“What to do in Goa?” If I had a rupee for every time I was asked this question, I could retire comfortably. Goa has been a favourite destination for people long before the pandemic, and being Goan, I’ve often been called on for advice and suggestions. Things have changed post-pandemic. People no longer want to just visit Goa and sit at a shack, drink cheap alcohol, and party at night. Many conscious tourists want to explore. They want to soak in some culture. They want to — to use a cliche — do something offbeat.
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Goa is widely considered a party destination, but there is so much more to it. The state offers activities for every kind of traveller. And, post-pandemic, with the influx of people to the state, the variety, breadth and quality of these activities have improved.
Beyond raves, beach parties and shack life, Goa has much to offer a discerning traveller looking for entertainment, and memorable experiences.
Here are some of them.
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Discover Goa’s Soul
Old games of Goa. Religious festivals. Nature trails. Island explorations. Taverna trails. Mud bathing. Picnics. There are many ways to explore Goa, and the travel company, Soul Travelling, picks some of the best.
Soul Travelling launched in 2018 and is a passion project of Varun Hegde and Kedar Borker. “We wanted to organise offbeat experiences in Goa, and show that there’s more to Goa than parties and casinos,” said Hegde. “The intention wasn’t just to focus on the history, but offer experiences that are interesting.”
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In the last few years, they’ve curated 45 experiences; some available daily, others on query. The experiences are designed to give a more holistic and less stereotypical idea of Goa and its culture like the Taverna Trail in Panaji which explores old watering holes and delves into how they were once the hub of social life. Or the Island Culinary Experience at Chorao which introduces people to little-known vegetarian dishes and how they are made. Hegde’s picks are a nature trail in Chorao; a cultural village experience in Valpoi that involves folk dances and songs; and a Christian art trail in Old Goa that includes a workshop with a Kaavi artist.
