11 days
From US $2,495
Bombay to Goa Bike Tour
The hippies of the 60s and 70s probably traversed the same route before pitching for months in the sandy stretches of India’s favourite beach destination, Goa. Only, your journey will far from the easy Boho life that they came here for, but the feeling is sure to be equally cathartic! In this cycling tour, we will start at Bombay, which represents mosaic of quintessential India experiences, past sun-washed beaches of coastal India, unassuming villages, and thickly green hillsides before finally landing in Goa. The trip is designed to take you through the vibrant coastal side trails, rich in enthralling landscapes, local interaction, cultural experiences, monuments and temples and a distinct array of food. Besides seeing India at close quarters, you will also encounter a multitude of cycling challenges, making this is a memorable trip from all ends.
Bombay | 17:00hrs
Panjim, Goa | 12noon
casual
moderate
75km or 45mi
Min. 2, Max. 14
Highlights
Western Ghats
A classic coastal ride through the Western Ghats, a mountain range that runs parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight “hottest hot-spots” of biological diversity in the world
Itinerary
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Place | casual Inns or similar | Meals | Distance | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAY 1 | Bombay | The Gordon House | |||
| DAY 2 | Murud | Golden Swan Beach Resort | B,L,D | 67 km/41 mi | cycling |
| DAY 3 | Harnai Beach | Lotus Beach Resort | B,L,D | 110 km/66 mi | cycling |
| DAY 4 | Malgund | Madachya Banaat | B,L,D | 100 km/60 mi | cycling |
| DAY 5 | Malgund | Madachya Banaat | B | ||
| DAY 6 | Ambolgad | Samindar Beach House | B,L,D | 85 km/50 mi | cycling |
| DAY 7 | Devgad | The Turtle Retreat Beach Resort | B,L,D | 67 km/41 mi | cycling |
| DAY 8 | Malvan | Saagar Sangam | B,L,D | 54 km/33 mi | cycling |
| DAY 9 | Arambol, Goa | Tattvam On The Beach | B,L,D | 80 km/48 mi | cycling |
| DAY 10 | Panjim, Goa | Panjim Inn | B | 40 km/24 mi | cycling |
| DAY 11 | Panjim, Goa | B |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Bombay
Arrive in Mumbai and meet your trip leader and check into the hotel. We have picked a chic, warm hotel in the heart of South Mumbai, so you are walking distance from buzz of Bombay! The Gordon House has bright, clean but slightly snug rooms – perfect to spend a night in the most pulsating area in town.
Today morning, you can explore the weathered historic streets of Colaba and close by areas. Start at the Gateway of India, a mammoth memorial at the edge of the sea, making your way into the Colaba shopping street jammed with small shops selling trinkets, antiques, shoes and more. Café Mondegar and Leopold are the food stalwarts of this road and a stop here is a must. Infact, this area has considerable reference in the famous book ‘Shantaram’ by Gregory David Roberts. Other places to swing by are Flora fountain, National Gallery of Modern Art, the Oval Cricket Maidan, Jehangir Hall and plenty of classy yet cosy boutiques, bookshops, galleries and cafes.
Our guide meets at your hotel at 17:00hrs for dinner to get acquainted with the entire team and a quick orientation to the route for the trip, safety tips and more.
Day 2: Murud
The beach town of Murud is one of the most unassuming and relaxing destinations off Mumbai. We take a short ferry to Murud (don’t confuse this with destination) and then hop onto to the bikes. Enjoy the paddy fields, green countryside mild hillocks on the distance.You know you’ve hit Murud when you can see thickets of tall trees and a brilliant open view of the sea. If time permits, we head out to see the local highlights like the Janjira Fort, Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, an old Jewish synagogue, the wonderfully clean and untouched beaches and a few temples in the vicinity. This is also a great place to try the local Konkani food. Brilliant seafood awaits you in Murud.
