Arambol Beach

Arambol Beach is in extreme North Goa. It is closer to the Maharashtra border compared to the popular Baga-Calangute-Candolim stretch and some of Goa’s most popular resort areas. It will take you an hour to drive from Baga to Arambol. But the trip is totally worth it because Arambol is one of the most pristine and serene beaches you will find in Goa. A winding road through cashew trees and groves will take you there.

The beach is surrounded by hills and thick greenery. It is mostly sandy but you will find a few rocks. There is a rocky outcrop at its northern end at the edge of the water. It is called the Arambol Rocks. A sharp hill, which is sometime called the Raavanan Mountain, rises from here. There is paragliding on top of this hill. Beyond this, you will find a sweet-water lake. Many believe that the water here has therapeutic properties.

Arambol Beach, sometimes also called Harmal, stretches for 2.5 kilometers to meet the Mandrem Beach in the south. It is part of a 9.5-kilometer-long shoreline that goes all the way to the Chapora River. It remains serene throughout the year, even during the peak tourist season as it is quite far from the most popular areas of Goa. It is a great place if you are looking for a quiet holiday surrounded by beautiful nature.

Arambol Map

There are only a few beach shacks, cafes, and restaurants. You will also find a few shops selling clothing items and junk jewelry. There is water sport too. The strong sea breeze and waves make it a popular place for surfing and kite boarding. However, the beach never gets crowded, despite the shacks, cafes, and water sports activities.

It’s also a special beach for its distinct bohemian vibe. Many hippies during the 1960s arrived in Goa and settled down in several places. Arambol Beach was one of them. You will still see the hippie culture here. The Arambol festival is held on the beach. There are Drum Circle Parties with singing and playing the Jimba. Often, sunset parties are also held with barbecue. The beach has a small flea market run by the Russians.

Arambol Gallery

Luxury villa with direct access to the beach. 5* star service. Prime location of North Goa.
Villa for rent from 19 000 Rs. per night

Quick Facts About Arambol

• Arambol is in North Goa. It is the northernmost developed beach in Goa and close to the Maharashtra-Goa state border. It is a serene, quiet, and clean beach. Hills and trees everywhere. There are fewer tourists than the busy North Goa beaches. A great place for relaxation and appreciating the beauty of nature. Sandy and rocky beach. Many foreigners. There is a sweet water lake at the northern side of the beach.
• Closest airport – Dabolim – 59.2 kms. Mopa — 26.6 kms.
• Closest railway station – Pernem – 16.8 kms.
• Thivim railway station – 26.8 kms. No big hotels or resorts here. Only beach huts, cottages, home stays, and villas. Arambol is cheaper than most North Goa beaches. The beach is popular with budget travelers and long-stayers.
• Popular with the hippies in the 1960s. You will still find a bit of the hippie culture here. Drum Circles. Live music by international and local musicians. Dancing. Very laid-back and relaxed atmosphere. Shacks, restaurants, cafes, shops, banks, ATMs, bike/car rentals, massage, and yoga available. Most beach shacks are temporary structures that are open only in the main season.
• One of the best places for paragliding in Goa. Take off from the rocky headland for an amazing experience. Get amazing views of the sea, shore, and the interiors. Forest with wildlife and birds, very close to the the beach. Sweet water lake, hills, and a beautiful valley, good for hiking.
• Many yoga and meditation centers. A great beach for complete relaxation. A good base camp from where you can visit some other North Goa beaches.

Best Time Of The Year To Visit Arambol

The winter season, between November and February, is the best time to visit Arambol. It is pleasant this time of the year. There is paragliding this time of the year. The monsoon is too risky for paragliding because of the high winds and the chance of sudden rains. The summer can be too harsh. Besides, everything shuts down almost completely at other times of the year. Most beach shacks at Arambol are open only during the peak winter months, which is almost like the only season here.

The economy of Arambol depends to a large extent on foreign tourists, as many of them are from Russia and other European countries. Many shops, restaurants, and cafes will be open only between November and February, as this is the only time when there are foreign tourists at Arambol.

Weather

Summer (March, April, and May) is hot season in Goa and Arambol. The summer temperature ranges between 32°C and 36°C. On some days, it can even be higher than this. Monsoon (middle of June to September) is not as hot. But the humidity will be higher, so you will sweat a lot. Besides, it will rain heavily. Chance of thundershowers! The sea will be choppy with high winds.

