Private Cultural Tour: Ancestral Goa, Shantadurga Temple and Spice Village Including Lunch
4.3
8 Ratings
Ancestral Goa
Immerse yourself in Goa's rich cultural heritage, explore ancient temples influenced by Portuguese architecture, and indulge in a flavorful journey through a spice village. Enjoy a private tour with lunch included.
Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Ancestral Goa - Ancestral Goa. Commonly referred to by locals as Big Foot Museum, this cultural center in the village of Loutolim is designed to preserve the culture an dtraditions of the region and pays homage to Portuguese influences. Tour the village with your expert guide and gain insight into age-old traditions like bringing feni—a local moonshine made from cashews or coconut.
What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transport in private air-conditioned vehicle
  • English-speaking guide
  • Spice plantation tour
  • Lunch included
  • Complimentary water bottle on board
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Immerse yourself in Goa’s rich cultural legacy, the intricacies of Hindu religion, and the hearty cuisine on a personalized all-day tour. Led by an experienced guide, your journey will take you to Ancestral Goa - an establishment dedicated to the conservation of art, culture, and nature; two Hindu temples, showcasing the amalgamation of Indian and Portuguese influences; and a spice village, home to India’s most prized and emblematic commodity. The tour promises a genuine Indian luncheon and convenient pick-up and drop-off from your hotel.

  • Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
  • Please note that lunch will not be served until mid- to late-afternoon. You’re welcome to bring a packed lunch if you’d like to eat prior to the buffet lunch.
  • A maximum of 9 people per booking
Location
Ancestral Goa
Loutolim, Salcete
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.3
(8 Ratings)
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1 star
Antonio_c
Jan 9, 2023
Walking inside the... - Walking inside the churches, and the temes devoted to shiva and durga, as wellas tge spice temple,were my highlights.
Review provided by Viator
Vnktsimhan
Feb 12, 2020
Trip through Thomas cook chennai - Very nice arrangement in a vehicle and guided tour at temple and spice village were unforgettable trip we had.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gilbert
Feb 18, 2013
Goa was an amazing tour. We really... - <p>Goa was an amazing tour. We really enjoyed the spice village and luncheon. Also, the method used to show the Portuguese house and the lifestyle of Goa was very unique. We came away with great information and the food was terrific. This tour was the highlight of all our Indian visits.</p>
Review provided by Viator
Christine
Feb 24, 2016
The guide was good and the tour... - <p>The guide was good and the tour informative. The buildings and museum were interesting. Spice garden was great.</p>
Review provided by Viator
Joaquin
Mar 10, 2015
This tour has been very nice. The... - <p>This tour has been very nice. The experience in both temples has been wonderful. And the Spice Village is lovely. Very good experience!</p>
Review provided by Viator
Jacqui
Apr 22, 2014
Very enjoyable, guide knowledgeable... - <p>Very enjoyable, guide knowledgeable, enjoyed viewing speces growing.</p>
Review provided by Viator
Kishan
Dec 1, 2013
The tour was really good. Our guide... - <p>The tour was really good. Our guide had arrived on time and was very knowledgeable. The spice village and lunch was amazing. Really worth booking.</p>
Review provided by Viator
Jill_g
Mar 17, 2024
I would have given it a 2, but the guide was a nice guy - Our guide tried so hard (with words) to make this a great experience, but it really wasn't. I think a private tour should be exceptional, but this one was a rip-off. Two of us paid $296 to visit two places with a total admission charge of less than $4 per person, two temples that were free, and a spice plantation that rolls tourists through it like an assembly line. Casa Araujo Alvares was interesting with its loud pre-recorded blasts of information and women ushers who hustled us through the building. Big Foot was less of a museum and more like a wanna-be Disney attraction with brightly painted plaster statues and blaring music. The exotic birds on display (real ones) were the best part of Big Foot. We visited two Hindu temples where we were told to enter on our own without a guide. Perhaps because the Hindu priests glower at foreign tourists? We obeyed all the rules for visitors, and a priest chased after us, yelling, as we left. I think he wanted us to come back and make a donation.... The most beautiful sight on the tour was the pontoon bridge leading over the lake on our way to the spice plantation. I learned a lot about spices from the plantation guide, but I didn't buy any spices, since they didn't sell the ground cinnamon I wanted, the reason cited by the salesperson being that it has a short shelf life (?) of only 6 months. (So how old was the stuff they were selling?) The dining area there is a large open shed with a tin roof, dirt floor and wooden picnic tables. The meal was not to our liking since my husband has gastric issues with really hot spices, and I'm allergic to coconut. Everything contained coconut. It was served mess hall style out of a variety of kitchen pots. Luckily we brought some snacks of our own. The car we drove in had air conditioning, but the seat belts didn't work. We asked if there were any bottles of water in the car, and they were in the trunk (boot). If the tour had been a lot less expensive, we wouldn't have minded so much, but it definitely wasn't worth the inflated price we paid. Maybe Viator and Trip Advisor should check into this. Warning: it looks like all tours in Goa end at the spice plantation, even if you've already been there. Bon Appetit!
Review provided by Viator
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up to 9 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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