Goa

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old Goa's churches - including the Basilica of Bom Jesus, home to the remains of St. Francis Xavier - offer a striking reminder of Goa's 450 years under Portuguese rule.

From the lively energy of Baga and Calangute in the north to the quieter, low-key charm of Palolem in the south, Goa's coastline offers something for every mood - worth building a full day around simply exploring a few.

A guided walk through a working spice plantation - cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg - offers a fragrant, genuinely interesting look at the agriculture behind Goan and Indian cuisine, often paired with a traditional lunch.

One of India's tallest waterfalls, cascading dramatically through the jungle on the Goa-Karnataka border - a proper day trip, best visited just after monsoon season when the falls are at their most powerful.

Running every Wednesday, Anjuna's famous flea market is a colourful mix of clothing, jewellery, and souvenirs, with a genuinely bohemian atmosphere that's been part of Goa's identity since the hippie trail days of the 1960s.

Set across 56 acres of landscaped gardens along Benaulim Beach, Taj Exotica pairs genuine scale with excellent dining and a strong spa - a dependable, well-established luxury choice.

A bold, design-forward beachfront property in South Goa, W Goa brings a livelier, more contemporary energy than Goa's more traditional resorts - a strong pick for a younger or more design-conscious crowd.

Inspired by traditional Goan village architecture, Alila Diwa offers a genuinely tranquil, design-led retreat set among paddy fields, a short distance from the beach.