CULTURAL & HISTORIC DAY TOUR ATTRACTIONS - Churches, Temples & Spice Plantation

Recommended by 95% of travelers

India

6 to 8 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Full Day Join Goa Tour: Dudhsagar Waterfalls & Spice Planatation

Goa, India

3.0

(2)

Full Day Join Goa Tour: Dudhsagar Waterfalls & Spice Planatation

from $83

Goa, India

Ayurvedic Natural Therapies Sauna and Mud Bath in Arambol Goa

from $44

Goa, India

5.0

(1)

North Goa One Day Tour

from $50

Price varies by group size

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

There are few places so varied as Goa, West India. On this tour, explore the rich history of the fusion of cultures that have made Goa the way it is today. From Catholic churches in Panjim, the state capital, to Hindu temples, and from Portuguese architecture to spice plantations, Goa is an assault on the senses.

Five varied sites in one tour
Discover the history of Goa, from the 17th century to the present day
Enjoy freshly prepared food and herbal tea at a spice plantation
Experience the vibrant colors of Portuguese colonial architecture and Hindu temples

What's Included

Lunch

Lunch at spice plantation
Private transportation
Local Guide

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Pick up points - Hotel lobby, Airport arrival paging area & Sea Port car/coach parking area. Clothing attire - Shorts below knee level, skirts below knee level & sleeveless clothes are not allowed. All tours booked for Shore Excursion (Pick up from Port) will be considered as group tour SIC basis upto 15 pax using a mini van, and all tours booked for FIT (Pick up from hotel or airport) will be considered as private tour using a car.

Itinerary

Panjim Heritage Walk

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Fontainhas

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Old Goa

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Mangeshi Temple

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Tropical Spice Plantation

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available

Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Judi_C

This is the best tour of the lot. I highly recommend this tour. Jonas, my guide, provided historical, cultural, political perspectives plus he addressed my onward travel issues - train schedule, shops for good Goan goodies etc. so I could relax and enjoy the day. For my next day, Jonas gave me tips on great shops and restaurants to enjoy. I noticed that Goans are more like islanders than other Indians. Goans have a joyful and happy demenour which could be the food, sandy beaches, beautiful sunsets or other things. When I shared photos with my family, my niece said that she has been to Goa - from her US navy post in Kuwait and she also loved Goa. My thanks to Viator, Jonas, and the Goan people for a great experience. Yes, you may publish my words. Judi Ann Carlsson 713.854.2710

Reviews

4.7

based on 55 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Best tour.

Judi_C, Apr 2026

Our guide and driver was...

Edward_A, Feb 2026

Our guide and driver was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed learning about Goa. The last stop at the Spice Plantation was over crowded with tour buses. The tour was with a larger group with a plantation guide and its basically a garden with examples of all the spices. It was not a plantation or at least we did not get to see a large plantation. Lunch at the plantation was unexciting. Also ladies need to have shoulders and knees covered for these churches and temples.

Really entertaining tour

Lynne_S, Sep 2025

A really interesting and well planned tour. Joaquim, our guide was excellent and very entertaining. Our driver Marlon also did a fine job with both being real gentlemen. This is a perfect tour if you want to see a bit more of Goa outside the hotels, with lots of additional information on Goan history, life in Goa and India also included.

Old and new Goa key sites in one hit!!!

Avtar_S, Sep 2025

Great trip that captures the key sights in both old and new Goa as well as an educational spice plantation tour and local lunch. Our guide Joaquim was extremely knowledgeable and pleasant and answered every question we had with in-depth responses. For the Hindu temple you do need to remove shoes and socks to enter the complex. The spice plantation offers both veggie and non veggie options for lunch.

Jonas was excellent

NANCY_T, May 2025

Our guide Jonas was one of t he very best we've had! He was extremely engaging and informative! A wonderful day and tour!

Day trip around Goa

Maureen_F, Apr 2025

Great way to see & experience Goa with a very knowledgeable guide. Xavier was fantastic & adjusted the tour to suit us. Very comfortable, air conditioned car with a great driver too.

Excellent tour of Goa

Rogelio_C, Mar 2025

This was an excellent tour of Goa. The tour guide was great, punctual, very knowledgeable, and entertaining. The driver was also great and the private vehicle was a newer car in excellent conditions. The food at the spice plantation was great and the staff was very friendly. The churches and temples visited were full of history and great memories and pictures. The tour was definitely worth it.

Goa 101- A day well spent!