November to February is the peak season at Arambol. The temperature comes down and is more manageable. Rays of the sun won’t seem to burn your skin anymore. There is almost no rain, and the humidity is also less. You can spend the entire day at the beach, relaxing, getting a massage, taking yoga lessons, or joining a Drum Circle for some music and dancing to celebrate hippie culture.

As the weather is more pleasant, you can also hike through the forest to reach the small lake and the Banyan Tree.

How To Reach Arambol

• By Air — Goa’s new Mopa Airport is only 26.6 kilometers from the beach. There are many domestic and international flights. You can reach the beach from the old Dabolim airport too, which is 59.2 kms away.
• By Rail — The closest railhead is Pernem, which is 16.8 kms away. It is very close to the NH66 or the Mumbai-Goa Highway. The Thivim railway station is at a distance of 26.8 kms.
• By Road — The state capital Panaji is 35.5 kms from Arambol. From the city, you can take the NH66 to reach the beach. Or, you can drive through the Aguada-Siolim Road and cross the Siolim-Chopdem Bridge to reach Arambol.

Top Things To See And Do At Arambol

1. The Beach – The beach is the #1 attraction. It’s a quiet and beautiful beach surrounded by many palm trees and hills. There are many beach shacks like Carpe Diem, Wave de Goa, Sunset, Café Maitree, Café Junas, and others. Just off the beach, there are many restaurants, especially in the northern end like Shimons Falafel, Gecko Steak House, Cheeky Monkey, and Twice in Nature.
2. Flea Market – Goa’s most famous flea market is in Anjuna. There is a smaller but equally interesting flea market in Arambol too, which is open every evening in the peak season. Many stalls are run by the Russians here. Most of the items are described in Russian but Indian currency is accepted. You will find a range of musical instruments, jewelry, and many exotic things on sale. There is also a street market too that leads up to the beach.
3. Arambol Mountain – A hill rises sharply just north of the beach. This is the Arambol or the Raavanan Mountain. Hike up to the top of the hill to get a fabulous panoramic view. The Arambol hilltop is one of the best places in Goa for paragliding. You can enjoy the sport. There is also off-road racing here.
4. Kalacha Beach – On the other side of the hill, there is the beautiful and secluded Kalacha beach. There is no road to this beach. So, you must hike through the hill or reach Kalacha by the sea. The beach has just a couple of small huts and no cafes. This beautiful spot is perfect for relaxation.
5. Sweet Lake – Next to Kalacha Beach, you will find the sweet water Paliem Lake. The lake is famous for its cleansing sulfurous mud. The hippies used to dip themselves in this yellow mud during the 1960s and the 1970s. It was a common sight. You can rub this mud for its health benefits. It’s a visual treat around this lake as it is surrounded by a thick forest.
6. The Banyan Tree – This is Goa’s famous Banyan Tree where according to legend The Beatles meditated when they visited Goa. You will see many people camping under the tree even now. You can reach the tree easily. A walking trail leaves Kalacha Beach and turns left just before the Paliem Lake. It passes through bush land, trees, and crosses a stream to reach the famous Banyan Tree.
7. Ayurveda and Yoga - Arambol is serene and quiet. It is a great place for meditation, yoga, and ayurvedic treatments. You will find many ayurvedic and yoga studios on the beach and the lanes.
8. Fire Shows – Almost every shack organizes fire shows and fireworks in the evenings. There is a bonfire where people sit around and enjoy, having their drinks and food. There is Jimba music too. The sunset Drum Circles of Arambol are very famous in Goa. You can see foreigners singing and playing Jimba. There is dancing too.
9. Surfing – There is a surfing club at the beach that offers surfing lessons. The trainers are international surfers living in Goa. You can hire equipment from the surfing club, and learn/brush up your surfing skills.

The Beach

Arambol Beach

The beach at Arambol is 16 kilometers long. It is mostly sandy, but with rocks at some places. Hills in the background add to the beauty. The beach is wider than most others in North Goa and cleaner too, as there are fewer tourists here. Most tourists are in the central part of the beach, so if you walk towards the north or the south, you will get perfect solitude.

