Butterfly Beach from above, a secluded crescent in South Goa

Goa · 8 Days

Goa — North to South

The whole coast in eight days — north beaches, Old Goa, Panaji, the south and Palolem.

Day by Day

8 Days, In Full

Goa from top to bottom. Two nights at Candolim, one in Panaji, three on the South Goa coast and one at Palolem. Fort Aguada, the UNESCO churches of Old Goa, Dudhsagar Falls and Cabo de Rama. Each stop changes the mood, from lively to serene.

Candolim

Arrive in Candolim

Goa has two airports. Dabolim sits in the south, and Manohar International at Mopa serves the north. Your driver meets you and takes you to Candolim. The resorts here sit on a quieter stretch of the North Goa coast, beside Sinquerim and the old fort. The afternoon is yours. Walk the beach, take the spa, or do nothing. At sunset the light lies long across the sand. Dinner is at a beach shack or in the resort.

Candolim

Fort Aguada and the North Goa Coast

A relaxed day on the coast close to your hotel. Fort Aguada is a short drive away. The Portuguese built it in 1612 to guard the mouth of the Mandovi. Walk the laterite ramparts, see the 1864 lighthouse, and take in the view across the Arabian Sea. Next comes Baga Beach, the best-known stretch of sand in North Goa. Lunch is at a beach shack, with the catch of the day grilled or in a curry. The rest of the day is free for the beach or the pool.

Whitewashed church facade with clock tower in Old Goa (Velha Goa)

Candolim → Panaji

Reis Magos, Old Goa and Panaji

This is the day for heritage. You start at Reis Magos Fort on the Mandovi, built in 1551, then drive on to Old Goa. It was the capital of Portuguese India, and its churches are UNESCO-listed. The Basilica of Bom Jesus holds the remains of St Francis Xavier. Se Cathedral is among the largest churches in Asia, and the church of St Francis of Assisi is quieter and gentler. In the late afternoon you reach Panaji. The evening is for the waterfront and the lit church on the town square.

Country road lined with tall coconut palms in the Goan countryside

Panaji → Benaulim

Panaji to South Goa

A slower morning, then the road south. The drive to the Salcete coast takes about an hour. You pass paddy fields, small chapels and village crosses, and there is time to stop along the way. The South Goa coast is a different mood from the north. Beaches are long and quiet, and the resorts sit right on the sand. Check in, then walk the shore at sunset.

Fishing boat parked on Colva Beach, South Goa

Benaulim

A Day on the South Goa Beaches

A free day for the coast. Benaulim, Colva and Varca run together in one long line of sand, with palms behind and fishing boats at the shoreline. The water is calm in the dry season. You can swim, kayak, take a spa treatment, or walk into the village for a chapel and a small market. Your guide can arrange a private sunset boat if you wish.

Benaulim

Dudhsagar Falls

An early start for one of India's tallest waterfalls. Dudhsagar drops about 310 metres in four tiers on the Goa–Karnataka border. The drive to Collem takes about two hours. Open jeeps carry small groups through the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, crossing shallow streams on the way. You can swim at the base where it is permitted. Jeeps do not run during the monsoon, so we confirm access before we book. You are back at the hotel by mid-afternoon.

Palm-fringed beach at Cabo de Rama, South Goa

Benaulim → Palolem

South to Palolem via Cabo de Rama

Drive south to the far end of Goa, about an hour and a half. On the way, stop at Cabo de Rama Fort. It stands on a cliff above the sea. Legend says Rama and Sita lived here during their exile, and the Portuguese took it in 1763. The bastions and the old rock moat still stand. You arrive in Palolem by afternoon. Its crescent bay is sheltered and calm, ringed by palms.

Palolem

Depart from Palolem

A last swim or a short walk on the sand. Palolem is the quietest end of Goa. Dabolim airport is about an hour and a quarter away by road. Your driver leaves in good time for your flight.

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