Day 1: Namaste Mumbai!
Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai is a sprawling metropolis aptly christened as the ‘Maximum City’. The history and popular culture of Mumbai, all speak at a high decibel range.
On arrival, connect with our representative and driver and transfer to the hotel of your choice.
Day 2: Feel the Pulse of Mumbai
Mumbai is a stunning mix of diversity. A true melting pot of contemporary India, this is one fast paced city which never sleeps. South Mumbai is a well-preserved catalogue of colonial era architecture, posh neighborhoods, iconic pubs & eateries accompanied by the gentle breeze of the ocean. Central Mumbai takes a page out of Darwin’s theory – a true test of survival of the fittest. One of the best ways to explore Mumbai is by following the path the natives take during their routine.
Start with an early morning visit to Sassoon Dock in south Mumbai. The fishermen auction their haul to the highest bidder in a loud contest.
Next, visit to Victoria Terminus – a major railway junction where Mumbai’s local train network bring millions to work on time. The outside façade of Victoria Terminus leans heavily onto gothic architecture, and is one of the most finely preserved heritage buildings of Mumbai.
We’ll head to central Mumbai and begin a 2-3-hour long walking tour inside Dharavi Slum. Within the narrow lanes of the slum lie over thousand small scale industries which take home a collective revenue if over 20 million US dollars. Your local guide will take your through the well organised chaos of Dharavi.
For a unique photo opportunity, head to Dhobi Ghat which is an open-air laundry yard near Mahalaxmi Station. You will see thousands of clothes hanged to dry, divided by color, fabric type. Each section is divided based on the address/locality where the clothes will be delivered after cleaning.
After lunch, roam through the maze of Chor Bazaar & Crawford Market.
In the evening, we recommend a pub crawl starting from Café Leopold, moving to Café Mondegar and ending at a contemporary lounge/bar of your choice in the trendy Fort district of south Mumbai.
Day 3: Elephanta Caves & Gateway of India
Set off this morning to the Gateway of India, a monument that was erected to celebrate the arrival of King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911. This is also the place from where the last British ships sailed out of India after declaration of independence.
After admiring the magnificent arch and the panoramic scenic view, board a ferry to Elephanta Caves Island (a journey of approximately 40 minutes). Island is surrounded by lush jungles and in the center of it lies a collection of 4th - 9th century rock-cut caves. You will reach the caves after climbing over one hundred steps to the top of the hill. The island’s primary inhabitants are a gang of Rhesus Macaques. After admiring a plethora of amazing rock-cut caves, stunning murals and sculptures of Hindu deities, you will make way back to the mainland.
This afternoon, you can visit museums and galleries if you wish. Prince of Wales Museum, Jahangir Art Gallery and Mani Bhawan to pick from a few of the main highlights.
You have the remaining day at leisure.
Day 4 : Breezy Goa!
Goa is a lush green haven on the coastal belt of India. Situated on the coastline recognized as Konkan Coast, Goa is a minute state with a big heart. Goa was liberated from the Portuguese regime in December 19, 1961. Needless to say, Goa has a heavy Portuguese influence in its cultural background. With scenic coastal belts and lush green inland surroundings, the slow rhythm of Goa is easy to adapt. You have a variety of attractions to choose from, mesmerizing beaches, slow lazy lagoons, historic churches, vintage bungalows and fragrant spice and cashew plantations.
The cuisine of Goa has many passions and layers. From fiery dishes which are a legacy of the Portuguese, to creamy coconut curries. Seafood is the king here for the predominant rice eating natives.
On arrival, transfer to the hotel of your choice and have the day at leisure.
*Goa is divided into two parts – South & North Goa. North Goa is the party paradise and South Goa has a slower pace with miles of untouched beaches. Travel distance from North to South Goa and vice versa is about 2 hours one-way.
Day 5: Latin Goa
Today, start with a drive to Chandor, located in south of Goa. This was the ancient capital of Goa during the Kadamba dynasty. We will start the tour with a visit to Braganza house, which was built in the 17th Century. This Portuguese style mansion was built on land granted to the Braganza family by the King of Portugal. Now the mansion is open to public, and one can see the treasures collected over the years by the wealthy ancestors of the family. Have a look at the gorgeous Belgian glass chandeliers, Italian marble floors and antique treasures from Macau, Portugal, China and Europe.
From here, head to Quepem which is about 8 kilometers from Chandor. The highlight at Quepem is Palácio do Deão, a palace built by a Portuguese nobleman. The group will be hosted for a scrumptious Portuguese-inspired lunch at the premises of Palácio do Deão. From here, we will drive to Margao and explore the colorful city market. Buy souvenirs or just click pictures of the lovely and joyful natives.
Spend the remaining of the day getting comfortable at one of the many shacks dotting the beaches of the Goa.
Day 6: Kickback at the Beach
Day at leisure to explore the city at your own pace. You can hire motorbikes or scooters to charge along the sleepy lanes of the many beach side villages and explore unexplored lagoons, backwaters and secluded beaches.
Day 7: Goa – Mumbai
Fly to Mumbai and connect to your international departure onwards.