Krystal_A, Mar 2025

I am so grateful that Cesar was my guide for this experience. There are regular guides, and then there are gifted guides, like Cesar. Guides who truly exceptional at what they do. The tour he took me on was very well done, surpassing my expectations. His identity as a native Goan, as well as his mastery of history makes him an astute storyteller of Goa's past. I could also tell throughout the interactions with locals during the tour that he is well respected in his community. I would recommend this experience to those who want to have a Goa 101 lesson- and if you can get Cesar, even better!!

Lunch to be avoided .. guide and tour still great though !

Jacqueline_P, Feb 2025

Great guide very knowledgable .. beautiful churches and old Goa tour really good. Food at spice plantation perhaps to be avoided .. delicious BUT both of us feeling delicate today 🤢

Must-see tour

Joaquin_S, Jan 2025

A great experience! A must-see tour to get closer to Goa's past. Stanley was a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable and friendly.. Punctual and impeccable vehicle. Totally recommended!

We spent a funny day with...

Adriano_F, Jan 2025

We spent a funny day with our guide Joaquim and the driver Vandesh and saw everything on the programm with no stress. The spice plantation was really worth a visit.

Excellent

Neelima_K, Jan 2025

Our guide Anthony was excellent . He was informative , humble and accommodative for our needs . Our driver Shoab was also good .

A driver and a guide take...

Aleksandr_S, Dec 2024

A driver and a guide take you around and show you sights around North Goa. The experience is adjusted depending on what you want to spend time on and they are flexible. We were particularly interested in learning cultural, economic and other information. I think the tour is more geared toward taking photos

Good tour

Robert_P, Dec 2024

Make sure your guide keeps good track of time. We got back late to the ship! Fortunately, there were ship excursions also late.

Cochin is really a gem.

Phillip_F, Dec 2024

This is a private tour in a comfortable auto with great AC. JOE the guide is a wealth of knowledge about Kerala and the city of Cochin. We toured the city areas for fishing, the king’s palace, two churches and the Jewish Synagogue. Saw the Cabala Stone. Joe gave us a good view of life in this beautiful place. Cochin is a gem. I highly recommend this tour.

Fantastic

Robert_M, Dec 2024

Cleo was a fantastic guide, very friendly and knowledgeable. He made the experience all the better and we got to see lots of the wonderful sights of Goa.

The perfect introduction to the history of Goa

triciaburritt, Nov 2024

Sachin, the guide on this tour planned an excellent introduction to the history of Goa. The day was relaxed and well paced and he was very informative. The driver Elvin was careful and always prompt to pick up. A perfect day out!

Great trip

Sailesh_S, Nov 2024

Guide was personable, knowledgeable and courteous Driver was helpful, calm and safe. The spice plantation was a highlight of the trip. We really enjoyed the friendliness, food, and the gift shop.

Churches, Temple, and Markets with a little Spice

Deborah_J, Oct 2024

We were picked up at our hotel on time, our guide, Adnelo Ferrao was excellent regarding engagement, knowledge and easy to understand. Our driver, Vandish was very professional. The markets were much fun to visit, the churches and temple were beautiful. Short walks to all sites. Spice Plantation was a bit disappointing bc only a 20 min loop to explain the spices after a buffet lunch. The drive to the various sites gives a good feel of the countryside. Overall, we had an excellent experience.

Comprehensive tour of Goan sites

Robert_B, May 2024

Prompt pickup, very careful &considerate driver & comfortable vehicle. Ceaser our tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable & looked after us very well. It was a long day with easy pace & we gained a lot from the experience. The excellent meal at the Spice farm rounded the day off well. I would certainly recommend this tour.

We had a wonderful day...

Jane_C, May 2024

We had a wonderful day with our guide Jonas! His love for Goa was evident and his knowledge of India was impressive. It is a very comprehensive tour that we highly recommend

Great tour with a very knowledgeable guide and a safe driver.

James_E, May 2024

Our guide Anthony was a wealth of knowledge not just on the local area but on the history and development of India. We went to all the locations on the tour and a couple of extras and learnt a great deal about Goa and India. Our driver was laso excellent, cool and calm when required and quick and safe when we ran a little overdue. All round a great tour, thank you.

Goa is a beautiful place but Crossmiles Travel Pvt. Ltd. deprive us of enjoying blissful moments with the family.

