Heritage walk in Old Goa to relive the golden age of Velha Goa
5
Heritage walk in Old Goa to relive the golden age of Velha Goa
By 5 Senses Walks
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About
This heritage walk will take you back in time to the 16th century and help you experience the the grandeur of Velha Goa, which was one of the leading cities of the world at that time! Relive the times when Old Goa was on the global map and competed with London and Lisbon as the most glorious city of the world!
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 18-70, max of 15 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Guide
- Entrance charges
- Coffee and/or Tea
What's not included- Pick up and drop
- Start:
- Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa Road, गोआ वेळ, Goa 403402, IndiaOur guide will meet you outside the Church
End:- Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, GW23+PX9, Old Goa, Goa 403402, IndiaTour ends outside church
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 122655P2- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 122655P2
From
$48.00
per adult (price varies by group size)
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Old Goa Road, गोआ वेळ, Goa 403402, IndiaOur guide will meet you outside the Church
- 1
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- 3
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- 5
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- 7
- GW23+PX9, Old Goa, Goa 403402, IndiaTour ends outside church
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- EleWanana0 contributionsAmazing walk with loads of historyWe booked this tour because we were satisfied with the company and hat a nice experience already in Chennai. Also we loved the Panjim walk: Our guide Sawani was really nice and knowledgeable. She gave us a great overview about the history of Panjim and whole Goa. Can recommend!Written December 8, 2022
- Chasy16420 contributionsPanjim walkThe panjim walk was a fantastic one. Our guide made sure we learnt a lot about the Goan heritage in a fun way. He was very well read and made it very interesting with anecdotes and lesser known remarkable facts. The architecture was outstanding and it really transported us to a bygone Era. Highly recommendedWritten September 26, 2022
- Kendra j0 contributionsSpectacular walk in PanjimWe had a great time exploring Panjim with an awesome guide. 5 Senses ensured the guide met us on time. The guide was very passionate and answered all our questions, He learnt a lot about living in Goa and its rich and mixed heritage. The latin quarters were outstanding. The architecture was unique and very quaint and different from the rest of Goa. The Immaculate church was another memorable visit. It was a fantastic heritage walk where we learnt a lot about Goa!Written August 31, 2021
- 913abbyj0 contributionsFontainhas history lessonRamchandra was a great guide, the walk was relaxed and informative. The snack was a nice add-on and the postcard activity was a good surpriseWritten January 26, 2020
- Stacyrogers520 contributionsPanjim walking tourWe had the morning of Saturday free and so signed up for the panjim heritage walk as this was our first visit to goa. Our guide was fantastic and took great care of us throughout the walk. She told us riveting stories of the Portuguese and also about life in Goa of today. The Latin quarters of Fountainhas was the highlight of the walk and so was the Hindu temple of the goddess of wealth. This is a great way to orient yourseof about Goa. Highly recommendedWritten November 14, 2019
- Countryexplorer1230 contributionsCulture walk in panjimWe were met by ram at the post office in Panjim and there were 3 more people. The next 3 hours were an amazing experience of Goan history and culture. We learnt so much about the Portuguese influence on Goa. The churches were incredible and so was the food. Ram was one of the best walking tour guides I have ever had and I would recommend this.Written November 10, 2019
- JParson520 contributionsPanjim walkWe signed up for the Panjim heritage walk by 5 senses walks as we had the morning free. It was a lovely experience over 3 hours walking through streets of Panjim. Ram took us to fontainhas the Latin quarters and it was incredibly beautiful. We also saw several churches and old Portuguese heritage monuments. Ram also took us to a nice eatery where we had Goan snacks. It was a great way to spend a Sunday morning. I would highly recommend this.Written October 23, 2019
- Nimodory0 contributionsHeritage walkIt was a lovely experience with 5 senses walks as Sawani took us on uhe panjim heritage walk. We explored the Portuguese quarters, tobacco square, visited churches and a mahalakshmi Temple. Ot was a well organised walk full of conversation and i enjoyed every bit of itWritten July 17, 2019
