The 5 best restaurants in North Goa: 2017

Friday, 5 May 2017

What to expect during the off season in Goa ?

what to expect durinf the off season in goa atlantis water sports activities blog

The month of may has arrived and being a Goan , this is the month where I eagerly wait for a whiff of the first rain. Last Tuesday I hit the beach (Vagator) for a swim. The skies were gloomy and those dark clouds gave me a feeling that the tourist season will end real soon. This means, welcome off season which further means empty beaches, congestion free roads and monsoon activities.

What’s an off season ?

Off season is usually the time of the year where most business along the beach side in Goa, remain closed. Businesses like shacks, hotels and restaurants to name a few. The onset of monsoon triggers this closure. Usually it starts from mid May till October. Thought this time you will also encounter relatively less tourist population and great cheap deals on hotel accommodation

Can there really be an off season in Goa ?

Well now this is a question of debate. Monsoons 2014 saw considerably good amount of domestic tourists, with Goa Tourism claiming 18% rise in arrivals during the monsoons. Many of them, visit Goa during this time of the year. Reason being, schools are closed for the summer break, (easy for the whole family to travel) and travel is also cheap (you will be saving a lot here). Moreover you can experience the real Goa minus the crowd as you won’t see much of international tourists, as they prefer the sun and stay from the rains. (No point for oglers visiting Goa)

Dining at a restaurant will almost be the same and there is a surety that you will find great hotel deals during the peak monsoon time. You can give up the idea of having a chilled beer at a shack because most of them will be closed for the monsoons only to be rebuilt mid October.

What to expect during the off season ?

A whole lot of things like Adventures, Trekking, Tours and more . Here’s a round-up of the most popular monsoon activities that will open in Goa during the off season.

Trek to Tambdi Surla Waterfall

tambdi surla waterfall mahaden temple off season monsoon activities goa blogger — Trekking at Tambdi Surla (Image Courtesy: El1saB, Flickr)

Ask any Goan for a recommendation on off-beat activities in do during the monsoons in Goa. Most of them will suggest you to go to Tambdi Surla. The recommendation is mainly because, Tambdi Surla transforms into a green haven during the monsoons and is totally secluded from the city.

Kayaking in Chapora River

kayaking chapora river off season activities social media goa blogger — Kayaking at Chapora River

Experience what it’s like to be in the middle of the tranquil Chapora river. Words can express this so take a look at the short movie we created of our River Kayaking Adventures.

Heritage Tours

Heritage tours are gaining momentum in Goa as more and more people want to experience the culture and heritage of Goa. You can experience Goa in a nutshell which covers historic locations, churches and temples.

Adventure Boat Cruise

This cruise is open thought the monsoons and you can enjoy a plethora of activities on board like, Kayaking, Stand up paddle boarding, snorkeling, fishing and more. It’s a 4 hour cruise with on-board food, beverages and music, prefect for families and couples.

For other monsoon activities you can visit our page here.

To conclude, Goa never goes on a holiday. The aura that Goa exhibits during the rains is just blissful. There’s greenery everywhere from fields to meadows. Come rain or shine, the pearl of the orient remains open 365 days a year. We love to hear from you in the comments below !

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Friday, 28 April 2017

Corporate team building activities in Goa

When people come together and collaborate for a common cause, ideas are born. For a team to succeed, it’s imperative that all the participants get involved and contribute. As Henry Ford once said

“If everyone moves forward together, then success takes care of itself.”

These words still hold weight, not only in the corporate world, but in every aspect of our lives. So what exactly is team building?

What is Team Building?

Team building refers to the various activities undertaken to motivate the team members involved in these activities and increase the overall performance of the team. Activities involved ranges from outdoor beach water sports to indoor programs.

Why is Corporate Team Building important?

The practice of team building brings people together by encouraging collaboration and teamwork. The set up of these activities are such that the team members involved use their competitive spirit in a casual way to attain a particular goal. Team building activities help in fostering harmonious communication channels, deeper discussions and genuine rapport.

To cater such an environment and employee mindset at the workplace, reputed corporate firms often introduce team building activities for their employees every year.

Here are some corporate team building activities in Goa

Kayaking

The group is divided into teams. A relay race will take place where teams have to compete to win. A marker buoy is set afloat in the water. Each team has to race against time and kayak themselves around the marker buoy and back to the beach further handling the kayak to the next team member.

Catamaran Sailing

In Catamaran Sailing, 3 to 5 participants comprise of one team. With 3 members per catamaran, a team member can sail their way across one or multiple buoy’s indicating completion of a milestone. In the final round, 2 participants from the first 2 rounds can be nominated.

River Rafting

In the case of river rafting, no buoys will be involved. A 4-6 member team can be formed and the task at hand will be to reach the final destination. Team members will have to work together to ensure the raft is mobile at all times in turbulent waters. Be prepared to experience that euphoric feeling.

Stand up paddle Boarding

As the name suggests, for stand up paddle boarding the participant has to stand up on the board as shown above. It may be a herculean task for overweight participants, so a solution to that will be lying on the board and swimming. Depending on the team members capacities, options of either standing for the longest time and paddling at a marked distance or lying on the board and swimming up to a marked distance could suffice for the stand-up paddle board task.

Beach Volleyball

This sport doesn’t require much explanation. the basics rules of playing volleyball apply. The only difference is that instead of the rubber turf, the teams will be playing on the beach sand which is divided by a net. The match consists of 3 or more sets and the team with maximum points wins a set. The referee will coordinate the game.