The Arambol beach curves gently towards the sea, which is shallow with a flat bottom. Swimming is safe. The sand is smooth, but slightly darkish.

There are headlands at both the ends. The northern headland is one of the best places for paragliding in Goa. There is Kalacha Beach, just north of Arambol, which is even more serene and quiet. You have to cross the Arambol Mountain and pass through a thick forest to reach this small beach. There is a sweet water lake here, which is an added attraction. Walk north-east from here, and you will reach the famous Banyan Tree, where members of the music band The Beatles are said to have meditated while they were visiting Goa.

Most tourists here are young people, those who want a relaxed atmosphere. Many are long-stayers, so they look for cheap accommodation. Small cottages, huts, and beach shacks made of wood come up on the beach during the tourist season. Many cling to the side of the cliff. There is accommodation at many beach shacks at the backside. Most of the shacks are in the northern end of the beach. There are shops, restaurants, cafes, clothing, and souvenir stores in the main road that leads to the beach.

Water Sports at Arambol Beach

• Parasailing – The red hills in the north are perfect for parasailing. Early morning between September and May is the best time for this. Launch into the air and get a bird’s eye view of the coastline.
• Surfing – You will find a few surfing schools on the beach. They offer lessons to beginners. If you are an experienced surfer, then just rent the board. The waves are usually not that challenging.
• Boating – Choose from speed boats, banana boats, and bumper rides. The prices are cheaper than most other beaches. Enjoy with your friends or family.
• Jet Ski – This can be very exciting, perfect for adrenalin seekers. The ski ride is usually for 10-15 minutes. It will always be supervised by an expert who is going to accompany the rider.

Nightlife

Arambol has a vibrant nightlife scene thanks to its bohemian vibe, Drum Circles, Freak Festival, and beach parties. There are many nightclubs too.

• Coco Loco Club – This beachfront club hosts many music concerts. You will get Latin and Reggae music. There are classes for Bachata and Salsa dancing too. You will also get food and drinks here.
• Red Rock Bar Club – Closer to the hill in the north, Red Rock is a café, pub, and bar. It is large and can accommodate many people.

Arambol Sweet Water Lake

The Banyan Tree

Arambol Banyan Tree

Festivals at Arambol

Arambol Freak Festival

The Arambol Festival is held in February. It is much like the carnival where people dress up in costumes. You will see them marching along the coast. There is dancing, music and bonfires too. People celebrate till the morning. It is sometimes also referred to as the “Freak Festival”. There is also the Arambol World Music Festival in January, where you can see many music bands from around the world perform. The festival includes Bollywood dancing, salsa, tribal dancing, sound healing, belly dancing, music meditation, electronic and African grooves, gipsy parties and more.

There is a third event too at Arambol – The Tantra Festival. You can participate in yoga, meditation, tantra, and music events here. It is held over 3 days in January.

Yoga at Arambol

There are many yoga and meditation centers at Arambol, like the Ashta Yoga Valley, Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Center, and the Ek Omkar Yoga Center, where you can join a yoga and meditation course. Train your body and mind to relax completely and improve your health. There are yoga teacher training courses as well.

Hotels

There are no 5-star hotels or resorts at Arambol as the locals have campaigned to preserve the character and original identity of the village. Most available accommodation is beach huts, cottages, home stays, guest houses, and villas. The prices are cheaper than most other beaches in Goa. Many tourists at Arambol are long-stayers who are looking for economy-class accommodation.

Villas

You won’t find any large hotels or resorts. The best places to stay at Arambol are the luxury villas for rent. Sea Infinity is a 3-bedroom cozy holiday villa with a private swimming pool, air-conditioning, kitchen, living area, and internet. It is only 50 meters from the beach. Villa Keni is a 4-bedroom property with a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, music system, coffee machine, kitchen, television, and air conditioning.

Comfortable 3 bedroom villa with a large swimming pool. Starts from 16 000 Rs. per night

Modern 4 bedroom villa in Arambol with private swimming pool. Starts from 16 000 Rs. per night

Beautiful wooden 3 bedroom villa. In very quiet area. Starts from 20 000 Rs. per night

* The price depends on the location, the season, and the duration of your stay.

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