Full-Day Chorao Island Nature, Heritage & Cooking Experience
Description
What Makes This Tour Unique A rare full-day blend of nature, heritage, and food, not offered together anywhere else on Chorao Island Access to a local Goan home for a hands-on cooking session A working feni tavern visit with a cocktail-making session, not just a tasting A trek to Portuguese-era seminary ruins slowly being reclaimed by the jungle, an offbeat site most visitors don't know exists Birdwatching along the mangroves of the River Mandovi, near the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary A meal cooked and shared with the same family who taught you, rather than a standard restaurant lunch Itinerary Mangrove boat ride Visit a one of a kind Hindu temple Local breakfast Trek to the seminary ruins Feni tasting and cocktail making Ferry crossing Welcome drink at a local Goan home begin the day's second chapter. Hands-on cooking session Shared lunch — Sit down to a meal cooked and shared with the family, closing the day the way Chorao has always eaten.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Hop on a boat ride through the backwaters with a birding expert and spot birds and crocodiles on the mangroves around (We take the same route as Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary)
Interesting story of the Temple and how it was relocated during the Portuguese rule
The Ruins of Chorao Seminary, located on the peaceful island of Chorão in Goa, are the remains of the historic Real Colégio de Educação de Chorão, founded in 1761 during Portuguese rule. Once a prominent center for religious education and missionary training, the seminary played an important role in Goa’s cultural and ecclesiastical history. Today, visitors can explore its atmospheric stone ruins, which stand as a testament to the island’s rich colonial heritage. Surrounded by lush greenery and quiet village landscapes, the site offers a unique blend of history, architecture, and natural beauty. The nearby Chapel of St. Jerome, one of the surviving structures linked to the seminary, adds further historical significance. Ideal for history enthusiasts, photographers, and travelers seeking off-the-beaten-path attractions, the ruins provide a fascinating glimpse into Goa’s past and a tranquil escape from the state’s busy tourist hubs.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(687)
Had a really amazing experience with Soul Traveling. Everything was well-organised, the arrangements were great, and the overall experience was smooth and enjoyable. Would definitely love to travel with them again.Bob and Sairaj were there with us. They guided us so well.
Aw, this made our day! So glad the whole thing came together smoothly for you, that's exactly what we aim for. We'll be sure to pass this along to Bob and Sairaj, they'll be grinning ear to ear. Hope this is the first of many trips with us. Come back soon!
Absolutely from the heart. Koonan is a great guy. I realised you could talk to him about anything from culture to history to philosophy to nature. Wow. Recommended to all.
Here's a reply, humanized and hyphen/em-dash free from the start: > This means so much, thank you! Koonan has this way of turning any conversation into a journey, culture, history, philosophy, nature, he'll go wherever your curiosity takes him. We're so glad it came through for you. Can't wait to have you back for another one.
It was good experience getting to know the culture of goa.
> So glad it came through for you! Getting under the skin of Goa's culture, beyond the postcard version, is exactly what we're going for. Thank you for taking the time to share this. Hope to host you again soon.
Who say goa is only about beaches , it's about about tradition and history and we were fortunate to have Karan take us through this Nature trail through chorao
> Couldn't agree more, there's so much more to Goa than the coastline. So glad Karan could show you that side of Chorao, the tradition and history that a lot of visitors miss entirely. Thank you for putting it so well, and for choosing us to take you there. Hope to welcome you back soon!
Awesome trail and nice guide karan
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed the trail and that Karan made it a great one. Hope to have you back for another soon!
Chorao island : a beautiful experience. Mr Koonan was our host and he hosted us really well.we booked the trail through Soul travelling and we had an amazing time.the mangroves journey was mesmerising .Mr Koonan took us to beautiful temple and lovely church.the locals fed us delicious brunch.we would recommend to visit for sure
> Thank you so much for this lovely recap! So glad Koonan hosted you well, and that the mangroves, the temple, the church, and that brunch with the locals all came together into such a memorable day. This is exactly the Chorao we love sharing. Hope to welcome you back for more soon!
The chorao trail was really fun filled, and we got to listen so many stories. Soothing experience away from hustle bustle of cities- exactly what we were expecting. 10 on 10. And special thanx to Mr Koonan - such a wonderful guide. Let me ride his goan classic cruiser as well.
A 10 on 10 means the world, thank you! So glad the stories and the quiet away from city hustle hit exactly right. And Koonan letting you ride his Goan classic cruiser, that's such a special touch, we love that he shared that with you. Thank you for the kind words, hope to host you again soon!
It was phenomenal Very peaceful and beautiful time spend in forest together with my family I will love to take them again with Soul Travelling Swena is awesome companion which you should not miss
Phenomenal is a wonderful word to hear, thank you! So glad the forest brought that kind of peace for you and your family, and that Swena made it a day worth repeating. We'd love to have you all back for another one soon!
Our experience at Churao Island was wonderful. The host, Mr. Karan, was extremely polite and helpful, patiently answering all our questions. We had children in our group, and he made sure to engage with them and answer their questions as well, which was greatly appreciated. The food was excellent, the feni was great, and the overall group atmosphere was very pleasant. There was no sense of rushing at any point, allowing everyone to enjoy the experience at a comfortable pace. We also found the pricing to be quite reasonable for everything that was included. Overall, it was a memorable and enjoyable experience, and we would happily recommend it to others.
Thank you for such a thoughtful review! So glad Karan took the time with the kids too, that patience with the little ones' questions makes such a difference for the whole family's experience. Lovely to hear the food, the feni, and the unhurried pace all landed just right. Thank you for calling out the value too, we work hard to keep it fair. Hope to welcome your family back soon!
It was an interesting experience with Soul Travelling on the Nature Trail with Chorao island which shows Goa beyond beaches. Mangroves , temples , churches, old houses , Goan snacks and villages where time moves slower. We visited oldest & rarest Devkikrishna Temple , Cashew feni making spot, Bartholomew church , Chudamani Baug and the amazing boat rides through the mangroves!! The most amazing was the crocodile 🐊 Came for heritage, left with my heart full. This is how trail should be☺️
"Came for heritage, left with my heart full" might be our favorite line yet, thank you for that! So glad the mangroves, the temple, the church, and yes, that crocodile all added up to a day where time really did move slower. This is exactly the Goa beyond beaches we love showing people. Hope to welcome you back soon!
