Love the sun, sand and spices of Goa? Here are 8 exotic places just like it but with less tourists.
Your beach holiday should be lazy, chilled-out and relaxed. You deserve a getaway that lets you unwind without the crowds and tourist traps. If you are looking to get away from it all – the people and commercialised shops – check out these tranquil, picture-worthy alternative destinations that offer low-key value for money but equally breathtaking experiences synonymous with Goa.
With geographical wonders, beach parties, local culture and historical architecture on the menu, we promise that you won’t miss that Goan holiday. What's more, we are sweetening the deal with travel deals and flight discounts.
You are welcome.
1. Bentota, Sri Lanka
This popular beach destination on the coastal belt of Sri Lanka boasts wide sandy beaches and calm waters – perfect for diving and watersports.
- Top 3 spas: Sahana Spa (Ayurveda Resort), Jiva Spa (Vivanta by Taj), Avani Bentota Resort Spa
- Must do/see: Induruwa Beach, Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, Paradise Island, Bentota Lagoon
- Venture out to visit: Aluthgama for the fish markets and beaches along the Induruwa coast
2. Koh Phangan, Thailand
Famed to be the home of the world’s biggest beach party, tourists flock to this sanctuary for its tranquil beaches that don’t get too overcrowded.
- Top 3 spas: Tanaporn Massage House, Pure Relax, Revive Massage
- Must do/see: Beaches, Muay Thai kickboxing competitions, elephant trekking, diving and kayaking
- Venture out to visit: Ang Thong National Park, Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan
3. Phuket, Thailand
Phuket Island, located south of Bangkok, is blessed with some of Thailand’s best beaches and diving sites.
- Top 3 spas: Mandara Spa (JW Marriott Phuket), Banyan Tree Spa, Le Spa (Le Meridien Phuket)
- Must do/see: Beaches, islands, nightlife, diving
- Venture out to visit: Patong for its nightlife scene, Old Phuket for heritage buildings and Khao Rang Hill for stunning views of the town
4. Bali, Indonesia
Bali captivates with its iconic rice fields, beaches and achingly beautiful sceneries everywhere you turn. The island is also famed for its religious sites and swanky resort hotels.
- Top 3 spas: Mandara Spa, Karma Spa (Karma Kandara), Spa Alila (Alila Soori).
- Must do/see: Rice paddies, diving, Balinese cuisine and seafood, Ubud Monkey Forest.
- Venture out to visit: Ubud for art galleries and museums, Denpasar for city vibes and shopping, Kuta for its beaches, bars and funky nightlife.
5. Tangalle, Sri Lanka
If isolated beaches and hidden bays are on your travel itinerary, Tangalle offers some of southern Sri Lanka’s most stunning coastlines without the crowds.
- Top 3 spas: Eden Reverie Spa and Cabanas, Anantara Spa (Peace Haven Tangalle Resort), Sole Luna Resort and Spa
- Must do/see : Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, beaches, wildlife reserves.
- Venture out to visit : Yala National Park, Mulkirigala Rock Temple, Turtle sanctuary.
Three Indian beaches that’ll remind you of Goa (only without the tourists)
6. Kerala, India
When it comes to paradise, Kerala has it all: enviable geographical features, temperate climate, wildlife, spas and health holidays, tranquil backwaters and cultural monuments.
- Top 3 spas: Surya Samudra, Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resort, Neeleshwar Hermitage
- Must do/see: Cruise the backwaters in a houseboat, Ayurvedic spas, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, National Parks, spice markets.
- Venture out to visit: Kochi to photograph the iconic fishing nets, Thiruvananthapuram for British colonial architecture and art galleries, and Kozhikode for temples and mosques.
7. Varkala, India
The coastal town of Varkala is perched on a cliff and is a popular pilgrimage centre for Hindus. Its ancient temples and tucked-away beaches are the main tourist attractions.
- Top 3 spas: Kadaltheeram Beach Resort and Ayurvedic Spa, Absolute Ayurveda, Sanjeevani Ayurveda and Yoga Center
- Must do/see: Surfing, shopping, Varkala Beach, Janardhana Swamy Temple.