Day 3: Harnai Beach
This morning we start early and reach the Harnai beach through a classic coastal route. Gentle waves and the warm waters of this beach are largely untouched by the tourist rush. After settling down at the resort, head out for some local sight seeing, if you prefer. The Harnai beach, Burundi Beach, Suvarnadurg Fort and the Durga Devi Temple are few of the places that we can visit in the evening. Harnai is a fishing village and the most spectacular scene here is when hundreds of bright colorful boats come in with the catch in the evening – give them a hand pulling in the heavy nets or use this as a great photo-op to capture the flurry of activity.
Day 4: Malgund
Another scenic ride along the sandy stretches. Enroute we come across fishing villages speckled with large drying nets, crammed colourful houses under casuarina stands and pristine clean beaches. If you want, we can stop for a short dip into the sea. Malgund is a beautiful seaside village with intermittent green patches on a large rockscape that surrounds the beach. This is particularly beautiful in the monsoons. Once we settle into out hotel/guest house, use this day to relax. You can choose to walk along the beach or stay in with some fresh juice/ tea and enjoy the view from your stay.
Day 5: Malgund
Today you can plan your own day. One of the most popular getaways from Mumbai, Ratnagiri is a short distance where we stay. It used to be a small inconspicuous seaside town. It still retains its simple unhurried vibe. Indulge in the delicious local food, step out to see some of the things that Ratnagiri is famous for: the Karthateshwar Temple, Lakshmi Keshav Temple, beaches and the Jaigad fort. As you trail the paths of Ratnagiri, you will notice how fertile the town is; Mango orchards, rice fields, coconut and cashew stands make the topography lush and therapeutic. Get spoilt at the wonderful Ratnagiri till we head out to out next pit stop.
Day 6: Ambolgad
Coconut palms, fishing villages and sections along the coast keep us company till we reach Ambolgad. The village is known for its easy going ‘do nothing’ aura. Another day of relaxing by the rocky beachside punctuated by large flat rough sandy patches. This beach is safe for swimming though one should not venture in too deep.
Day 7: Devgad
Today, we ride along the breezy Konakan coastline to our next destination, Devgad. The route is quite scenic, flanked by the sea on one side and casuarina stands on the other. We reach Devgad and check into one of the beach side resorts. The constant sound of the sea is therapeutic as you settle with a good book in the breezy verandah.
Day 8: Malvan
We hit the road early on this day to reach the gastronomically famous town of Malvan. Known for its famous coastal cuisine and natural beauty, it sits at the edge of the Arabian Sea. The town has a few sight seeing options like the Sindhudurg Fort, Tarkarli Beach, the Vetal Mandir, rock garden and snorkeling facilities. Food wise, coconut, rice and fish will take over the palate on this day. Adventure enthusiasts can opt for snorkeling with experts here. The water is pretty clear here and one can see corals and colourful marine life near the edge of the Sindhudurg fort.
Day 9: Arambol, Goa
Today we head to 17th century Tiracul Fort which commands spectacular views of Arabian sea. From here we continue cycling to Arambol, Goa.
Day 10: Panjim, Goa
Today ride along a coastal route past various Goan beaches. Enjoy the sunny Goa at your own pace.
Day 11: Panjim, Goa
Get ready for your onward travel.
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Map
Dates and Prices
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Essential Info
Inclusions
LODGING
All hotels as mentioned in the tour details or similar (subject to availability).
trip leader
Expert Trip Leader(s) who look after your every need and add meaning to your vacation.
bike
Immaculately maintained bike with helmet, suited to a terrain.
shuttle
A Van support follows the group of riders and carries all belongings.
meals
Meals as per itinerary. Guests are given the opportunity to dine on their own so that they discover a location independently.
refreshments
Refreshments and mineral water while cycling.
entrance
Entrance fees to most of the monuments and temples.
E-bikes
E-bikes are available (subject to availability) on this trip at a surcharge.
Exclusions
Airport pickup and drop
We recommend to book direclty from airport or hotel.
Beverages
Beverages such as alcohol, tea, coffee, juice at a hotel or restaurant.
Gratuity
Gratuities for your guide team are not included in the trip price.
Bikes
When you have a road and the thrill of a journey ahead of you, it’s imperative to have a good bike to enjoy it. Our fleet majorly consist of the below bikes as a part of this tour. However, sometimes due to height or availability constraints, we may provide a different but similar quality bike.