- TrailBlazer3766460 contributionsGoa beyond famed beachedThis was easily the highlight of our Goa holiday. Within 3 days, Sun, surf and sand started to get monotonous. That's when we decided to explore history and architecture of Old Goa. Glad we shortlisted the best one. The guide was excellent. At the end of the tour was convinced that Goa is as much a historical and cultural destination as much as it is India's best known beach resortWritten July 17, 2019
- BradG_23t0 contributionsAmazing tour of panjimWe had a great time with Sawani in the panjim heritage walk. The guide was an archaeologist and very knowledgeable. We enjoyed the 3 hour walk to the Latin quarters as well as temples. Sawani also arranged goan food for us which was fantastic. Highly recommendedWritten July 16, 2019
- Adhiraj_190 contributionsA Fascinating Treat to Hear Mr. Ramchandra Prabhu SalgaonkarWe took this tour only bcoz we need someone to show us the Fontainhas, since studying over net, I found it quite confusing to take without a guide n what an amazing tour it came up to be. It was fascinating to hear Mr. Ram, with all the unknown/ little known facts and history about Goa, like the Portuguese made an architectural marvel (Ponte de linaras) to get it compared with Taj Mahal, like why the Jesus statue in St Sebastian's Church has eyes open n soo many more. The breakfast at Cafe Bhonsle was amazing with all the local dishes. The pictures he took was good. The walking speed was based on everyone's comfort zone. The interactions was funny and amazing. We highly recommend to take a tour with Mr. Ram. Rating:5/5Written February 4, 2019
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
8 reviews
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Paul V S
Austin, TX18 contributions
Feb 2020
Sawani gave us a brilliant day in Old Goa and Panjim. She was full of good information and interesting narrative, but she is also wonderfully deliberate but candid in sharing her views, and kind to old people like us. She had a fine sense of how to corral way four wayward old whitehairs around, even in the throng at Bom Jesu.
Lunch was at a modern local restaurant was delicious (Sawani chose for us), and the nice car and Ashok the driver made us comfortable and safe all day. Sawani gave us delicious treats after our visit to the Hanuman temple. While we liked and admired the colonial sites of Portuguese settlement in India, we were most grateful for the temple visit. Sawani guided us in making a sacrifice of oil, and invited us to sit on the floor among the worshippers as long as we liked. We were lucky to visit on a day of the week on which the temple's deity, Hanuman, is especially venerated. We were there with a variety of the faithful, young and old. This part of the visit was not about antiquity or art history, but about being among people living their lives.
Lunch was at a modern local restaurant was delicious (Sawani chose for us), and the nice car and Ashok the driver made us comfortable and safe all day. Sawani gave us delicious treats after our visit to the Hanuman temple. While we liked and admired the colonial sites of Portuguese settlement in India, we were most grateful for the temple visit. Sawani guided us in making a sacrifice of oil, and invited us to sit on the floor among the worshippers as long as we liked. We were lucky to visit on a day of the week on which the temple's deity, Hanuman, is especially venerated. We were there with a variety of the faithful, young and old. This part of the visit was not about antiquity or art history, but about being among people living their lives.
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mobile98170
2 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
Guide was incredible. Had an answer for every question and was fun to walk around GOA with. Booking was efficient and helpful. Would highly recommend.
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
atulya_sinha
Kolkata (Calcutta), India869 contributions
Nov 2019
During a recent business trip to Goa, I planned to take a conducted walk of the World Heritage Site at Velha (Old) Goa while I was free for a few hours on a weekday. Several tours were listed on TripAdvisor, but this was the only one which inspired confidence; so I booked a slot for it, although it was the most expensive option.
A few hours before the tour was scheduled to begin, I got a message from Sawani, who introduced herself as the guide for the walking tour and sent me a link for the starting point. Unfortunately, the car I had booked on the day of the tour reached very late and I was afraid that I would miss some of the attractions. I contacted Sawani, who informed me (much to my relief) that it was a private tour and I was the only participant!
I reached Viceroy’s Arch, the starting point of the tour, to find Sawani waiting patiently. She turned out to be an energetic young lady, perhaps half my age. However, I had much to learn from her, ranging from the properties of Laterite to the peculiar symbol of a double-headed eagle found in many cultures across the world.