- Venture out to visit: Ponnumthuruthu Island for a peaceful getaway, Kappil Lake for views of the Kerala backwaters, and Anjengo Fort and Lighthouse.
8. Tarkarli, India
The gorgeous village of Tarkarli is a haven for beach lovers with its long coastline and clear waters teeming with coral reefs. Dolphin sighting is not a rare event here.
- Top 2 spas: MTDC Tarkarli Resort, Blue Ocean Resort and Spa
- Must do/see: Sindhudurg Fort, adventure sports, scuba diving, beaches, dolphin-spotting and temples
- Venture out to visit: Melvan for cashew nuts and seafood, Dajipur for its National Park, and the backwaters of Karli River
Ready to fly? Book using these travel coupons and deals:
| Up to 30% off business flights |
Coupon code expires |
Valid for travel on select dates from 7 May 2018 - 13 March 2019. Destinations include Australia, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand and more. Flights must be purchased at least 20 days in advance. |
Last verified |
Show code
KL****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
|
| Up to 40% off hotels worldwide: Flash sale |
Deal expires |
Valid on select hotels worldwide, including destinations like Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Greece, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, USA, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan and more. |
Last verified |
||
| India flights from $415 return |
Deal expires |
Valid for travel from July-October 2018. Sample fare is Perth-Amritsar. Destinations include New Delhi, Chennai, Kochi and more. |
Last verified |
||
| Full-service India flights from $812 return |
Deal expires |
Valid for travel on select dates from May-December 2018 with Air India. Sample fare is Melbourne-Delhi. Destinations include Mumbai, Jaipur and more. |
Last verified |
||
| Thailand flights from $298 return |
Deal expires |
Valid for travel on select 2018 dates. Sample fare is Perth-Phuket. Destinations include Bangkok, Krabi and more. |
Last verified |
||
| Up to 50% off hotels worldwide |
Deal expires |
Valid for bookings at least 15 days in advance for Le Club AccorHotels members (membership is free). Sample destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Singapore, Thailand and France. |
Last verified |
||
Amara Hotels & Resorts
|
Extra 12% off hotel stay: Summer sale |
Coupon code expires |
Valid for stays from 17 April - 31 October 2018 at Amara Bangkok, Thailand. T&Cs apply. |
Last verified |
Show code
SU****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
| Up to 50% off hotels worldwide |
Deal expires |
Valid for bookings at least 15 days in advance for Le Club AccorHotels members (membership is free). Sample destinations include Australia, New Zealand, France, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. |
Last verified |
||
| Up to 20% off worldwide 18-30-something tours |
Deal expires |
Valid for travel select dates. Destinations include Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, USA, Canada, Indonesia, Morocco, Brazil, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Mexico, South Africa and more. T&Cs apply. |
Last verified |
||
| Asia flights from $552 return |
Deal expires |
Valid for travel on select dates until 31 March 2019. Sample fare is Perth-Beijing. Destinations include Korea, Philippines, Japan, India and more. |
Last verified |
||
Trafalgar Tours
|
5% off worldwide trips | Valid for travel on select dates. Destinations include Italy, Britain, Spain, New York, Oklahoma, San Francisco, Vancouver, Denver, Sri Lanka, Japan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sydney, Hamilton Island, Port Douglas, Argentina, Brazil and more. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
||
|
Trafalgar Tours
|
7.5% off Asia tours | Valid on select 2018 tours. Destinations include India, Sri Lanka, Japan and more. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
||
| Up to 30% off last-minute Asia tours | Valid on select tours departing until 26 December, including Asian Adventure and Eternal India. |
Last verified |
|||
| Sri Lanka flights from $377 return | Valid for travel on select dates. Sample fare is Melbourne-Colombo. |
Last verified |
|||
| Up to 30% off stay at Swiss Belhotel International Indonesia |
Coupon code expires |
Valid for stays on select dates. Enjoy 30% off on your hotel room, just type the code upon check-out. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
