Goa 2026 · Itinerary Summary
19–23 August 2026 · Julien Day School (Reunion – 30 Yrs), Batch of 1996 · Villa in Arpora
Crew: Dwaipayan Mojumder · Pritam Kumar · Poulomi Saha · Avro Mukherjee · Prasenjit Daw · Amrita Sen · Maya Chowdhury · Nabanita Sarkar · Tanushree Dutta · Rajneel Sengupta · Pallav Mitra
Stay: Arpora villa (tap for the map) — https://www.airbnb.com/l/MAyCuJQ2
Day 1 · 19 Aug 2026 (Wednesday) — Arrival & Coastal Soft Landing
Goa Airport → Arpora stay → Candolim / Sinquerim Beach
| 10:50 | Depart Kolkata (CCU)Main group flies out of Kolkata at 10:50. Dwai & Pritam reach earlier and will be at the villa by around 16:00. |
| 14:35 | Arrive Goa Airport (Mopa / Dabolim)Collect baggage and transfer to the stay in Arpora. Prepaid taxi counters are reliable; app cabs can be patchy at the airport. |
| 16:00 | Check-in at the Arpora villaFreshen up, claim rooms, and order lunch/snacks on Zomato or Swiggy so nobody loses beach time to a restaurant queue. |
| 17:30 | Candolim & Sinquerim BeachA 15–20 minute drive to a wide, calm stretch of sand that is far less frantic than Baga or Calangute — the perfect opening evening. |
| 19:30 | Dinner at a beach shackFirst proper Goan meal — try prawn balchão, rechad mackerel, chicken cafreal and a plate of fish curry rice. |
| 21:00 | Back to the villa · Book tomorrow's carNon-negotiable action item: confirm the self-drive car for the North Goa trail tonight. Morning bookings get expensive and scarce. |
Driving
Do
- Confirm the self-drive car for Day 2 before sleeping.
- Keep the villa's exact pin location shared in the group.
- Carry cash — many shacks don't take cards.
Don't
- Don't plan anything heavy on arrival day; travel fatigue is real.
- Don't swim after dark or after drinking.
- Don't leave bags unattended on the beach.
Day 2 · 20 Aug 2026 (Thursday) — North Goa Forts, Cliffs & the Baga Night
Fort Aguada → Chapora Fort → Vagator / Anjuna (lunch) → Anjuna Beach → Morjim → Baga
| 08:30 | Breakfast & departureBreakfast at the villa, car rolls out by 09:45. Fuel up on the way. |
| 10:00 | Fort AguadaA monumental laterite fort on the headland where the Mandovi meets the Arabian Sea. Ramparts, a four-storey lighthouse and a giant freshwater cistern. Entry ₹25/person; allow 60–70 minutes. |
| 11:30 | Chapora FortThe 'Dil Chahta Hai' fort — a short, easy climb rewarded with a 270° sweep over Vagator beach, the Chapora river mouth and Morjim on the far bank. ~45 minutes. |
| 13:00 | Lunch at Vagator / AnjunaSeaside cafés with cliff views — Curlies, La Plage, Thalassa (Greek, sunset views, book ahead) or a no-frills local Goan joint. |
| 14:30 | Anjuna BeachBlack-rock coves, far less crowded than Baga, and the spiritual home of Goa's 1960s hippie era. Watersports (parasailing, jet ski) run only if the sea allows. |
| 16:15 | Morjim / Vagator detour'Little Russia' — a wide, quiet, wind-swept beach at the mouth of the Chapora, and a nesting site for Olive Ridley turtles. |
| 17:30 | Baga Beach finaleSunset, live music, shacks and the famous Tito's Lane energy. Dinner at any pub or sea-facing restaurant here. |
| 22:00 | Return to the villaWind down; tomorrow is a heritage day with an early-ish start. |
Driving
Do
- Wear grippy footwear for the fort climbs.
- Carry a rain shell and a dry bag for phones.
- Confirm the next day's car again tonight.
Don't
- Don't drink and drive — Goa's checks are strict and fines are heavy.
- Don't ignore red flags or swim at unmanned stretches.
- Don't ride two-wheelers without helmets.
Day 3 · 21 Aug 2026 (Friday) — Heritage Day — Old Goa & the Latin Quarter
Old Goa churches → Panaji lunch → Fontainhas walk → Panaji Church → Miramar / Dona Paula
| 09:45 | Drive to Old GoaA scenic 40–45 minute run along NH66 with river crossings and monsoon-green hills. |
| 10:30 | Basilica of Bom JesusUNESCO World Heritage Site and the most revered church in Goa. Extraordinary Baroque façade in exposed laterite, gilded altar, and the tomb of St. Francis Xavier. ~50 minutes. |
| 11:30 | Sé CathedralDirectly across the lawn — the largest church in Asia, with a vast barrel-vaulted nave and the 'Golden Bell'. ~35 minutes. |
| 12:45 | Lunch in PanajiClassic Goan lunch — Ritz Classic (fish thali), Hotel Venite (first-floor balconies), or Viva Panjim in Fontainhas itself. |
| 14:00 | Fontainhas Latin Quarter walkGoa's most photogenic neighbourhood — ochre, indigo and lime houses, oyster-shell windows, narrow lanes, tiny galleries and century-old bakeries. Allow 60–75 minutes on foot. |
| 15:30 | Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate ConceptionThe iconic white church with its zig-zag staircase above Panaji's town square, then a stroll along the Campal promenade. |
| 16:30 | Miramar & Dona PaulaWhere the Mandovi and Zuari meet the Arabian Sea. Miramar's golden crescent for the walk, Dona Paula's jetty viewpoint for the sunset. |
| 18:00 | Return to the villaFree evening. Dinner nearby or delivered in. |
Driving
- Arpora → Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa · ≈ 27 km · 50–60 min · map
- Bom Jesus → Sé Cathedral · ≈ 0.4 km · 5 min walk · map
- Old Goa → Panaji (lunch) & Fontainhas · ≈ 10 km · 20–25 min · map
- Panaji → Miramar / Dona Paula · ≈ 3 / 7 km · 10 / 20 min · map
- Dona Paula → Arpora villa · ≈ 22 km · 45–55 min · map
Do
- Dress modestly for the churches (shoulders and knees covered).