The tour started from the Viceroy’s Arch, built by Francisco da Gama in memory of his ancestor Vasco da Gama. Then we visited the picturesque St Cajetan’s Church (which few tourists visit and which was not on the list of attractions provided by the tour operator). We also spent a few minutes at the so-called doorway of Adil Shah’s palace.
The next halt was Se Cathedral, the largest of the surviving churches of Goa, which makes the astounding claim that it is the biggest church in Asia! The Archaeological Museum located behind the cathedral turned out to be a real treasure house, and Sawani – whose core specialization is not colonial history but archaeology – had much to say. She not only explained the significance of the Portuguese sculptures and artefacts, but also those of pre-Portuguese era which were on display. She quoted stories from the Puranas to explain the finer details of the Hindu sculptures. We also visited a portrait gallery on the first floor and later saw inscriptions in Persian and Marathi, apart from the relics of a queen of Georgia. After spending an hour or so at the Museum, we visited the adjacent Church of St. Francis of Assisi. Then we went inside St Catherine’s Chapel, which few tourists manage to see. By then I was quite tired and we took a break at Ratna Sagar restaurant - where I had a snack and a cup of coffee, but the indefatigable Sawani simply sipped hot water!
Later, we visited the Basilica of Bom Jesus where there were huge crowds for the upcoming feast. After a brief stop at their souvenir shop, we proceeded to the ruins of St Augustine’s church. Sawani showed me the site where the church had once stood, as well as the attached nunnery/monastery, patiently answering all my questions. I noticed that there was a museum of Christian Art across the road, but it was not open to public.
I must say that Sawani played her role with aplomb, displaying much patience, knowledge and enthusiasm. Best wishes to her!
I am also satisfied by the services provided by the website and the tour operator, except for the fact that the ticket says that Entrance charges are included and goes on to list “Entry/Admission” to various attractions covered in the tour. This might have been a significant benefit if this tour had been in Paris, Rome or Istanbul, where one typically pays ten euros at each location and two or three times that amount for “skip the queue” facility. In Velha Goa, on the other hand, admission is free of charge at all the attractions covered in the tour, except for a ten-rupee ticket for the Museum. Hence the promise of including entrance charges is not just irrelevant but also unethical.
Note: This listing is about the walking tour offered by 5 Senses, not about the attractions which are included in it; and so my review is mainly about the tour itself. However, I do intend to post reviews of the individual attractions later.
A few hours before the tour was scheduled to begin, I got a message from Sawani, who introduced herself as the guide for the walking tour and sent me a link for the starting point. Unfortunately, the car I had booked on the day of the tour reached very late and I was afraid that I would miss some of the attractions. I contacted Sawani, who informed me (much to my relief) that it was a private tour and I was the only participant!
I reached Viceroy’s Arch, the starting point of the tour, to find Sawani waiting patiently. She turned out to be an energetic young lady, perhaps half my age. However, I had much to learn from her, ranging from the properties of Laterite to the peculiar symbol of a double-headed eagle found in many cultures across the world.
The tour started from the Viceroy’s Arch, built by Francisco da Gama in memory of his ancestor Vasco da Gama. Then we visited the picturesque St Cajetan’s Church (which few tourists visit and which was not on the list of attractions provided by the tour operator). We also spent a few minutes at the so-called doorway of Adil Shah’s palace.
The next halt was Se Cathedral, the largest of the surviving churches of Goa, which makes the astounding claim that it is the biggest church in Asia! The Archaeological Museum located behind the cathedral turned out to be a real treasure house, and Sawani – whose core specialization is not colonial history but archaeology – had much to say. She not only explained the significance of the Portuguese sculptures and artefacts, but also those of pre-Portuguese era which were on display. She quoted stories from the Puranas to explain the finer details of the Hindu sculptures. We also visited a portrait gallery on the first floor and later saw inscriptions in Persian and Marathi, apart from the relics of a queen of Georgia. After spending an hour or so at the Museum, we visited the adjacent Church of St. Francis of Assisi. Then we went inside St Catherine’s Chapel, which few tourists manage to see. By then I was quite tired and we took a break at Ratna Sagar restaurant - where I had a snack and a cup of coffee, but the indefatigable Sawani simply sipped hot water!
