Go Beach Crazy in Goa

By Hugh Finlay

Kick back in Goa. (India Tourist Board)

Take time out from the rigors of Indian travel and hang out on the beaches of Goa. This former Portuguese enclave offers the rare (for India) chance to just kick back and be a true hedonist—sun, sand, and palm-fringed beaches are the order of the day. At night you'll find cool bars and full-moon beach raves, and around Christmastime travelers flock from all over India to chill out. Try a scuba dive at Candolim or rent a bicycle and explore the 16th-century Portuguese buildings of Old Goa. Accommodations range from tents to five-star resorts, and access is by air (including direct charter flights from Europe) and train from all parts of the country.

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