Goa sightseeing

1. HOTEL -- PANAJI CITY -- OLD GOA -- MIRAMAR BEACH -- FISHING VILLAGE DONA PAULA -- HOTEL.

OLD GOA: The city of Old Goa has the most important Cathedrals and Churches in Goa, namely the Se-Cathedral, Church of St. Francis Xavier, St.Catherines Church, Arch of Vice Roy of Goa. Etc PANAJI CITY: The tour takes you around the capital city of Panaji, showing the local fruit and vegetable market, also a walk through the traditional fish vendors market. Then visit to the largest church in Panaji - Church of Mary Immaculate Conception, close by is the Jama Mosque and then a short drive to the Mahalaxhmi temple, then visit to the handicraft emporium & state museum MIRAMAR BEACH & FISHING VILLAGE - DONA PAULA: This is the only beach close to any city and has a good view of the river Mandovi flowing into the sea. Fishing Village Dona Paula is a small village at the tip of Panaji, the place has a very good view point and a monument at the same place.

2. Hotel -- MANGUESHI -- MAHALSA -- SHANTA DURGA -- RAMNATHI ----- NAGUESH -- MAHALAXHMI -- NARASHIMA TEMPLES -- HOTEL

All the above temples are in close vicinity and are very unique in architecture and the general location. They offer a good insight of the original heritage of the Goan culture and way of life in the local villages- stop overs are made at many interesting places in the local villages showing the village life.

3. HOTEL -- ANCESTRAL GOA -- RAIA -- RACHOL SEMINARY -- MARGAO CITY -- COLVA BEACH -- HOTEL

ANCESTRAL GOA: This is a large area developed into a mock-up of a local Goan Village. Complete with people (mannequins) cooking etc, the huts and the houses in vicinity are quite good remnants of the bygone era of the Portuguese Regime in Goa.

RAIA / RACHOL SEMINARY : This a secluded Church in the South Goa, it has a lager complex dedicated to the seminary which is an institute for people aspiring to become Priests. It also has a good museum adjoining the Church. MARGAO CITY: This is the commercial capital of Goa, having a good local market- curios, momentos, souvenirs etc.

COLVA BEACH: This is the golden beach of Goa and stretching to over 50 kms it is the largest beach in Goa.

4. HOTEL -- SPICE PLANTATIONS -- PANAJI -- HOTEL

SPICE PLANTATIONS: This is a very vast area where different varieties of herbs, spices and trees are grown, and in the middle of the plantations there is an area where specimens of various exotic spices are cultivated and hybrids developed together, The tour takes people for an informative walk in the plantation where they get to interact and actually see the traditional methods & process of cultivating, harvesting & plant breeding. Guests are explained about the various medicinal qualities, local uses and home applications of the herbs and spices, the base theme of the tour is how our everyday lives are influenced by the these aspects of nature This is a very interesting and adventurous trip since the clients also get to see elephants in the plantation, they can ride the elephants and also give the elephant a bath... this is especially exciting for the tourists. There are some local villagers too staying in the same compound, there are also the local breweries of the very famous Goan Drink FENNY, people can actually see the drink being distilled in the old traditional method of Goans. Lunch is included in the tour, it comprises 2/3 vegetarian dishes along with fish, chicken, meat, and a Prawns and a local dessert fruits, cold beverages etc, followed by a small cultural program, songs / dances etc. all presented by the village boys and girls in their traditional style.

5. HOTEL -- MOLLEM -- DUDH SAGAR WATER FALLS -- HOTEL

MOLLEM: This is wild life sanctuary and the place falls enroute to the Dudh Sagar Water Falls, please note that to get to the falls the pax have to change transport to the Forest Dept Jeeps since the road leading to the falls has two rivers which can be crossed only by these Jeeps, they have an additional charge of Rs.400 per pax.

6. HOTEL -- CHAPORA FORT -- VAGATOR BEACH -- ANJUNA BEACH -- BAGA / CALANGUTE BEACH -- AGUADA FORT -- LIGHT HOUSE -- HOTEL.

CHAPORA FORT / VAGATOR BEACH: This an ancient for in the North Goa, over looking the Sea, & Vagator beach. ANJUNA BEACH : This is the rocky beach of Goa. But has excellent views and safe waters. Throughout the season the famous FLEA MARKET is organised on this beach ever Wednesday. BAGA/CALANGUTE BEACHES: Famous beaches of Goa. AGUADA FORT: This fort has the old Portuguese Prison Cell and the fort . LIGHT HOUSE:The old light house and also the new one which is still functional and guides the barges and ships in the surrounding Seas of Goa.

