One week itinerary of Goa

Here's how to enjoy your 7 day vacation in Goa like never before

You must have read my other posts on short stays (for as less as one day to as much as 4 days), and based on the feedback, I suppose most of you have liked my idea of the most unique schedule - apart from the mundane plans of lying on the beach as told by others.

So yeah, if you haven't read them yet, click on the link below to jump to those ideas. They will open in a new tab, for you to go through those crazy ideas later. Click here now!

 It amuses me when I come across travel plans of Goa given by Non-goans/ foreigners. It's like you asking about KFC recipe from the McDonalds. P.s. I came across this metaphor because I was munching on the kfc fried chicken while writing this down. 

If you're tired of the cliche beach visits, then guess what? You're on the same boat as me. Having been raised in Goa, we prefer the fresh waters over the ocean as an adventure because of the abundance of it.

You wouldn't find any goan on a beach lying in the sun for a tan. That's just not us! You will only find a local on the beach for football, work (fishing or water sports). 

When you get the privilege of 7 days holiday

• Day 1

1. Any beach you have on your wish-list. Basically make it a day to recuperate from your travelling and jet lag. A lazy day at the beach is just what you would need. 
2. Trying out the thali/ fish / booze from the local shacks and restaurants. Let's get this straight: the kind of semblance you will find in the local shacks will be much more closer to the authentic goan cuisine than the top restaurants and resorts. This is simply because the sous chef in the latter are usually foreigners. We goans have our favorite local shacks. We don't fancy the fine-dine much. 
3. Back to a new beach. Let these one day be your beach day to enjoy the remaining 6 days.

• Day 2

1. Make this day more of a fun-filled adrenaline rush day. Start off your daily early with a trip to the waterfalls, springs or sports. Goa is blessed with some of the finest perennial waterfalls that are mesmerising to watch and swim in. They bring to you cold gushing fresh water which brightens up your skin and takes care of your irritations because of its medicinal properties. Check out my post on waterfalls for more information.
2. You will spend almost 4-5 hours trekking and swimming, let alone travelling via road. So, based on your routine, you will have to either call it a day or fancy stargazing on the beach. What a way to rest after such an amazing day. 
3. Check out the heritage sites in Old Goa, the capital city of Goa during the Portuguese times. This region has some rich history, with tunnels from beneath the churches, and tombstones in church flooring to the 500 year old body of the patron saint of Goa, St. Francis Xavier in his silver casket. Hire a guide and you will be thrilled by the story behind the building of every church and chapel in that area. If you're done with that, you can visit the tambdi surla temple which is again centuries old. 

• Day 3

1. Visit the fort Aguada and enjoy the picturesque view of the sea. Check out the neighbouring areas like Candolim. Also check out other forts in the heart of the Panaji city such as Reis Magos. One thing that i like the most about these 2 forts is that they are so well maintained and come with such fantastic views.
2. Time runs fast, I know. Most of it goes only in travelling. Thats why it's time now to loosen up a bit. Head to the notorious Tito lane to groove inside some of the best pubs and discotheques in the state, notably Tito's, Mambo's, etc. Groove till you feel like your heart's thumping but dont go overboard with your drinks. It can get pretty messy at night. 

• Day 4

1. Hangover? Haha! You'll probably get up in the afternoon and feel your body weary. Just get it hydrated from the finest lime juice and faloda makers in the city. Take this day easy. You still got 3 more days. You can do sports such as kayaking, fishing, gokarting, crocodile spotting, or dolphin trips to keep the tempo high. 
2. Check out some of the famous monte hill, preferably the creepy Cansaulim Monte. It comes in the list of the haunted places in Goa for the right reasons. If you happen to visit the place, you'll realise there are no street lights. Legend has it that the lights would simply blow off at night. You are expected to be down the hill by 7p.m. 

• Day 5

1. Lets head south, shall we? Take your bags and luggage and say bye bye to the North, for now! The reason i choose south during the end days is because it helps you save time to catch your flight/ train/ bus. There is comparatively less traffic and more convenient to head to the airport or the Margao railway station from south. Go straight down to the Palolem beach and make those beach huts your home for the next 2 days. If you find them expensive, you can look for local homestays. There are plenty of it.
2. You will probably be tired, so take a stroll and relax on one of the cleanest and awesome beach of Goa.

• Day 6

1. The best place you could start your day off: right from the beach. Take an early morning jog/ swim / walk in the cold foggy weather. Then head to the Cabo-de Rama fort, and the beach where most of the bollywood movies were filmed and if you're lucky enough, you will find a set up. In between, make a stop at another famous Agonda beach. There are some fresh water springs nearby, if you like adventures. Please note that you don't have any petrol pumps nearby. The closest will be around a 30 minute drive. So keep an eye on your fuel tank.

• Day 7

1. Last day, eh? Don't worry! I got the best deal for you. An early trip to the Dudhsagar waterfalls. Taking a train is the most ideal option. The train drops you straight at the face of the tallest waterfall in Goa. The amount of water gushing down is tremendous and the water looks whitish in colour hence the term 'dudh' in Dudhsagar which means milk in English. You have to calculate your leaving time based on the train schedule, so kindly keep a time check. Also, see that you keep atleast 2 hours travel time in hand if you have a train or bus to catch or 3 hours commute time if you are travelling by flight. 

Bonus: If you have been a frequent visitor in Goa, and would like to see something more, you should hit the road to the neighbouring states from Goa: murdeshwar, Belgaum, Gokarna. Also, check out the best view points of the western ghats, that is the Chorla and Anmod ghat. Some of the views from up these ghats are breathtaking. I will cover those regions in my next post, so do follow back! 

Lastly, have an amazing vacation! Cheers! 🍻