Goa dons many different hats. First there’s the beach hat, which is great for families and couples looking for a spot of seclusion. Goa has a string of golden-sand beaches, each one with its own character, where you can learn how to surf, go stand-up paddle boarding or even kite surfing. Then there’s the yoga hat, which comes out every winter when yoga classes and training sessions pop up around every corner. And then there’s the party hat, which comes out when friends visit and when the Carnival comes to town.

There are many, many other things to do, too. With a strong Portuguese heritage, Goa is dotted with many stunning forts, built to defend their new acquisitions in the East. Spend a day fort-hopping, exploring Portuguese bastions like the Reis Magos. Continue the history lesson though Old Goa, the erstwhile capital of the Portuguese rulers, where the Basilica of Bom Jesus and Sé Cathedral still stand as testaments to the region’s colourful but dark past. In Fontainhas, Goa’s Latin Quarter, stroll through narrow lanes and wander past colourful homes that belong to the last surviving Portuguese families in Goa, complete with balcãos, oyster-shell windows and beautiful azulejos, colourful, intricate Portuguese tiles that you can even buy from a few local shops.

If an adrenaline rush is what you seek, explore Goa’s wild side on a trekking or canyoning expedition through its jungles. Glide through Goa’s backwaters on a private yacht, or go on a moonlight kayak ride and experience the waters under the silvery light of the moon. In the monsoon, when the rivers are swollen with swirling foam, go rafting down the Mhadei River. Cycle through palm-shaded by-lanes on a cycling tour, and learn about Goa’s varied bird population on a bird trail.

All that activity is bound to work up an appetite. Goa’s got you covered again. Go on an international food trail or even sample some local grub at the many bars, shacks and restaurants, some of which serve world-class cuisine. You can even learn how to cook some secret Goan recipes yourself by signing up for a round of classes at a local cooking school.

But if all you really wish to do is just laze around, there are eco-friendly cottages along the banks of the Mandovi or luxury teepees to retreat to, where you can let the calming embrace of sussegad win you over.