[Tom Goodacre]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum so I'll take this opportunity to say hello as well! I plan to visit Goa on my way back to the UK in mid/end September (I'm in Thailand at the moment). I want to find out if people think this is a good idea / if anyone has experience visiting Goa at this time of year? Is the monsoon going to be a problem or should it have just about ended by then? Will things the open / happening? I really want to visit India but perhaps I would be better going further up north at this time of year?

Any advice would be really appreciated!

Tom

[YETI]

Hi Tom,

Welcome to the site.

I've only ever been in Goa at the very end of September but I really like it there then. You still get a bit of rain - usually about an hour or so of torrential downpour a day before the skies clear - but it's not enough to make life miserable. It's still quite steamy and humid but you've always got the Arabian Sea to dive into if it's all getting a bit too much.

Last year, in Arambol,  all the rains had died by the middle of October and the perfect cooler weather began. We had one wicked apocalyptic storm a couple of weeks into October that signified the end of the monsoon and then it was beautiful weather for months afterwards.

End of the monsoon / just before the tourist season starts is one of my favourite times in Goa: the whole place has a pre-party sort of atmosphere. It reminds me of being at Glastonbury Festival on the Thursday night before all the action starts - each day more shacks appear on the beach and everyone's looking forward to a relaxing few months in idyllic surroundings.

I've got to stress that this was at the end of September / beginning of October, though. Mid-September would probably see more rain and there'll be less places open. But there's usually a good crowd of the long-term folk there already and enough places open to have no trouble getting a decent meal etc. When I was there over the incredibly busy Xmas period I looked back at end of Sept / beginning of Oct as one of the most pleasant times to be in Goa.

[Poiple Shadow]

Well, I would say this is my favourite time of year, that and the satart of October, mainly because everything is lovely and green, not much rain (unless you're unlucky) and it's lovely and quiet, not many tourists, everything is being built up for the season (end of sept/start of oct normally starts), things are cheap, it's lovely.

Definately take a trip, sure you'll enjoy...

[YETI]

Also, the post-monsoon sunsets you get at that time of year are staggeringly beautiful.

[Leith]

What are the crowds and weather like early november?

thanks leith

[YETI]

Starting to get busy (but not as busy as Xmas / New Year), Leith. I don't know what the rest of Goa's like but Arambol's great in November.

The weather's absolutely perfect by then.

[malkers]

I was in Goa mid Sept last year and had good and bad weather but enjoyed it all, we were out on a bike and got a real good soaking twice but it was part of the fun.  There isn't so much open in that early time but its pleasant also.

I was also there a few days from 5th November the previous year and it was perfect weather but the charter flights had not yet started so everywhere was open but you had the place almost to yourself.

Do either and as long as you dont mind a bit of rain then Sept will be fine!

Cheers
Malc

[batistuta]

I have just returned from Goa and am planning to go back in the early part of september. I had a great time in Calangute and enjoyed all the activities at the beach. So, would Parasailing and water scooter still be there in sept or is it still goan monsoon and all the facilities will be closed?

Thx in advance,

Edited by batistuta, 31 May 2007 - 10:26 AM.

[malkers]

I went in September once and found it very quiet and all but closed down, rained almost the whole 4 days.  There was however one jet bike available for rent at Baga beach and a few folk using it.  They don't allow you to ride it on your own any longer though, you can only take the owner with you!  Never saw the parasailing on that trip!

[batistuta]

Thanks, Malkers. The omens are not good , the sad part is the trip is being planned for early Sept.
.
I was not allowed to ride the jet boat alone, as you have posted. The owner tags along. On hindsight, it was better  that way  as I would have surely fallen somewhere ,the waves being too choppy did not help matters.