Goa Thrills

Kayaking is an all year round water sport that will help you explore the beautiful waters and the mangroves of Goa. So whether it’s a daytime exploratory ride with the family or a romantic night-time wade through the waters with your partner; Kayaking is a must-try activity while in Goa. ‘Adventure Breaks Kayaking Base’ is one of the prime places to contact for Kayaking in North Goa while ‘Goa Kayaking’ in the Sal backwaters would be your best place of contact in the South.

With over 420 kinds of species of birds in Goa, Bird watching is gaining immense momentum amongst nature lovers in Goa. GBCN (Goa Bird Conservation Network) an organization dedicated to the life of birds in Goa, organizes free of cost bird walks on the first Sunday of every month. The organizers are very helpful in helping identify and spotting birds especially for new bird watchers. These bird walks are conducted early in the morning and usually start at around 7 am at a pre-determined meeting spot. Nature’s nest, a nature resort located in Tambdi Surla district of North Goa provides for a wholesome birding experience with their 3 days and 2 nights packages.

One of the best water sports to enjoy the majestic views of the beaches and landscapes in Goa whilst being suspended in the air, parasailing is a must-try for all the adrenalin crazed tourists who visit the state. ‘Atlantis watersports’ which is located in Calangute- Baga will make your parasailing adventure super safe and worth every penny spent. The usual activity time is between 10:00am to 5:00pm. All you need to do is get your shorts or swimwear out, and up in the air you go! Another similar activity that you could give a shot to while in Goa is powered paragliding which takes place in Mandrem.

Walking tours are increasingly popular in major tourist destinations and Panjim hosts the most charming one of them all. Fontainhas, the Latin Quarter of Panjim city, is a treasure trove of Portuguese era architecture, culture, and traditions. Take a stroll with a guide across the quaint little by lanes, enjoy a glass of refreshing Kokum juice and discover an old Hindu house and an old Portuguese house. On this tour you will relive the glories of a by gone era, relive the romance of its music and culture, and enjoy a trip down memory lane. At 1000 rupees per person, this one is well worth money.

At 8990 rupees per person, the Ocean trek Arambol is a steal for the amazing experiences that it offers. Take the road to Porvorim from where you will be taken to Arambol where the trek begins at Paliem and follows a perennial stream down to North Arambol’s fresh water lake. Take a dip here, relax and rejuvenate in the natural mud bath. The organisers provide a light lunch and water for the journey that then takes you along the hill side to another secluded beach – Keri. Soak in the sun at Keri till it’s time to leave from the pickup location here and return sandy toes and lots of beautiful memories.

If you are a nature buff in Goa for a short time and want to experience it all in one package then the Dudhsagar Waterfall is perfect for you. The tour takes you to the picturesque Dudhsagar falls where you can swim to your heart’s content. Then get ready to be awestruck by a trip to Old Goa’s churches and heritage buildings followed by a stopover at a fragrant Spice Plantation where you can enjoy a sumptuous meal amidst natural beauty. The package priced at 1599/- includes to and fro transport, jeep safari, lunch at a spice farm, and entry fees to all attractions.

There’s no better way to explore the oceanic landscapes of the Arabian Sea than diving into the waters and face timing with the marine life. Clear waters of Palolem beach, South Goa, locally known as the Monkey Island, is one of the most popular places to enjoy your snorkelling experience. Since the visibility under water is clearer in clean beaches, South Goa’s Grande Island too offers scuba diving and snorkelling packages to satisfy the water baby in you. While scuba diving may cost approximately 5000 rupees per person, inclusive of the diving equipments and training sessions; snorkelling would cost you around 1600 rupees per person. The best operational season for both the sports is October to May for any given year.

Soar like a bird and watch Goa drift below as you go higher into the sky. One of the latest attractions in the Goan adventure society is hot air ballooning. A first in Goa, the activity has captured the interest of adventure lovers from Goa and beyond. You can log on to www. hotairballooningingoa.com for all the latest information about hot air ballooning trips. The site also states out the rates and all other information one may require.

It’s not just the Arabian Sea but the pristine rivers of Goa that have a lot of thrill to offer too! White water rafting by Southern River Adventures is one of the few activities that are available only during the rainy season and just after it as well. The website goarafting.com features updates on rafting trips which take place from the month of June till December (depending on the rainfall). There are two sessions that take place each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Average pricing for rafting could range from 1800-2000 rupees per person.

Take a step away from the honking horns of the tar jungled paths we call roads and view Goa from the wheels of a cycle. ‘ProByks’ located in Panjim, organizes daily cycling events for beginners as well as medium and advanced cyclists. ‘Adventure breaks Goa’ also provides two kinds of cycle tours in Goa – one is the cycle tour of Old Goa and the second is the tour in the islands of Goa. Average cost for a 3 hour tour offered by them is 1890 rupees per person. Hop on your cycle and belt on your helmet for an aweinspiring ride around the city.

Rappelling and Wall climbing ‘Froggyland’ is one of Goa’s most talked about and largest water parks. Located in Nuvem, Froggyland offers a plethora of activities that is bound to have you planning a trip again soon. Apart from the thrilling rides and slides, the water world also offers a host of adventure activities like zip lining, rock climbing etc. Its lazy pool and wave pool is a bundle of fun too! Splashdown is another water park that as the title suggests, is a place to splash all your worries away with your loved ones. Monsoon fun park too is one of the known water parks in Goa.

Get your rug sack and trekking shoes out to explore the ecosystems of Goa on foot… Sunday trekking that starts from the Hivrem village through the fields and orchards as you climb uphill, finally stops at a breathtaking pathway to the Hivrem falls and is sure to provide you with one of its kind trekking experience. Another Sunday trek which takes place at NV Eco Farm helps you do a tete-a-tete with the Vegetation of the Western Ghats.

Want to satisfy the adventure monkey in you? What better way than to take a shot at rappelling? An easy to learn activity which involves controlled descent down a rope into the lush green landscapes of Goa, NV Eco Farm’s friendly and skilled team ensures a safe and fun filled rappelling experience for those who plan to partake in the activity! Another relatively new activity in Goa which involves a safety-rope is wallclimbing. With very few outlets offering the activity, Magsons super market and NV Eco Farm would be your ‘safest’ bet!

What better way to renew your marriage vows than getting married in an Indian traditional style? With all the wedding rituals form the application of henna to being dressed in Indian wedding attire being taken care of, the Maharaja Wedding package makes for an exclusive experience for the out-of-India tourists visiting the state. A 30 minute service provided by the temple priest in a temporary mandap situated in a temple setting, with the groom arriving on an elephant with his side of the family and friends, the wedding is followed by champagne and dinner for the attendees of the wedding.

The Goa tourism and its web portal is your one point of contact for all the reservation and bookings related information for all the above activities. For further information log onto http://bit.ly/GoaTourismActivities , website: www.goa-tourism.com, reservations@goa-tourism. or reservations@goa-tourism.co.in. You could also call up the information centre at +91-832-2438830, +91-832- 2438831 from Monday to Sunday between 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For partnering with the GTDC and Goa tourism for the list of activities you have to offer, email at partners@goatourism. website or partners@goa-tourism.co.in