Later, we visited the Basilica of Bom Jesus where there were huge crowds for the upcoming feast. After a brief stop at their souvenir shop, we proceeded to the ruins of St Augustine’s church. Sawani showed me the site where the church had once stood, as well as the attached nunnery/monastery, patiently answering all my questions. I noticed that there was a museum of Christian Art across the road, but it was not open to public.
I must say that Sawani played her role with aplomb, displaying much patience, knowledge and enthusiasm. Best wishes to her!
I am also satisfied by the services provided by the website and the tour operator, except for the fact that the ticket says that Entrance charges are included and goes on to list “Entry/Admission” to various attractions covered in the tour. This might have been a significant benefit if this tour had been in Paris, Rome or Istanbul, where one typically pays ten euros at each location and two or three times that amount for “skip the queue” facility. In Velha Goa, on the other hand, admission is free of charge at all the attractions covered in the tour, except for a ten-rupee ticket for the Museum. Hence the promise of including entrance charges is not just irrelevant but also unethical.
Note: This listing is about the walking tour offered by 5 Senses, not about the attractions which are included in it; and so my review is mainly about the tour itself. However, I do intend to post reviews of the individual attractions later.
Written December 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for your kind review. Its wonderful to see you have taken time to share so much detail. I am delighted you enjoyed the walk. Regarding the point on entry charges, its a format issue as we need to choose if the entry charges are covered or not. Once we say yes, then it gets printed in the voucher! I will check if there is a way to change the format.
Written December 16, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sheryl Johnson
Illinois7 contributions
Nov 2019
We had half a day free on a Saturday and we decided to take up the Old Goa heritage walk based on reviews on tripadvisor,. The tour was fantastic led by Ram a very well read professional guide. He began with a good background about the history of Portuguese rule in Goa and how Old Goa was their capital and they built magnificent churches here. We visited several Churches built in Portuguese style including Bom Jesus and it was spectacular. Five Senses Tours also arranged a convenient pick up, drop to my hotel. The local food provided during the walk was the icing on the cake. Highly recommended.
Written November 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello and thank you for taking time for this review. It was our pleasure hosting you on the Old Goa Walk.
Written December 16, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jason parker
New York City, NY5 contributions
Oct 2019
We had booked the old goa walk with 5 Senses walks. It was a great booking experience as we got craft number as well as the picture of the guide well before the day. On the day of the tour Ram picked us up on time from the lobby and drove old goa. Ram is a great guide and made us feel very comfortable. He knew his history and he also told us interesting anecdotes which made it fun. The vice Roy arch is where we began and then we saw a slew of magnificent churches. Basilica of Bom Jesus was spectacular. It was a lovely way to relive the glory days of Velha Goa.
Written October 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for taking time to review the tour of Old Goa. Its great to know you enjoyed the day rediscovering the glory of Old Goa with us!
Written December 17, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Devranjan
Mumbai, India10 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
Ram is an expert on old Goa we enjoyed this tour so much more because of his expert guidance. We enjoyed BOM jesus and Se cathedral especially. A fantastic day and I would urge anyone coming to Goa to take this tour
Written June 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for taking time out for this review. I am glad you enjoyed the Old Goa Walk with Ram. It was our pleasure
Written July 17, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sambeet S
Bengaluru, India9 contributions
We did the rediscover grandeur of old Goa walk and it was simply great. We had a very knowledgeable guide who helped us explain how Velha Goa was one of the best cities to live in the world in 16th century. The churches were incredibly beautiful and we also had some delicious Goan refreshments with our friendly and immensely knowledgeable guide. Thank you so much
Written June 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello and thanks for this opportunity to host you. I am glad you loved the Old Goa walk with Ram. It was our pleasure
Written July 17, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Manish
1 contribution
May 2019 • Friends
It was a fantastic walk through old Goa. Ram picked us up from the vice Roy arch from where the Portuguese had entered Goa! It was lovely to be taken back 500 years back when old Goa was a global city. We loved the guidance of Ram as he was very knowledgeable and I was able to appreciate all the churches we saw much more in his company. Highly recommended
Written June 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for this review. I am delighted you enjoyed the Old Goa Walk led by Ram. Its great to know you loved the time travel 500 years back on this walk!
Written July 17, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