7. HOTEL -- MENEZES BRAGANZA HOUSE -- COLVA -- HOTEL

MENEZES BRAGANZA HOUSE : This is an old Portuguese mansion in South Goa- village of Chandor. The house offers an insight to the bygone era of the Portuguese regime in Goa, the artifacts, the decorative monuments and the object d’art are very interesting and of good touristic interest, the owners of the house can also organise for evening tea - high tea and light snacks/ with refreshments. Followed by a drive to the close by beach of Colva, and witness the pristine sunset.

8. HOTEL -- VASCO DA GAMA -- MARMAGOA HARBOUR -- BOGMALO BEACH -- HOTEL

Drive to the old city of Vasco Da Gama, which still has the old look of the Portuguese era, while being modern at the same time, enroute to the Harbour visit the "Vasco fruit & flower" market, Marmagoa Harbour The only and largest natural Harbour of Goa, drive to the lovely Japanese Gardens and view the harbour and all its activities. Drive to the Bogmalo Beach and stop over for some light snacks on one of the beach shacks, while watching the sunset & drive back to the hotel.

9. HOTEL -- ANJUNA FLEA MARKET -- MAPUCA CITY -- HOTEL  (Market is organised only on Wednesday, thus the tour can be done only once a week)

Morning drive to the famous Anjuna Flea Market, -- this is a local market organised on the beach of Anjuna, by the Gypsies from the local rural areas & from Karnataka, and by the foreigners who sell their own used / new goods at low rates. The market was initially started in the 70's / 80's by the visiting Hippies who in need for money sold their items like watches, shoes etc. to the locals and other tourists. The same trend has still stuck on.

10. HOTEL -- THEREKOL FORT -- HARMAL BEACH -- MORJIM BEACH -- MAPUCA CITY -- HOTEL

THEREKOL FORT : This is an ancient Fort at the tip of Goa, part of the fort has now been converted into a hotel, the location is excellent with the fort overlooking the vast sea expanse, and on one side the sand the other the rock the whole place is very good. HARMAL BEACH / MORJIM BEACH: These are the less visited beaches thus are the cleanest and the best in Goa, the sands are absolutely white and clear sea water makes these beaches ideal for a visit, besides this the waters have a very slow decent thus making it quite safe for swimming and bathing.

11. Htl -- BONDLA WILD LIFE SANCTUARY -- TAMBDI SURLA TEMPLE -- Htl

BONDLA SANCTUARY: This is a very good wild life sanctuary with a variety of flora and fauna. TAMBDI SURLA TEMPLE: This is the oldest temple of Goa, the only temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Goa. It is situated in the middle of the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, and has very good location with a large stream flowing alongside and a foliage of greenery around the place gives a very mystical look.

12. HOTEL -- AMBOLI HILLS -- HOTEL

AMBOLI HILLS these are hills in the extreme end of Goa close to the Goa/Maharashtra border, they have very good location. The Mahadevgar View Point is famous for its panoramic scenery. Close by are the Hirnakishi Cave the birthplace of the River, it has a small but very ancient Shiva Temple and a very old Meditation Cave of ascetics, these are worth visiting.

13. HOTEL -- OLD PORTUGUESE HOUSE IN “RIBANDER”Bothello House -- CASHEW FACTORY -- BOAT CRUISE (optional) -- HOTEL

RIBANDER HOUSE :This is a similar kind of a house as Menezes Braganza House but closer to Panaji city. CASHEW FACTORY: The cashew factory is the place where the local cashews are processed and packed for export etc, the whole process right from breaking of the fruit, roasting/steaming of the nut, extracting the kernel etc is elaborately described and shown by the local women/villagers.

14. HOTEL -- SANTA MONICA BOAT CRUISE -- HOTEL

This a boat cruise organised on the Mandovi River, which takes you out from the River mouth of Mandovi into the costal waters of the Arabian Sea, showing the unique places around Panaji and Light house. The attraction is that the boats have a cultural program with songs, live band traditional Folk Dances, Portuguese Dances etc on board performed by young boys and girls from Goa. The evening cruise is the best since it offers the "SUNSET VIEW" and quite often DOLPHINS chase the boat making it all the more livelier and fun.

15. HOTEL -- PALOLEM BEACH -- ISLAND TRIP -- HOTEL

This is a very clean beautiful beach in the Southern most tip of Goa, there is also a fishing village close by, visit to the place gives an opportunity to see how the locals pull in the fish while singing their folk songs etc, there are also the wooden handicraftsmen in the village who make toys, momentos etc of wood and send to various places, it is an interesting place to visit.

