Goa Beach & Culture Escape
Six days along India's most laid-back coastline — the beaches and markets of North Goa, the quieter shores of the south, and the whitewashed churches left behind by 450 years of Portuguese rule — with your transfers, hotel and sightseeing handled from arrival to departure.
Two coastlines, one relaxed pace
Goa is India at its most unhurried — a small state on the Arabian Sea shaped as much by 450 years of Portuguese rule as by its beaches. This six-day escape splits its time between North Goa's lively coastline, with its beach shacks, markets and nightlife, and the quieter, palm-fringed shores of the south, before finishing with a look at the whitewashed churches and colonial streets that make Goa unlike anywhere else in India.
You'll spend days on Calangute and Baga, Goa's best-known beaches, browse the famous Wednesday flea market at Anjuna, walk the ramparts of a 17th-century Portuguese fort, and step inside the Basilica of Bom Jesus — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited churches in India. In between, there's simply time to slow down: a hammock, a beach shack lunch, the Arabian Sea at your feet.
Airport transfers, centrally located accommodation, daily breakfast and guided sightseeing are arranged for you. Prefer more beach time and less sightseeing, a boutique South Goa stay, or a fully private version? Every element here can be tailored — this itinerary is the starting point, not the ceiling.
What you'll actually see
The beaches of North Goa
Calangute — Goa's largest beach, known as the "Queen of Beaches" — and neighbouring Baga, lined with shacks, water sports and Goa's liveliest sunsets.
Portuguese heritage & the Basilica of Bom Jesus
A UNESCO World Heritage Site built in 1605, holding the remains of St. Francis Xavier and left deliberately unplastered outside — one of the most visited churches in India.
Fort Aguada & the coastline
A 17th-century Portuguese fort built in 1612 to guard against the Dutch, its lighthouse — one of Asia's oldest — still looking out over Sinquerim Beach and the Arabian Sea.
Markets, food & South Goa's quiet beaches
The Anjuna flea market, Goan seafood — fish curry rice and prawn balchão — and the crescent-shaped calm of Palolem in the south, a different pace entirely from the north.
Your 6-day itinerary
North for energy, south for quiet, Old Goa for history in between — with breakfast daily and all listed transfers included.
You're met on arrival and transferred to your North Goa hotel. Settle in, then ease into island time with an evening on Calangute or Baga — a beach shack dinner and your first Goan sunset over the Arabian Sea.
A full day on North Goa's best-known beaches — Calangute, the largest in Goa, and Baga next door. Sun loungers, optional water sports, and a beachfront lunch of fresh Goan seafood are the order of the day.
A morning at Fort Aguada, the 17th-century Portuguese fort and lighthouse overlooking Sinquerim Beach, followed by an afternoon at the famous Anjuna flea market — handicrafts, textiles, jewellery and street food, in business since the 1960s.
A guided walk through Old Goa, the former capital of Portuguese India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The centrepiece is the Basilica of Bom Jesus, resting place of St. Francis Xavier, alongside the Sé Cathedral and the whitewashed churches of a 400-year colonial capital.
A transfer south to Palolem, a crescent-shaped, largely unspoiled bay far calmer than the north. The rest of the day is free — swim, walk the sand from end to end, or simply do nothing at all.
Enjoy a final breakfast and, depending on your flight, a little free time before transferring to the airport for your onward journey. Prefer to extend with a few more days by the water, or add on another region of India? We can build that in.
Indicative itinerary. The exact order of activities, sightseeing and transfer times is confirmed at the time of booking and may adapt to flight schedules, opening hours and local conditions. The Anjuna flea market runs on Wednesdays only (in season) — Day 3 assumes the itinerary falls on a Wednesday; this is confirmed against your actual travel dates before booking.
What's included — and what's not
Clear from the start, so there are no surprises when you travel.
Included
- Accommodation for 5 nights
- Daily breakfast
- Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- Intercity transfers where applicable
- Sightseeing as listed in the itinerary
- Selected entrance fees
- Local assistance throughout
Not included
- International flights (unless stated)
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Meals not stated in the itinerary
- Optional activities & hotel upgrades
- Tips & gratuities
Before you go
Best time to visit
November to February is Goa's peak season — dry, warm and comfortable, with a festive atmosphere around Christmas and New Year. The monsoon (roughly June to September) brings heavy rain and rougher seas; many beach shacks close for the season.
Currency
The Indian Rupee (INR / ₹). Cards are widely accepted in hotels and larger restaurants; carry cash for beach shacks, markets and smaller vendors.
North vs. South Goa
North Goa (Calangute, Baga, Anjuna) is livelier — shacks, nightlife and water sports. South Goa (Palolem, Agonda, Colva) is quieter and more spread out. This itinerary gives you a taste of both.
Dress code
Beachwear is fine on the sand, but modest, shoulders-and-knees-covered clothing is expected at churches, temples and the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
Food to try
Goan cuisine blends Indian and Portuguese influences — fish curry rice, prawn balchão, pork vindaloo and sorpotel are all worth seeking out, best eaten at a beach shack with your feet in the sand.
Visas & documents
Most nationalities need a visa or e-Visa to enter India — this is not a visa-free destination for most travellers. Requirements and processing times vary by passport, so please apply well ahead of travel; we're happy to point you to the right official source.
Goa, from beach to basilica
Good to have answered
Is the US$699 price per person? What does it cover?
Yes — that's a starting price, per person, for the 6-day itinerary based on twin-share accommodation. It covers your hotel, daily breakfast, airport and listed transfers, the sightseeing in the itinerary, selected entrance fees and local assistance. The final figure depends on your travel dates, hotel choice, group size and whether you'd like it private, so we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.
Do I need a visa for India?
Most nationalities do — India isn't a visa-free destination for the majority of travellers, so please check the requirements and processing time for your passport well before you book flights. We're glad to point you to the right official source.
Are international flights included?
No — international flights aren't included unless we've specifically stated so in your quote. We can advise on convenient arrival times into Goa and arrange your airport transfers to match your flights.
Will we actually catch the Anjuna flea market?
The market runs on Wednesdays during the season, so it's only included if Day 3 of your itinerary lands on a Wednesday — we confirm this against your actual travel dates when planning your trip. If it doesn't line up, we'll swap in an equally good market or sightseeing alternative.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Absolutely — this is a template, not a fixed package. Spend more time in the south, upgrade to a boutique beach resort, run it fully private, or extend the stay. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll shape the trip around it.
Is it suitable for families and first-time visitors?
Very. Goa is one of the most relaxed introductions to India — English is widely spoken, the pace is easy, and the beaches, markets and heritage sites suit couples, families and friends alike. Transfers and sightseeing are handled for you throughout.
How do I book or get a quote?
Send us an enquiry with your rough dates and traveller numbers and we'll come back with a tailored quote and next steps. There's no obligation, and no payment needed to get a proposal.
Let's plan your Goa escape
Tell us your dates and who's travelling. We'll send back a tailored itinerary and a clear, all-in quote — with the flexibility to make it exactly the trip you want.