Discover Goa

Discover Goa
SHORE EXCURSION OR ONE DAY TOUR
This guided tour will give you an insight to Goan local life and take you to the most impressive monuments that no visitor to Goa should miss.

SPECIAL OFFER
Individual bookings now : $100US

OFTEN FULL : We strongly recommend that you book well ahead in order to ensure to do the Discover Goa with the experts of Southindia by Car and driver.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Basilica of Bom Jesus
Cathedral of Saint Catherine
Market area : Fish, vegetables, spices and flowers markets
Old Secretariat and Abbé Faria statue
Lunch in a typical Goan restaurant
Tuk tuk ride
Fontainhas latin quarter
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

PICK UP and DROP OFF

Shore Excursions : Our vehicle will enter the protected Cruise Ship Port to pick you up as you leave your ship and to return you there at the end of your excursion before your ship’s sailing time.
One day tours : We will collect you at the location defined in your booking agreement (hotel, airport, train station, …) and return you there or to a different predefined place.

ITINERARY

Basilica of Bom Jesus

 

The famous Basilica of Bom Jesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India.

The Basilica houses the mummified body of the patron saint of Goa, Saint Francis Xavier. The remains of the saint attract a huge number of visitors, Christian and non-Christian alike, especially during the public viewing of his body every ten years (last held in 2014). The saint is said to have miraculous powers of healing.

Construction work on the church began in 1594. The church was consecrated in 1605.

The floor is of marble inlaid with precious stones. Apart from the elaborate gilded altars, the interior of the church is simple. The main baroque style altar holds a large statue of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), and one of Francis Xavier’s companions whose words drew him to a reformed life. It stands between Solomonic pillars above which is the name of Jesus in the IHS monogram and the Holy Trinity.

The church also holds paintings of scenes taken from the life of Saint Francis Xavier. The mausoleum, on the top of which is placed the silver casket with the body of Saint Francis Xavier was the gift of the last of the Medicis, Cosimo III.

On the upper level, overlooking the tomb, is the Bom Jesus Basilica Art Gallery, containing the works of the Goan surrealist painter, Dom Martin.

Cathedral of Saint Catherine

 

The cathedral is locally known as “Sé Cathedral”. The word Sé is Portuguese for See which denotes a bishop’s ecclesiastical jurisdiction The Se Cathedral was built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over a Muslim army, leading to the capture of the city of Goa in 1510. Since the day of the victory happened to be on the feast of Saint Catherine, the cathedral was dedicated to her.

Construction began in 1562. Completed in 1619 it was consecrated in 1640. It originally had two towers, but one collapsed in 1776 and was never rebuilt. It is one of the largest churches in Asia. The church houses the Golden Bell, the largest bell in Goa.

On the tomb of Saint Francis Xavier can be seen the Golden Rose presented to the Cathedral by Pope Pius XII in 1953. The Golden Rose is a gold ornament blessed by a pope and conferred as a token of reverence or affection.

In 2015 a memorial stone was erected in the courtyard to honour Andrius Rudamina, the first Lithuanian, a Jesuit, who arrived in Goa in 1625.

Markets

A walking guided tour will first lead you to a local fish market, passing along the way various monuments such as the Old Secretariat, the 15th century summer palace of sultan Yusuf Adil Shah, and the Abbé Faria statue. You will visit the fish market bursting with fishnets and a huge array of fish.

You will then proceed to the vegetable and spice markets, where you’ll smell the exotic spices and herbs grown in the marshlands of Goa.

You’ll continue on to the flower market, all the while getting a peek into the chaos and charm of local life.

Lunch in a typical Goan restaurant

You will enjoy local food in a typical Goan restaurant in the market area.

Tuk tuk ride

Known by some as a rickshaw, the tuk tuk is an exciting way to visit some of the smaller streets of Goa and to ride like the richer locals through the colourful hustle and bustle.

The tuk tuk will take you to the Fontainhas area, the city’s old Latin quarter.

Fontainhas latin quarter

You will be guided through the Latin quarter of Fontainhas stepping back in time to when the Portuguese were forming their colony. You might wish to visit the quaint little Goan-Portuguese food joint for a mug of chilled beer or cashew feni, a Goan specialty liqueur that’s produced exclusively in the state.