16. HOTEL -- MAPUCA CITY -- MAYEM LAKE -- POTTERS VILLAGE (BICHOLIM) -- MINES -- HOTEL

MAPUCA : Visit to the city where every Friday a local market is held, it has a nice Goan ambience. MAYEM LAKE: It is an excellent lake with boating facilities etc. POTTERS VILLAGE (BICHOLIM): This is an old village where only the potters stay, the Terracotta Industry is very famous here, the basic life style of this sect of people is exhibited with a visit to the various Cottage Industry plants and also the school for training of the locals in the art of pottery. MINES:The local mines of Iron Ore and Manganese are unique sites to visit .

17. CROCODILE DUNDEE  HOTEL -- CORTALIM JETTY (BY BOAT) CUMBAJUEM ISLAND -- CORTALIOM JETTY -- HOTEL

The boat ride offers the chance to see the wild crocodiles, on the island pax can see the largest island farm in Goa, with various recreational activities like songs/dances by the locals. Enroute the boat cruise to the island pax can have unlimited drinks/ beers/soft drinks and snacks (Organized by the boat men, cost indicated includes the above).

18. DOLPHIN CHASE & BIRD WATCHING HOTEL -- PANAJI JETTY -- CHORAO BIRD SANCTUARY -- DIVAR ISLAND -- BOAT CRUISE ALONG THE MANDOVI RIVER -- PANAJI JETTY -- HOTEL

CHORAO WILD LIFE SANCTUARY : This is the only bird sanctuary of Goa and is very rich with all kinds of local as well as migratory birds nesting in the sanctuary, axcess to the sanctuary is by boat cruise, a visit to the Divar island can also be organised, while the boat cruise “To and Fro” to the sanctuary, Dolphins can be seen, hence the name Dolphin Chase.

19. HOTEL -- DONA PAULA JETTY -- PEQUINO ISLAND - Off Bogmalo Beach in Vasco -- DONA PAULA JETTY.

Boats usually start from the Dona Paula Jetty for the island where all kinds of water sports can be organised, snorkeling, scuba diving etc. The local divers also catch the famous Rock Fish, they also get Lobsters but do not promise the same, since they are difficult to find. Other recreational activities are also organised on the beach itself.

20. HOTEL -- DINNER WITH GOAN FAMILY -- HOTEL

Visit a Typical Goan Family and enjoy a sumptuous meal cooked in the very special Luso_Goan style having all the savory comestibles of the authentic Goan Cuisine in the pleasant company of the family folk.

PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE SUPPLEMENTAL COSTS FOT THE FOLLOWING TOURS (i.e. COST IN ADDDITION TO THE TRANSPORT, CHARGED BY OPERATORS, ENTERANCE FEE ETC)

TOUR # 3. ANCESTRAL GOA: ENTERANCE FEE: RS.50 PER PAX.

TOUR # 4. VISIT TO SPICE PLANTATIONS = Rs.450.00 Per Pax (RATES WILL INCLUDE THE BUFFET LUNCH, LOCAL CULTURAL PROG, GUIDE FOR THE SPICE PLANTATION TRIP

TOUR # 5. DUDHSAGAR WATER FALLS : FOREST DEPT. HAS EXCLUSIVE JEEPS FOR ENTRY INTO THE SANCTUARY- CHARGES @ Rs.350/- PER PAX.

TOUR # 7. VISIT TO MENEZES BRAGANZA HOUSE = Rs.375.00 Per Pax (RATES INCLUDE THE TOUR OF THE HOUSE, TEA, SNACKS, CASHEWS, GOAN STRAW HAT. -- All organized by Mrs.Menezes Braganza - house owner.)

TOUR # 13. VISIT TO THE OLD HOUSE IN RIBANDER = Rs.250.00 (RATES INCLUDE THE TOUR OF THE OLD HOUSE AND THE CASHEW FACTORY)

TOUR # 14. SANTA MONICA BOAT CRUISE = Rs.160 PER PAX - Rates are of Goa Tourism

TOUR # 17. CROCODILE DUNDEE = Rs. 800.00 PER PAX for the Boat ride and island trip. RATES INCLUDE UNLIMITED DRINKS/ BEERS /SNACKS ON BOAT RIDE TO THE ISLAND / BUFFET LUNCH ON ISLAND.

TOUR # 18. DOLPHIN CHASE / BIRD WATCHING = Rs.450.00 (RATES INCL WELCOME DRINK ON BOARD THE BOAT, LIGHT SNACKS)

TOUR # 19. Applicable as per requirement, since the rates for scuba diving etc have not been finalised by the diving company.

TOUR # 20. Dinner with a Goan Family, having authentic Goan Cuisine.. Rs. 500.00 per person. Dinner will include sea food, specialty Goan dishes with Unlimited drinks & Alcoholic beverages