Cruises From Goa

Goa tourism has started fascinating cruises from Goa on sea and the adjacent harbors. Santa Lucia is the brand new houseboat they are utilizing for the cruise. Arrangements of delicious foods and your favorite drinks are available on board. Relax on the deck and watch the sunrise and sunset from there. Santa Lucia has three bed rooms, 2 open decks a lobby and a dining area. Bar counter is there in the deck. They have introduced six different conducted cruises for you to choose from. They are as follows:

Laser Cruise:

5 passengers are needed to start the cruise. The charge per head @ INR 1000. In this four hours cruise you will float around Arabian Sea and the along the Morjim River and its harbor. Food and drinks will be served during the tour. The tour now is conducted now twice daily. 1^st: 11 am to 3 pm and 2^nd: 4 pm to 8 pm. Pick up and drop from your hotel is included in the trip cost.

Midday Delight:

5 passengers are needed to start the cruise. The charge per head @ INR 1000. You will start your cruise at 10.30 am and will reach up to the harbor. In this 6 hours trip lunch, snacks and drinks will be served on the board. Enjoy the sunset while coming back.

Overnight Symphony:

@ INR 4000 per head, which includes food on board and pick up from and drop to the hotel, this cruise starts at 4 pm. You will cruise through the Morjim River and enjoy the sunset. Your swim at beaches will also be arranged in the evening. Spend your night in the cozy room of the house boat. Get up in the morning with the chirps of different birds. Return 9 am next day.

Exclusively Yours:

You can book the entire houseboat for yourself @ INR 24000 to cruise from 10 am to next day 9 am. Pick up and drop from and to the hotel, lunch and breakfast is included. Enjoy fishing too while cruising! Real fun!

Serene Delight:

Depending on the choice of rooms tariff of this 4 day 3 night package tours varies from @ INR 18000 – 20800. This package is mostly made for the honeymooners. In this cruise you will stay one night in the house boat and rest two nights you will spend in either Kalangute or Panami Residency in either A/C or, A/C deluxe rooms. Sight seeing by car is also included in this package.

For Reservation Contact:

Goa Tourism Development Corporation, Panaji, Goa

Ph: +091 832 2224132

http://www.goa-tourism.com

Train - E - DISCO

This Article is taken from The Telegraph, a newspaper published from Kolkata, India. Disco train rolls to Goa - Luxury on wheels

SANJAY MANDAL

Goa beaches will be the main attraction of a 10-day train trip from Calcutta. Tickets are priced at Rs 35,000 per passenger A train with a discotheque, cabin crew and live music will roll out from the city on January 2 for a 10-day trip to Goa and Mumbai. A city-based private travel operator is organising the trip in collaboration with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC). The Rs 35,000 package per passenger will include journey in an air-conditioned three-tier coach, a three-night, four-day stay at beach resorts in Goa and a day in Mumbai. The 16-coach rake, booked by i-nova from Indian Railways, will take about 36 hours to reach Goa. “This is the first time a private operator has booked a train for retail tourism,” said Vivek Srivastav, the general manager (eastern zone) of IRCTC. “We will be responsible for the on-board services, including food, hospitality, housekeeping, public address system and security. A multi-cuisine menu will be served on board,” he added. “An entire coach will be converted into a discotheque. Folk and baul songs will be performed on board. There will also be other entertainment options,” said Rajib Mukherjee, the managing director of i-nova. Passengers will stay in beach resorts in north Goa. “In Goa, beaches are the most attractive places. Beach volleyball, water sports and rain dance will be organised. The route has been planned in such a way that passengers can enjoy the natural beauty,” added Mukherjee. A railway official said the train would be handed over to the company — which has paid Rs 60 lakh — four to five days before the trip. Winter is the peak tourist season in Goa. About 700 chartered flights fly in to Goa every year from Europe and the US, according to tour operators. If the project is a success, more such trips will be organised. “We are planning to organise similar tours to various destinations throughout the year,” said Mukherjee. The IRCTC, on its own, is launching a train, Village on Wheels, for budget tourists. The first Village on Wheel will set out from Howrah station for north India on November 15. It will return after seven days. Each passenger will be charged Rs 500 daily for food and sightseeing, said an official.

Beaches Of Goa - Anjuna

One of the famous beach in Goa with colorful reddish rocks and beautiful coconut plants on its beach. The beach where you can bath is less, but it is so beautiful to see the waves breaking on the colorful rocks. 8 Kms from Mapusa this beach is hot favorite for the foreign tourists.

At the bus stand there are small cafe, restaurants, few handicraft shops. You have to come down at a lower level to reach the beach. Walk on the right side of the beach to the Anjuna free market. On Wednesdays this market looks completely different. So many traders from different places and variety of products make this place a grand fair for few hours from 1 pm. Visitors from the other beaches like Arambol, Baga, Kalangute come to this fair by boat for marketing. So if you want to visit Anjuna try that on Wednesdays.


