Paul Holt on the conclusion of his tour to Goa, India

Highlights of this year’s Goa tour, our 15th to this balmy and hugely birdy South Indian paradise, were many and varied

Barefoot birding...balmy indeed

and included regional specialities such as a fabulously obliging Indian Pitta (voted ‘Bird of the Tour’), Sri Lanka Frogmouth and Crested Hawk-eagle;

Indian Pitta

a large number of gorgeous south Asian species such as Indian Roller, Green Bee-eater and Black-capped Kingfisher and even a few local rarities such as Grey-headed Lapwing and Long-toed Stint.

Black-capped Kingfisher

Green Bee-eater

We advertise our Goa tour as a relatively relaxed, comfortable introduction to India…and it can be exactly that. With a remarkable 14 consecutive nights in the same hotel it’s pretty stress free. (I’ve often wondered how many bird tours stay in the same hotel for this length of time – surely very, very few?) With the comfortable, well-appointed rooms, the immaculately clean swimming pool, the great food and superbly friendly, attentive service it was all the more remarkable that we did as much birding as we did!

A lovely possibility at day's end

Combining this with Goa’s gorgeous weather, delicious and, yes varied, food, some exciting shopping opportunities and birds galore once again made for a fabulously successful tour.

A morning birding scene in Goa