Elvira_P, May 2024

My tour to GOA is a terrible experience. I booked for a private car for four members of the family. It turns out that we boarded a mini bus with four other passengers. The ride with the minibus is so uncomfortable and with the hot climate, we are offered warm bottled drinks which is not placed in an ice box. The tour guide was pleasant and the driver was expert in maneuvering the rugged terrain. I could have tolerated the situation without a private car that I booked so that we will have privacy in touring Goa, however, my family was so upset about the situation being mindful of the other passengers who are from another country. I complained in writing and hand it to the tour guide. I could not fix anymore the situation but for the sake of others, I did it. The Crossmiles Travel Pvt. Ltd. send me a refund but not the whole amount. The damage has been done and travelling 18 hours from Hawaii joining the Oceania Cruise and going to see Goa has been a disaster for us. Please honor the booking agreement and be respectful to the customers who wanted to enjoy their experience going to GOA. Refund is nice but the money is not important rather time is the essence and experience with the family in going to Goa, India is the utmost importance. Thank you.

Response from Host, May 2024

Good Evening Ma'am and Greetings! We are extremely sorry for your unpleasant experience. We totally understand your cause of concern and deeply regret the inconvenience you and your family had to face. However, we always ensure that our vehicles are all air conditioned, neat, clean, spacious and comfortable with enough bottled water. It is also mentioned on the site that all tours from the port shall be clubbed together on SIC basis. Since you were unhappy with the tour, we also extended 50% of your booking amount. We really appreciate and thank you for your feedback. We shall try to avoid mixing two families together in the future. Warm Regards!

Amazing and informative guide

Francesca_J, May 2024

What an amazing experience from the start right to the end! Driver picked us up from the port and stopped along the way to pick up our guide. He was so passionate about his explanations and engaged with us with questions and bits of interesting history. We were captivated by the small walking bit of the Latin quarter with wonderful colourful houses and also and amazing time at the 2 churches. Last stop at the spice plantation for a small tour and a yummy local lunch. Highly recommended tour, we returned to the cruise ship on time and saw so much despite the short day till 3pm.

Good tour with poor guide

Elsa_J, Mar 2024

Very interesting and fun to see the colourful Latin quarters visit the churches of old goa. The spice plantation was an added bonus which resulted in several purchases. The guide however added nothing to the experience, he didn't seem interested in talking about the sights or history of goa.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for the guiding experience and have noted the same. Looking forward to serving you better in the future.

Perfect way to experience the best of Goa

Amber_L, Mar 2024

Such a lovely day with our guide Sachin. It was the perfect way to see all the best sites around Goa. Perfect if you only have a short time in Goa (like us) and want to see some of the best places in one day. Spice plantation was amazing!

Fun Day

scott_e, Mar 2024

Had a great time touring the sights and highlights of Goa. Tour Guide and Driver were both excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Spice Plantation and especially the luncheon buffet. Guide catered to our every need and managed to set up great table for our meal. Food prep and variety were excellent

Wonderful day in Goa

Sherri_E, Feb 2024

Wonderful day in Goa. Pickup and return to our cruise ship were easy and timely. The Latin Quarter was beautiful, but the locals would prefer you not be there. Therefor, please be especially considerate in your journey through the quarter. The central produce market was wonderful experience. The most interesting part of our tour was a chance to see how cashew nuts grow and to learn about the cashew. Goa grows the best cashews in India. The plantation was beautiful and you get see how all the spices grow from cinnamon to vanilla to pepper etc. The market at the plantation has all the spices grown there for sale. Lunch was very good, but our favorite was the ginger lemongrass drink and snack served before the plantation tour. Our guide was very kind and made a special stop so I could acquire a present to bring friends we were to visit in northern India.

Great Tour!

Craig_M, Feb 2024

Great private tour with Joaquim. Car was clean, comfortable and his driver drove safely throughout the trip. Enjoyed all the stops on the tour and learned a lot from Joaquim along the way about the very interesting history of Goa. He is very knowledgeable about his state and clearly a very proud Goan. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to see more of Goa and also anyone looking to learn more about Goa and it's history.

The best guide for an amazing tour

Joakim_B, Dec 2023

We actually didn't realize this was a private tour, so we were extra happy to see that we got the full focus of the amazing guide, who told us much about the history and facts regarding the various places we visited. He seemed to be somewhat of a celebrity along this route as everyone waved and smiled when they saw him - and I understand why. Here's a guy who loves what he does, and does what he loves. We couldn't have wishes for a better guide - and as we had a flight just after, he was kind enough to offer to drop us off at the airport. He made everything so easy and enjoyable for us on our last day in Goa.