On the full moon nights Anjuna remain on festive moods. All the tourists in dance and song till late night on the beach.



How to Reach:

From Panaji Anjuna is 19 Km, can be easily reached by cab. It is 8 Km from Mapusa. This beach is shown to the visitors in North Goa Day Tour by the Goa Tourism.

Where to stay:

There are quiet a few hotels and resorts of different price ranges.

The Flashing Meadow ( +91 0832 2274583) @ INR 1000 - 1500 DB
Don Jo Resort ( +91 0832 2274325) @ INR 300 - 600 DB
Grand Pa Inn ( +91 08232 2273271) @ INR 850 - 1200 DB
Lotus Inn ( +91 08232 2274015) @ INR 450 DB

Beaches Of Goa - Calangute

The most popular amongst all beaches in Goa is Calangute. Naturally most crowded with tourists both Indian and foreigners.


Rows of deckchair and umbrellas on the wide beach ready for your sun bathing. Colorful shops on either side of the road approaching the beach stacked with handicrafts and other materials will attract your attention.



There is immense arrangement of different water sports Boating, water ski, wind surfing, para sailing, banana boat ride and so on for the enthusiasts.


Each year in mid April Beach Bonanza festival is held at Calangute beach. Kerkar art gallery should not be missed.

Painting at Kerkar art gallery

How to reach:

16 km from Panaji. Bus service avilable. Bus is available from Mapusa (10 Km.) also. Car can also be hired from Pnanji @ INR 400 dropping charge.




Where to stay:

Calagute Residency run by Goa Tourism ( +91 0832 2276024) @ INR 1000 - 2000 DB
Calangute Residency Annexe ( +91 0832 2276009) @ INR 600 - 800 DB Dormitory @ INR 110.
Hotel Golden Eye (+91 0832 2277308) @ INR 400 - 1200 DB
Hotel Dona Crystalina (+91 0832 2279012) @ INR 250 - 1200.

Beaches Of Goa - Arambol

A comparatively less known beach in North Goa, mostly visited by the foreigners, particularly hippies. Hippy festival is also held here. Sweet water lakes on the beach are the added attraction and made this beach ideal for sea bathing and swimming at one's leisure.


Visit the Arambol village near to the beach to be acquainted with the local people's very simple habit and culture. The main profession of the local people is fishing.


About 16 Km long beach of Arambol, rocks and boulders at one part will not let you bath in sea, while there are plenty Golden sand beach for you to enjoy.



How to reach:

43 Km from Panaji and 30 Km from Mapusa. If you want to come by bus, there is half hourly bus service from Panaji to Mapusa. From Mapusa there is regular bus service to Arambol.

Where to stay:

You can stay at Tourist Lodge of Goa Tourism (+910832 2297657) DB INR 600 - 1200

Small houses on rent is also available at the beaches @ INR 400 for DB

Beaches Of Goa - Palolem

Like a slice of the moon it is a beautiful, and one of the famous beaches of Arabian sea in Goa. Its deep blue color, rocks, rows of coconut trees, exquisite beach attract many foreign tourists. Sunbathe on the beach, enjoy the bath in sea or, relax on a deck chair under the colorful umbrella....A perfect holidaying one can enjoy here in Palolem.

Roaming around the village adjacent to the beach, bus stand, Cyber cafe, drinks corner, restaurants, and shops of decorative items made of sea shells and colorful dresses is interesting.



This beach is also famous for fishing. At the southern part of this beach in the morning one can see the activities of the fishermen and their nets and boats.


To the Monkey Island, the green small island in the northern side, one can walk through the shallow water during low tide, but during high tide, a nice boat ride!


The mix of rocky beach, at one side and nice sandy beach for bath; the rows of coconut trees, has made this place exciting and beautiful.


Beach hut, Fishing boats, happy tourists, colorful seashells on the beach and the best is the sunset at Palolem!

Palolem Beach in the evening is also colorful.

How to reach Palolem:

Nearest railway station is Kanakona. Palolem is 5 Km from here can be reached by an auto rickshaw. From Margao Railway station it is 37 Km and 70 Km from the capital, Panaji.

Staying at Palolem:

There are quite a few hotels and resorts surrounding the beaches in Palolem. Details of the few are here:

Palolem Beach Resort (+91o832 2643054) DB 700 - 1200 INR; DB Tent 450 INR

Virgin Beach Resort (+910832 2643451) DB 400 - 800 INR

Cupid Castle Beach Tourist Home ( +910832 2643326) DB 250 INR; TB 350 INR

Apart from these Konkan cottage and rented home also is available at approximately 500 INR. for DB.