realizing they were cutting off the majority of their market. India was the first place you could pay cash for an Uber, trialed in Hyderabad in 2015.

3. How to tip with Uber

Technically with Uber, the tip is meant to be included in the price, so if you pay via card, don’t worry about it. If you’re paying in cash, it’s typical not to tip drivers for short distances. However, what you want to do instead is just round up and let them keep the change.

4. Uber pickups may be in a different area

In the USA, you might find that there is an Uber pickup area at airports clearly documented with signs. You can now find these specific areas in certain bigger airports in India such as Mumbai and Delhi.

5. You need a working SIM to use

You NEED to have a working Indian SIM card so that you can talk to the driver and see where to go. It is very likely the Uber driver is going to phone you to confirm the journey before they come to the meeting point. Language barriers do happen. English is widely spoken in India, but some drivers will not speak it. You might have to ask someone to take the phone from you and translate to save time.

6. You can use it to for rickhsaws too

Uber now has UberAUTO which will use rickshaws instead of cars if you want that experience!

7. Make sure to check the license plate

When you get to the car, verify the license plate and ask the driver to show you the trip on his phone. You never know what scams people could pull, so better to just make sure you’ve got the real Uber driver.

With Uber, there should be a photo of the guy and a license plate and car make. While in Bali, Rachel noticed it was always some other guy driving the car and she didn’t mind. In India, however, do not get in the car unless it is the same guy.

Issues you might have with Uber in India

Cancellations

You will get drivers who cancel on you. It sucks and happens here way more than any other country I’ve been. Many drivers also work for OLA (the Indian version of Uber) and they will cancel if something better comes up.

You may not be able to use Google Maps to track

Another issue is that as you get out of cities, Google Maps isn’t as good and you might find that the hotel isn’t even on the map where it’s meant to be. The good news is this would happen with a regular taxi too, lol, so who cares! #ThisIsIndia

Don’t tell anyone you’re using Uber

As we said above, there are places Uber is not active because the local taxi guys will not allow it. But, there are places Uber is active and the local taxi guys are NOT happy about it. Sometimes, there are fights/violence. When you take an Uber, don’t announce it. Don’t tell the hotel it’s Uber or anyone else. They are unmarked cars, so just act like it’s a friend or a driver you have on call.

One place I’ve heard the violence happens more than occasionally is in Trivandrum, although I have not encountered this. Staying quiet will keep you and your Uber driver out of any trouble from disgruntled locals. Again, I have used Uber all over India and never had a single issue, but it does happen.

Where Uber Works in India

Uber has now been introduced into 40 cities in India. I have listed them below so you can see them all clearly.

Agra
Ahmedabad
Ajmer
Amritsar
Asansol
Aurangabad
Bangalore
Bareilly
Bhopal
Bhubaneswar
Chandigarh
Chennai
Coimbatore
Dehradun
Dhanbad
Durgapur
Guwahati
Hubli
Hyderabad
Indore
Jaipur
Jamshedpur
Jodhpur
Kanpur
Kochi
Kolkata
Kollam
Kottayam
Lucknow
Ludhiana
Mangalore
Mumbai
Mysore
Nagpur
Nashik
New Delhi
Puducherry
Patna
Pune
Raipur
Rajkot
Ranchi
Surat
Thiruvananthapuram
Tirupati
Udaipur
Vadodara
Varanasi
Vijaywada
Visakhapatnam

Uber in Goa

While Uber exists in Goa, it’s not as active and the chances of it being active are next to none. Similar to Canggu in Bali, taxi drivers would never allow Uber in their towns. There has even been a recent introduction of another app, Goa Miles, but this is not as reliable as you would hope due to the backlash from current taxi drivers.

Rachel wrote more about transportation in Goa in her ebook if you want to know more on what to expect. When she lived in Goa, she drove around in the above beautiful little thing that was once banned itself because of the easy-to-kidnap-people-doors.

So, that is pretty much all there is to know about Uber in India! You can click here to download the free app and choose Andriod or IOS. Enjoy Ubering around India. It definitely makes life easier here!

For More India Travel Planning Guides:

Check out some of these posts to help you continue planning your trip to India:

Trip Planning Tips

Logistics

Packing Tips

Itinerary Tips

Pin for later!

Original: October 2017; Update: May 2020

The post Everything You Need to Know About Uber in India appeared first on Hippie In Heels.