goa bike tour 9

Enchanting Goa Bike Tour

Though Goa is India’s smallest state, it packs in a variety of experiences; from the breezy seaside routes to bio-diversity hot spots, meandering rivers, and crumbling heritage monuments. Discover the comparatively untreaded paths of Goa on this cycling tour.

This trip is an amalgam of the magnificent Sahyadri Western Ghats covered in thick forests, the ecologically devastated mining belt in Sanguem, and the splendid Dudhsagar Waterfalls. The voyage winds its way from the wildlife sanctuaries to the calm and peaceful banks along the River Mandovi and also skirts past the World Heritage site of Old Goa. Experience Goa in a whole new way with us!

Start

Panjim | 17:00hrs

Finish

Cavelossim Beach | 14:00hrs

Lodging

casual

Level

easy to moderate

Avg. dist. cycled

50km or 30mi

Cycling Days

4

Highlights

Highlight Image

wholesome biking

A wholesome biking trail with forest paths, beach side and waterfalls

Itinerary

Brief Itinerary

DayPlacecasual Inns or similarMealsDistanceActivity
DAY 1PanjimPanjim InnD
DAY 2ChorlaWildernest Nature ResortB,L,D50km / 30micycling
DAY 3MollemNature’s Nest GoaB,L,D50km / 30micycling
DAY 4NetravaliMangaal FarmstayB,L,D55km / 33micycling
DAY 5Cavelossim BeachB55km / 35micycling

Detailed Itinerary

Itinerary Image

Day 1: Panjim

Arrive in Goa and check into the first heritage hotel of Goa, Panjim Inn, in the Latin Quarter area of Goa. Our guide meets you at your hotel at about 17:00hrs for bike fit and briefing over dinner.

Meals: D
Accommodation: Panjim Inn
Itinerary Image

Day 2: Chorla

The blue, yellow, ochre, port, brick red, and white heritage homes of the area mark the characteristic atmosphere of the Latin Quarter. We step out early in the morning for a ride around the area. We ride past the iconic 30 January bakery, small cafes, and old pubs on the streets.

We continue riding towards Old Goa, which was built by the Bijapur Sultanate in the 15th century. It served as the capital of Portuguese India from the 16th century until it was abandoned in the 18th century when a bucolic plague hit the region. Remnants of Old Goa are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, replete with old churches like St. Francis, Basilica of Bom Jesus, and Church of Saint Cajetao. From we take a ferry to pristine Divar Island with our bikes and later catch another ferry to Naroa.

Later, we ride past a road flanked by beautiful forests with a robust wildlife population, then past some long gradual climbs till we hit the hotel. Settle here in a Nature Resort and admire the spectacular valley. If your legs still have energy, go on a short hike in the surrounding forest. Enjoy the picturesque waterfall, rich wildlife, and splendid views. Panjim-Chorla.png

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 50km / 30mi
Itinerary Image

Day 3: Mollem

With a few uphills and a constantly green-forested region for the company, we head to the 13th-century temple, Tambdi Surla’s Mahadeva Temple. The ancient temple is built in a Jain style with basalt. The countryside area is brilliant to cycle around with rich green thickets and nothing but birdsong filling the air around. Our next stop is the Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary close to Mollem, set amidst the foothills of the Western Ghats and the largest wildlife preserve within the state of Goa. It is also home to the famous Dudhsagar waterfall, the Devil’s Canyon, the Tambdi Surla temple, the Tambdi falls, and a huge variety of plant, bird, and animal life. Chorla-Mollem.png

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 50km / 30mi
Accommodation: Nature’s Nest Goa
Itinerary Image

Day 4: Netravali

We ride with gradual climbs and past sugarcane fields to reach Netravali. This is one of the most undiscovered spice plantation areas and a major attraction for nature lovers, usually away from the touristic ardor of the beaches. After settling in, head out for a 3km trek to the waterfall if you wish, worth the effort to see the gushing waters. Mollem-Netravali.png

Meals: B,L,D
Cycling Distance: 55km / 33mi
Accommodation: Mangaal Farmstay
Itinerary Image

Day 5: Cavelossim Beach

Start with a climb of about 5km and then it’s a downhill ride past paddy fields and forest hills to Goan beaches. Ride along the stunning Goan coastline and admire the spectacular views from the top of Cabo de Rama, a medieval hillfort on the coast of Goa. Spend the rest of the day in leisure at the beach. The constant sound of the sea is therapeutic as you settle with a good book in the breezy verandah.

Extend your stay in Goa and spend time in leisure at the beach or travel further as per your onward plans. Netravali(MangalFarmstay)-Cavelossim.png

Meals: B
Cycling Distance: 55km / 35mi
Accommodation:

Ready to plan your adventure? Download a print-ready detailed itinerary.

Map

Dates and Prices

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From US $250



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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.

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.

Arrival & Departure Details

Goa has good air connectivity from all major Indian cities.

All major airports in India have prepaid taxi cab booths located inside the airport itself. These are typically situated just before the exit gate of the terminal. You can book a prepaid taxi cab from this booth.

You can exchange local currency from the exchange situated within the airport, or from ATMs situated outside the airport.

On your way back to the airport, you can ask your hotel to arrange a cab to the airport.

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.

Bike Image

Scott Sportster or similar

hybrid

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Please note that we usually bike around 4-5 hours per day irrespective of the level of the trip.

Yes, your trip leader will carry bottled water or RO water in a camper in the support van for guests' use.

Here are a few tips to avoid getting Delhi Belly while doing this bike tour:

  1. Always wash your hands before eating anything, even light snacks.
  2. 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.
  3. Avoid eating salads and cut fruits. Peeled fruits such as bananas and oranges are fine.
  4. 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, please communicate your dietary preferences to your trip leader and they'll ensure that the food you eat is spiced as per your requirements.

The road surface is mostly good. 90% of the cycling on this bike tour happens on paved roads.

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.

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:

  1. CDC portal for travelers from the US
  2. NHS' Fit For Travel portal for travelers from the UK
  3. 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.

  1. US residents may refer to the State Department's travel and vaccination advice for India here.
  2. UK residents may refer to the FCDO's travel advice for India here.
  3. Residents of Australia may refer to Australian government's travel advice including medical advice for India here.

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.

While your tour price covers most common expenses, a few meals are not included in the itinerary. This allows you the opportunity to dine independently and explore the local cuisine at your own pace. Your guides will be happy to provide recommendations if desired. As a general guideline, you can budget approximately US $100–200 per person for additional expenditures over the course of the trip.

Tips are not included in your 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.

In case you want to tip the staff at a hotel such as porters, you may pay them US $2-3 per day.

You can exchange currency at the airport itself, or at ATMs in larger cities. Most commercial establishments will accept international credit cards for payments, though its good to carry some local currency with you at all times.

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.

Pack your regular riding gear, such as jerseys and shorts. If you’re traveling between November and February, bring a fleece jacket for cooler evenings and early mornings. Additionally, pack a rain jacket or covering in case of rain.

The meeting time on Day 1 is mentioned in your travel planner shared with you. You can arrive either on the morning of Day 1 depending on the meeting time, or book a pre-tour night to arrive a day earlier.

We don't have anything planned for the last day, so you are free to depart at your discretion.

For answers to broader questions, please visit our Comprehensive FAQs section.

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