21-night holidays to Goa

What are the benefits of embarking on a long stay Goa holiday?

Do you get to the end of your holiday and wish that you had even just a few more days left? We’re pretty confident that plenty of you reading this will agree, so we’ve dedicated this post to highlighting all the great things about a long stay holiday in Goa. Although you might not need much convincing that it’s a good idea, here we talk about how you can fill your days with new and exciting experiences, where you can go to find the very best beaches, and, of course, where we think are the best places to stay.   

 

Once in a lifetime experiences

Having the time to explore not just the local area, but places further afield, gives you the opportunity to really get to know the destination. Plus, you’re not really losing out on any sunbathing time, as you’re in Goa for long enough that you’re sure to come back with a lovely golden glow. Consider these:

Spend some time in Old Goa, looking for crocodiles and exploring a spice plantation. UNESCO World Heritage Sites, river trips and local cuisine make up this extensive day trip. Find out more.

Delve into South Goa for a day and witness fantastic beaches and intriguing historical sites. An ideal choice if you’re staying in North Goa, this tour will take you to Agonda Beach where you can visit a turtle centre, an ancient fortress and Palolem Beach – one of Goa’s most fantastic strips of palm-backed coastline. Find out more.

Palolem Beach

Agonda Beach. 

 

Beyond Goa 

A visit to Hampi World Heritage Site will give you a chance to leave Goa for a few days and head inland, to Karnataka. As one of the largest Hindu empires in Indian history, it’s safe to say that a visit to Hampi’s ruins will impress every holiday-maker.

Above: Hampi

 

​Alternatively, why not embark on one of our extensive India Tours? We've spent a lot of time enhancing our beyond Goa experiences, so now not only can you head north to explore The Golden Triangle, but also get stuck into the south and discover the laid-back delights of Kerala, with its green tea plantations, network of backwaters and unique nature reserves, or explore the colourful temples of Madurai. Find out more about India Tours here.

Kerala backwaters. Image credit: Dmitry Rukhlenko | Shutterstock 

Hawa Mahal Palace, Jaipur. Image credit: Lena Serditova | Shutterstock 

 

Life’s a beach

If you’d like to spend some (or a lot of) time soaking up the Indian sunshine on Goa’s magnificent coastline, then here’s a small selection of beaches we feel are not to miss.

South Goa:

• Cola Beach – for its natural, undiscovered setting.
• Palolem Beach – for its beautiful scenery, beach huts serving tasty snacks and water that’s great for swimming.

Above: Cola Beach. 

North Goa:

• Baga Beach – for its bustling atmosphere and fishing culture
• Anjuna Beach – for its picturesque setting and superb sunsets.

Check out our top ten beaches blog post for some more of our favourites.

Anjuna Beach 

 

Markets and bazaars 

If you're partial to picking up some fantastic souvenirs or having a bit of a barter with the locals, explore some of Goa's incredible markets. Our favourites include Anjuna Flea Market and Arpora's Saturday Night Market, but there are plenty to choose from. 

Anjuna Flea Market stall 

 

Hotels ideal for long stay holidays in Goa 

If a long duration holiday to Goa sounds like your cup of tea, you can choose to either a) set up camp at one hotel for your holiday, or b) mix things up and do some hotel hopping to see even more. Whichever holiday type you choose we can accommodate for, and in order to get your creative ideas flowing, here’s a selection of properties which we feel all offer something a little bit different from one another.

 

Sonesta Inns 

A tranquil oasis set close to the bustling heart of Candolim, guests who book a long stay holiday at Sonesta Inns can enjoy the pool, restaurant and bars of the hotel, along with the shops and restaurants of the main town, plus, the fantastic expanse of golden sand lined with beach shacks, all offering tasty food and drinks. Discover more about Sonesta Inns here. 

 

Santana Beach Resort 

Ideally placed to make the most of Candolim’s stunning beach and vibrant centre, the charming family-run Santana Beach Resort is a popular choice with British holidaymakers for this reason. You can sample loads of local cuisine from the beach shacks or the town centre, relax on the sand, or alternatively catch some rays by the hotel’s two pools. Find out more about Santana Beach Resort.

 

Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa

An oasis made up of green, palm-filled gardens with colonial cottages scattered throughout, this property offers a luxury take on a holiday to Goa. A large pool, five restaurants and bars, tennis courts, Jiva Spa and yoga sessions are just a snippet of the facilities offered here, and there’s a large golden beach just outside the hotel. Find out more about this hotel.

 

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa

A 5 Grade Deluxe property with seven different restaurants and bars, you can sample everything from Goan seafood to Mediterranean dishes and Arabic delicacies. Once you’ve had your fill of tasty food, you can make use of the hotel’s large pool, golf, archery and tennis courts, or simply lie on the white sands of Benaulim Beach... Find out more about Taj Exotica.

 

If you’re now feeling inspired to enjoy not one, or two, but three (or maybe more) glorious weeks in India’s sunshine state, visit our website for more information, or call our reservations team on 01489 866 986.