Tug-of-war

Another sport that required no explanation. A fibre battling rope is used here and opposing teams member will pull the rope till one team overpowers the other. Care tips such as keeping the back straight during the activity and other guidelines are provided by the instructor.

CAUTION: Make sure safety boats and certified lifeguards are available on site in case of any unforeseen circumstances. It’s always better to plan advance precautions.

As an employer, a team building activity will be the most important investment you will ever make as it builds employee trust and encourages communication,which overall promotes a healthy corporate culture.

Don’t forget to share this post and for any team building insights, I will be happy to help you. Hit me back at info@atlantiswatersports.com

Sunday, 23 April 2017

Top 5 activities to do in Goa during the monsoons.

Gone are the days where the monsoon season was deemed to be unsuitable for holiday makers coming to Goa. In fact many domestic tourist flock to Goa, one reason being cheaper deals on hotel accommodation offered this season. On the other hand you will also find relatively empty beaches, congestion free roads on a weekend and great customer service at your disposal.

Because of this tourist influx, adventure activities have continued to remain functional from June to October. But due to the seasonal transitions, you won’t find the usual beach/adventure sports activities. Say for example Scuba Diving, which closes for the monsoons and reopens around October. Same happens for the Dhudsagar waterfall trip. But then there are activities which continue to remain functional thought the monsoons.

So to cut out the confusion and to give you a clear picture of what’s happening in Goa this season, we present you the top five activities to do this monsoon season in Goa.

Fly boarding

Not something one immediately associates with Goa but Flyboarding has been steadily gaining momentum in Goa. The movie bang-bang shows Hrithik Roshan performing some crazy fly boarding stunts. So here is your chance to try it out Fly Boarding, but minus the gun play. Fly boarding is safe for non swimmers provided you don’t push the panic button.

River Rafting

For the adventure junkies river rafting is a sweet deal. The experience is really addictive as you get shoved in the raft which drops at different water levels leaves you with a heady feeling. With Goa’s seasonal rivers, rafting should be included on one’s “MUST-DO” list

Trekking

Admire the sights, sounds and voices of Goa’s landscape while trekking. Recommended for folks who want to take a break from the hustle-bustle of city life. This activity is highly recommended for nature and adventure lovers. So if you are one of them, perhaps a Trek to Tambdi Surla should be in your Goa holiday literary.

Water Sports Package

Banana Ride at Baga Beach, Goa — Bumper Ride at Baga Beach, Goa

JetSki, Speed Boat, Banana Ride, Bumper Ride and Kayaking. All of these clubbed in a single water sports package. After going head-on against the turbulent waves, Kayaking on the beach will provide you with a sense of tranquillity of calmness as you paddle yourself in these waters. You will definitely feel a level up after trying all of these adrenaline boosters.

Adventure Boat Cruise

The cream of the crop of all is the Adventure Boat Cruise in Goa. This package is a perfect combo of adventure sports, sightseeing and leisure activities. What you get is Kayaking, Snorkeling, Stand up paddle boarding, fishing, dolphin sight-seeing and more. With 2 scheduled departures in a day, one can be very flexible in making the most out of their holiday in Goa.

So we here wind up with the best activities you can do in Goa. Do let know what you think about these in the comments below. Don’t forget to like and share this. Wish you an adventurous day ahead !

Wednesday, 19 April 2017

WATERFALL TRIP

To make the most of this exciting trip you will need to start your day earlier than usual in Goa! We will be sending our company vehicle to your hotel to have you brought to Mollem by 8:30am. At 9am we will commence our safari in an open jeep to the Dudhsagar Waterfall, through the Mollem National Park this should last us 45 minutes to an hour. Children up to three years young can join in on this exciting trip, provided they are accompanied by an adult or legal guardian.

We should reach the Dudhsagar Waterfall by 10am and will be there for about an hour. The Dudhsagar waterfall is one of the 100 highest waterfalls in the world, named after its water that turns a milky white colour due to its fast paced flow. It is a four tiered waterfall and is worth the trip. The water plunges from approximately 2,000ft and is believed to be the highest in the country, the waterfall ultimately flows into the Arabian Sea. You must carry your swim suit or extra clothes on the trip post your dip in the waterfall. Once we reach the base of the waterfall you can swim and rejuvenate in the flowing water or just dip your feet while snacking on our complimentary refreshments. We provide life jackets that help keep you afloat while you enjoy the site of the monkeys (Langoors) in the surrounding foliage.

Moving on from the waterfall, our experienced tour guide will accompany you through the famous spice plantation nestled in the heart of a tiny yet beautiful village called Keri in Ponda. Where you will enjoy a guided tour and have eager elephants waiting to take you for a ride, literally or even have you bathe them! The experience with the elephants is one of a kind and cannot be missed. When in Goa you must eat famous Goan dishes that are ever present in the traditional Goan food buffet we serve you at the spice plantation. The buffet caters to all and has a wide variety of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

After gorging on the delicious food and with renewed vigor we will make our way to Old Goa and tour through world heritage sites which come under UNESCO’s protected zones as well, like the 400 year old Se Cathedral and Basilica of Bom Jesus. The basilica holds the mortal remains of the famous St. Francis Xavier.

By 5pm we will embark on our journey back from Old Goa and drop you off at your respective hotels, bringing our day long tour to an end.