- Carry cash for Fontainhas cafés and bakeries.
- Keep water and a foldable umbrella in the car.
Don't
- Don't use flash or make noise inside the Basilica.
- Don't wander into private courtyards in Fontainhas.
- Don't park casually in Panaji — use the paid lots to avoid towing.
Day 4 · 22 Aug 2026 (Saturday) — The Serene South Goa Journey
Arpora → Cabo de Rama Fort (optional) → Agonda → Palolem → Patnem → back
| 07:30 | Early breakfast, 08:45 departureSouth Goa is a 1.5–2 hour drive. The early start is what makes this day work — and the Western Ghats route in monsoon is glorious. |
| 10:15 | Cabo de Rama FortA dramatic clifftop fort with sweeping ocean views and almost no crowds. Roughly 40–45 minutes including photos. |
| 11:30 | Agonda BeachA three-kilometre arc of clean, quiet sand backed by palms — repeatedly rated among Asia's best beaches. Perfect for a slow walk and a long brunch. |
| 12:45 | Lunch at AgondaBeachfront shacks and cafés — grilled catch of the day is the move. |
| 14:15 | Palolem BeachThe famous crescent bay — calm, shallow, sheltered water. Kayaking, swimming and dolphin-spotting boats all operate from here. |
| 15:30 | Butterfly Beach by boatA secluded, near-circular cove reachable only by sea. Shared boats from Palolem run ₹300–400/person, roughly 20–25 minutes each way. |
| 17:30 | Patnem BeachFive minutes from Palolem — one of Goa's cleanest and calmest beaches. A short walk and a coffee before the drive back. |
| 18:00 | Return journey1.5–2 hours back. Dinner en route or near the villa around 20:30. |
Driving
Do
- Start on time — this day collapses if you leave late.
- Carry cash for the Butterfly Beach boat.
- Keep a full tank and a phone power bank.
Don't
- Don't drive to Butterfly Beach.
- Don't attempt cliff selfies at Cabo de Rama.
- Don't rush the return leg at night in the rain.
Day 5 · 23 Aug 2026 (Sunday) — Slow Morning, Souvenirs & Farewell
Villa → local café / market → Goa Airport → Kolkata
| 08:00 | Breakfast & packingUnhurried breakfast, final packing, settle the kitty and check out. |
| 10:00 | Last-minute shoppingCashew feni, Goan spices and masalas, bebinca, port wine, chorizo, handicrafts and fridge magnets. Calangute market or the Mapusa market if timing allows. |
| 12:00 | Drive to the airportLeave a generous buffer for monsoon traffic. Return flight to Kolkata (CCU). |
Driving
Do
- Do a final sweep of every room and the pool area for left-behind items.
- Return the self-drive car with the agreed fuel level.
- Photograph the villa before handover.
Don't
- Don't buy alcohol at the last minute at the airport counter — it's pricier.
- Don't cut the airport buffer thin on a rainy Sunday.
Packing & safety
pack
- Light quick-dry clothes + one full-sleeve set for evenings
- Rain shell / poncho and a compact umbrella (August is monsoon)
- Grippy sandals or trail shoes for slippery fort steps
- Dry bag or zip pouches for phones, cash and documents
- Swimwear, quick-dry towel, spare change of clothes in the car
- Reef-safe SPF 50, sunglasses, cap — the sun bites between showers
- Mosquito repellent and after-bite cream
- Power bank, car phone mount, multi-plug extension for the villa
meds
- Personal prescriptions with a copy of the prescription
- ORS sachets, anti-diarrhoeal, antacid, paracetamol
- Motion-sickness tablets for the Ghat drive and boat ride
- Antiseptic cream, band-aids, crepe bandage
- Antihistamine for jellyfish stings or allergies
docs
- Government photo ID for every guest (mandatory at check-in)
- Driving licence for anyone driving the self-drive car
- Airbnb booking confirmation + host contact saved offline
- Flight tickets and travel insurance details
- Adequate cash — Goa runs on cash outside the big restaurants
safety
- Swim only at flagged, lifeguard-patrolled stretches — monsoon rip currents are lethal.
- Never swim after drinking, and never after sunset.
- Zero drink-driving. Goa Police run frequent night checks; fines and detention are real.
- Helmets are mandatory on two-wheelers, including pillion.
- Emergency numbers: 112 (all-in-one), 108 (ambulance), Drishti lifeguards 1800 121 8100.
- Keep one shared WhatsApp live-location on during day trips.
- Photograph the rental car's existing damage before driving off.
- Don't carry or accept drugs — penalties in Goa are severe and non-negotiable.
money
- Carry ₹8,000–10,000 cash per person; shacks and Fontainhas cafés are cash-only.
- Run a shared UPI kitty for fuel, entries and group meals.
- Confirm seafood prices before ordering — it's often billed by weight.
- Fort Aguada entry is ₹25/person; Butterfly Beach boat ₹300–400/person.