Goa

Arambol used to be a beautiful beach isolated by an estuary that required a ferry to cross it – now a bridge runs across and has opened up the northern beaches to the backpacker hordes. These days, every traveler who carries a guidebook heads to Arambol and enrols in a yoga, Tai Chi or Reiki course.

Arambol is an Indian village but entire streets have been taken over by merchants selling crap to the tourists. You get hassled on the beach all day and at first glance the beach can seem to be without character.

But Arambol is a long, sweeping beach and you can find your own quiet corner. Go around the headland and there’s a fresh water lagoon where you can take mud baths and a banyan tree with chillum circles usually in progress.

Arambol has also attracted a more creative, interesting crowd in recent years who have revitalised the live music scene in Goa and now places like Anjuna have largely been left to the old farts of the 70’s. Just be warned that there are plenty of Israelis, too.

Back to Top - Print this page