I enjoyed the trip. The guide was excellent, accommodation on the coast very good and at the camp better than I expected.
J.S. Norfolk
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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India - Goa
Tour Code: IND15A 9-day birdwatching tour visiting the coastal regions and hills of Goa.
£2,995 (Inc flights)
£2,495
Highlights
- A week of top quality birdwatching
- Great selection of – and a perfect introduction to – Indian birds
- Wintering species from northern Asia, plus migrant waterbirds & waders
- Local Western Ghats bird specialities
- Delicious Goan cuisine
- Comfortable accommodation close to a popular beach
- Led by expert local naturalist guides
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The popular image of Goa is one of palm-fringed beaches and hot sunny days spent amidst a tropical paradise. This former Portuguese enclave on the west coast of India could certainly be described in these terms, but it is also a superlative birdwatching destination. Our time will be divided between a resort hotel near Baga Beach and Backwoods Permanent Camp in the forests of the Western Ghats range, a combination that will provide the best possible variety of habitats. The dazzlingly colourful birdlife includes representatives from many of the characteristic families of Indian birds plus wintering species, passage migrants and localised specialities of the Western Ghats hills.
Grading
Mostly easy walks (with some short ascents) near the coast.Goa is a former Portuguese enclave on the west coast of India, about 200 kilometres south of the bustling metropolis of Mumbai (Bombay). Hardly larger than Devon, Goa offers a relaxed, comfortable and bird-filled introduction to India for first time visitors, and a refreshingly ‘easy’ and yet diverse destination for more experienced visitors to the subcontinent. The combination of guaranteed sunshine, good food (Goans invented the Vindaloo and Xacuti dishes!) and great tropical birding makes this a tempting prospect indeed. Our first base near Baga will give us the chance of getting to know the commoner and more widespread species, with a good few specialities, while our exploration of the interior, centred on the Backwoods luxury permanent camp, offers more difficult and secretive forest species, and the chance of some true rarities. Travel time by road will be kept to a minimum, and many of the sites are accessed only on foot, making this a peaceful and easy-paced holiday, notwithstanding the expected long bird list!
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation: All accommodation is included in the holiday cost. Good quality hotel on coast, comfortable permanent camp at Tambdi Surla. All with private facilities and electric fans.
- Food: The food will be a mixture of traditional Indian and Indianised Western in style.
Reviews
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A superb holiday. Excellent accommodation, food, guide and birding.
K.C. Yorkshire -
Tour leader was excellent; not only his bird skills, but also as an organiser. Good value for money. Good time management; we went out birding as much as we could. Accommodation in Goa was very good; Backwoods Camp was basic, but very pretty! Trip was also nice because of a cosy, but active group and the weather was fine.
B.B. Netherlands -
The leaders were outstanding - knowledgeable, always aware of the needs of individuals, and with a great sense of humour. The management of the boat was also outstanding - attentiveness of staff and attention to detail. The food was excellent. The trip was well organised - it was useful to be given a printed copy each evening of the following day's arrangements.
Mr & Mrs A. Hertfordshire
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
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Our bargain birdwatching tours suit keen birders who want an active, fast-paced birding holiday with a dedicated focus on searching for birds rather than on looking at the area’s other wildlife or cultural highlights.
We offer a wide selection of long-haul holidays to many destinations in South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere.
What can I expect?
- An expert English-speaking local ornithologist leader
- Outstanding value for money
- Dawn-to-dusk birding with limited time for rest, relaxation and outside interests
- Enviable bird lists
- Focused searches for endemics and regional specialities
Who are these tours best suited to?
- Keen & active birders – whether expert or making their first visit to a country or continent
- People looking for an action-packed bird-focused tour
Where can I go?
Naturetrek's selection of birdwatching holidays includes many South and Central American countries including Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Panama.
In Africa our selection includes Malawi, Ethiopia and South Africa, while in India and Nepal we offer a choice of 17 bargain birdwatching tours! Here are a few more choices:
- Endemics of Western Australia
- Argentina's Mar Chiquita
- Birds of Brazils Atlantic rainforest
- Colombia – home to the world’s richest avifauna
- Sri Lanka’s endemic birds
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
All Bargain birdwatching Tours
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!