Scott Sportster or similar
Included in your trip price
Visa
All foreign nationals entering India are required to possess a valid international travel document in the form of a national passport with a valid visa obtained from an Indian Mission or Post abroad.
E-Visa has been made available by the Government of India to citizens of certain countries, including the United States of America. Details of the scheme are available on the dedicated website created for this purpose: e-Visa
e-Visa has 5 sub-categories viz. e-Tourist Visa (for 30 days/01 year/ 05 years),
For e-Tourist and e-Business visa, Applicants may apply online minimum 4 days in advance of the date of arrival.
Recent front-facing photographs with white backgrounds and photo pages of passports containing personal details like name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date etc, are to be uploaded mandatorily by the applicant. Additionally, one more document depending upon the e-Visa type would also be required to be uploaded. The application is liable to be rejected if the uploaded documents and photograph are not clear / as per specification.
Reviews from our friends
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few tips to avoid getting Delhi Belly while doing this bike tour:
- Always wash your hands before eating anything, even light snacks.
- Do not drink tap water. Drink only bottled water provided by your trip leader or by the hotel/restaurant you're staying or eating in. When buying bottled water from outside, check for seal and the brand. Avoid using ice, since ice is often made from tap water. Soda water, however, is usually safe.
- Avoid eating salads and cut fruits. Peeled fruits such as bananas and oranges are fine.
- Cooked food that is freshly prepared is usually safe to eat. Restaurants and eating joints that are busy are usually safer as the food is fresh and they rarely have anything refrigerated overnight.
Yes, your trip leader will carry bottled water in the support van for guests' use.
Yes, please communicate your dietary preferences to your trip leader and they'll ensure that the food you eat is spiced as per your requirements.
We've designed this itinerary such that most of the cycling happens on quieter countryside roads far from busy traffic. The shuttle transfers on this tour have been strategically planned to bypass busy vehicular traffic.
The road surface is mostly good. 90% of the cycling on our Exotic India Bike Tour happens on paved roads.
Yes, you may wear riding shorts while riding your bike. When not cycling, it would be advisable to wear comfortable full-length pants. We recommend keeping a pair of comfortable pants handy in you support van.
When visiting temples and monuments, visitors should wear full-length, loose-fitting pants. Holy places of certain religions may also require covering your head. Your guide will inform of the dress etiquette required for visiting specific religious places.
We are not medical advisors, and as such are not qualified to dispense medical advice. However, we recommend consulting the resources below for advice on vaccines and medications:
- CDC portal for travlers from the US
- NHS' Fit For Travel portal for travlers from the UK
- Smart Traveller portal or travelers from Australia.
In addition to the above, you may also refer to the travel advice issued from time to time by your government.
Although your tour price includes most common expenses, except the meals not included in the itinerary, you can refer to the following broad guidelines for extra expenditures:
- US $25 per person per day for tours with stays in casual inns
- US $35 per person per day for tours with stays in premiere inns (luxury bike tours)
Most cities in India have ATMs where you can use your card to withdraw local currency.
No, tips are not included in tour price.
As a general rule, you may tip US$ 15-25 per person per day.
This figure is for the entire crew including the trip leader, the driver, and other support staff.
However, you are not obligated to tip, and you can always tip less or more than the above amount depending on the level of service you received on tour.
It is usually the norm to tip the tour guide, who then distributes the amount among the entire crew. However, you can also tip each individual member of the crew if you so desire.
We generally avoid regions which are prone to outbreaks of malaria and dengue. However, as a preventive measure, you may carry mosquito repellant, and wear full-body clothing.
Consult your medical advisor for any pre-emptive medications or vaccines for the above.
The fitness level required for each trip is indicated by the "level" of the tour, which in turn is mentioned on each tour page right next to the price and the trip duration.
Easy: The terrain is mostly flat with a few gentle climbs. Moderate: The terrain is either mostly flat or consists of rolling hills with a few challenging climbs. There could also be a few days with longer riding distances of up to 75 kms (45 miles) Difficult: The terrain is mostly hilly with strong elevation gains and/or has long days on the bike. Such trips are recommended for intermediate to advanced cyclists.