The neighbourhood’s Mediterranean feel, narrow streets, overhanging balconies, and colourful buildings are an absolute delight for the eyes.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

The colonial Portuguese Baroque style church was first built in 1541 as a chapel on a hill side. It was replaced by a larger church in the 1600s as part of Portuguese Goa’s religious expansion. This church houses the ancient bell, the second largest of its kind in Goa, that was removed from the Augustinian ruins of the Church of Our Lady of Grace.

UPCOMING CRUISE SHIP ARRIVALS TO GOA

 

VESSEL NAME ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
AIDAvita 3-Nov-2019 3-Nov-2019
Costa Victoria 7-Nov-2019 7-Nov-2019
Silver Spirit 20-Nov-2019 20-Nov-2019
Costa Victoria 21-Nov-2019 21-Nov-2019
Seven Seas Voyager 22-Nov-2019 22-Nov-2019
Costa Fortuna

Norwegian Jade

23-Nov-2019

4-Dec-2019

23-Nov-2019

4-Dec-2019

Costa Victoria

Oceana

5-Dec-2019

6-Dec-2019

5-Dec-2019

6-Dec-2019

Celebrity Constellation 10-Dec-2019 10-Dec-2019
Oceania Nautica

Costa Victoria

15-Dec-2019

19-Dec-2019

15-Dec-2019

19-Dec-2019

Celebrity Constellation

Costa Victoria

26-Dec-2019

2-Jan-2020

26-Dec-2019

2-Jan-2020

THE PRICE

SPECIAL OFFER
Individual bookings now : $120US

The price includes

Pick up and drop off at your ship in Goa Port or at your hotel
Fully air conditioned vehicle, recent and in excellent condition
Escort by a friendly professional English speaking guide
Entrance fees to the selected sites and camera fees where applicable
Lunch in a typical Goan restaurant
A bottle of water per person
BOOK NOW

Please use the form below to book your trip with Shore Excursions India. We have a policy of replying within 48 hours.
If you are a Cruise Ship Guest booking a Shore Excursion, please indicate the excursion you require and the name of your ship.
Otherwise, please indicate the tour you have selected and the points of pick up and drop off.

More Goa Excursions

You can use the following links to offers on our other Goa Excursions
Each page gives the itinerary of the excursion, its price and a booking facility.

Spicy Goa

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR SATISFACTION

WE ARE are a Government Approved Tours and Travel Company and a Government Approved Cruise Liner Transporter.
WE HOLD the Government Permit allowing entrance to the protected Cruise Ship Port.
WE PICK YOU UP as you leave your ship and to return you there at the end of your excursion before your ship’s sailing time.
WE PROVIDE excursions for Cruise Ship travellers wishing to discover the incredible sites of India in and around our wonderful city.
WE SERVE cruise ships regularly and know how to meet their requirements.
OUR EXCURSIONS are all-included no-hassle excursions with no add-ons and no unwanted commercial visits. Obviously you will support any personal expenses you might decide to incur.
OUR VEHICLES are recent, fully air conditioned, comfortable, safe, clean and perfectly serviced.
OUR SMALL GROUP POLICY enables you to enjoy a private tour in a convivial atmosphere, ideal for communicating with your guide and visiting the sites together.
OUR GUIDES are English Speaking Official Guides who will accompany you during the whole of the excursion, guide you round the sites, and explain local culture and history. They will be delighted to give you any additional information you might request (if you prefer another language, please consult us for a quote).
OUR DRIVERS are Government Registered Tourist Drivers who furthermore have signed our Drivers’ Charter.
OUR EMPLOYEES are professional, experienced and trustworthy local people who will look after you at all times.
WE CARE FOR YOU AS OUR GUEST to ensure you enjoy your excursion in comfort and security. We will take you only to safe areas and to places of proven quality.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS can be found on this website and on the links to TripAdvisor. We encourage you to add your own review after your excursion to help Cruise Ship travellers choose us.
OUR REPUTATION depends on YOUR SATISFACTION and we are organised to achieve your satisfaction during your excursion.

… IF YOU ARE HAPPY, WE ARE HAPPY.

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