Show code
BC****
After the store tab opens, come back to copy the code |
|
| Up to 25% off Bangkok stay |
Deal expires |
Valid for stays until 22 December 2018 at Anantara Bangkok Riverside, Thailand. Booking must be made advance prior stay to redeem offer. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
||
| Up to 58% off Asia tours | Valid for travel on select dates and tours. Destinations include Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, Thailand and more. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
|||
| Up to 75% off luxury Indonesia stay | Valid for travel on select dates. Sample savings is for Imaj Private Villas, Lombok, Indonesia. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
|||
| Up to 83% off 8-night luxury Thailand stay | Valid for travel on select dates until 31 October 2019. Includes accommodation in The Sands, daily buffet breakfast and dinner, late check-out perks, airport transfers and more. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
|||
| Up to 49% off early bird trips | Book now and save up to 49% off on tour packages booked through TourRadar. Valid for travel on select dates in May 2018. Destinations include Vietnam, Thailand, USA, Egypt, Burma, Alaska and more. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
|||
| 8-night luxury Thailand package from $699 | Valid for travel on select dates until 31 October 2019. Includes accommodation, breakfasts, transfers and more. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
|||
| 2-for-1 worldwide tours | Valid for travel on select dates from February - March 2018. Destinations include India, Vietnam, China, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, Tanzania and more. T&Cs apply. |
Last verified |
|||
| Up to 50% off day tours and activities in Thailand | Sample discounts include 50% off James Bond Island tours, 45% off Phi Phi Island day tours, 15% off Mae Ping River Cruises. |
Last verified |
|||
| Up to 30% off Bali stay |
Deal expires |
Valid for stays until 31 December 2018 at Swiss Belhotel Tuban, Bali, Indonesia. Must book 60 days in advance to get the discount. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
||
| Up to 20% off Dusit Thani Pattaya + Free WiFi |
Deal expires |
Valid until 30 September 2018 at Dusit Thani Pattaya, Thailand. Includes complimentary welcome drink and free WiFi. Bookings must be made 30-days prior. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
||
| Up To 30% off DusitD2 Chiang Mai + Daily breakfast for two |
Deal expires |
Valid until 31 October 2018 at DusitD2 Chiang Mai, Thailand. Bookings must be made 7-days in advance. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
||
| Up to 15% off Dusit Thani Hua Hin + Free WiFi |
Deal expires |
Valid until 31 December 2018 at Dusit Thani Hua Hin, Thailand. Booking must be made in advance. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
||
| 40% off James Bond Island tour near Phuket |
Deal expires |
Valid until June 2018 for a speed boat tour of Phang Nga Bay near Phuket, Thailand. |
Last verified |
||
| 40% off tour of Koh Phi Phi and Maya Bay tour |
Deal expires |
Valid until June 2018 for a speed boat tour from Phuket, Thailand including hotel transfers and lunch. |
Last verified |
||
| Up to 30% off last-minute deals | Valid on select last-minute departures. Destinations vary, but include China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Bali. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
|||
| Up to 30% off flights with Indonesia travel passes | Save up to 30% off the price of booking individual flights with Garuda's Indonesia pass. Fly to destinations like Bali, Yogyakarta, Solo, Lombok, Surabaya, Raja Ampat and more. |
Last verified |
|||
| Up to 40% off select Intrepid tours and sailing trips | Valid on select Intrepid tours worldwide including destinations like France, Italy, Japan, Cuba, India and Cambodia. Sample tours on sale include 40% off Sail Italy - Amali to Procida, 40% off Cote d'Azur Sailing Adventure - Marseille to Nice and 30% off Croatia and Greece Sailing Adventures. |
Last verified |
|||
HotelQuickly
|
Up to 10% off Asia hotels | Valid on select hotels in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. |
Last verified |
||
| Up to 25% off Dusit Thani Pattaya hotel |
Deal expires |
Valid until 30 September 2018 at Dusit Thani Pattaya, Thailand. T&C's apply. |
Last verified |
